PregnancyFamilyEducation Blogs
July 31, 2009
Squashed Skewers
Isn't it funny what little kids sometimes find funny?
Case in point: I was preparing this easy side dish of grilled yellow squash and my five year old son R asked me what I was making.
I replied I was making yellow squash skewers, but he thought he heard "squashed skewers."
Perhaps it was the word "squashed" or that the words sound funny if you say them again and again (try saying "squashed skewers" five times fast!), but R found the whole idea hilarious.
Whether you find them funny or not, this is a super simple recipe for grilled skewers of squash. [more]
July 30, 2009
Zucchini Fritters
I had lunch yesterday with my good friend Shannon, who also happens to be my partner in our CSA co-op. We were at her house eating with our children when I asked her if she had any room in her refrigerator for something. She laughed and said, "have you seen my fridge?"
Shannon then opened the refrigerator and revealed the gobs of vegetables from our CSA. We then started sharing ideas on how to use and possibly freeze the bounty we have been receiving each week from New Century Farms. [more]
July 29, 2009
It's in the Details
If you've been reading this blog lately, you know I have been on a bit of a watermelon kick. Whether it is plain 'ole watermelon, watermelon salsa or watermelon granita, we certainly have been having our fair share of watermelon.
I wanted to share a few extra tips that have made my watermelon slicing and dicing super easy, and helped keep the clean up to a minimum (both good things for busy families, right?). [more]
- Tags: Kitchen Tips
July 28, 2009
Berry Crisp
I am not sure how things are in your neck of the woods, but in Ohio, the blueberries are in abundance. The blueberries are fresh, easy to find and inexpensive.
Two years ago my mom gave me a great tip: buy blueberries in bulk and freeze them in the original containers. The blueberries freeze quickly and keep well. To thaw the berries, simply run them under warm water. This washing accomplishes to things: it washes the berries before use and it quickly thaws them. [more]
July 27, 2009
New Week, New Trick
Back in January I shared one of my strategies for encouraging the boys to try foods that are sitting on their plates. The "Oh Wow!" bite bit still works wonders...usually.
R has inherited his dad's critical reasoning and skills of deduction, which he is starting to use at the dinner table. He will begin to rationalize why he doesn't want to eat a certain food.
For instance:
R: Mom, you see, I like tomatoes when they are in a pizza or pasta sauce, but when they aren't cooked, I can't eat them. [more]
July 23, 2009
Summer Cucumber Salad
This recipe screams summer to me.
Growing up my mom made a variation of this regularly throughout the summer months. When I met SPH, he had grown up eating something similar. Chances are, you have had a variation, but this is our favorite.
Summer Cucumber Salad*
1 large cucumber, unpeeled, sliced very thin
1/4 cup red onion, sliced very thin
1/2 cup rice vinegar (or alternatively, use cider vinegar or white balsamic vinegar)
3 tablespoons water
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper [more]
July 22, 2009
Wrapped Up
While I know intellectually that my boys are growing every day, there are infrequent moments that seem to age them instantly. These random growth milestones aren't in the new parent parenting books. While the books discuss at great length about verbal development, they seldom pinpoint when you might get your first sassy, "okkkk mom!" Or while the experts can give you guidelines for physical development, they cannot tell you how cool it is when your child tackles *that one* piece of playground equipment they have always been too afraid to climb. [more]
- Tags: Snacks, Growing Up, Food
July 21, 2009
Watermelon Granita
Watermelons are big. Yes, I am the master of the obvious.
Unless you are feeding a crowd, if you buy a watermelon, for let's say, the watermelon salsa I posted yesterday, you will probably have some leftover watermelon.
Need a super easy, almost effortless way to transform your extra watermelon into a yummy, frozen, fat free snack?
Take the extra watermelon and press it through a sieve to extract the watermelon "juice:" [more]
- Tags: Sweets, Summer, Recipes, Healthy Eating
July 20, 2009
Watermelon Salsa
Last week I shared a recipe that my Uncle Frank had made for our family reunion last month. Today I share an equally yummy recipe that I gleaned from my Aunt Di and cousin Jill.
You see, my cousin Jill is due with her first baby in late September. Like most mothers-to-be, she has had her share of food cravings and such. One of her big cravings? Watermelon.
Jill came up with this recipe to satisfy her watermelon craving in a really creative, fun and tasty way. My Aunt Di then replicated it for our family reunion, and well, it didn't take me long before I was making it too.
July 16, 2009
Go Bananas
These sweet treats are one of my favorite ways to have dessert without any guilt. Frozen bananas turn creamy, almost ice cream-like, and when you dip them in a bit of chocolate, you have a decadent way to cool off in the summertime.
Ready to try a chocolate covered frozen banana? It is super simple. First, cut the banana into 2 or 3 pieces (or leave it whole!):
Stick a popsicle stick into one end:
