Cooking with Kids :: Pizza Bagels

Has your tiny chef been looking itching to cook with you? My 5 year old loves to cook and I am always searching for a dish to make with him.  Though he often assists me with cooking in the kitchen he really wanted to cook his own meal from start to finish.  Pizza bagels were a favorite that I used to make in camp and I thought that they would be perfect for him to make from start to finish.  They came out just as good this time as they did when I was a kid and he loved them!  Below please find the quick and easy recipe.

Prep Time - 5 minutes (prepping is essential for the kids - set everything out in cups and dishes for them to access)
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (though kids usually eat just one half of a whole bagel)

Ingredients:
4 bagels (cut in half)
9 ounces of Your Favorite Tomato Marinara Sauce
1 cup of Mozzarella Cheese (we used part skim)
1/2 t of Garlic Powder
1/2 t of Italian Seasonings
Fresh Basil and Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional for adults [pictured above])
Cooking Spray

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees
2. Line a cooking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly coat with cooking spray
3. Arrange bagel halves on cookie sheet (ensuring that the inside of the bagels is exposed towards the ceiling)
4. Scoop approximately 1-2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on each bagel and spread so that entire bagel is covered
5. Cover each bagel with mozzarella cheese (be careful not to put too much cheese on the bagels)
6. Sprinkle each bagel with garlic powder and Italian Seasonings
7. Place bagels in oven (uncovered) and cook for approximately 12 minutes (or longer if you like the cheese to slightly yellow like me )
8. Allow bagels to cool and then enjoy!

Feel free make these your own and to add toppings that your family enjoys.

Baby Food Recipe :: Carrots

Pureed Carrots

The vibrant orange color in carrots can be attributed to the high amounts of beta-carotene present in this vegetable.  This along with other nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C and calcium, coupled with their naturally pleasing taste make them a great first food for babies.  A bonus is that they are also easy for young babies to digest.

Follow this simple recipe to make a quick carrot puree for your little one.

Ingredients:
2 cups of carrots
2 cups of water

Instructions:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil
Peel and cut carrots into chunks (note: you may use full carrots or baby carrots)
Place a steamer pan over the boiling water and steam the carrots until they are tender (you should be able to push a fork through the thickest point of the carrot chunk with ease)

Transfer carrots to blender/food processor/hand mixer and reserve 1/4 cups of water

Puree carrots and add reserved water to achieve desired consistency

*Using the water from the pot enables you to return the nutrients from corn to the puree

Storage:

Option 1: Store the carrot puree in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the carrot puree in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Baby Food Recipe :: Sweet Potato, Carrot and Corn Medley

Sweet Potato, Carrot, Corn Medley

Looking to add some variety to your baby's diet? Try mixing foods that you already offered to create a unique baby blend.  By now you have likely already offered sweet potatoes, carrots and corn as a first food.  

Try this recipe below which incorporates all three in a brand new baby blend:

Ingredients:

• 1 large sweet potato
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 cup of corn
• Water

Instructions:

1. Peel, core and cube sweet potato and carrot 
2. Place 1/2 cup of corn, sweet potato and carrot cubes in a pot and fill with just enough water to cover the vegetables
3. Boil the corn, sweet potatoes and carrots until tender
4. Place corn, sweet potatoes and carrots in a blender/food processor/hand mixer bowl and reserve water
5. Blend/process/mix and add reserved water until desired consistency is reached

** Ensure that baby has tried all three foods before offering this medley to avoid food allergies**

Storage:

Option 1: Store the sweet potato, carrot and corn medley in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the sweet potato, carrot and corn medley in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Baby Food Recipes :: Applesauce

Applesauce

Apples are packed with fiber and vitamin C (great for the immune system).  Their sweetness makes them an awesome choice for a first fruit and they are useful for improving digestive and dental health.

Follow this basic applesauce recipe for your baby's first applesauce puree:

Ingredients:

• 4 large apples (of your choice - my suggestion is to try the sweeter ones e.g. gala [my favorite], red delicious, golden delicious, braeburn, or honey crisp)
• Water

Instructions:

1. Peel, core and cube apples (you can make large cubes maybe 6-8 pieces for each apple)
2. Place apple pieces in a pot and fill with just enough water to cover the apples
3. Boil the apples until tender
4. Place apples in a blender/food processor/hand mixer bowl and reserve water
5. Blend/process/mix and add reserved water until desired consistency is reached

**As a first food make the applesauce more on the soupy side **
**As your baby becomes comfortable with food add cinnamon to the applesauce to add variety**

Storage:

Option 1: Store the applesauce in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the applesauce in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Baby Food Recipe :: Green Bean Puree

Pureed Green Beans

Green beans mild flavor and nutritional benefits make them a great first food for babies 4-6 months and older.  They are rich in Calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and maganese.  To ensure a smooth consistency for young babies (below 8 months) use frozen green beans -- it's less work to break down the skins in comparison to raw green beans.

