Silly & Valentine have decided to take a little summer break from the blog world. It's birthday season around here, with all but one family member having a birthday in the hot months. We're going to be busy, busy, busy and so you can expect our next post this fall, when Silly starts preschool. There will be lunches to pack, snacks on the go, and I suspect more pizza nights than I'll want to admit! Thanks for reading! Have a great summer!
-- Silly & Valentine's Mom
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Fresh Cherries
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls, Vegetarian Sausage Links, & Fresh Berries.
Morning Snack: Fresh Cherries (pitted), Roasted Almonds, and Dubliner Cheese Cubes.
Lunch: Sunflower Seed Butter and Jam on Whole Wheat Bread. Fresh Strawberries on the Side.
Afternoon Snack: Popcorn!
Dinner: Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup Leftovers
We had bigger and better plans for dinner, but the Husband was running late so Silly and I finished off the soup from last night. Turns out it's just as wonderful a day later!
Silly came down with something today, so lunch had to be a comfort food she could eat on the couch while watching movies. Hence the SFSB&J Sandwich followed by Popcorn for a snack. Nothing puts the regular chaos in perspective like a sick child. Normally great eaters become very particular and what can you do?
Here's another unsolicited product recommendation for you: A Pitter. We use ours all the time. When you have small children in the house, there is really no easier way to deal with olives and cherries. Cherries are seasonal of course, but we have to pit olives at least once a week. I'd hate to have to sacrifice the quality of olives we buy simply so we can get them pre-pitted. Not that Silly would care! She'd be just as happy to eat sliced black olives out of a can as she would be to sample the olive bar at Whole Foods. She can be more discerning about other foods, but not olives. She likes them all!
Morning Snack: Fresh Cherries (pitted), Roasted Almonds, and Dubliner Cheese Cubes.
Lunch: Sunflower Seed Butter and Jam on Whole Wheat Bread. Fresh Strawberries on the Side.
Afternoon Snack: Popcorn!
Dinner: Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup Leftovers
We had bigger and better plans for dinner, but the Husband was running late so Silly and I finished off the soup from last night. Turns out it's just as wonderful a day later!
Silly came down with something today, so lunch had to be a comfort food she could eat on the couch while watching movies. Hence the SFSB&J Sandwich followed by Popcorn for a snack. Nothing puts the regular chaos in perspective like a sick child. Normally great eaters become very particular and what can you do?
Here's another unsolicited product recommendation for you: A Pitter. We use ours all the time. When you have small children in the house, there is really no easier way to deal with olives and cherries. Cherries are seasonal of course, but we have to pit olives at least once a week. I'd hate to have to sacrifice the quality of olives we buy simply so we can get them pre-pitted. Not that Silly would care! She'd be just as happy to eat sliced black olives out of a can as she would be to sample the olive bar at Whole Foods. She can be more discerning about other foods, but not olives. She likes them all!
How it all Began
A question I get a lot is how did I get Silly to eat so many different foods. Honestly, she wasn't a great eater until after a year old. She resisted the introduction of solids, but the when finger foods started coming her way, she got a little better. In my (very) limited experience the important key factors in getting a kid to eat well are: Offer variety at every meal, re-offer foods many times, & don't force them to eat.
These points are definitely easier said than done. When you spend half an hour chopping and rinsing and warming a wide selection of foods for your toddler's meal, only to have them take 2 bites of the 'familiar' food, it can quickly become a disheartening process. After composting enough food to feed a small village, I finally came up with a way to deal with the waste that worked for me. Salads! I would chop up a bunch of stuff for Silly's lunch or snack, and what she didn't eat would get scooped onto a bed of greens and become my lunch.
Here is a photograph I took in January 2011 of a pretty typical lunch for Silly when she was 1.5 years old:
The third prong in this strategy is very important. Do not force them to eat or even try the new foods. Just place it out in front of them and let them explore. Very early on we implemented the rule, "If you don't want to eat it, just leave it on your plate and wait until everyone else has finished eating." Notice I don't use "If you don't LIKE it." We simply never introduced that language. The option to not like something wasn't really on the table so to speak. Also, and I know a lot of parents will balk at this, but I allow Sylvia to spit food out on her plate after trying it. 9 times out of 10, she will pick up the food she spit out and finish eating it. But something about having the option to not commit to the bite makes her braver at trying new things. She knows she can taste it, chew it, feel its texture, and decide it's not for her.
