Healthy Spoonfuls

Garlic and Chive Mashed Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 01:54:00 +0000

This creamy mashed potato recipe has the perfect blend of garlic and chives. Its a great side dish for Thanksgiving Day!

The Yukon Gold potato not only provides nutrition and excellent flavor; it's versatile and a tasty source of carbohydrates. The Yukon is surprisingly high in vitamin and mineral content. When people think of potatoes with regard to nutritive value, often we consider them to be merely a source of complex carbohydrates in the form of starch. Regrettably the potato is not given the credit it deserves for the nutrition it provides. Its a great source of fiber and potassium, which are good for the digestive tract and bone strength. I can't imagine our kids not loving it!

We enjoyed this with my slowcooked pork chops and applesauce!

Ingredients:

5lbs of yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cubed

6 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

1 cup of low fat buttermilk

2 tbsp light butter/margarine

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. put potatoes in a large pot with salt and enough water to cover, bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender. Once done return to drain and return to pot.
2. add buttermilk, butter, garlic, and chives, mash or use hand mixer to get to smooth consistency
3. season with salt and pepper to taste

Serves 10

Slow Cooked Pork Chops and Applesauce

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:28:00 +0000

Slow cooking pork is a wonderful was to get extremely tender and moist meat. It's an easy meal that consists of combining ingredient's and walking away. With the right mixture of spices, its terrific. Super tender and flavorful. Its also a fantastic Autumn dish!

I served this with garlic and chive mashed potatoes. Recipe coming soon!

A dish the whole family will love!

Ingredient's:
3 lbs of boneless or bone-in pork chops
24 oz jar of unsweetened applesauce or 4 cups of homemade applesauce
3/4 cup of brown sugar, light or dark
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp Chinese five spice

Directions:
1. In large skillet heat olive oil and brown pork chops on each side for 3 minutes
2. In a 4 - 6 quart crock pot, place the pork chops in even layers.
3. Pour the applesauce and brown sugar over top, evenly sprinkle the cinnamon and Chinese five spice over the top.
4. Cook on low for 5 - 6 hours or on high for 3 - 4 hours.

Serves 5

Pumpkin Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:21:00 +0000

This DELICIOUS, creamy, guiltless soup is a definite must try. Topped with crispy croutons and fresh parsley it's simply divine!

This was my first time experimenting with pumpkin soup and thankfully it all worked out. I had leftover heavy cream in my fridge from vodka sauce I made last week and with having tons of pumpkins around these days, I thought this would be a perfect meal to make my family on this chilly Halloween day.

Please make sure to follow my instructions on only processing 1 cup at a time, I had an explosion in my kitchen making an absolute mess. Lol. This happened to be a very filling dish so serve just enough to leaving room for your next course.

Ingredients:
6 cups of chicken stock (in box/can)
24oz can of pumpkin puree or 4 cups of fresh pumpkin
1 cup of white onion chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 tsp of salt
6 whole pieces of peppercorn
1 tsp fresh thyme
3 tsp fresh parsley (for garnish)

Optional: Croutons (for Garnish)
3 cups whole wheat bread cut into cube
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp grated cheese

Directions:
1. combine stock, pumpkin, salt, peppercorns, garlic, onions and thyme into stockpot, bring to a boil then reduce to low and simmer for 30mins uncovered.
2. puree the mixture in small batches, 1 cup at a time using a food processor
3. return to stockpot and bring to a boil again, then reduce to low and simmer for another 30 mins.
4. stir in heavy cream and simmer for 10 mins
5. garnish with parsley and croutons, serve hot.

Serves 5

Croutons Recipe:
1. combine bread, oil and grated cheese into mixing bowl
2. in skillet over medium to high heat, combine all ingredients and cook until crispy, turning constantly

Chicken Rollatini Stuffed with Proscuitto and Goat Cheese

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:39:00 +0000

Baked Chicken cutlets dipped in lemon and olive oil, and coated in a combination of bread crumbs grated cheese then rolled with prosciutto, goat cheese and shallots and cooked until golden. I served this with baked sweet potatoes mixed with onions and garlic.