Below is the recipe...

Ingredients:

1 cup of cut green beans

Water

Instructions:

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil

Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen french cut green beans to the boiling water

Boil or steam for 15 minutes or until tender

Drain green beans in a colander and reserve water

Puree green beans using a blender/food processor/ or hand blender 

Add reserved water until desired consistency is reached

**As a first food make the green beans more on the soupy side **

Storage:

Option 1: Store the green bean puree in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the green bean puree in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Baby Food Recipe :: Sweet Potato Puree

Sweet Potato Puree

Sweet potatoes are an AWESOME first food for your baby (4 months and older).  The sweet and mushy nature of them often makes them a certified baby pleaser in terms of their budding palate. For mommies they are a great vegetable to use for your first try at making baby food and later serve as the go-to-vegetable of choice.

The bright orange color serves as assurance that they are high in beta-carotene.  They also are full of vitamin A and potassium and are a good source for vitamin E, folate and calcium. 

I recommend baking the sweet potatoes to retain the nutrients while also bringing out their natural sweetness.  

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash the sweet potato under cold water
3. Wrap the sweet potato in aluminum foil 
4. Place the potato in the oven and cook for 40-60 minutes
5. Check the potato with a fork (the potato is done when you can drive the prongs of the fork easily through the potato)
6. Let the potato cool for about a half hour
7. Peel the potato (on a well cooked potato the skin should peel easily)
8. Place the potato in a blender/food processor/hand mixer bowl and blend (for older babies 8+ months mash the potato with a fork to provide a chunkier texture)
9. Add water/breast milk/formula to reach desired consistency

**As a first food make the potatoes more on the soupy side **

Storage:

Option 1: Store the sweet potato puree in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the sweet potato puree in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Baby Food Recipe: Corn

Corn Puree

The sweetness of the corn is often pleasing to even the most pickiest eater.  The American Association of Pediatrics indicates that you can introduce corn to babies after 6 months.  Once you have this puree down it makes for an easy natural sweetener and combination ingredient for Stage 2 and Stage 3 baby foods.

Follow this simple recipe to make a quick corn puree for your little one.

Ingredients:
2 cups of corn
2 cups of water

Instructions:

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil

Add 2 cups of frozen or fresh corn to the boiling water (you can also steam the corn as well)

Boil for 10 minutes or until tender

Drain corn in a colander and reserve 1/4 cups of water

Puree corn and add reserved water to achieve desired consistency

*Using the water from the pan enables you to return the nutrients from corn to the puree

Tip: Push the corn through a sieve to ensure a shell-less puree

Storage:

Option 1: Store the corn puree in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the corn puree in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)

Dinner Tonight :: Stir Fry Chicken and Veggies Over Jasmine Rice

Full day at work + fussy kids = I need a quick dinner before I lose my mind

In my pantry I had just the right combo for a quick semi-homemade meal - STIR FRY
(chicken, pre-cut veggie mix from TJ's, stir fry sauce (sans the high fructose corn syrup) and some jasmine rice)

This first picture is before the sauce was added - I'm thinking I can do his same mix with pasta or another sauce! It's pretty isn't it?

The picture below is of the finished product (in the pan) - I just added the sauce

For my baby girl I cut the veggies and chicken into bite-sized pieces (smaller than a pea) and served I with the rice. [Note: for a creamier texture for babies between 10 and 12 month place in a mini food processor, then blend and add water until desired consistency is reached]

A yummy dinner in just 25 minutes start to finish! Although I prefer meals made from scratch the truth is that as a working mom I have to plan for times like this and that always trumps most fast-food/takeout options.

Crossbody Bags - Function Meets Fashion for Moms

Crossbody bags have been a mainstay in the "mommy" wardrobe purely based on functionality. Being hands free is a major score when the kids are in tow. One thing has changed though, they are now in STYLE - which means a win-win for mommys!

Sara Jessica Parker in a Crossbody Bag
photo: smtmn/Flynetpictures.com via Elle Magazine

Whether you choose a petite bag packed with a punch of color, or a large messenger style bag to carry all of your essentials as a mom you are sure to draw attention as a fashion-forward mom!

Here are some of my faves to get you started:

Nordstrom - Marc Jacobs Mini Natasha Flap Bag in Blue

Lord & Taylor - Joelle Hawkins Messenger Bag

Vince Camuto - Christina Crossbody