These points are definitely easier said than done. When you spend half an hour chopping and rinsing and warming a wide selection of foods for your toddler's meal, only to have them take 2 bites of the 'familiar' food, it can quickly become a disheartening process. After composting enough food to feed a small village, I finally came up with a way to deal with the waste that worked for me. Salads! I would chop up a bunch of stuff for Silly's lunch or snack, and what she didn't eat would get scooped onto a bed of greens and become my lunch.
Here is a photograph I took in January 2011 of a pretty typical lunch for Silly when she was 1.5 years old:
There are black beans, cucumbers, feta cheese, tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms in that dish. I have no recollection of what she ate that day, but I do know that today, she would lick that plate clean. So, however many introductions it took, all of those foods became favorites. And though it may have been an unusual salad, I have no doubt that I preferred the taste of that medley going into my mouth rather than into the compost bin.
The third prong in this strategy is very important. Do not force them to eat or even try the new foods. Just place it out in front of them and let them explore. Very early on we implemented the rule, "If you don't want to eat it, just leave it on your plate and wait until everyone else has finished eating." Notice I don't use "If you don't LIKE it." We simply never introduced that language. The option to not like something wasn't really on the table so to speak. Also, and I know a lot of parents will balk at this, but I allow Sylvia to spit food out on her plate after trying it. 9 times out of 10, she will pick up the food she spit out and finish eating it. But something about having the option to not commit to the bite makes her braver at trying new things. She knows she can taste it, chew it, feel its texture, and decide it's not for her.
That's how it all began! And the picture above is evidence of how long this strange habit I have of photographing my children's food has existed: Pretty much since Silly started eating!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Carrot Pinwheels
Breakfast: Mozzarella and Spinach Omelet, Avocado & Cherry Tomatoes on the side.
Morning Snack: Sugar Snap Peas & Carrot Sticks.
Lunch: Avocado & Cucumber Sushi Rolls, with Edamame & Carrot Pinwheels on the side.
Afternoons Snack Round 1: Strawberry & Honey Greek Yogurt, with Berries and Walnuts.
Afternoon Snack Round 2: Graham Crackers with Sunflower Seed Butter and Hot Chocolate.
Dinner: Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup
Babyfood: Green Beans, Spinach, and Carrot Puree.
We had two snacks this afternoon. Morning snack was a little weak so lunch was early and that left us with a longer stretch of time before dinner. I joined Silly for the hot chocolate and graham crackers. It always hits the spot.
Dinner was a delicious soup from the cookbook Sunday's at Moosewood. Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup has got to be one of the best recipes in that book. It's got bulgar and lentils and spinach and tomatoes in it. I have never had any trouble getting Silly to eat it. It's a warm, hardy meal, and I recommend it.
I don't know what else to say about the babyfood I've been making. Valentine loves it all. I am yet to find something he doesn't gobble up. Today I made Spinach, Carrot, & Green bean puree. I also let him have his first Baby Mum-mum, which he was thrilled to have. He's the easiest one in the house!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Planning Day!
This Sunday we're going to change it up a bit. The reason being we have a special visiter arriving on Wednesday and I'm going to get her assistance planning the rest of the weeks meals. Also, this coming weekend is Silly's 3rd birthday so a special menu must be planned for the occasion!
This is what we're going to plan on for Monday & Tuesday:
Monday
Breakfast: Mozzarella and Spinach Omelets, with Avocado & Cherry Tomatoes on the side.
Lunch: Vegetarian Sushi, with Edamame on the side.
Dinner: Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup
Tuesday
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls & Vegetarian Sausages.
Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with a Spinach Salad on the side.
