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Cook and Have Fun: Easy Healthy Recipes to Make with Kids

Issue # 0592

Author

Joshua Tjia
19 Mar

In this Irvine Insider Issue . . .

😁 Laugh of the Day

🌤️ Irvine Weather

🏓🌳 Meet Irvine Pickleball Coach Tobin Wazzan and His Top Tips

⛳️📢 Public Hearing Today on Proposed Oak Creek Golf Course Zone Change

⛪️🎶 Crean Lutheran to Premiere Original Rock Musical Your Cross at Irvine Barclay Theatre on March 30

📖🚧 Weekend Maintenance to Affect Parking Access at Katie Wheeler Library

🌷🐇🌷 Spring Family Fun: Easter Egg Hunts, Train Rides & More Through April 4

🫘🧀 Cook and Have Fun: Easy Healthy Recipes to Make with Kids

🌱🥾 Discover Local Plants on an Accessible Nature Hike — March 28

🎨 Fabric in Motion: Angie Stalker’s Textile Works Shine in Irvine Spring Exhibit

🎼🎼 Upcoming High School Music Calendar

🐈🐕 Upcoming Clinics for Affordable Pet Vaccines in Irvine, Mar. 24

🏐UCI Volleyball’s Shane Aitken Named Anteater of the Week

🏀🏐🎾⚽️ UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

⚾️ IVC Baseball Defeats LA Harbor 5–4 in Extra Innings

🏀🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS

🏈🎾 High School Athletics Calendar

🍏🥭🍑 Local Farmers Markets

🌟🏪🎉Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

📅📅 Lots of Local Events

📞💡 Useful Contact Information

What did the salad say to the dressing?

Lettuce be friends!

We hope this joke brings some laughter to your day! 😁

Meet Irvine Pickleball Coach Tobin Wazzan and His Top Tips

Meet Tobin Wazzan—a local coach and USA Pickleball ambassador who teaches at Portola Springs Community Park. He got his start during the pandemic, quickly turning his background in tennis and competitive ping-pong into a coaching career after becoming certified. Wazzan says pickleball’s biggest appeal is its social, welcoming atmosphere, where players can easily connect and have fun on the court. He also praises Irvine’s high-quality, state-of-the-art facilities and describes Portola Springs as a relaxing, scenic place to play.

Today, a wide range of programs—including adult and private lessons, adaptive “Pickleball For All” classes, and a team league—are available for players of all ages and skill levels at yourirvine.org.

Public Hearing Today on Proposed Oak Creek Golf Course Zone Change

Woodbridge residents are encouraged to attend or participate in a public hearing on Thursday, March 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Irvine City Hall regarding a proposed zone change for the open space at Oak Creek Golf Course.

  • The City’s Planning Commission will review an amendment to the zoning ordinance that could allow alternative ways to provide open space in Planning Area 12 and will make a recommendation to the City Council.

  • The Woodbridge Village Association opposes potential residential development at the golf course, citing concerns about quality of life.

  • Residents can attend in person, join via Zoom, or submit comments by email to share their input.

Crean Lutheran to Premiere Original Musical Your Cross at Irvine Barclay Theatre on March 30

Crean Lutheran High School’s Music Department will present Your Cross, a world premiere original rock musical, on March 30 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre. The production portrays the final days of Jesus—from His teachings and miracles to betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection—through dynamic staging, rock ballads, and storytelling.

Tickets are available online here

Weekend Maintenance to Affect Parking Access at Katie Wheeler Library

Visitors to Katie Wheeler Library may experience limited parking during the next two weekends, March 20–22 and March 27–29, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., due to slurry seal work in the Irvine Ranch Historic Park parking lot. Portions of the lot will remain available, with additional parking along Old Myford Road and Old Irvine Boulevard.

Spring Family Fun: Easter Egg Hunts, Train Rides & More Through April 4

The Easter Eggstravaganza at Irvine Park Railroad in Orange is happening daily through April 4, featuring egg hunts, rides, games, and photos with the Easter Bunny—perfect for kids and springtime fun.

  • 📅 Dates: March 7 – April 4 (open daily)

  • ⏰ Hours: Weekdays 10am–6pm | Weekends 8am–6pm

  • 🎟 Admission: Free entry; activity tickets are $8 each or 15 for $100

  • 🚗 Parking: $3 weekdays | $5 weekends | $7 holidays

Activities:

  • 🚂 Train rides, 🚜 hay rides, 🐣 moon bounce

  • 🎡 Games, 🎨 crafts, 🍪 cookie decorating

  • 🎣 Fishing, 🖌 face painting, 🦺 mini diggers

  • 🧺 Easter egg hunts (every 20 mins for ages 2–12)

  • 📸 Free photo ops + Easter Bunny photos ($20)

Cook and Have Fun: Easy Healthy Recipes to Make with Kids

Cooking with kids is a fun way to bond while building healthy eating habits. These simple, budget-friendly recipes use nutritious ingredients like pumpkin, spinach, squash, and black beans, while giving kids hands-on experience in the kitchen.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

