Book Review #1

Because I'm a teacher at heart, and because there are tons of fabulous cookbooks and children's books out there on the topic of food, we'll feature a book review now and then. Think Reading Rainbow reviews of yesteryear with a Mish Mash Mama spin.

The first book I've chosen is Little Pea, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, because it's on our bookshelf and it spurred this whole idea in the first place. Little Pea is the story of a family of peas (Papa Pea, Mama Pea, Little Pea, you get the drill) who have one common problem: Little Pea won't eat his.... candy. All his parents make him eat is candy, candy, candy. "Yuck, blech, eck!" are Pea's revolted reactions. All Little Pea wants is spinach. It's reverse psychology at its best, and will elicit a chuckle from parents of toddlers, and a hearty laugh from more mature kids who get the humor. And, in the happy ending, Little Pea finally gets to gobble up his... spinach. But only after he eats all of his candy.

I'm not going to say this will get your kid to eat their spinach. Parents' attitudes certainly play a bigger role than any book will. Still, the book rings true for all of us, and I'm loving the whole series by this author. Happy reading...

Homemade Play-Doh

What mama doesn't love the Hallmark moment of her little one helping in the kitchen? I can't wait to have A. help me peel, grate, cut dough, mix, and learn that cooking is a totally rewarding and special process. The only problem is that she's 1 and 1/2, and before all of you Montessori friends remind me that she CAN help in the kitchen (and I know she can do a handful of kitchen chores) there are times when I just want to make my chicken picatta or oatmeal cookies without interruption or a request for a "yik" from the bowl.

A possible solution- for at least five minutes- is homemade play-doh. I love that my baker-in-training can roll this, use plastic cookie cutters, and throw around balls of it. She even sticks to it for a good five minutes, which for me is golden opportunity to test out new Mish Mash recipes. It couldn't hurt her if she ate a little, and it only takes one "yik" for her to decide it isn't too tasty. I hope you enjoy this for your little baker-in-training, too!
(courtesy of cooks.com)

PLAYDOH
1 c. flour 1 c. boiling water 2 tbsp. cream of tartar 1/2 c. salt 1 tbsp. oil Food coloring Mix and knead together. This playdoh is not sticky and does not dry out. Higher altitudes may require adding a bit more flour.

A Little Veggie Inspiration

I am such a sucker for anything shrunk down from its normal size to a cute little mini version of its original. Veggies are no exception. I just love how cute they look on a plate. Here's an awesome recipe from a great food site called Dash and Bella - this inspired blog comes from a mom who not only makes fantastic yummy creations for her kids, she also involves them in the whole process then documents it on her blog. I am a foodie blog junkie and Dash and Bella is definitely in my top 5.

BABY ZUCCHINI, ASPARAGUS, AND PESTO GRATIN
No amounts necessary for this recipe. Just cook what you have.



- baby zucchini or small summer squash, ends trimmed and sliced in half

- salt

- pepper

- pesto (store bought or homemade)

- asparagus tips

- bread crumbs

- grated parmesan or pecorino

- pine nuts



Grease a baking dish with butter or olive oil. Place sliced zucchini cut-side up. Spread pesto on each half. Distribute asparagus tips evenly on top. Generously season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle top with bread crumbs and grated cheese. Bake 20-30 minutes or until vegetables are just tender and the top is crispy and brown. Serve immediately-

*You can easily puree, leave out ingredients, or add some different flavors like roasted red bell peppers. This recipe is a prime example of how you can make a dish for the entire family all at once.

A Little Apricot Inspiration

Our friend Holly is blessed with a beautiful Apricot tree in her yard and it's currently chock full of yummy ripe apricots. I found this recipe on Feeding Little Foodies (with a little Mish+Mash twist) and thought it would be such a great breakfast treat for your kiddos now that Apricot season is upon us. Take advantage of all the wonderful fresh produce the summer has to offer by experimenting with different ways of preparing it. It's a great way to get your whole family to eat something new while it's at its best!

Hot Apricot Cereal

Ingredients:

1/4 tspn flax seed meal
1/2 tbsp of steel cut oats
2/3 cup warm milk, breast milk, or vanilla soy milk
2 small, peeled, fresh apricot
½ tbsp golden raisins

Directions:
Put all of the ingredients in a small pan, cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Purée (for kiddos under 9 mos).
Add more water or breast milk if needed for desired consistency.

This recipe was Mish+Mashed by adding a little extra goodness with the Flaxseed Meal, Soy Milk, and for some extra protein add some crushed walnuts or almonds. This cereal is a great source of magnesium and iron.

A Little Help From Our Friends!

Mish+Mash homemade is currently is a heated race on Startup Nation to be chosen as one of the Leading Moms in Business. We could really use your support. Click on the link above - vote once a day, leave some kind words, and cross your fingers. :)

Get Social!