Dinner: Shrimp Fried Rice
Snacks:
Yogurt & Berries & Walnuts
Hot Chocolate & Graham Crackers with Sunflower Seed Butter
Fresh Veggies (Snap Peas, Carrots, Radishes, Cucumber)
Cherries & Cheese Slices & Almonds
Babyfood:
Spinach/Greenbeans/Carrots
Squash/Spinach
Carrots
This is what we're going to plan on for Monday & Tuesday:
Monday
Breakfast: Mozzarella and Spinach Omelets, with Avocado & Cherry Tomatoes on the side.
Lunch: Vegetarian Sushi, with Edamame on the side.
Dinner: Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup
Tuesday
Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls & Vegetarian Sausages.
Lunch: Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with a Spinach Salad on the side.
Dinner: Shrimp Fried Rice
Snacks:
Yogurt & Berries & Walnuts
Hot Chocolate & Graham Crackers with Sunflower Seed Butter
Fresh Veggies (Snap Peas, Carrots, Radishes, Cucumber)
Cherries & Cheese Slices & Almonds
Babyfood:
Spinach/Greenbeans/Carrots
Squash/Spinach
Carrots
Brie & Bread
Lunch: Brie Cheese, Ciabatta Bread, Grape Tomatoes, and Cucumbers.
Today was a big whop-whop when it comes to photographing our meals. Breakfast was Donuts and Fruit at a birthday party we attended. Silly ate about half a jar of pickles for morning snack. Lunch consisted of the family sitting around a loaf of bread with a slab of brie cheese and some extras. Later, we poked our heads into a neighborhood Pig Roast and Silly snagged a 'smores on a stick' for her afternoon snack. Then we headed to a new pizzeria for dinner and got a giant Calzone and Caesar Salad. As we were leaving they offered us free pistachio ice cream so we all shared that on the walk home. It was a tasty day!
Today was a big whop-whop when it comes to photographing our meals. Breakfast was Donuts and Fruit at a birthday party we attended. Silly ate about half a jar of pickles for morning snack. Lunch consisted of the family sitting around a loaf of bread with a slab of brie cheese and some extras. Later, we poked our heads into a neighborhood Pig Roast and Silly snagged a 'smores on a stick' for her afternoon snack. Then we headed to a new pizzeria for dinner and got a giant Calzone and Caesar Salad. As we were leaving they offered us free pistachio ice cream so we all shared that on the walk home. It was a tasty day!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Grapefruit
Breakfast: Homemade Drop Biscuits with Jam & Butter, Vegetarian Sausage, and Grapefruit.
Morning Snack: Chickpea Hummus, Pumpernickel Pretzels, Carrot Sticks, Sugar Snap Peas, Cherry Tomatoes, and Cucumber Slices.
Afternoon Snack: Baby Carrots with a glass of warm Cow's Milk (not pictured).
Dinner: Spaghetti & Tomato Sauce, with Sauteed Zucchini & Yellow Squash
Babyfood: Green Beans, Yellow Squash, and Zucchini Puree.
Who could have known what a huge hit drop biscuits would be this morning!? I guess we never made them before, and Silly was in love. Of course, the butter and jam we spread on them probably didn't hurt. Grapefruit was a little harder to introduce because neither mom nor dad like it. We've always tried very hard to "be grownups" about food and resist making faces and saying things like "eww!!" when there is food that one of us doesn't care for. Usually at least one of us likes any particular food so there is someone to introduce it in a positive way. Well, Silly loves sour things. The kid will suck on lemons if we let her. So the logical conclusion is that she would probably enjoy grapefruit, but neither of us could stomach the first "Look how good it is!" bite. Finally my husband took the plunge and sliced one open this morning. He made such a big production out of slicing it in half and putting one half in her kiddie snack cup, then sprinkling it with a little sucanat, that she never noticed no one else actually took a bite. She only ate a few bites herself but she sucked a bunch of the juice out, and the overall verdict was: Success. I guess we'll be serving more grapefruit around here!
Lunch was on the road - literally. We sat on the side of the road and ate delicious falafel sandwiches while out wandering around our neighborhood. Everyone enjoyed it, but I forgot to take a picture. Which brings me to a question for you, my non-existent readers. I almost always photograph food I prepare at home. That's just habit and I started this blog to have a place to post those pictures. But what about when we're eating out? Should I still photograph the meal? I'll put it to a vote. See the side bar for the poll.
