Thursday's Thinking of Food

I have dipped my toe into the waters of making baby food...another venture that some said wouldn't last (like the cloth diapering--which we're still doing when he's not at daycare, btw)...and I love it!  There is nothing more satisfying than knowing exactly what is going into my child's body, and knowing that I prepared it.  

So far I have "made"-- and when I say made, all it entails is pureeing and sometimes steaming the veggies--peas and squash.  The peas were frozen organic peas and the squash is fresh squash just in from my CSA, Gruber Farms.  Gruber farms is out of St. George, SC and we have been really pleased with them.  My mom, sister and I are splitting a family share and we always have more than enough stuff to go around--we've gotten strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, patty pan squash, kale, cabbage, green beans, peas, red potatoes, broccoli, amazing corn, turnips, beets, and more!

Here's what I did to make the baby food: 

Chop the squash into small pieces.

Bring water to a boil in a large sautee pan, add squash, cover and simmer until tender.

(It would probably be easier to simply steam the squash, but alas, I have no steamer basket-yet.)

Then, puree with a little of the pot water in a food processor.

My sister and I went in halfsies on a baby food making set last year--

the KidCo Baby Steps Natural Feeding System

Click here to see a video as seen on Martha Stewart's show about the KidCo system.

Food processor that came with the KidCo set--it also comes with a food mill, freezer trays, and serving dish--all for $60!

Spoon the squash out of the processor and into the freezer tray for storage, or into the serving dish if you want to feed baby immediately.

And here's a picture of the peas.  I didn't even cook the peas, I just defrosted them and pureed them.

So far, I really like the KidCo system.  There are a lot of other baby-food-making systems out there, and I have heard that the Baby Bullet is a good one, but I have no complaints about the KidCo thus far.

As a side note, while researching the KidCo website, I realized they also make the Go-Pod that we just purchased to take to the beach a few weeks ago--another affordable and really user-friendly baby item!

image via here

Jones in his Go-Pod at Litchfield

I'll let you know how Jones likes his very first taste of squash and peas!

I want to get some more freezer trays/small containers to freeze and serve the baby food from--anyone have any suggestions on brands?

Happy almost-Friday!

XO

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5x7 Folded Card

Happy Day Navy Father's Day 5x7 folded card

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The Simple Things

Here's what's making me smile after the weekend:

My baby boy's first laughter:

 (You can hear my nephew, Taylor, yelling in the background :))

My first lunch packed in my new Goodbyn bento box:

roasted chicken, black beans, roasted almonds, string cheese, pistachios, sandwich thins, and an avocado

(Goodbyn bought using the discount code provided by Bleubird Vintage--thanks!  Bleubird was also the inspiration for posting a photo of my lunch--checkout her cool kids' lunches).

And, I made our first batch of baby food with my baby food system, organic green peas--pictures and details on that to come, but it was easy and fun! 

image via here

 I think I'll try edamame and chick peas next, then maybe squash...any other suggestions on first foods for baby that are easy to make yourself?

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(The Return of) Thursday's Thinking of Food

So, after 10 months of pregnancy and 4 months adjusting to baby, I am ready to think about food again!

What do you think of the USDA's elimination of the Food Guide Pyramid and replacing it with a plate?  In fact, you can't even find that pyramid anymore; when you go to my pyramid.gov, which used to be the USDA site, it now takes you to choosemyplate.gov.

image via here

I love that half the plate is designated for fruits and veggies now, and the recommendation to make half your grains whole grains and to drink water instead of sugary drinks is admirable as well.  However, I wish they had recommended that a percentage of protein come from sources other than meat.  (Probably won't happen anytime soon because of backlash from the US meat producers, but, it would make us all healthier, and the environment as well).  Check out the research that says so here.

Check out this Healthy Habits Kids Plate--a great idea to help you and your kiddos remember how much of each food to eat at a meal.

image via here

So, any recommendations for the new USDA"Plate"?  Do you try to go meat-free at least one day a week?

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A Word for Wednesday

 


aner: one who works with cane; especially in canework for chairs

Never heard this word before, but it was just used against me in a game of Words With Friends on my phone (Droid).  (Well played, Matt).

image via here

Have you played this yet?  It's like Scrabble. Just downloaded it last night and I am addicted.

Daily Drop Cap by Jessica Hische.

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Feeding Baby

I want this book:

image via here

 I bought this yesterday at Earth Fare with the hopes that our Pediatrician will tell us  it's OK to start feeding Jones rice cereal: (the boy is hungry, and not sleeping well!)

image via here

Any thoughts or reviews of either?

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Summer Books

Warning: this post is asking a favor of you, dear reader: please comment. 

As a reader of tons of blogs, believe me, I know the drill; rarely do I comment.  But please know as a writer of a blog, it means the world when you get a comment.  Truly.

Anyway, I would love any and all comments on this post in particular because I am planning my summer reading list and have basically nothing to start from.  So, please tell me what to read!  I like anything--fiction, non-fiction, chic lit, biographies, how-to/self-improvement, even a little sci-fi is ok once in awhile. 

Here is the only book that is on  my list so far that I plan on reading this weekend while I'm at the beach:

image via here

"The central premise of this book is that many of modern society’s strategies for nurturing children are
in fact backfiring – because key twists in the science have been overlooked. Nothing like a parenting manual, NurtureShock gets to the core of how we grow, learn and live."
Sounds interesting, huh?  Not sure what to think of this, but I will definitely let you know my review!

So, please...give me some good book ideas for the summer?
XO, Becca

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