Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Best 5-Minute Oatmeal

Ok, so I received this recipe from the Care Connection this week - a milk-stimulating, healthy new mama breakfast option. (Too much information?) But, it's really, really good. And M and A like it, too. So, with school starting next week, I thought I'd share it because it's so easy, very tasty, and perfect for cool, autumn mornings when you need to get kids up, fed, and on the bus.

You need:

1/2 c. quick oats
1 c. milk
1 tbsp. maple syrup
1 fresh banana, mashed

Pour milk into a 4 c. microwaveable bowl (glass is best!). Add oats. Microwave on high for 4-6 minutes. Add maple syrup and banana. Stir well and serve.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Veggie Pancakes

Got extra veggies sitting around? Are they "less than fresh" but still edible? This recipe ROCKS. It's SO tasty and super easy to make, especially if you can grate all the veggies in a food processor.

You need:
2 c. finely grated zucchini
1 c. grated carrots
1 c. corn kernels (frozen or fresh)
1 egg
2 tbsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cornmeal
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. grated cheddar
vegetable or olive oil
1 tbsp. pesto
1/3 c. sour cream

Mix zucchini, carrots, and corn in a large bowl. Stir in the egg, yogurt, salt, and pepper until well blended. In a small bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, and baking powder. Add to the vegetable mixture, along with the cheddar and stir until well blended. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat, about 1 tbsp. Spoon 3 tbsp. of batter into the pan and flatten with a fork or spatula. Working in batches, cook the pancakes until golden brown, about 3 min. per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and serve hot or at room temperature.

For a delicious sauce accompaniment, mix the pesto and sour cream and serve on the side.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Rigatoni with Squash and Ricotta

Well, the baby is finally here! Baby C joined us early Sunday morning in the midst of a torrential thunderstorm. Yep, he came in with a bang! M wins major points for husband of the year - he has taken to doing EVERYTHING around the house (he gets six weeks paternity leave), including the COOKING! Now, for those of you who know M, he's no chef. He's not even a sous chef. He's kind of like Linguini from Ratatouille. He needs help. So I'm on the sidelines, helping him prepare meals that are not only healthy and kid-friendly, but will also nourish this nursing mama AND are husband-proof. Tonight's choice is super easy and wicked delish! It comes from Cookie magazine, a now defunct parenting magazine which used to have incredible recipes in it. However, if you like this type of meal, check out momfilter.com - a blog set up by the editors of Cookie!

You need:

1 butternut squash - peeled, seeded, and cubed (this works with both fresh and frozen)
1 lb. pasta of your choice
olive oil
1/4 sliced onion
thyme (fresh or dried)
salt
pepper
1 small container of rocotta cheese
basil (fresh or dried)

Start by roasting the squash. Toss cubed squash with olive oil, onion, thyme, salt, and pepper. Roast on a cookie sheet at 425 degrees for 40 min. Set aside. Cook the pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain the pasta and toss with the baked squash mixture. Add spoonfuls of ricotta cheese. Toss with more olive oil (to keep it moist), salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of basil. Top with some parmesan cheese, if you wish.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Ham and Cheese Morning Muffins

This month's Disney Family Fun magazine arrived, and there was a selection of recipes aimed at making back-to-school meals more interesting. Our little A has become addicted to frozen waffles and cantaloupe for breakfast, so I've been looking for something a little different that I could make easily to mix things up, especially now that I'll be a stay-at-home momma for the year (if this little man EVER chooses to make his appearance!) I altered the recipe a bit - rather than dicing a thick slice of ham, I used Wegmans's Organic Uncured Ham from the deli, thinly sliced, and then chopped that into small cubes. It made for a smoother muffin, especially if your child is fussy about consistency in foods.

This is a great recipe to do with your kids, and you can also make them in mini-muffin pans. They freeze well for up to 3 months, so you can make a big batch and then take them out as you need them!

You need:
1 1/4 c. flour
3/4 c. fine cornmeal
1/4 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
2 large eggs
1/3 c. oil
1 c. finely diced ham
1/2 c. shredded cheddar
1/4 c. finely chopped chives

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 12-c. muffin pan with non-stick spray or liners. In a large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, powder, soda, and salt. In a medium bowl, mix milk, eggs, and oil and then pour into the dry mixture, stirring until blended. Fold in the ham, cheese, and chives. Fill each cup 3/4 full and bake 20 min, until lightly browned.