Everything else was pretty standard fare. The babyfood turned out great. I wasn't super happy with the oatmeal banana puree I made the other day. Valentine enjoyed it, but the servings I put in the fridge gelled up and I had to add water to smooth it. Also, it turned brown because of the bananas. So back to the veggies for a while. Maybe banana is best served fresh anyway.
Tomorrow is Father's Day and we've got lots of activities scheduled, so there will be many meals on the go. But holiday or not, there is no escaping the Sunday night meal planning and grocery shopping. Have a great day all you dad's out there. I'll be back in the evening with our regularly scheduled Broadcast!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Cook's Day Off!
Breakfast: Yummy Diner Food: Eggs, Pancakes, and Strawberries.
Snack for Silly: Oranges
Lunch for Silly: Vegetarian Hot Dogs, Dubliner Cheese Cubes, and Cherry Tomatoes. Grapes, Pretezels and Chickpea Hummus on the side (not all pictured).
Dinner: Pizza Delivery! Cheese with Black Olives, and Caesar Salad on the side.
Snack for Silly: Oranges
Lunch for Silly: Vegetarian Hot Dogs, Dubliner Cheese Cubes, and Cherry Tomatoes. Grapes, Pretezels and Chickpea Hummus on the side (not all pictured).
Dinner: Pizza Delivery! Cheese with Black Olives, and Caesar Salad on the side.
We did very little cooking today. In fact, unless you consider chopping a hotdog to be cooking, we did none. It's been a long week with my husband out of town and when Silly and Valentine woke up this morning it was obvious we needed a treat. So off to the diner down the street for some yummy pancakes. Lunch was on the go today. We joined some friends for a hiking/playground adventure, and ate our picnic lunch before we headed out. This evening was our regular Pizza Friday, and even though we just made homemade pizza last night, it still sounded good to everyone. There was very little snacking today. Silly worked on her lunch all afternoon, so all and all, it was an easy day for the cook!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Pasta, Pesto, & Peas
Breakfast: Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins and Scrambled Eggs.
Snack for Silly: Raisons, Almonds, & Annie's Cheddar Bunnies.
Lunch: Pasta, Pesto, Peas, & Chicken.
Dinner: Homemade Pizza. Silly's topped with Olives, Mushrooms, Onions, Potatoes, & Cherry Tomatoes.
You've gotta love a dinner that is as much fun to make as it is to eat. Tonight's dinner was a full on "activity". We bought raw dough that Silly rolled out and put onto individual pizza pans. Then she slapped on some sauce and proceeded to decorate her own. Her's is the one pictured above. I let her put anything she wanted on it except pickles. Perhaps I should have let her... It was so much fun and not nearly as messy as I expected.
Breakfast was yummy too. Banana muffins with a last minute addition of chocolate chunks. I put exactly three atop each muffin, so things wouldn't get out of hand. Both snacks were on the go today, and I only got a picture of our morning snack. Afternoon snack was another muffin left over from breakfast that we shared with our playdate.
After a long day of taking care of a toddler and infant, the idea of launching another big messy activity can seem down right crazy, but I find if I take the leap, it almost always make the evening go quicker and keeps everyone's mood in check (read: Silly's mood).
See you tomorrow blog world!
Snack for Silly: Raisons, Almonds, & Annie's Cheddar Bunnies.
Lunch: Pasta, Pesto, Peas, & Chicken.
Dinner: Homemade Pizza. Silly's topped with Olives, Mushrooms, Onions, Potatoes, & Cherry Tomatoes.
You've gotta love a dinner that is as much fun to make as it is to eat. Tonight's dinner was a full on "activity". We bought raw dough that Silly rolled out and put onto individual pizza pans. Then she slapped on some sauce and proceeded to decorate her own. Her's is the one pictured above. I let her put anything she wanted on it except pickles. Perhaps I should have let her... It was so much fun and not nearly as messy as I expected.
Breakfast was yummy too. Banana muffins with a last minute addition of chocolate chunks. I put exactly three atop each muffin, so things wouldn't get out of hand. Both snacks were on the go today, and I only got a picture of our morning snack. Afternoon snack was another muffin left over from breakfast that we shared with our playdate.
