Recipe #7: Salmon cakes with quinoa salad

The month of July is full of celebrations in our household - the girls' birthday, John's birthday, our anniversary. Celebrations = delicious, sweet, goodness. This goodness has come to us in the form of peach and blueberry pie (courtesy of Grammy), key lime cupcake (courtesy of Cupcake A La Mode), lemon cupcakes with lemon cream cheese frosting, and now homemade ice cream. For our anniversary, we declared our love for one another with the gift that just keeps giving, and it's first offering was blackberry ice cream made with the berries that we had picked. So... very... good. (Insert pause here as I run for a small bowl to inspire this post).

All of that being said, my overall feeling of "ugh" from the calories consumed recently, meant that tonight's dinner needed to be fresh, clean, and free of sugar and cream. :) It was all of the above! Whew!

Salmon cakes:

1. Bake wild Alaskan salmon according to package directions (we often keep this in our freezer because it's a quick and easy meal)
2. Shred fully cooked salmon with fork (I used 3 pieces of salmon)
3. Add to salmon:

• Bread crumbs (about 1/2 cup)
• Finely chopped chives
• Zest of one lemon
• Chopped green pepper
• Splash of worcestershire sauce
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup cheese

1. This mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated
2. Form salmon cakes with hands
3. Cook on stovetop in pan with olive oil, flipping once (approximately 10 minutes)

Quinoa Salad

Make 1 cup dry quinoa (I boiled 1 cup quinoa in 2 cups chicken broth for 10 minutes; then removed, drained, and steamed over 2 inches of water for 10 minutes). Do a google search for cooking quinoa - there are quite a few different methods, some easier than others.

For dressing:

• melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
• mix with 2 T. olive oil
• zest of one lemon
• juice from one lemon
• 1 tsp sugar
• salt and pepper

1. Combine cooked quinoa with dressing; chill at this point and add remainder right before serving
2. Add 1 can rinsed beans (I used cannellini but would have used black beans if we'd had them)
3. Add chopped tomatoes, avocado, and finely chopped basil

Recipe #6: Friday night pizza night

Pizza is a must in life and I officially declare it a superfood! Bringing back memories of college snow-days, we dined at Papa Keno's last week and I feasted upon the "Melvin", a tasty combination of pineapple, Canadian bacon, spinach, jalapeños, and blue cheese. Hello, delish! Homemade pizza is the ultimate clean-up crew, providing an excellent dumping ground for leftovers of all tastes and flavors. Pizza happily accepts all major food groups: dairy, fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains.

Our dinner on Friday night consisted of a simple fresh tomato salad (courtesy of Gran and Grandpa's garden) and pizza. We topped our pizza with a fantastic homemade sauce that my Mom concocted, loaded with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and zucchini straight from the garden. Then we added some fresh herbs (basil, oregano), thinly sliced peppers, and olives. Mmmm, mmmm, good!

Fresh tomato salad:

Chopped tomatoes

Fresh basil

Kosher salt

Balsamic vinegar

Feta

Pizza Dough (the proportions look a bit odd - I've cut a double-recipe in half in order to make only one pizza crust)

1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast

1/2 cup + 1/6 cup warm water (for the 1/6 cup, I simply eyeball half of 1/3 on my measuring glass)

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 T. olive oil

1 cup white flour

3/4 cup whole wheat flour (can adjust white to whole wheat ratio depending on preference)

• Dissolve yeast in warm water (let sit for a few minutes)
• Add sugar first, followed by kosher salt
• Add olive oil
• Mix in flour and knead until well combined
• Coat bowl with olive oil, seal tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to sit in warm place until doubles in size (I usually allow an hour for this; to speed up process, preheat oven to 150 degrees and then turn off before placing bowl w/ dough in oven)
• Once doubled in size, punch down; cover bowl with dish towel; allow to sit for 15 minutes
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees; grease pan and dust with corn meal
• Stretch dough on pan to desired thickness; brush with olive oil; press dents into dough with fingertips; allow to sit for 10 minutes
• Add toppings: sauce first, cheese next, toppings last
• Bake for 12 minutes