While we are awaiting the big unveil of our newly revamped website - a work still in progress - I thought we'd let you all in on one of the new workshops Mish+Mash homemade is now offering. We can't wait to add more Mish+Mashers to our community!

Looking for a night out with friends? Need ideas on nutritious & easy meals for your kiddos? Well we figured out a way for you to do both. Invite us into your kitchen for a miSh+mAsh homemade workshop specifically designed for you and your friends.What are you waiting for? Lets get social!

v We will assist you in preparing recipes that will offer a variety of food groups & different mealtimes.

v We will provide you with the information you need to create healthy and tasty food for your child that is nutritious and age appropriate (please try to keep all the kids ages within close proximity). You will also leave with recipes that your whole family can enjoy.

v We will give you tips and tricks on how to save time and money while making cooking for your child simple, fun, and stress free.

v Yummy food for you and your friends will also be provided as well as refreshments such as wine or mimosas.

v We will send you menu options to choose from prior to your workshop. We will be more then happy to accommodate any food allergy, needs, or concerns

v We welcome groups from 3 to 6. We have designed these workshops to be for moms & dads – because cooking and chasing toddlers is never easy we ask that these be kid free events. For those of you with babies in the first stage of feeding (in other words immobile) we will be happy to accommodate them. If you have a larger party in mind please email us to arrange it.

Chunky Monkeys /Finger Foodies/Snack Attack Workshop Pricing:

Happy Hour	Soiree	Shindig
*3 recipes	*4 recipes	*5 recipes
Cost: $30/person 2 hours	Cost: $35/person 2 1/2 hours	Cost: $40/person 3 hours

*Pureed Goodness workshops are $30/person for 2 weeks worth of food.

*Food storage can be provided for an additional cost. You are welcome to bring your own. We will email you list of options prior to the class.

*Private one on one workshops are available simply email us for details.

*We require two weeks notice to set up a workshop and ask for at least 48 hrs should you need to reschedule.

*We accept cash and check only at this time.

*You can add additional recipes onto any of our workshops for $5/person.

*Socials can be booked in the evening or for Saturday Brunch. We will do our best to accommodate.

*Email us at info@mishmashhomemade.com to plan your miSh+mAsh homemade Social!

Delish Kids' Recipes

You may have noticed our break in posting. We've been busy this week gearing up for our in home socials, answering questions on Moms Like Me, and just plain chasing our toddlers around. Nicole has been busily reworking our web site (changes coming soon!) and we're excited about Mish+Mash's revisions. We hope you'll like the changes.

This work is interesting, rewarding, and challenging, but it takes so much time to work towards success. We know this, and are enjoying the journey, even if Nicole does stay up a little too late while I get up a little too early to keep Mish+Mash up to speed. Any time you want to drop us a line letting us know how our work is benefiting your family, please do--- it keeps us going in these beginning stages.

My husband forwarded this link from Delish on to me yesterday (what a guy, searching for recipes for this Mish Mash Mama!) and I thought it was worth sharing after our work on Moms Like Me. There were several moms with real questions about their own standbys (lasagna, chicken nuggets, etc) who knew that they weren't quite filling the nutritional needs of their kids. Oh, how we understand the need to make food, make it fast, and feel good about putting it on the table.

I love how these frequently loved kid recipes from Delish include surprise ingredients: oven fried zucchini sticks, pizza sauce with pumpkin puree, chocolate chip cookies made with tahini, strawberry cream cheese sandwiches, or almond crusted chicken. All yummy, and all worth trying, especially if you're in a rut and your kids love these foods anyway. We don't always promote hiding healthy ingredients, but if you're looking for healthier alternatives, hiding might just be the ticket for your kiddo.

Got A Question?

We are completely honored to have been contacted by Denver Moms Like Me to participate in a live all day Q & A. Simply click on Moms Like Me and find us under the heading "Ask the Experts". You can begin posting questions now and they will all be answered between 8 am and 8 pm on Wednesday July 21st.

Sweet Summer Zucchini Puree

If you have a garden, or go to farmer's markets, you know that zucchinis will soon, as my dad used to say, "be coming out of our ears." Our own garden plant has already taken off.

We made zucchini puree at our last workshop for this very reason. It's also high in fiber, vitamins A, C, B6, folate, and other important nutrients. It's an easy one to puree because of its high water content.

Sauteeing is a totally acceptable way to make baby food, although not commonly mentioned, and this is a good place to try it. Any leftovers can also be used in zucchini bread, or frozen for up to 3 months and portioned out for baby. Speaking of multiple uses, go ahead and throw a bit on the grill with olive oil and sea salt as a side to your bbq; the whole family can enjoy it!