After a long day of taking care of a toddler and infant, the idea of launching another big messy activity can seem down right crazy, but I find if I take the leap, it almost always make the evening go quicker and keeps everyone's mood in check (read: Silly's mood).
See you tomorrow blog world!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Florentine Pasta Salad
Breakfast: Mango, Peach, & Passion Cereal by Peace. Fresh Pear on the side (not pictured).
Snack for Silly: Pretzels, Almonds, Raisons, and Banana Chips.
Lunch: Tofurkey & Dubliner Cheese Sandwich on Tortillas. Cucumber and Cherry Tomatoes on the side.
Snack for Silly: Dubliner Cheese on Multigrain Crackers, and Fresh Avocado.
Dinner: Lemon Chicken Breasts and Florentine Pasta Salad.
We started off weak but finished with a bang! Feeling lazy this morning, so out came the cereal. It's always very tempting to simply pour a bowl of cereal in lieu of making a good balanced breakfast, and sometimes I give in. Even these nicer cereals seem to be a big bowl of sugar and carbs. I always serve some fresh fruit, but it's still not the best way for us to start the day. Silly is always hungry for her morning snack early when we have cereal.
The plan was to have regular old sandwiches for lunch, but turns out we were out of sandwich bread and had just enough tortillas for "tofurkey quesadillas" as Silly kept calling them. They weren't heating up or anything, but they were more fun than regular bread.
Dinner was an experiment. While my husband is out of town I thought I'd try cooking some chicken. Turns out I don't really know what I'm doing. I followed an Ina Garter recipe but I over cooked the chicken a bit. I kept convincing myself I was seeing pink when I cut into them, but no, they were actually overcooked. They were still tasty though. Anyone have some tips for checking if meat is cooked without having to simply eyeball it? Is this what a "Meat Thermometer" is for?? The Florentine pasta was much more successful. It's a dish inspired by one in an old Better Homes and Gardens 'pasta' cookbook I have. Basically you cook some pasta (I used spinach linguine) then toss it with fresh tomatoes, fresh julienned spinach, some lemon juice, garlic, red onions and a scoop of pesto. I served it at room temperature. Silly enjoyed both components of this dish, despite the overcooked chicken, so I'm calling it a success. It sure is pretty, isn't it?
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Gnocchi
Breakfast: Rolled Oatmeal with Maple Syrup, Apples, and Chopped Walnuts.
Snack for Silly: Strawberry Yogurt and Banana Slices.
Lunch: Organic Brown Rice, Mixed Vegetables, and Black Beans, topped with Balsamic Vinegar and Sour Cream.
Dinner: Potato Gnocchi, Mushrooms, and Peas in a Cream Butter Sage Sauce.
Babyfood: Oatmeal & Banana Puree.
The Gnocchi isn't homemade, but the delicious Cream sauce it's coated in is. It's a simple "Mushroom Cream Sauce" recipe that I pulled from the Food Network website. It worked perfectly and I happen to have purple sage growing in our garden. I threw in the peas for color mostly, but they are also the 'vegetable' of the meal. Silly was delighted to finally try Gnocchi like we have been making with PlayDough, but I think she was slightly disappointed it wasn't pink or purple.
Lunch was an old stand by. I keep organic rice and organic mixed veggies in the freezer at all times, and there are always a few cans of organic beans in the pantry. In about 5 minutes I can warm up each of these components and mix them up for a pretty healthy meal. A little balsamic vinegar and a dollop of sour cream and we had a delicious lunch.
Valentine continues to love the purees I'm making him, but he has his sights set on our food. He never takes his eyes off my plate and if he thinks he has a shot he'll reach out for a handful. Soon, blended veggies aren't going to cut it anymore. Hopefully not too soon - he's still so young!
Snack for Silly: Strawberry Yogurt and Banana Slices.
Lunch: Organic Brown Rice, Mixed Vegetables, and Black Beans, topped with Balsamic Vinegar and Sour Cream.
Dinner: Potato Gnocchi, Mushrooms, and Peas in a Cream Butter Sage Sauce.
Babyfood: Oatmeal & Banana Puree.