Staples

I'm not referring to the type of staples that are sharp, metal, and dangerous to little ones. I'm talking about the meal-time staples that ALWAYS feed a little body better than anything you could nuke in the microwave or grab in a drive-thru. Good food can be simple and easy, and for nights like last when we had company stay a bit late and dinner was put on the back-burner (get it???), these meals are perfect. I stress about what goes into our girls' bodies - I have from the very beginning, literally. I stopped drinking, quit eating sushi, and steered clear of delicious but unpasteurized cheeses as soon as it was possible that I might be pregnant. During my pregnancy, I made sure I was getting all the right nutrients, plenty of water, fruits and veggies... you get the idea. So when dinner rolls around and I don't have a well-balanced meal prepared, having these staples gives me peace of mind knowing that those adorable little bellies have just what they need for their next adventure.

• Avocado - diced and served as is; full of good-fat and high in vitamin E
• Fresh fruit - kiwi, oranges, blueberries
• Yogurt with flaxseed - we keep a container of ground flaxseed in the freezer and add a tablespoon or so to yogurt everyday; the yogurt provides good bacteria and probiotics, the flaxseed has fiber and is a good source of omega-3s
• Eggs - scrambled, with some cheese
• Whole wheat tortilla roll-ups - peanut butter and honey are a fave here
• Super Porridge - I highly recommend the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. This book was fantastic during the 6-12 month range while I was making baby food (another post on that yet to come). The "super porridge" recipe is simply homemade hot cereal, made from whole grains: brown rice, barley, millet. I grind up a big batch each weekend, keep it in the fridge, and serve it regularly for breakfast as well as for dinner on nights when needed. It is incredibly hearty and I have encouraged any of my friends who have little ones that struggle with constipation to give it a whirl - one day during our first super porridge week, I changed EIGHT dirty diapers by 2:00 in the afternoon. Yes, that's 4 dirty diapers each. And now, well over a year later, the girls still LOVE this meal and I love knowing that they are starting their day with a bowl of pure goodness! Here are several of our porridge add-ins:
• • Mashed banana (sweetens nicely instead of using honey or agave nectar)
  • Raisins
  • For younger ones, not yet getting a lot of veggies from other sources, I often combined steamed/pureed spinach with pureed pears or mashed sweet potatoes with cooked/mashed apples
  • Flaxseed or wheat germ
  • Milk or yogurt
  • Berries (blueberries are requested daily)

On a side note, vitamins have always been a biggie in our house as well. The girls came home from the hospital already on vitamins high in iron to prevent an iron-deficiency that is common in preemies. We gave the girls a daily liquid multivitamin everyday for their first 2 years and they have just switched to an organic chewable that includes probiotics and vegetable compounds. Now, based on how heartily Abby and Elise eat, I honestly don't worry about what might be lacking but a vitamin is a good security blanket, just to be safe. And for those little ones who aren't yet getting everything, I sure don't see where a vitamin can hurt.

Recipe #5: Mighty Muffins

"Oh, do you know the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man? Oh, do you know the muffin man who lives on Drury Lane?"..... This little ditty is a house-favorite, and has been for quite some time. And it's fitting since muffins are a must around here. Muffins are a great catch-all: fruits, veggies, nuts, whole grains. Once you find a good basic recipe, go wild!

Here is my "basic" recipe that I found (big surprise) on Allrecipes:

Morning Glory Muffins I

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 T. agave nectar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups grated carrots grated 1 carrot and 1 zucchini, equal to 2 cups total
• 1 apple - peeled, cored, and chopped I didn't have any apples, so added 1 mashed banana
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup apple butter I didn't have this or applesauce (which would be a good substitute) so I added 2 T. melted butter
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

I'm hoping that, as you look through original versus modified recipes, you'll start to see how easy it is to up the ante on the health factor. I cook with real butter. I use vegetable/canola oil. I always use real sugar or real sweeteners, such as agave nectar, honey, or applesauce. But, in moderation and when added to an otherwise well-balanced diet, these things are GOOD. They taste lovely, they're all-natural, and there is just no substitute. I have no training in the kitchen and I have plenty of failures. That's what is so great about cooking - it's a wonderful experiment every time that always leaves you wanting to try again!

