Zucchini Sticks

A few weeks ago I read the "great tips" section of a parenting magazine which suggested sending elementary school age kids with "sticks and dip" for lunch. Carrots, cucumbers, or red peppers were listed as "stick" options and hummus, yogurt, or peanut butter were listed as potential dips. I thought this was a very cute idea that could easily be adapted to a toddler.

So last week I tried feeding Baby Flava cucumber and red pepper (without the peal) sticks with yogurt for lunch but unfortunately it was not a very successful experiment. Mostly BF just used the veggies as a vehicle to deliver the yogurt to her mouth! I was happy that got (and enjoyed) the idea of dipping but realized quickly that we will need to keep working on raw veggies. In the meantime however, I came up with an alternative that works ... sauteed zucchini and summer squash sticks. This couldn't be a simpler meal/snack to prepare and given the abundance of squash and zucchini this time of year, it is a great way to take advantage of your local Farm Stand.

Heat a non-stick skillet with 1 t of olive oil. Slice 3-4 small squash and zucchini into strips that are approximately 2 inches long by 1/4 inch wide. Once the pan is warm add the veggies and saute until slightly caramelized and soft, season with a dash of pepper. Serve with your dip of choice!

- Mama Flava -

Spiced Strawberry Sorbet

To expand upon Mama Flava's Strawberry theme from last month, here is a wonderful sorbet recipe I adapted slightly from one I found on epicurious.com. This recipe adds a kick to ordinary strawberry sorbet for older kids, but can easily be made "straight" for toddlers. When I used this for my demos kids loved it just as much as the adults. The black peppercorns and balsamic vinegar add a wonderful depth of flavor and change the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Spiced Strawberry Sorbet

Serves 6-8
Prep time: 20 minutes plus chill time for ingredients and ice cream maker
Cook time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
2/3-cup sugar (or agave nectar)
2/3-cup water
2 Tablespoons black peppercorns crushed coarse
1-quart strawberries hulled
2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar or to taste

Preparation:
In a saucepan combine sugar and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Stir in peppercorns and remove pan from heat. Cover pan and let syrup stand 1 hour.

Strain syrup through a fine sieve into a food processor or blender and discard peppercorns. Purée hulled strawberries with syrup until very smooth and force though sieve into a bowl, discarding seeds and other solids. This makes a very smooth sorbet...if you like it a bit chunkier do not strain. Stir in vinegar and chill, covered, until cold. Freeze mixture in an ice-cream maker.

You may use this basic recipe for most fruit sorbets leaving out the peppercorns and balsamic vinegar.

So for a nice cool fruity dessert try the strawberry ice cream, or if you want to leave out the fat/milk and cream...try the spiced sorbet. It's lovely on the tongue!!!

- Grammie Flava -

Food Fights

I recently met a new mom with whom I have a lot in common. She has a 15 month old son (Baby Flava is 18 months) and we seem to frequent all of the same mommie-and-me haunts in suburban Baltimore. My new mom friend is also wholly committed to feeding her son healthy, homemade, well-rounded meals. We share recipe ideas, talk about how to use whole grains, and of course -- we swap stories about food fights. It seems like there is nothing more stressful to a young mom than lovingly preparing a delicious and nutritious meal for their little one only to have it thrown back in their face, literally!

My advice to this new friend, and to myself is to take a deep breath and keep plugging along. Although you may loose many a food fight, in the long run you will win the war. By feeding your child a wide variety of healthy foods and exposing him/her to many different flavors and textures you are paving a path for great eating habits in the future. Plus, you are in the process of building a person! All of the whole grains, veggies, and good protein you can get into them now will help them in growing strong bones and a big 'ol brain. So, when your little one flings cucumber sticks over the side of the high-chair for the third time today, just retire the cukes for today and try again later.

Two important things to remember in the heat of battle!
1) Your little one is -- LITTLE. Consider those five bits of spinach a victory!
2) Let them eat peas! Baby Flava loves peas and I feed then to her almost every single day. If there is one veggie that works for your kid, load them up on that veggie during what is usually the most stressful meal. Save the experimentation for the time when you have the most patience.

- Mama Flava -