The Gnocchi isn't homemade, but the delicious Cream sauce it's coated in is. It's a simple "Mushroom Cream Sauce" recipe that I pulled from the Food Network website. It worked perfectly and I happen to have purple sage growing in our garden. I threw in the peas for color mostly, but they are also the 'vegetable' of the meal. Silly was delighted to finally try Gnocchi like we have been making with PlayDough, but I think she was slightly disappointed it wasn't pink or purple.
Lunch was an old stand by. I keep organic rice and organic mixed veggies in the freezer at all times, and there are always a few cans of organic beans in the pantry. In about 5 minutes I can warm up each of these components and mix them up for a pretty healthy meal. A little balsamic vinegar and a dollop of sour cream and we had a delicious lunch.
Valentine continues to love the purees I'm making him, but he has his sights set on our food. He never takes his eyes off my plate and if he thinks he has a shot he'll reach out for a handful. Soon, blended veggies aren't going to cut it anymore. Hopefully not too soon - he's still so young!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Pumpernickle Pretzels
Breakfast: Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls, Vegetarian Sausage Links, and Grapes.
Snack for Silly: Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks, Sugar Snap Peas, Carrots, and Chickpea Hummus.
Lunch: Sunflower Seed Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread. Cucumber marinated in Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper.
Dinner: Vegetarian Tacos, with Vegetarian Ground Meat, Chopped Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Avocado, on a Crispy Corn Shell.
Today was the first full day of my husband's business trip, so I was pleased that we didn't end up at Taco Bell tonight! Both Silly and Valentine were very patient with me today as I prepared (and photographed) their meals.
Deviating from the plan already, I made Valentine pureed Green Beans today. It was a last minute addition to the grocery list last night and I'm glad I did it. Valentine gobbled it up. I didn't mix them with anything - just pure green beans. Oh, and he enjoyed gumming a pumpernickel pretzel stick at snack time too! And may I take a second to sound like an advertisement? I really and truly love my Beabe Babycook. I didn't pop for one when Silly was a baby because it seemed unnecessary. But can I just tell you how great it is?! I can steam and puree a single carrot if I want, with minimal dishes and in no time at all. If I get distracted in the middle of the short process, I can simply put the whole mixer container in the fridge and finish it up later. It has made preparing homemade baby food so easy. And for the record, Beaba Babybook has no idea who I am and certainly didn't ask me to review their product. In fact, I bought mine used off of Craigslist for $35. Ebay always has good deals on them too if you're looking for one.
The blueberry cinnamon rolls were so great. I came across that idea on Pinterest. All you do is plug a few blueberries into regular, ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls. I have a huge bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer, so I just grabbed a handful of those and voila! I also warmed about 1/3 a cup of them and mixed it with the frosting to get a nice dark purple glaze full of blueberries. The picture above doesn't do this dish justice. Everyone was in the clean plate club this morning.
See you all tomorrow! Happy eating!
Snack for Silly: Pumpernickel Pretzel Sticks, Sugar Snap Peas, Carrots, and Chickpea Hummus.
Lunch: Sunflower Seed Butter and Strawberry Jam Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread. Cucumber marinated in Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar, Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper.
Dinner: Vegetarian Tacos, with Vegetarian Ground Meat, Chopped Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Avocado, on a Crispy Corn Shell.
Today was the first full day of my husband's business trip, so I was pleased that we didn't end up at Taco Bell tonight! Both Silly and Valentine were very patient with me today as I prepared (and photographed) their meals.
Deviating from the plan already, I made Valentine pureed Green Beans today. It was a last minute addition to the grocery list last night and I'm glad I did it. Valentine gobbled it up. I didn't mix them with anything - just pure green beans. Oh, and he enjoyed gumming a pumpernickel pretzel stick at snack time too! And may I take a second to sound like an advertisement? I really and truly love my Beabe Babycook. I didn't pop for one when Silly was a baby because it seemed unnecessary. But can I just tell you how great it is?! I can steam and puree a single carrot if I want, with minimal dishes and in no time at all. If I get distracted in the middle of the short process, I can simply put the whole mixer container in the fridge and finish it up later. It has made preparing homemade baby food so easy. And for the record, Beaba Babybook has no idea who I am and certainly didn't ask me to review their product. In fact, I bought mine used off of Craigslist for $35. Ebay always has good deals on them too if you're looking for one.