I made this dish last night for my husband who had a very long and stressful day at work. I used prosciutto and goat cheese because they are two of his favorites. I thought the saltiness from the prosciutto and the creaminess from the goat cheese was a great combination. But to my surprise it was a absolute HIT with my 18 month old. The chicken was moist and every bite left you wanting me.

Ive made Chicken Rollatini many times before. You have such flexibility with flavors and ingredients. You can stuff it with virtually any vegetable or cheese.

So I am happy to share this one with you! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
6 thin chicken cutlets

6 tsp goat cheese
6 slices of imported prosciutto
2 shallots sliced
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Breadcrumb
1/4 cup Pecorino Romano Grated Cheese
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 lemon juiced
Pepper to taste
Olive Oil Spray

Directions:
1. preheat oven to 450*, lightly grease baking pan with olive oil spray
2. wash and dry cutlets with paper towels, pound out cutlets, if necessary
3. combine breadcrumbs and grated cheese in one bowl and olive oil, lemon juice, and pepper in another bowl
4. coat the chicken in lemon-oil mixture, then coat each cutlet evenly with breadcrumb
5. place each cutlet on cutting board and place 1 slice of prosciutto, 1 tsp of goat cheese and 1 tsp of sliced shallots on 1 side of cutlet
6. roll tightly and place seam side down in a baking dish (do for all 6 pieces)
7. finally, spray each piece of chicken with olive oil spray
Serves 4

Whole Wheat Blueberry Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:15:00 +0000

These are moist and delicious blueberry muffins loaded with tons of blueberries. With just 80 calories per 1 cup and virtually no fat, blueberries have many nutritional benefits. In just one serving it offers more then 25% of your child's daily vitamin C which aids in a healthy immune system, plus lots of fiber. Each bite will have you wanting more.

We know our kids will love them but our whole family will too. My husband is very health conscience but he loves his sweets. This recipe definitely satisfies his sweet tooth without all the added calories and fat.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 whole wheat flour (sifted)
1 1/4 tbsp baking powder
2 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup softened marganice/butter
1/2 cup agave syrup
3/4 cup whole or low fat milk
1 egg
3/4 cup blueberries

Directions:
1.Preheat oven 400
2. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, syrup, milk and egg into mixing bowl, using your hand/stand mixer, mix until combined well
3. In blender place blueberries and softened butter and puree for 10 seconds
4. Combine all ingredient's together and mix with whisk until combined well
5. Pour batter into 12 lined muffin tins, about 3/4 full
5. Bake for 20 mins
Makes 12

Healthy Homemade Veggie Burgers

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:52:00 +0000

I was a vegetarian for over 17 years, up until I meet my husband in 2007. I started to explore different meats, poultry's and fish and expanded my knowledge on the health benefits certain proteins offer. But till this day a veggie burger is a staple in my life.

Veggie burgers seems to be my go to food on a busy day for my family. Luckily I have created this recipe that my whole family loves. Its packed with veggies, calcium and lots of protein. I make 1 batch once a month that I freeze and pull out as needed.

When my son turned 14 months old he started to get very picky with his foods. So being able to combine all the essential vitamins he needs in a day was perfect. Its super simple and a great alternative to store bought burgers.

Ingredients:

1 19oz can of organic chick peas (drained and washed)
1/2 cup of frozen organic vegetables
1 tomato diced
1 small eggplant diced
1 medium onion diced
2 medium carrots diced
1 green pepper diced
1 red pepper diced
3 cloves of garlic minced
3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp of fresh parsley chopped finely
1/2 cup grated cheese
1/2 cup bread crumb (whole wheat, italian seasoned , panko or gluten free
salt to taste

Directions:
1. in large skillet over medium to high heat oil and combine onions and garlic until translucent, then combine
peppers, carrots, tomato, eggplant and frozen vegetables cook until tender
2. in separate mixing bowl combine chick peas then with your hands mix well until peas are mashed; mixture will be chunky
3. combine cooked veggies, mashed chick peas, grated cheese breadcrumb and parsley; mix well with hands until combined well; mixture will moist and sticky
4. form into burger size patties and place in oven, BBQ or skillet and cook until golden brown
5. leftover mixture form into patties and freeze in freezer bags for up to 3 months

Chopped veggies

Sauteing in skillet

All ingredients combined

Formed patties

Note: when sauteing something in a skillet make sure oil is very hot otherwise the food will absorb all the oil making food greasy.