Recipe #4: More rice!!! (with chick & veggies)

We eat a lot of brown rice in this house, so be prepared to buy in bulk. It's fresh veggie season here in L-town and my parent's gardens are abundant with tasty goodness, year after year. I started my rice cooking around 4:30 and at 5:00ish opened up the fridge to see what might join: grilled chicken breasts, eggplant (from the garden), peppers (from the garden), onions. Perfect! I highly recommend grilling extras when you've got it fired up - nothing makes cooking simpler than eliminating the handling of raw meat! Speaking of meat... while it doesn't typically fall on the "Dirty Dozen" lists to buy organic, it is one that we buy hormone/antibiotic free, and when we can organic and local as well. If you've seen 'Fast Food Nation' (among several others), you probably do the same. Okay, here's the recipe:

Recipe #4: Sauteed Fresh Veggies with Brown Rice

Cooked brown rice

Olive oil

Eggplant, onion, peppers

Salt

Pepper

Salsa

Cooked chicken slices

Shredded cheese

Avocado

Fresh cilantro or Italian parsley

• Cook brown rice ahead of time
• Thinly slice eggplant; saute first, allowing eggplant to turn golden and even crisp a bit (so yum!)
• Add thinly sliced peppers and onions to eggplant; allow all to saute until tender
• Add sliced chicken
• Season with salt, pepper, and salsa
• Cover bottom of oven-safe dish (8x8 inch square) with rice
• Add veggies/chicken
• Top with shredded cheese
• Place under broiler until cheese melts - Now, I could get away with simply broiling this because my timing worked out that the rice was just finishing and hot, veggies/chick were hot, etc... so I did not need to heat, just melt.
• Top with avocado slices, cilantro/parsley, and salsa

Are these the faces of children who had a skimpy dinner??? I think not!

They feasted like champions!!!!

Recipe #3: Blackberry Cobbler

The blackberry harvest turned into blackberry cobbler. For breakfast! Yes, as I sit here adding to a blog about good health, I baked cobbler for the girls and myself for breakfast yesterday morning! I believe in being healthy, but I also realize that we only have one go with this life - so make it a good one!

I found the original recipe on Allrecipes, but my modifications are shown in red :

Easy Batter Fruit Cobbler

• 4 tablespoons butter 3 T. butter
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup old fashioned oats; 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup white sugar; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 2 T. agave nectar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups of sliced fresh peaches or nectarines, or whole blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or a combination of fruits (or a 12-ounce package of frozen berries)
• 1 tablespoon sugar

I have a thing for whole grains - whole wheat flour, oatmeal, wheat germ. You can substitute these in almost any recipe and the proportions just depend on what you're baking. My recipe modifications, in my opinion, made cobbler perfectly suitable for breakfast... and the girls would agree!

It's keen to be green

This is exciting. A friend who lives in California emailed me after I announced the blog with ideas to pass on to us! Exactly what I was hoping for! She and her husband are currently expecting their first child (yippee!) and she shared that they are trying to "make our lives a lot greener by doing little things to change how well we live. CFLs in all lamps, low flow showerhead, reusable shopping bags come with me everywhere, making better buying choices and making/using non-toxic anything where at all possible". Kudos to you, my friend, and no better time than when you're prego, about to bring a baby into a world with far too much human-made yuck as it is.

Here's some of what she had today (with more to come!):

• Eartheasy is a site that promotes a greener, sustainable lifestyle in all aspects.
• Green Clean: The Environmentally Sound Guide to Cleaning Your Home (book)
  "Even before I got pregnant I always hated harsh cleaning chemicals, the ones that sting your nose and hurt your lungs... I figured if it's dissolving soap scum on my shower doors what the heck is it doing to me?! So, I found this book. Amongst other tips it has recipes to make natural, homemade, non-toxic cleaning products and if you're not the total DIY type they also have listings for the healthiest, greenest, most effective commercial brands. The natural cleaners take a little bit more elbow grease to work but, they work. I've learned that you can use distilled white vinegar and water to clean and disinfect just about anything and it's much better in my book than 5 different bottles of chemicals whose ingredient lists are NOT listed or I can't pronounce any of them! The book is printed on water proof material so it can live with your cleaning supplies under the sink until you need it without getting damaged" (Erika)

Okay, so far I'm enjoying the Eartheasy website. Here are two articles that I was instantly drawn to:

• 6 reasons to avoid using 'weed-n-feed' on your lawn
• 6 ways to reduce your exposure to pesticides

See - it's not only keen to be green, but it can be clean to be green! Thanks Erika!

