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Tanya is the mother of 2 boys, and a writer for several publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle. Danielle also has 2 boys and is a partner and designer in the SF based design studio — the Vega Project.
Every week we will be sharing things we've learned, giving tips on parenting and life, recommending products we love, interviews with successful moms, and more.
We’re always interested in new ideas, so let us know what you think — and please come back for more.
I didn't make all my own baby food. It seemed a great effort. But once I got the hang of it, I realized it was quite easy, especially when whipping foods we were eating for dinner already. Check out this great post today on how to make your own baby food from HonestFare.com.
Found on Ohdeedoh.
I'm sorry we've been away so long. Between the two of us... sickness, a thrown back, travel and work craziness - we just needed to take a break. I've sincerely missed posting and am excited to be back.
I'll warm up again with a quick post about French Hot Dogs. Once in a while my youngest, Dillon, and I get sneak away for a date with just the two of us. We like to go down to the new La Boulange bakery on our street and have a latte (his is warm soy milk), and a pick a treat. Last week Dillon chose a "french hot dog", which was a hot dog wrapped in pastry dough. He then sweetly asked if he I would make them for his lunch.
I made mine with Chicken Apple Sausage and some croissant dough from the grocery store (they were out of pastry dough). I grilled the sausage and then wrapped the little doggie in the croissant dough, and tossed in the oven following the croissant packaging instructions. Voila!
Ok, I know mine are not nearly as pretty, (honestly I didn't even try), but he didn't mind. I got a big thank you hug when he came home from lunch the next day. This year I'm trying a few new things in their lunches and this one is a win. We also took a few of the leftover dough triangles, rolled in a few dark chocolate chips and baked. Topped 'em with powdered sugar when they were out of the oven... a quick and easy treat.
— Danielle
I'm sensing a theme here in my product postings. Fast food that isn't quite "Fast Food." I can only offer the justification that I'm constantly on the move with my older child. My latest discovery is squeezable baby food. Fruit and vegetables pureed and packaged in a pouch! A few years ago, the energy gel in a pouch became popular among athletes. Now there is something of the like for babies.
I was first introduced to the concept a few months ago at a wedding reception in a very remote location. We didn't have access to a refrigerator or a kitchen even though we were staying overnight. For me, that meant feeding Catcher from a jar or scrounging mushy foods from the reception dinner. But another parent was feeding her baby "Mashups" squeezable fruit by Revolution Foods during the ceremony. It was better than a pacifier! And unsweetened! I was instantly intrigued. I'm pretty good about packing food for Catcher when we go out of the house but sometimes it is hard to lug around a lunch box of cut fruits and vegetables. This seemed to be the perfect solution!
And then recently during a diaper run to Babies R Us, I discovered that quite a few companies have jumped into the game.
I don't know how body healthy these are, but they are definitely healthy for the heart. I brought these to my son's first grade class on friday, and one of his friends told me that:
a — these were the best muffins he has ever had in his whole life.
b.— he wanted to have a playdate, not just so he could play with my son, but so he could see me again.
So sweet, my heart melted.
Here's the recipe...
I always feel guilty whenever I turn to the freezer to feed my two sons but so often we are running to or from something that it is hard to make a fresh meal even though I usually have vegetables in the crisper. The biggest hurdle for me seems to be chopping. So this weekend, I diced a bunch of different vegetables and put them in glass containers in the fridge. If I don't use them all, I will move some to the freezer in baby food jars. That way I can thaw them out in one portion at a time.
This time, I included yellow, red and green peppers, zucchini, onions and butternut squash. But it could be anything, asparagus, beets, parsnips, whatever. I figure I can throw them quickly into a little olive oil and saute them to put into mini frittatas, fold into a crepe or quesadilla, or throw into a quick omelet. They will also go well with macaroni and cheese or even pasta. It seems like a quick and easy way to get a variety of vegetables into dishes all week and easily whip up a fresh meal.
I am always starving when I wake up but my six-year-old son Cash doesn't seem to care about breakfast at all. Actually, he doesn't much care for lunch either. It seems like he is a bit of a food camel because he survives on literally almost nothing all day and then he usually will eat a hearty dinner. But that doesn't stop me from trying to cram something down his throat in the morning.
Because he often says he wants a certain thing and then rejects it when it is placed before him: "I didn't say I wanted THAT! You misunderstood," I decided to make up a menu. Now, every morning, I place the laminated menu before him and make him choose from the eight items. Most of them are things he sort of likes (he doesn't REALLY like any food), but I also put a few "trying" items on the list. I figure it can't hurt for him to at least see it on the menu. Of course, I'm not talking real adventurous stuff here. His trying list includes cereal and milk. He'll eat cereal dry and he loves milk but he literally runs from the room when you try to combine the two.
Anyway, my experiment seems to be working pretty well. He now eats at least part of one of his menu items most mornings.
Read on for Cash's Breakfast Menu
I love one dish dinners. Less to clean up and you can usually prepare them ahead of time. Which is great while I'm trying to get back into the swing of a back to school schedule. In the Kitchen had a great post of 10 one dish dinners. I can't wait to try the potato, squash and goat cheese gratin! If you have a favorite one dish meal - please share it with us.
I am not the sort of gal who "cans." In fact, I've never even really wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I think it is cool as hell. Whenever someone offers me a jar of homemade jam I am in awe. That said, it's just not my thing. But you know, I thought that same thing about knitting. Then a friend taught me on a camping trip and. . . six hats, four scarves and one sweater later, I am indeed a gal who knits. So, I decided maybe I shouldn't be so quick to put limits on my abilities and interests. And whenever people have offered me homemade jam, I have envisioned hours of intensive labor and eons of patience in every jar. So much so, I am hesitant to even eat it. Like that would somehow be sacrilegious. It was joy enough to be a person who could merit a homemade jar of preserves.
OK - I am starting out by swearing to you that I am not trying to brag that my kids eat a lot of vegetables. But they do. Partly, I think, because I eat a lot myself, and I'm not one for cooking multiple dishes for one meal (anymore). Also possibly because I'm the master of dinner bribery when necessary. But all bribery aside, honestly, I do get gripes. Except when we serve these roasted veggies. I can't take credit — his is my husband, Jeff's doing. But they, we, gobble them up. I swear to it.
I was shocked. But they devoured it. Give it a try! Adjust according to your kids taste. (ie: less garlic & onion, different veggies.)
As summer comes to a close, and the school year begins, I feel the tinge of anticipated worry of “what am I going to make for lunch”. So to prepare, we're starting a new weekly series called Healthy Eats. Which are basically snack/meal ideas that our kids will eat and that get a bit of nutrition in them.
Healthy Eats Numero Uno: Rice Cake Goodness
Layer a rice cake with peanut (or other nut) butter, sliced bananas, drizzle of honey on top. Easy and nutritious. And with my kids, if you put honey on it, your sure to get at least half of it in them.
I had a huge hankering for blueberry muffins over the weekend, so I decided to adapt one of my favorite recipes and make it a little healthier. They turned out pretty yummy.
I have to say, berry compote is one of the most delicious and useful things I cook regularly. I use it mixed into yogurt and smoothies; on top of waffles, french toast and pancakes; and in oatmeal. I also use it as a spread on toast, or as a PB & J with a little honey to add the sweet.
read on for how to make your own...