Banana Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:32:00 +0000

Occasional in my home a few bananas tend to get ripe faster then I expected. So my husband and I are always experimenting with different muffin and bread recipes. But this one takes the cake, we used whole wheat flour, organic agave syrup instead of white sugar and much less butter then your ordinary recipe.

My 18 month old loves these as breakfast or just as a mid-day snack. They are easy to take on the run and best of all they can be frozen. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas mashed
3/4 cup of whole wheat flour
3/4 cup white flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp chinese five spice
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup agave syrup
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg

Topping: (optional)
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbls white or whole wheat flour
1/8 cup cinnamon
1 tbl butter (not melted)

Directions:

1.Preheat oven 320
2. Combine all ingredients into mixing bowl, using your hand/stand mixer, mix until combined well
3. Pour batter into 12 lined muffin tins, about 3/4 full
4. If using topping: combine all ingredient's into small mixing bowl and mix with your hands;
topping will be chunky
5. Then put topping on each muffin and bake for 25 mins
Makes 12

Mixture without topping

Mixture with topping

As long as a nut allergy is not of concern you can mix some walnuts into topping mixture if desired.

Note: when using agave syrup the rule of thumb is to use 25% less then you would for a white sugar recipe and 20 degrees less in the oven temperature because agave cooks faster. You can omit white sugar from other recipes you have by remembering this rule.

Turkey and Vegetable Meatloaf

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:23:00 +0000

With the colder weather coming soon, I always start to get the itch on making meals in the oven. I have experimented with this recipe many times but I think I nailed the perfect mixture of proteins and vegetables. Its a quick and easy meal for those busy nights. I have designed this recipe as making 2 loafs, 1 for dinner, or leftovers for lunch and the other for freezing! Enjoy!

Ages: 12 months - up
Prepping Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 1 hr (in oven)
Suitable for freezing

Ingredients:
1 1/2 of turkey chopped meat (lean)
1 medium onion (chopped)
3 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 green pepper (diced)
1 red pepper (diced)
2 medium carrots (diced)
3/4 cup grated cheese
3/4 cup bread crumbs (you can use panko, regular Italian breadcrumbs or gluten free)
6 eggs
2 tbs of fresh parsley (chopped)
olive oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
1. in large skillet over medium heat with 3 tablespoons of olive oil, saute onions, garlic, carrots and peppers until tender (set aside)
2. in separate small pot add 4 eggs with water and bring to a boil (set aside, let cool and peel off shell of eggs)
3. in separate large mixing bowl combine turkey meat, grated cheese, breadcrumb, parsley, 2 eggs and ingredient's sauteed from skillet
4. Mix well with hands until all ingredients are combined
5. on a flat surface make a rectangular shape with meat and place 2 hard boiled eggs in center (see pic below)
6. place mixture into a 9x12 loaf pan7. lightly grease loaf pan with olive oil then place meat in, put in oven for 1hr uncovered

This recipe will make 2 loafs, so freeze the other loaf for a meal needed on the jiff. Putting the eggs in center of loaf is optional. If you choose not to then you only need 2 eggs for recipe.

Serve with baked sweet potato and baked butternut squash as a nutritional and well balanced meal for your family.

White Rice and Spinach Balls

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:46:00 +0000

Recently my son came down with a virus. So getting him to eat his vegetables (let alone any food) was a struggle. So I tried to think of a little treat for him. I felt rice and spinach balls would be a great combination for my son to get his daily nutritional needs of a vegetable and dairy. This is not only a great mid-day snack or side dish with dinner or lunch but its a simple way to get our families to eat healthy. I used frozen spinach which made things even easier on my busy day. Remember don't feel guilty using frozen vegetables there is no research that shows frozen veggies lose nutritional value. Enjoy!