The blueberry cinnamon rolls were so great. I came across that idea on Pinterest. All you do is plug a few blueberries into regular, ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls. I have a huge bag of frozen blueberries in the freezer, so I just grabbed a handful of those and voila! I also warmed about 1/3 a cup of them and mixed it with the frosting to get a nice dark purple glaze full of blueberries. The picture above doesn't do this dish justice. Everyone was in the clean plate club this morning.
See you all tomorrow! Happy eating!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Planning Day!
Is Sunday here already?? Last week went well. We had a lot of regulars, but we also tried a new dish: Ratatouille. This week I will use my new kitchen gadget to make scalloped potatoes! Also, a few days ago I introduced Silly to Gnocchi by way of play-dough, so we'll be cooking up the real thing this week so she can try it. Alright, let's get going!
Monday
Breakfast: Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls, Vegetarian Sausage, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Almond Butter & Jam Sandwich, and a Cucumber & Tomato Salad.
Dinner: Vegetarian Tacos with Spanish Rice on the side.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Pears and Walnuts.
Lunch: Vegetable & Bean Rice Bowl, with Sour Cream and Balsamic Vinegar.
Dinner: Gnocchi & Sweet Peas in a Mushroom Cream Sauce.
Wednesday
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Buttered Toast, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Tofurkey & Cheese Sandwiches, Pickles on the side.
Dinner: Florentine Pasta Salad and Roasted Chicken Breast.
Thursday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Muffins, Scrambled Eggs, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Broccoli & Chicken Pasta Salad.
Dinner: Individual Pizzas and Caesar Salad.
Friday
Breakfast: Blueberry Gluten Free Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Grilled Brie Sandwiches and Spinach Salad.
Dinner: Roasted Chicken Breast, Scalloped Potatoes, and Yellow Squash.
Snacks:
Yogurt & Applesauce
Hummus & Veggies
Graham Crackers with Almond Butter & Fruit
Corn Chips with Hummus & Salsa
Cheese, Walnuts & Fruit
Babyfood:
Yellow Squash/Carrot
Oatmeal/Pear
Spinach/Oatmeal/Carrot
A small, perhaps obvious note about these Sunday night menus: they change. Meals get moved around the week, eliminated in favor of take out, and so on. As the week unfolds and the pictures turn up, we will see how closely we stick to 'the plan'!
Monday
Breakfast: Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls, Vegetarian Sausage, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Almond Butter & Jam Sandwich, and a Cucumber & Tomato Salad.
Dinner: Vegetarian Tacos with Spanish Rice on the side.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Oatmeal with Pears and Walnuts.
Lunch: Vegetable & Bean Rice Bowl, with Sour Cream and Balsamic Vinegar.
Dinner: Gnocchi & Sweet Peas in a Mushroom Cream Sauce.
Wednesday
Breakfast: Poached Eggs on Buttered Toast, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Tofurkey & Cheese Sandwiches, Pickles on the side.
Dinner: Florentine Pasta Salad and Roasted Chicken Breast.
Thursday
Breakfast: Pumpkin Muffins, Scrambled Eggs, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Broccoli & Chicken Pasta Salad.
Dinner: Individual Pizzas and Caesar Salad.
Friday
Breakfast: Blueberry Gluten Free Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs, and Fresh Fruit.
Lunch: Grilled Brie Sandwiches and Spinach Salad.
Dinner: Roasted Chicken Breast, Scalloped Potatoes, and Yellow Squash.
Snacks:
Yogurt & Applesauce
Hummus & Veggies
Graham Crackers with Almond Butter & Fruit
Corn Chips with Hummus & Salsa
Cheese, Walnuts & Fruit
Babyfood:
Yellow Squash/Carrot
Oatmeal/Pear
Spinach/Oatmeal/Carrot
A small, perhaps obvious note about these Sunday night menus: they change. Meals get moved around the week, eliminated in favor of take out, and so on. As the week unfolds and the pictures turn up, we will see how closely we stick to 'the plan'!
