Amazing Play Kitchen and Market Stall Ikea Hack

Check out this amazing play kitchen and market stall hack over at IKEA Hacker using the RAST bedside tables! I'm currently looking for a great play kitchen for Luc and if only I had more time on my hands and were as ambitious as this DIYer I would totally make these! 

Snack Stations

This is an idea from Real Simple for creating snack stations to make grabbing snacks for your kids a snap. I'm contemplating preparing stations like this to streamline snack time...that is if I can get my organizational act together. I'm trying to decide what I would include in my snack stations, as some of the choices below wouldn't be my choices. 


So far, I would definitely include: 


- mixed dried fruit
- a healthy savory cracker
- a healthy sweet cracker or cookie
- hummus or homemade yogurt ranch dressing
- peanut butter
- cut up raw or lightly steamed veg
- cut up fresh fruit


Please share you ideas of what would you would add as a must-have to keep on hand for quick snack prep? 

Whole Grain Honey Sesame Cookies

I've been feeling stressed because our dog sustained a head injury and cost us a fortune in vet bills and when I'm stressed, cooking and baking help me to relax. I find it relaxing to not have to think too about anything for a little while besides what I'm doing with my hands and getting into a rhythm of washing, chopping, rolling, stirring... Plus, there's always a little thrill of accomplishment when things work out well.  

These cookies are one of things that I made recently and they were a big hit with my son. These uber-healthy cookies are adapted from the granola muncher's classic, Diet for a Small Planet. Full of whole grains, healthy fat, calcium, and fibre these are cookies that you don't have to feel guilty about eating or feeding them to your little ones. 

Whole Grain Honey Sesame Cookies

- 1/2 cup honey 
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup milk (cow, almond, coconut -- your choice)
- 1 1/4 cup oats, ground to a flour
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 3/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
- 1/2 cup dried currants (or chopped raisins)


Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. In a dry skillet, toast sesame seeds over med-low heat stirring regularly until lightly toasted and nutty smelling. Meanwhile, grind the oats into a flour using either a coffee grinder or a food processor. 

In a large bowl, blend together the honey, coconut oil, and egg. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Dough should be quite stiff.


Drop batter in approximately 1 tbsp size amounts onto a greased baking sheet. Flatten each gob of batter with moist fingers and bake in your preheated oven for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let cool on a wire rack before storing in an airtight container. 


*TIP: measure the oil first and add to bowl and then use the same measuring cup to measure the honey -- it will slide right out into the bowl.


* Will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container or freeze for one month.

Blueberry Cinnamon Sauce

An easy and healthy alternative to top you and your child's morning pancakes or waffles!




















Blueberry Cinnamon Sauce

- 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 3 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp pure almond extract (optional)

In a small saucepan add frozen blueberries, brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, and cinnamon. Bring contents up to a simmer. As the mixture simmers, mash the blueberries with a potato masher or the back of a spoon to break them up. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. 


Mix cornstarch in 1/4 cup water and stir until smooth. Add to blueberry mixture and continue simmering while stirring continuously for about 2 minutes until it has thickened somewhat. Remove from heat and stir in almond extract, if using.

* Makes about 1 cup blueberry sauce.
* Will keep refrigerated for up to one week.
 

Of Birthday Parties and Small Victories

This weekend we attended a friend's daughter's first birthday party! Luc had a fun time playing and it was a lovely party. It was also one of the first times that he's been exposed to non-'healthified' cake and candy. I was unsure what his reaction would be to this traditional birthday fare, but I also don't want to be the 'out there' mom who packs alternative food to every occasion. 

All the kids were sitting around the kiddie table to eat cupcakes. The other kids pretty much just licked off the icing, but Luc examined it for a minute, then picked the whole thing up to eat. He didn't seem extra interested in the icing. He ate most of it, but I helped him finish it off. :) There were also Smarties on the table that some of the other kids were grabbing and so I put one in front of Luc to see what he would do and he played with it for a few moments and then disregarded it and continued to eat his cupcake. I think he didn't realize it was edible since he's never seen candy and it looks nothing like anything he's ever eaten! 

I know he won't always be so indifferent to junk food and sweets but I still took it as a small victory that he was largely uninterested this time.

What have done/or are planning to do when your little ones encounter junk food?

North African Snack Bites

I'm always trying to find new snack ideas and recipes to keep snack-time interesting. I adapted this recipe from on on Food.com. Not only is this snack full of energy, ultra easy and involves no cooking, but it's also a fun recipe to get young kids helping you out in the kitchen. They can press the 'on' button to make the food processor whiz and then help roll the mixture into balls and swirl them in the toppings. These snack bites are suitable for everyone in your family over the age of 1 and I would be shocked if they didn't disappear quickly into even the pickiest munchkin!




















North African Snack Bites

- 1/2 cup peanut butter (or sunflower butter)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup wheat germ, toasted
- 1/2 cup powdered milk (I used whole milk, but skim would be fine) 
- 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted


In a dry skillet, toast the wheat germ over med-low heat until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently. Remove once done to the bowl of a food processor, then add the sesame seeds to the skillet and toast similarly. When toasted, remove to a plate. 


Add peanut (or sunflower butter) to food processor bowl, along with the honey and powdered milk. Whiz until well combined. 


Place the shredded coconut on another plate. 


Form the peanut mixture into balls and roll in the topping, either both or separately, your call.


Transfer to an airtight container lined in waxed paper and chill in the fridge. They will keep for up to 4 days. 

 

Bringing Up Bebe

We've been having some behavioral issues with Luc lately and just the other day I commented to my husband that I want to know the French secret for raising well-behaved children. Every time we've been in France we've been thoroughly impressed by how well behaved kids are, especially when it comes to eating habits.

When we head out to a restaurant in France and the table beside us has children seated with them we know that we don't have to worry about food flying our way, screaming, or anything else our own child does. It seems as though children never make a scene in a restaurant no matter how leisurely the meal... and this happens with no crayons, no kiddie menus, and no portable DVD players. 

I thought I would share this interesting article on the difference between French and American attitudes to feeding babies and child-rearing. So, while I admire the amazing manners that French children display, I definitely adhere more to the American style of feeding/raising children....so I guess I shouldn't expect Luc to behave like anything other than a typical North American kid!

What strikes you as interesting/surprising about this article?