Stage 1 Baby Food

When your little one is ready to have something more that cereal, you can start them on stage 1 foods. Making them are very simple and you know whats going into your baby. All you need are a few items.

1. blender/hand blender or food processor 
2. breast milk, H2O, or formula for thinning
3. stage 1 fruits and veggies.
4. steamer basket
5. grater

Many Momma's start off with mashed bananas, most babies love them because they are so sweet and they are so easy to make, you simply just mash them with a fork. Or you can mash up a little banana and mix it with oatmeal/cereal.

Things like sweet potatoes, winter squash, pears and peas can be placed in a steamer basket and steamed.
Once the veggies are steamed, blend until its a coarse mash. Add a little of the steaming water a tablespoon at a time and blend until in the consistency of your liking. Store in a airtight container and it will last 2-3 days in the fridge. Thin out with breast milk, formula or water if desired before serving.

Hope your little one likes stage 1 foods like mine!

Provecho little ones!

Mel's Chicken Tacos

This a simple dish you can make fast. I had half a roasted chicken left over and even though they are not my favorite, a box of crunchy taco shells in the pantry. You can add any type of topping and make a little taco bar, but I prefer the traditional Mexian way of cilantro and minced onion.

Salsa verde gives the chicken a kick! I would to add Oaxacan cheese or queso fresco, but until my little man's allergies subside that won't happen. Try adding your own style to appease your own tastes and enjoy this low fat, simple dinner!

1/2 roasted chicken breast shredded
6 taco shells, or flour tortillas
1/2-3/4 cup of salsa verde, click here for my recipe for roasted salsa verde.
your choice of toppings, I chose cilantro and onion

 

In a skillet over a medium heat add shredded chicken.

Add salsa verde to the chicken and heat through. At this time heat up tortillas and prep toppings.

Place chicken in shells or tortilla and place toppings.

There you go! Provecho.

Salsa Verde

The best salsa verde I've ever had was made by Lauro our cook/worker when I was working at the Barrio Oaxaqueno in Teotihuacan Mexico. Lauro was considered to be a Mountain Man of sorts. He knew how to use the native plants of Mexico for food, medicinal purposes and pigment.

Lauro specialized in "El Campo" style type of cooking, that meant that he was able to cook us meals over an open fire. He showed me how to make salsa verde, but instead of making it over a camp fire I'm making in my kitchen. This ones for you Lauro!

Ingredients:
8 medium sized tomatillos
4 cloves garlic
2 serrano peppers
1/2 of a small spanish onion
Handful of fresh cilantro chopped.
Kosher salt

Preheat your oven to a low broil and place the rack at it's highest setting. 

Remove the husks on your tomatillos and wash them well. Cut them into quarters, cut peppers in half. Place tomatillos, onion, garlic and peppers in a single layer in a baking dish. place in oven and broil for 8 min each side. 

 When finished, tomatillos should be charred and soft.

 Put all roasted veggies in a blender along with any juices that released in the pan.

 Wash a handful of cilantro and place in the blender.

 Add a generous pinch of kosher salt.

 There you have it, salsa verde. You can eat it with tortilla chips, make chilaquiles which I've shown a recipe for or my Mel's chicken tacos also on this blog.

 

Sloppy Joes

I really don't know anyone who doesn't like a good Sloppy Joe. I had forgotten my love for them until one day the Husband Person asked if I could make em' for him. I'm sure glad I did. Who needs to buy that canned crap that starts with an "M?" Not you, nevermore, nevermore.

I've made these with ground chicken and ground turkey, but it doesn't compare to the plain ol' ground beef. If you buy it lean it won't be greasy. I always brown my ground beef and rinse with water in a colander to get rid of any extra grease.

This is a simple, tasty meal you can whip up fast! Try grating carrots and cooking them into the meat to sneak in a extra veggie if you want! I can assure you this will be a favorite to little and big kids alike!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground beef
1 small onion chopped
1 small red bell pepper chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
4 buns

1. Dice onion and bell pepper and saute over med. heat with a little olive oil, when fragrant add minced garlic. When onion in translucent set the mixture aside.
2. Brown and break up ground beef, when it's finished cooking place meat in colander and rinse to remove any extra grease, rinse the pan too.
3. Add all ingredients into the pan, cook on med heat until sauce thickens. Serve Immediately on buns.

Sorry for the lack of photos on the recent post. I've been so busy with little man that by the time I remember my camera dinner is being served or already eaten! I promise I'll try better getting the pics up.