July Update

Two years old. In honor of Abby and Elise's second birthday, they got sick and then John and I packed our bags and left them, for the first time ever, for four days. :) Seriously, the day of their birthday bash, Elise spiked a fever for the first time in TWELVE months. The last time we even had a reason to check temperatures was last summer when the girls got roseola (a mild and common infant rash). After 2 days of sad-baby-syndrome, Elise perked back up. Then Abby went down. And to top off the fact that I was feeling terrible about the girls feeling so yucky on their birthday, I was dealing with the stress and anxiety of leaving them for the first time. *Sigh* The silver lining - we haven't truly had sick babies until now. Sure, there's been a runny nose here and a cough there, but the girls made it to two years old, visiting the doctor only for well-baby check-ups and for that silly little rash.

I think that their health is such a significant marker to me because the odds should have been stacked against the girls. We were warned about preemies getting sick easily with weak immune systems. We were told to be prepared for developmental delays. And the health, strength, intelligence, sense of humor, curiosity, compassion, determination, and overflowing love of life that Abby and Elise have shown us in their two years are remarkable. Simply remarkable.

So... what to share at this two year milestone.... what to put in writing to look back and read down the road...

- Crocs. I hate them. Elise began her love affair with "Coco... crocs.... blue....me.... share". Translation: "Cohen has blue crocs that he shared with me". And the girls woke up at 6:00 am while staying with Gran and Grandpa and began a full-on battle for possession of the blue crocs we gave Elise for her birthday.

- "Coco". Abby talks about Cohen every single day. She calls Cohen's parents, Mike and Sara, on the phone. When you ask her what she wants to do, she says "Coco...house". And her most striking memory about her birthday party is "Rock... Coco... me.... kiss!". Translation: "In the rocking chair, Cohen kissed me". She relays this with her chin tucked to her shoulder and a giggle and grin that I wish I could bottle and sell.

- Blue hat. Wow, the blue hat that is shown in a picture or two was as critical to Elise's wardrobe as I would consider underwear to mine... for 4 consecutive weeks. She wore the blue denim hat with her jammies, in a diaper, with her swimsuit, at the store, etc... This blue hat obsession is only a trivial element in the daily Elise fashion capers. Crocs. Flip flops. Green shirt. Tiny, size 12-month white t-shirt with hearts. Jayhawk shirt. And all of that could by by 10:00 in the morning!

- "Yesth!" Abby's expression and animation is priceless, especially when she is declaring "Yesth!". Translation: "Yes!", with a wee bit of a lisp at the end. Cute, so cute. The evolution of this 3-letter word for Abby: Head nod...."Chess!"... "Yup!"... "Yesth"... and currently "YESHH!", paired with the mouth wide open, eyes open as wide as possible, eyebrows up, and often a jump or two and hand clap, as if the face alone wasn't enough.

Abby and Elise love the pool. Abby adores her "Uncle" (who does have a name, however the girls prefer this simple title instead). Elise is struggling the most with her separation from Gran after the 4-day stay. Abby has a great throwing arm and we are working on learning that balls are better for throwing than blocks (all in good fun, of course). Elise reminds us daily that Gramps climbed on a ladder to fix the broken light in the bathroom ("Light... Gramps... lada... climb... fix"). When you ask Abby "Who loves you?", she says "Bapa" (Grandpa). Elise tickled herself pink when she shared that "Sam... work.... jeep... teeny... Merc". Translation: "Sam (cat) drives a tiny jeep to work at the Merc". Abby can't wait to go "Gammy.... house....me.... Chlo-Chlo... hide.... waaaaaa.... Gammy.... hold". Translation: "I want to go to Grammy's house. Chloe (cat) hid. I cried. Grammy held me". Abby and Elise both get a charge of energy from 5:15-6:00 each night, when play-time with Daddy happens while I fix dinner. Definitely one of their favorite times of the day.