Prepping Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked white or brown rice
2 egg whites
1 10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed
1 shallot finely, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
3/4 cup panko or italian bread crumbs or gluten free
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated cheese
salt and pepper
olive oil cooking spray
marinara sauce (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet
2. Saute shallots in olive oil in a pan over medium heat until translucent. Add garlic and spinach continue sauteing until most of the moisture is cooked off. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl mix together rice, egg whites, bread crumbs, grated cheese and mozzarella cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Mix in spinach and use hands to form golf ball sized rice balls. Place each rice ball on the prepared baking sheet.
5. Spray tops of rice balls with cooking spray and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned and slightly crispy.
6. Serve with marinara sauce as dip (optional)

Makes approximately 18

What are my toddlers daily nutritional needs?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:31:00 +0000

It is very important to prepare and serve balanced meals and healthy snacks for your toddlers. When planning meals or snacks try to have him/her consume the following daily recommended servings.

Fruits - 1 cup (not juice)
Vegetables - 3/4 cup
Protein - 1 1/2 ounces per day
Dairy - 16-24 ounces per day
Grains - 2 ounces per day (whole grains)
Fats/Oils - 2 tablespoons

A serving size for a toddler is 1 tablespoon per year of age.

Baked Chicken Nuggets

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 20:34:00 +0000

I don't know many kids that don't like chicken nuggets. Since I don't fry EVER, I am happy to share this really simply and delicious recipe for BAKED chicken nuggets. Its chunks of white meat covered in breadcrumbs and cooked until crispy, that your child will surely like.

I make this recipe at least once a week. My 15 month old enjoying them for at least 2 days of meals, I serve it to him as dinner or as lunch with a veggie on side. It's an easy recipe that the whole family will love! We like our chicken crispy on the outside so 2 mins before the chicken is done, I put the oven on broil to crisp them up.

You can't beat it! Enjoy!!!

Ingredients:

2 skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 inch pieces

2 tsp olive oil

6 tbsp whole wheat/Italian or breadcrumbs

2 tbsp panko

2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese (if desired)

olive oil spray

Directions:

preheat oven 425 degrees.
spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray
cut chicken into 1 inch thick bite size pieces
season chicken with salt, then put in bowl with olive oil and mix well so all pieces are evenly coated
put breadcrumbs, panko, and parmesan cheese in a bowl.
coat chicken with breadcrumbs, then place on baking sheet
spray the baking sheet and top of chicken with the olive oil spray
bake for 10 minutes
then turn over and bake for another 5 minutes

Simply Beets

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:16:00 +0000

My husband is a triathlete and he reads more magazines on biking, swimming and running then anyone I know. Every time he comes across a good article he asked me to read it and about a year ago I read one and it was explaining the benefits of beets. I was hearing a lot of this so I decided to do some research.

What I've found is amazing, and I seemed to be more amazed after I noticed a change in my son. Beets are known to contribute to brain health. So I questioned? Just how do beets benefit the brain? They are a top source of nitrates, which when converted to nitric oxide actually expand veins and arteries, allowing more blood to flow and carry oxygen to the brain...and to muscles, as well. This may be why beet juice helps boost stamina, allowing athletes to cycle a minute and a half longer at high intensity. Beets also contain betanin, a compound that may help keep LDL bad cholesterol in check. One-half cup of cooked beets has only 37 calories and provides a good source of folic acid, manganese, vitamin A, fiber, calcium and potassium. I noticed after only four days of eating beets my son at only 8 months was saying words, and assisted at regulating his digestive system. Note: Don't be alarmed if your child's poop is a reddish color, this is common when digesting beets. I remember thinking I seen blood in his diaper.

According to the EWG, beets are not one of the "dirty dozen" foods that are most highly contaminated with pesticides. I sometimes find it difficult to find organic beets but since they are not full of pesticides I don't stress the matter. When selecting beets for homemade baby food purees, try to purchase fresh beets whenever possible, not canned. The medium sized beets are more tender and tasty than the large beets, some say don't purchase any over 3-4 inches. Beets come in all types of colors including red, yellow and purple. When possible, buy beets that still have their green leafy tops attached, this will leave them more fresh and don't worry about the dirt you will rarely find a washed or shiny beet in the grocery store. When preparing Beets, I like to steam or roast them. Steaming is my most preferred best method, they tend to cook up a bit mushier which makes it easier to puree. But don't worry if they seem to hard, you will most likely have to thin the consistency with water. Considering the nitrates levels it is recommended that beets be given at 8 months or up.