  • Healthy, lightly sweet muffins made with pumpkin and whole wheat flour

  • Rich in fiber and nutrients like beta carotene for eye health

  • Kid-friendly steps like mixing, measuring, and spooning batter

  • Budget-friendly and great for breakfast or snacks

🧀 Spinach & Squash Macaroni Bites

  • Bite-sized mac and cheese with added veggies

  • Packed with vitamins, minerals, and calcium

  • Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside

  • Kids can help grate cheese, mix ingredients, and fill muffin tins

🌮 Black Bean Cakes with Fresh Salsa

  • Plant-based protein option using black beans and corn

  • High in fiber, minerals, and antioxidants

  • Served with fresh tomato salsa for extra flavor

  • Hands-on steps like mashing beans and shaping patties

Discover Local Plants on an Accessible Nature Hike — March 28

Explore the plants around us on a relaxed hike at the Irvine Open Space Preserve on Saturday, March 28 from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. This accessible, beginner-friendly walk will introduce you to local native and non-native plants and how they shape our ecosystem, all at a comfortable pace on a paved route and with ASL support.

Fabric in Motion: Angie Stalker’s Textile Works Shine in Irvine Spring Exhibit

Artist Angie Stalker is featured in “First Day of Spring Is Today” exhibition at the Irvine Fine Arts Center, showcasing textile works made with digitally printed chiffon. Inspired by spray-painted patterns, she stretches and folds fabric over canvas to create textured, dynamic pieces; the group exhibition runs through May 16.

Upcoming Northwood High School’s Music Calendar

  1. March 21: Irvine Jazz Festival

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://timbmusic.org/events/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School's Music Calendar

  1. March 20: WHS Carnival

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.whs-music.org/

Upcoming Woodbridge High School’s Vocal Music Calendar

  1. March 20, 7:00 PM: Spring Concert, WHS Performing Arts Center

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://woodbridgechoirs.weebly.com/calendar.html

Upcoming Irvine High Choral’s Music Calendar

  1. March 27 - April 2: Hawaii Choir Tour

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.ihschoralmusic.org/calendar.html 

Upcoming Portola High School Music’s Calendar

No further events scheduled for this month.

For the latest updates or additional details, please visit https://www.phsmusicbooster.org/buy-ticket

Upcoming Clinics for Affordable Pet Vaccines in Irvine, Mar. 24

The Irvine Animal Care Center is partnering with HEART to offer low-cost vaccine clinics and affordable microchipping for dogs and cats, helping pet owners keep their animals healthy at a lower cost. The next clinic is scheduled for March 24 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. in the center’s parking lot, with reservations required—visit cityofirvine.org/animals for details.

UCI Volleyball’s Shane Aitken Named Anteater of the Week

Sophomore Shane Aitken earned Anteater of the Week after leading UC Irvine men’s volleyball defensively against UC Santa Barbara, averaging 3.11 digs per set and recording a .913 reception percentage. He posted a career-high 15 digs in a home win and added 13 more on the road.

UCI Anteaters Upcoming Home Games

Baseball

  • Fri, Mar 20 – vs Oregon State, 6:00 PM

  • Sat, Mar 21 – vs Oregon State, 1:00 PM

  • Sun, Mar 22 – vs Oregon State, 1:00 PM

IVC Baseball Defeats LA Harbor 5–4 in Extra Innings

Irvine Valley baseball snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 5–4 extra-innings win over LA Harbor, ending the game on a walk-off walk by Sam Tucci in the 10th. The Lasers were led by strong performances from John Uchytil and Caleb Caparco at the plate, while Cooper Payne and Lucas Scott delivered key pitching to secure the victory.

🏐⚽🏀 Upcoming home games for the IVC LASERS 

Men’s Tennis

  • Thu, Mar 19 – vs Fullerton, 2:00 PM

Women’s Beach Volleyball

  • Fri, Mar 20 – vs Saddleback, 10:00 AM

  • Fri, Mar 20 – vs Riverside, 12:00 PM

High School Athletics Calendar

**

Updated With March Schedule

Upcoming Irvine High School’s Varsity home games:

March 2026

Thursday, March 19

  • Tennis, Boys - 3:15 PM vs University

  • Softball - 3:30 PM vs Northwood

Irvine’s Best Kept Secrets: Is Your Business One of Them?

We know our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you’re a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! “Irvine Insider” is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our city. Let’s collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special.

Click the link below and fill out the Local Business Spotlight Application Form to be featured and let’s celebrate the spirit of Irvine together!

Irvine Insider is sent to a local audience of Irvine residence Monday through Friday with 50% - 60% open rate. Our newsletter is a great way to reach Irvine residents.

  • Kaiser Permanente Irvine Farmers Market

  • Saturday Farmers Market at Mariners Church Irvine

    • When: Saturday, 8 AM - 12 PM

    • Where: 5428 Bonita Canyon Dr, Irvine, CA 92603

  • Great Park Certified Farmers Market

  • Manassero Farmers

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 4:30 PM

    • Where: 33 Irvine Valley, Irvine, CA 92604

  • Tanaka Farms

    • When: Daily, 9 AM - 5 PM

    • Where: 5380 3/4 University Dr, Irvine, CA 92612

    • More Info:Tanaka Farms

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