Two years old. Before the girls, two years in my life may not have seemed like a long enough time span for great things to happen, for significant changes to occur. I stand corrected. Two years of life with Abby and Elise has taught me that great things happen every single day.

Recipe #2: Easy veggie dip

If at first they don't eat... try, try again!

Broccoli is a certified "Super Food". It contains valuable nutritional content and is certainly a great addition to a healthy diet. Out of our girls, Abby has loved broccoli from the beginning. Elise, on the other hand, has acted positively repulsed each time she sees it on her plate. But it has remained on Elise's plate every single time it has been part of a meal. We have never stopped offering it to her, we have never created the "Elise doesn't like broccoli" stigma. Our doctor said it can take up to 20 offerings of some foods before a child will either consume it or before we can declare it a taste that this individual simply does not care for. Today, after far greater than 20 offerings, Elise ate broccoli. She devoured what was on her plate. She asked for more.

Recipe #2: Steamed broccoli with yogurt "dip dip"

Broccoli - steamed briefly to tenderize without losing color

Dip-dip

Greek yogurt

Fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt

Fresh dill, finely chopped

Blackberry Picking

This morning's outing was to Lawson Brothers Farm. As you can see, it's blackberry season. You cannot imagine the taste, the feel, the look of these fresh, hand-picked berries. The girls, Gran, and myself ventured there bright and early with the hope of beating the heat and the crowd. Mission accomplished! We were the ONLY pickers and the clouds hung around to shade us. In all honesty, we would have stayed and filled several more containers except for the fear that my little berry-eating monsters were going to make themselves sick from the bottomless bowl of fruit at their fingertips!

Look local. Find places where you can get fresh food that is grown with rain, sunlight, and a little love. Yes - there were bugs on the plants. Yes - they were eating berries. But they were alive to enjoy it, much like the four of us were!

Hmmm.... now what shall we bake with this harvest? Ideas? Anyone?

The Dirty Dozen (talkin' about food, remember?)

Check out this link before your next shopping trip.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/06/01/dirty.dozen.produce.pesticide/index.html?npt=NP1

**Insert extremely lengthy and passionate monologue about the negative effects of toxins, chemicals, and pesticides on living things, which may include but not limited to: adults, children, babies (especially those still residing in the comfort of Mama's belly), butterflies, frogs, and the family dog**

We cannot control how much our children eat. We cannot control when their hunger strikes. But, as parents of young children, we CAN control what we offer them. We can micro-manage their daily menu, providing options that optimize development, maximize health, set their bodies up for success, and taste DELISH!

Recipe #1: Beans and Rice

It's 5:00. Dinner is in the immediate future. I did not prep veggies during naps. I did not defrost chicken throughout the day. There are NO leftovers. Open cupboard: beans, check! Open fridge: brown rice, check! (brown rice bought in bulk and stored in airtight containers in the fridge is a good way to go).

Make brown rice - 1 cup of rice to 2 1/2 cups liquid (organic, low sodium chicken broth adds nice flavor); simmer for 35-40 minutes.

Remove rice from pot

Saute veggies in olive oil - onion, shredded carrot, garlic, peppers, zucchini

Add cooked rice to pot

Add drained/rinsed can of black beans

Add some crushed tomatoes and salsa for flavor

Season with: chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, fresh herbs

Serve with shredded cheese, additional hot salsa, whatever suits your fancy!

My 2-year olds gobbled this up, and so did we!

Beans and Rice

Beans and rice should be a staple in every kitchen! Brown rice, black beans... add a little cheese and salsa... WHAM! That's what this blog is all about - putting the WHAM! into family kitchens. I am on somewhat of a mission (hence the start of this blog...) to inspire homemade breakfast, lunch, and dinner in kitchens everywhere. I want to share what we eat. I want to share what you eat. And I might toss in a few non-food related snippets here or there should I see fit to do so.

Welcome to Bananas and Blueberries...