My husband and I particularly love beets, we steam or bake them, (steaming is quicker) drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil and red vinegar on top to put in our salads or just as a side dish. Enjoy!

Ages: 8 months and up

Makes: 4ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 2 beets

Directions:

remove skin, wash, cut into slices/dice and steam beets until tender
Do Not reserve leftover water (may contain nitrates)
once tender, put beets in appliance for pureeing
puree until smooth adding leftover water/breast milk or formula if necessary
beets are a great combo with peas, chicken, apple, potatoes, squash, rice etc.

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food.

Beets also make a great family side dish.

Directions:

remove skin, wash, cut into slices/dice and steam beets until tender
drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, red vinegar and salt
serve up room temp

Fresh Fruit Ice and Yogurt Pops

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 19:02:00 +0000

Its hard for me to think of any other healthier and refreshing snack for my toddler. Its a great summer treat. What makes it even better is that you can use whatever fruit you desire :) They are simple and cute, my 1 year old enjoyed them as we sat in the backyard, on this warm summer day! I pureed these recipes but you can leave the fruit whole as well. I couldn't resist experimenting with these pops so I made 4 different ones, it was hard to not do so.

Also what so great is that these recipes serve 3 different purposes they can be a yogurt pop, ice pop or just a simply no need to cook puree. My husband and son loved them all. So I hope you Enjoy!

Strawberry Banana Yogurt/Ice Pop/Puree

Ages: 12 months and up

Makes: 4 pops

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Freezing Time: 2 hrs

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 small banana, 1/2 cup strawberries, 4ozs of vanilla/plain yogurt

Directions:

wash and dice strawberries
banana peel and slice
combine strawberries, bananas and yogurt into appliance for pureeing or you may leave fruit whole.
slowing pour mixture into popsicle molds, place in freezer and let firm for a few hours
to remove from molds, run warm water on plastic for a few seconds.
Omit yogurt if desired and follow same instructions

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food

Watermelon Strawberry Pineapple Yogurt/Ice Pop/Puree

Ages: 12 months and up

Makes: 4 pops

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Freezing Time: 2 hrs

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1/3 cup watermelon, 1/3 cup strawberries, 1/3 cup pineapple (fresh or can), 4ozs of vanilla/plain yogurt

Directions:

wash and dice strawberries
dice watermelon
dice pineapple
combine ingredients into appliance for pureeing or you may leave fruit whole.
slowing pour mixture into popsicle molds, place in freezer and let firm for a few hours
to remove from molds, run warm water on plastic for a few seconds.
Omit yogurt if desired and follow same instructions

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food

Strawberry Banana Puree

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 20:57:00 +0000

Some purees are particularly easy to prepare, as they use ingredients that don't need to be cooked. These are great last minute options or if your quickly running out the door recipes. They are not only delicious, but very nutritious combinations that you must try. They are suitable for breakfast or dessert mixed with your child's favorite oatmeal/rice cereal or yogurt. For the purees with yogurt choose whole milk, organic, unsweetened versions. Do also make sure that the fruit is sweet and ripe by tasting it yourself first. Enjoy!
Strawberry Banana Yogurt/Ice Pop/Puree

Ages: 12 months and up

Makes: 4ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 0 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 small banana, 1/2 cup strawberries

Directions:

wash and dice strawberries
banana peel and slice
combine strawberries and bananas into appliance for pureeing
puree until consistency desired
add child's favorite oatmeal/rice cereal/yogurt if desired

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if an ingredient is a new food

Simply Pears

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:13:00 +0000

Pears don't need to be cooked as long as they are ripe, and easily made into a smooth puree. Steaming fruits is typically recommend for babies under 8 months old to help them breakdown sugar and fibers. Pearsare gentle on the digestive system and very watery to begin with, use your own discretion of your child's digestive system. If you will be offering pears to an infant under 6 months give them a quick 5 min steam. Just like apples they are a great first fruit!

Pears are high in fiber, potassium and Vitamin C. They are a great fruit to offer infants with a history of constipation and babies suffering from reflux. Pears contain 0 zero sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol but they do contain two types of sugar (glucose and fructose). Enjoy!