Ingredients:
2 organic zucchini
1 tsp olive oil

Directions:
Peel zucchini and cut into small uniform cubes. Heat olive oil in saute pan and add zucchini. Cook with lid on for 2 to 3 min to steam. Remove lid, stir occasionally for 7 minutes. Allow to cool, then place in food processor to puree. You can also add unsalted butter, thyme, rosemary or chicken broth to change up flavors.

A Different Take on Puree

When we think about making our own baby food we often think of steaming fruits & veggies and then simply pureeing them to the desired consistency. But did you ever consider how different an apple can taste when it is baked instead of steamed? Or how about baking your babies sweet potato instead? All these various cooking methods will bring out different tastes and textures. Bananas were always tricky for me - Sofia only would eat them if they were at just the right level of ripeness. What she really loved is when I baked them which created a yummy caramelized sweetness. Simply put the banana into a 400 degree oven in the peel for about 8 minutes. Once it cools peel and mash with a fork - add a little cinnamon or nutmeg for added flavor. This is a great one to add to their morning cereal as well. This is one of the many "tricks" we teach in our workshops. Our classes are not just merely steam & puree we show you all different ways to cook your kids food. If you have a little one who doesn't seem to care for a certain fruits or veggies changing up your preparation might just change the way your kiddo reacts to it. We hope to see you in a workshop soon!!

Good Food = Good Health

So how did my passion for healthy food get started? I've always loved to cook with fabulous ingredients - give me a recipe with an out of the ordinary root vegetable or spice any day. But after reading Michael Pollans, "In Defense of Food" while I was pregnant with Sofia my love for good food took on a whole new meaning. He states it so simply "eat mostly vegetables" and "eat real food". Seems simple enough right? And really it is just that simple. I did a lot of research while I was pregnant regarding what I should be feeding my baby while she was in utero. I cut out white flour, white sugar, and ate lots of fruits and veggies - all organic. I made sure I was taking a great pre-natal and adding omega 3 and folic acid where ever I could. So once Sofia began with solids it seemed silly that I would just stop making sure she continued to get the best nutrition possible from the foods she ate. Another book I came across that talks about the benefits of a diet rich in wholesome ingredients is "101 Foods that Can Save Your Life" by David Grotto. If your interested in knowing how adding a little cinnamon to your child's applesauce can be more than just for the taste this is a really interesting and well written guide to what added benefits certain foods can contain and how best to prepare them in order to maintain their nutritional values. 

Being summer I have been experimenting with all sorts of yummy smoothie options for Sofia & me. I have never given her store bought juice and wanted to start to incorporate drinks other than milk, soy milk, and water into her life. My friends sister Jill who is an acupuncturist in Connecticut raising twin baby boys posted a super yummy recipe on Facebook recently that I couldn't wait to try on Sofia. So I thought I'd share it with everyone. It's a way to think about how to add essential nutrients into your families diet. I always try to add a little flax seed, amarinth,  various seeds, nuts,  or wheat germ into our food whenever I can as well as herbs and spices. Think about all the impact these added nutrient boosts can have on your little ones development and your families overall health. You'll be surprised at just how good it makes you feel as well. I have never been good about taking vitamins everyday except while I was pregnant so for me getting them from the foods I eat makes it much easier to make sure I am staying as healthy as I can not just for myself but for my family as well. 

Jill's Super Baby Power Smoothie!

1 cup strawberries + 2 cups watermelon + 1 leaf rainbow chard + 2 tbsp chia seeds = nutrient dense babies

Nutrient Info:

Chia seeds are high in Omega-3. The high antioxidant levels in strawberries can help the body neutralize the destructive effects of free radicals. It is said that watermelons strengthen the immune system and help the body in fighting off infection. Rainbow Chard is considered a super veggie because of its high  concentrations of vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. 

Thank Jill for sharing! 

Exposure

When I taught elementary school, it was a known fact that kids who had more exposure to books and print as little tykes excelled more when it came to learning to read. It's one of the rules of learning anything: a person needs lots of exposure and positive chances to experience anything that is worthy of learning. Parents know this too: when a child learns to ride a bike, potty train, etc. it takes lots and lots of practice! Watching my toddler repetitively do the same task reminds me of this.

Children also learn by what they hear, or overhear. It always made me cringe as a teacher to hear a parent comment that their child "just wasn't good at math" repetitively. That's a major learning experience, too, and one that children tend to believe.

What's really interesting is that for some reason, totally well-meaning parents don't always remember these things when it comes to food and eating. Maybe it's because we have to work so hard to prepare nutritious foods that are flung off the high chair, and maybe it's because we believe that taste is ingrained. Maybe it's because we didn't like certain foods, or still don't. Either way, it's important to remember that our attitudes teach our kids. Food, and eating, take many exposures and chances too!