Malai Kofta
Breakfast: Life Cereal!
Snack for Silly: Cheese, tomato, & Avocado Quesadillas, with Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes, Sour Cream, and Salsa on the side.
Lunch: Cheese Tortellini with Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes & Peas, tossed with Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper.
Dinner: Mixed Vegetable Pakora, Naan, and Malai Kofta over Rice.
While I do have a fabulous recipe for Malai Kofta, this evening we ordered take out. My husband is leaving for a business trip in a few hours, so in addition to getting Silly and Valentine to bed, cleaning the house, grocery shopping and a slew of other things, making dinner was not high on the list. Eating dinner was right up there, but not making it. Therefore, we called on our favorite Indian Food Delivery guys. We order one dish and eat it family style.
Speaking of "family style", how do you include your young children in family chores such as cleaning up after dinner? Growing up, my mom did everything! She cooked, served, and cleaned up. As much as I feel like a 50's housewife sometimes, I'd like to get everyone involved in maintaining our home and I think Silly is ready to help out. We're starting by having her collect all the cloth napkins after each meal and put them in the laundry hamper. It's a small task, but it's something she can handle. After snack, I have her put her empty plate on the counter in the kitchen. I'm considering lowering the compost bin, and having her clear her own plate too. Is that too much for a three year old to do? I watch the child "cook" and clean up all day in her play kitchen so it seems to me she is ready for a little responsibility.
Anyway, it's Sunday evening, so I need to hurry up and get that menu planned so I can run to the store!
Snack for Silly: Cheese, tomato, & Avocado Quesadillas, with Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes, Sour Cream, and Salsa on the side.
Lunch: Cheese Tortellini with Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes & Peas, tossed with Olive Oil, Sea Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper.
Dinner: Mixed Vegetable Pakora, Naan, and Malai Kofta over Rice.
While I do have a fabulous recipe for Malai Kofta, this evening we ordered take out. My husband is leaving for a business trip in a few hours, so in addition to getting Silly and Valentine to bed, cleaning the house, grocery shopping and a slew of other things, making dinner was not high on the list. Eating dinner was right up there, but not making it. Therefore, we called on our favorite Indian Food Delivery guys. We order one dish and eat it family style.
Speaking of "family style", how do you include your young children in family chores such as cleaning up after dinner? Growing up, my mom did everything! She cooked, served, and cleaned up. As much as I feel like a 50's housewife sometimes, I'd like to get everyone involved in maintaining our home and I think Silly is ready to help out. We're starting by having her collect all the cloth napkins after each meal and put them in the laundry hamper. It's a small task, but it's something she can handle. After snack, I have her put her empty plate on the counter in the kitchen. I'm considering lowering the compost bin, and having her clear her own plate too. Is that too much for a three year old to do? I watch the child "cook" and clean up all day in her play kitchen so it seems to me she is ready for a little responsibility.
Anyway, it's Sunday evening, so I need to hurry up and get that menu planned so I can run to the store!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
French Toast
Breakfast: French Toast topped with Bananas and Powdered Sugar. Side of Vegetarian Sausage.
Snack for Silly: Homemade Guacamole, Tomato Slices, and Corn Chips.
Lunch: Organic Macaroni & Cheese with Sauteed Spinach on the side.
Snack for Silly: Orange Slices, Roasted Almonds, and Pretzels.
You can always tell when the week is coming to a close, because that's when we pull out the Mac & Cheese! Also, we ended up at a local fish restaurant for dinner and I forgot to take a picture of what we all had. It was basically a bunch of fried seafood and ceasar salad and french fries. Yum!
Snack for Silly: Homemade Guacamole, Tomato Slices, and Corn Chips.
Lunch: Organic Macaroni & Cheese with Sauteed Spinach on the side.
Snack for Silly: Orange Slices, Roasted Almonds, and Pretzels.
You can always tell when the week is coming to a close, because that's when we pull out the Mac & Cheese! Also, we ended up at a local fish restaurant for dinner and I forgot to take a picture of what we all had. It was basically a bunch of fried seafood and ceasar salad and french fries. Yum!
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