Ages: 4 months and up

Makes: 4ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 5 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 Fully Ripened Pear

Directions:

wash, peel, de-seed and Cut Pear into small pieces
(If desired) Steam Pear until tender about 5 minutes (using your all-in-one machine or double boiler)
make sure to reserve leftover water for thinning out the pears
once tender, place in appliance for pureeing
puree until smooth adding leftover water/breast-milk or formula if necessary
(If desired)add oatmeal/rice cereal to thicken consistency

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food

Tips for Teething

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 01:27:00 +0000

Ages: 6 months and Up

This teething feeder is a great invention. It gives parents the ability to feed their babies all sorts of fruits, with the comfort of knowing they will not choke. This will help our little ones alleviate the pain that comes from teething. You simply cut up any fruit your baby enjoys and place it in the net. I particularly like the Sassy Brand, because it has a case to cover the net, which is great when traveling. They also sell replaceable nets. After much use you will definitely need them. This will help with the teething pain plus keep your little one busy for a while. I would sit my son in his chair while I cooked dinner and it kept him happy and quiet :) See links below for products.

Different Items to place in net:

Raw Fruits (cut and peeled)
Frozen Puree's (great for the teething baby)
Ice Cubes (great for teething baby or even for a hot day outside)
Also good for the toddlers instead of giving those ice pops that are full of sugar you can replace it with a favorite frozen fruit as a treat!

Sassy Feeder Link:

Sassy Replacement Bags:

Apples and Blueberries

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:28:00 +0000

Blueberries are often referred to as a "Super Food" because they are high in antioxidants and they also contain fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Blueberries are also thought be cholesterol reducers, so this makes them not only great for babies but adults alike. Whats also so great about blueberries is the fact that you have a choice to cook or not cook them for your babies; so its as simple as throwing them in a small bag and taking them along with you as a snack. But remember blueberries made alone tend to be very thin in consitency so mix with cereal if desired or a different fruit.

Apples contain two types of fiber; insoluble fiber and soluble fiber. Both the insoluble fiber in apples and their soluble fiber pectin, help maintain bowel regularity (thus helping to prevent diverticulosis and colon cancer). The insoluble fiber works like roughage, while the soluble fiber (pectin), helps keep the bowels regular (avoiding constipation, avoiding diarrhea) and specifically affects the makeup of the stool. Pectin will firm up the stool as it is a soluble fiber.

Try to buy blueberries and apples since they are considered part of the "Dirty Dozen" refer to my post "Why should I buy organic" for more information.

Ages: 8 months and up

Makes: 10ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 15 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1/2 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen), 1 small apple, 1/4 cup water

Directions:

wash, peel, core and cut apple chunks
steam apple until tender
bring water to boil then place washed blueberries in saucepan and let simmer for 15 mins
reverse left over water from apples to use for thinning out if necessary
place apples and blueberries (with water from boiling) into appliance for pureeing
puree until smooth adding leftover water/breast milk or formula if necessary
if desired add oatmeal/rice cereal or yogurt for a great breakfast or afternoon snack

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if an ingredient is a new food

Simply Peas

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Peas are a good source of fiber, protein and vitamin C. When preparing as a baby food they may sometimes be to thick for our really little ones, so try putting them in a regular blender with liquid to thin out; or after steaming immediately, place them in cool water, let them cool then put back in blender (best to use setting to liquefy). Plunging hot cooked peas into a bowl of ice cold water is known to help make a smoother puree.

Also remember if using frozen peas these may be cooked, pureed and then frozen again for storage. If adding breast milk or formula this will give your baby a familiar flavor. Enjoy!

The spoon in the photo was actually mine as a baby!

Ages: 4 months and up

Makes: 8ozs

Prepping Time: 0 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 8ozs of Organic Frozen Peas or 8ozs of Fresh Peas

Directions:

wash and steam 3ozs of Organic Frozen Peas until tender
reverse left over water to use for thinning out if necessary
once tender, put peas in appliance for pureeing
puree until smooth adding leftover water/breast milk or formula if necessary

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food.

