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Twelve-year-old Rori Coyne devised a recipe that is White House worthy. </p><p>Rori was one of 54 winners in a nationwide recipe challenge to promote first lady Michelle Obama&#x92;s Let&#x92;s Move initiative. Contestants ages 8-12 were asked to create a lunchtime recipe that is healthy and affordable.</p><p>Rori and the other winners were invited to the White House in August for a luncheon hosted by the first lady. Coyne was one of only six winners whose recipes were served at the luncheon, and her recipe has been approved for inclusion on the lunch menu of the Shawnee Mission School District. </p><p>Rori is the daughter of Mary K. Wolarik of Shawnee and Bob Coyne of Lenexa. She also has an older brother, John, 14, for whom she enjoys baking. </p><p>Rori&#x92;s biggest culinary cheerleader is her mother, who is a registered dietitian. </p><p>&#x93;Rori has always had an interest in food, and now she takes responsibility for eating more nutritious foods,&#x94; Wolarik says. &#x93;It was a thrill to be able to be with her at the White House luncheon, to meet the first lady and watch her shake the president&#x92;s hand. I&#x92;m so unbelievably proud of her.&#x94;</p><p> <span class="bold">Residence: </span>Shawnee</p><p> <span class="bold">Occupation: </span>Seventh-grader at Westridge Middle School and aspiring pastry chef</p><p> <span class="bold">Special cooking interest:</span> Baking</p><p> <span class="bold">What inspired your winning Yummy Cabbage Sloppy Joes recipe?</span> I have never eaten my school&#x92;s lunches. Instead, my mom helps me pack a lunch at home to bring to school. </p><p>We were making dinner one night, and Mom had a lot of cabbage, which I wasn&#x92;t sure I liked. She also had lean ground beef, which I love. I love sloppy Joes &#x97; the kind from a package &#x97; but Mom showed me how to make cabbage, beef and a bunch of other vegetables taste better than a package. </p><p>You can eat this on a whole grain bun or just eat it cold without one, like I do.</p><p> <span class="bold">How did you learn about the contest, and what was it like when you received the phone call that you were the Kansas winner? </span>My mom learned about the contest through her work, and I decided to enter this Cabbage Sloppy Joe recipe that I made up with my mom. We sent it off and didn&#x92;t think much about it.</p><p>My mom actually got an email saying that my recipe was chosen, and when she called me with the news, I just freaked out and cried and rolled on the floor, I was so excited.</p><p>Another bonus to this recipe is that my mom says this is an affordable meal for us since we can make a pound of beef last several meals. I like (to eat) mine with fresh fruit.</p><p> <span class="bold">What was the luncheon like at the White House?</span> It was really cool. I was able to meet (Sam Kass, assistant chef and senior policy advisor for healthy initiatives) at the White House, and he told me he really liked my recipe. </p><p>These Sloppy Joes were served with a side of zucchini fries as the meal at the White House, so that felt really good when everybody got to try my dish. It was really super to meet the First Lady. She gave me a hug and told me she really liked my recipe. </p><p>Then the president came and crashed the luncheon. Even though there wasn&#x92;t a place for him to sit, I was able to meet him and shake his hand.</p><p> <span class="bold">Do you have aspirations one day to be a chef at the White House yourself?</span> I just want to keep cooking and baking. My favorite thing to bake is cupcakes. They are so fun to make, and I like to be creative when I decorate them. </p><p>I like to bake more for other people than I do for myself. I like to make food look pretty on the outside, but it has to taste good on the inside, too. Last year, I made my mom&#x92;s birthday cake by myself, and I will probably make her cake this year, too. My mom inspires me a lot, and baking her cake is a way to show her I love her.</p><p><h3>Yummy Cabbage Sloppy Joes</h3></p><p><span class="howto_volume">Makes 8 sandwiches</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 pound lean ground beef</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 1/2 cups finely </span></p><p><span class="howto_components">shredded cabbage</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 medium zucchini, shredded</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 medium onion, minced</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">2 celery ribs, chopped</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1/2 cup chopped red pepper</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 cup ketchup</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">2 tablespoons brown sugar</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">2 tablespoons lemon juice</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 tablespoon white vinegar</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 tablespoon </span></p><p><span class="howto_components">Worcestershire sauce</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1 tablespoon prepared mustard</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper</span></p><p><span class="howto_components">8 whole-grain sandwich rolls, split</span></p><p>Saut&#xE9; beef, cabbage, zucchini, onion, celery and red pepper over medium heat in a large skillet until meat is no longer pink. Drain fat from pan.</p><p>Stir in ketchup, brown sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until cabbage and vegetables are tender.</p><p>Spoon 1/2 cup meat mixture onto each roll and serve immediately.</p><p><span class="howto_facts">Per sandwich: 350 calories (36 percent from fat), 14 grams total fat (5 grams saturated), 43 milligrams cholesterol, 39 grams carbohydrates, 16 grams protein, 753 milligrams sodium, 5 grams dietary fiber.

Source: Kansas City Star