Case in point: A child might reject broccoli the first time, and everyone decides that he just plain doesn't like it. Then, because the child hears his parents talk about Johnny not liking broccoli, he decides from then on, that will be true. Broccoli is never served again, nor are other green veggies for fear that he won't eat them. You can see how this made-up story would end... but it's not all that different from some adults I don't know who just "don't eat vegetables."

Or, the other side: A wise parent tries to incorporate yummy, healthy, colorful foods at every meal. Even when a box of mac and cheese is made, some peas or broccoli are thrown in with the mac the last few minutes. Sometimes it's rejected, sometimes it isn't. But it's always there. And nothing is ever commented on as being something one "doesn't like".... it's just enjoyed by the adults at the table if the child doesn't enjoy it.

Think of the difference in attitudes! I'm amazed in what a difference this makes. Sure, my kid still rejects food, but I'm a believer that parents who keep modeling what they'd like to see have kids who follow suit (well, at least some of the time) :). Expecting a child to love a food the first time is like expecting your baby to be attentive the first time you pull out a book instead of just chewing on it.

Food for thought!

Farmers Markets - the When, What, Where, & Why!

Farmers Markets are the best way to take advantage of high quality produce & locally made foods. But just like shopping at the grocery store in order to buy local you need to stick to what is in season. Here is some info as to what is in season in Colorado during the summer growing months:

LOOK FOR THE LOCAL:
May: Colorado Fresh Markets blooms in May with fresh flowers, bedding plants, spring greens, & delicious food.

June: Fruit & veggies start to sprout up in June and more arrives each week.

July – October is the height of the growing season and Colorado produce is in abundance.

Why is it important to only stick to what is in season when shopping at the Farmers Market? Isn't everything at the market local? Not necessarily, since our peak growing season is July - October some of the produce you will find there in June will in fact not be local. For the best quality at the best price I usually hold off on hitting up the markets until July. 

Colorado has a plethora of farmers markets throughout Denver and the surrounding areas. If you've never been to the Boulder market I definitely recommend going there on a Wednesday evening and having dinner there. It's one of my favorites. Wednesday is also a good day to check out the Cherry Creek market - much less crazy than the weekend. For more info on where to shop and when simply click go to www.colorado.gov. 

Where are your favorite markets or local farms to shop at during the summer? We'd love to hear from you!! 

Homemade Fruit Roll-ups

I recently saw this recipe for fruit roll-ups on one of my favorite kid design sites Ohdeedoh. I love organic fruit leather, but they are too tough for Sofia's teeth to bite through. I love the idea of making my own and can't wait to try this out with some yummy seasonal fruits - it is berry season here in Colorado & we are planning a trip to pick our own in the next couple of weeks. By the way, thank you to everyone for sharing your recipes, tips, and stories with us. 

Homemade Fruit Roll-Ups:

step 1 Ingredients
You will need fruit, pick your favorite. You can use anything from frozen, to fresh from the garden! For this I used two mangos, a half a bag of fresh cherries, and a lemon.

As for tools/appliances, you will need a cutting board, a knife, a blender, a pot and stove, something to mix with, a cooking sheet, and an oven. 

step 2 Prep
Preheat your oven to 200ºF, if you have a convection oven I recommend using it, if not a regular bake will do.

Next blend your fruit together. No need to add any sweetener. I do strongly recommend using lemon juice though, just as much as you can get out of a single lemon. Blend until smooth.

Make sure you are not getting any pits or seeds from the lemon in it, I did the first time, it isn't something you want to run into while eating this.

step 3
Next, you want to pour it in a pot and bring it to a boil, I put it on medium high heat. Once it starts to simmer, make sure that you keep it in motion. It does not need to be in constant motion, but the bottom needs to keep from burning.

It should get fairly thick. You want it to be boiling for a few minutes. The goal is, to get it thick enough to the point it will not spread too much when you pour it on a flat surface. You will notice that it is slower to fill the space when you move it, and will all fall in clumps.

step 4 Bake
Pour your fruit on a baking sheet (I used parchment paper, just because I use it with everything I put on a baking sheet, but it should not stick to much if you rather not use it) it does not need to still be boiling, but it shouldn't be too cold either. Smooth it out*, and pop it in the oven that has already been preheated to 200°F. Leave it for at least an hour. You will know it is done when you can touch it, without any coming off on your fingers.

*Make sure that it is very smooth and even. Other wise it will not cook evenly.

step 5 Serve
My favorite way to serve these fruity snacks is to cut them into long strips, roll them up, and place a cute sticker on them. You could also use a cookie cutter to make them fun shapes though!

Can't wait to bring this to our next play date!