Yogurt Delight

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 29 May 2011 19:01:00 +0000

This is a great treat not only for the little ones but the older ones too. On a hot day, place mixture in blender with a little ice and milk to make a yogurt smoothie. Mango and strawberries are rich in vitamin A and C, bananas are loaded with potassium and yogurt is full of calcium and protein. Remember you can mix all different fruits to make this delightful refreshing meal or snack for your child. Enjoy!

Ages: 12 months and up

Makes: 3 cups

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 0 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 Cup of Plain/Vanilla Yogurt, 1 Banana, 1/2 cup Strawberries and 1 Ripe Mango

Directions:

wash, peel, cut mango into small chunks
wash, remove stems, slice strawberries into small pieces
mash banana into
place mango, strawberries and banana into appliance for pureeing
puree until you reach desired texture
in separate bowl place yogurt and fruit puree and mix together.
serve cool
If desired mix with rice cereal/oatmeal for a great morning meal

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if an ingredient is a new food

Bananas with Cherries

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:58:00 +0000

Cherries are a great source of fiber for those constipated baby's; so mixing the banana is a great choice because it has tons of potassium but also tends to be binding for children. My son suffered from constipation when he was infant, because he had a milk protein sensitivity. So alot of the milk based formula wasn't good for him and I stop breast feeding at 3 months. But now that I have the ability to compensate is digestive system with high fiber foods and still being able to give him the whole milk, foods like cherries are great for him even as a toddler.

I just prepared this treat at my sister's house, she made me realize how yummy it can be for adults and children all ages; considering she just served it up for herself and older children, with frozen vanilla yogurt. Enjoy!

Ages: 8 months and up

Makes: 8ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 5 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 Banana and 10 Cherries

Directions:

place cherries in 4ozs of water and bring to a boil, cherries will be slightly tender
cut 1 Banana into slices
after Cherries have been brought to a boil, place bananas and cherries with water from boiling into appliance for pureeing
serve warm or cool
if desired mix with rice cereal/oatmeal/yogurt for a great morning meal

This is a must TRY, its outrageous!!

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if an ingredient is a new food

Sweet Potato with Peas

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:34:00 +0000

Ages: 4 months and up

Makes: 8ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 small Sweet Potato and 3ozs of Organic Frozen Peas

Directions:

Steam 3ozs of Organic Frozen Peas until tender
Peel & Cut sweet potato into small chucks
Steam, Bake, Boil, or microwave sweet potatoes until tender
Reverse left over water to use for thinning out sweet potatoes if necessary
Once tender, place sweet potatoes and peas in appliance for pureeing
Puree until smooth adding leftover water/breast milk or formula if necessary

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" is an ingredient is a new food

If Baking Sweet Potatoes wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving; Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30-60 minutes or until soft
If adding breast milk or formula this will give your baby a familiar flavor

Simply Apples

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 24 May 2011 20:40:00 +0000

Ages: 4 months and up

Makes: 4ozs

Prepping Time: 5 mins

Cooking Time: 10 mins

Suitable for Freezing

Ingredients: 1 small Apple (any type you desire, Macintosh, Gala or Fuji)

Directions:

wash, peel, core and cut apple into small pieces
steam apples until tender about 10 minutes (using your all-in-one machine or double boiler)
make sure to reserve leftover water for thinning out the apples
once tender, place apples in appliance for pureeing
puree until smooth adding leftover water if necessary
if desired add oatmeal to thicken consistency
if desired add a dash of cinnamon

Remember "4 day Wait Rule" if ingredient is a new food

Equipment Needed

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:54:00 +0000

I know it may be tempting to purchase those cool all-in-one machines they sell in baby stores. I've purchased them myself; but after months of preparing homemade baby food I found that all the equipment I needed was in my own kitchen.

Medium Saucepan
Steamer Basket or metal colander
Large Stock Pot
Food Processor/Blender or food mill
Fork & Spoon
Freezing Containers

During Stage 1 of Baby Food, we arent preparing an abundance of purees since most infants only eat once or twice a day. So these all-in-one machines do come in handy, during the early stages. The machine I liked was the
(The First Years™ BabyPro All-in-One Baby Meal Processor by Learning Curve™), (see link below) this machine is a steamer and a food processor; the best feature is the ablity to reserve the liquid from either ur fruits or vegetables. You can use the liquid as stock, a consitnecy thinner and even a Yummy Drink for your morning breakfast. I enjoyed the fresh apple and pear juice it would make.
The disadvantage, is that your limited to the amount of food you can prepare. So if you are looking to prepare fresh baby food daily, then these machines are a good choice. Otherwise, with most moms having a busy schedule your better option may be to simply use your household double boiler, to prepare an abundnace of items to freeze.

Why should I buy Organic?

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:54:00 +0000

I always hear the reason why people don't buy organic is because its much more expense then the alternative brands; I get that, but I've been doing my research on why eating organic is so important. So here is why.

The Environmental Working Group recommends buying organic whenever possible. It is the smartest way to reduce your exposure to pesticides; Pesticides are toxic by design. They are created to kill living organisms -such as insects, plants, and fungi. Many pesticides pose health dangers to people. These risks have been established by independent research scientists and physicians across the world.
As acknowledged by U.S. and international government agencies, different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems, including:

nervous system toxicity
cancer
hormone system effects
skin, eye and lung irritation
Lower IQ in children (recent studies done out of Mount Sinai, Columbia, Beekley)

Also by buying organic we are sending a message that we support environmentally friendly farming practices that minimize soil erosion, safeguard water quality and protect wildlife.

Finally, organic foods are healthier for you. The research on whether consuming organic food is healthier for people remains inconclusive. However, the USDA's own tests show that most non-organic produce contain residual pesticides even after washing. The long term effects of consuming these pesticides has not been sufficiently studied, but most research shows that they aren't good for you.

Things to do to limit your exposure to Pesticides:

Wash, Scrub and Peel your fruits and vegetable's
Buy organic for those fruits and vegetable's that cant be peeled
Discard the outer leaves on leafy vegetable's
Meats/Poultry/Fish - take off skin and trim fat since pesticides affect these areas most

The Environmental Working Group composed a full list of the Best and Worst (Fruits and Vegetables) that contain pesticides.

Starting with the Best and down to the Worst!

Onions (Best)
Avocado
Sweet Corn (Frozen)
Pineapples
Mango's (Subtropical and Tropical)
Sweet Peas (frozen)
Asparagus
Kiwi Fruit (Subtropical and Tropical)
Cabbage
Eggplant
Cantaloupe (Domestic)
Watermelon
Grapefruit
Sweet Potatoes
Honeydew Melon
Plums (Domestic)
Cranberries
Winter Squash
Broccoli
Bananas
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Cucumbers (Domestic)
cantaloupe (Imported)
Grapes (Domestic)
Oranges
Red Raspberries
Hot Peppers
Green Beans (Imported)
Cucumbers (Imported)
Summer Squash
Plums (Imported)
Pears
Green Beans (Domestic)
Carrots
Blueberries
Lettuce (Imported)
Grapes (Imported)
Potatoes
Kale/Collard Greens
Cherries
Spinach
Sweet Bell Peppers
Nectarines
Blueberries (Domestic)
Apple
Strawberries
Peaches
Celery (Worst)

Foods for 10-12 Month Olds

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sat, 21 May 2011 23:23:00 +0000

Grains - Oats - Rice - Barley - Amaranth - Barley - Buckwheat - Flax - Kamut - Millet - Pasta - Oats - Quinoa - Rice - Wheat - Wheat germ

Fruits - Apples - Bananas - Pears - Papaya - Avocado - Peaches - Plums - Blueberries - Cantaloupe - Cherries - Cranberries - Dates - Figs - Kiwi - Nectarines - Mango's - Persimmons - Pumpkin

Vegetables -Acorn Squash - Artichokes - Asparagus - Beets - Broccoli - Butternut Squash - Carrots - Cauliflower - Cucumbers - Eggplant - Fennel - Garlic - Green Beans - Leeks - Mushrooms- Onions - Parsnips - Peas - Peppers - Summer Squash - Spinach - Sweet Potatoes - Tomatoes - Zucchini

Protein - Beans/Legumes - Beef - Chicken - Eggs- Fish - Ham - Pork - Tofu - Turkey

Dairy - Yogurt - Pasteurized Cheese