Granny Bait: You know a baby outfit like this when you see it, I call it granny bait. They’re (sometimes) adorable alright - just maybe not something you might have picked out, possibly a little outdated, possibly never in style. But grandmas can pick up on a baby wearing granny bait a mile away - and they come running. I have some Enfamil Next Step Lipil checks that I won’t be using, and I want to give them to someone who can use them (not someone that will sell them on ebay) — enter the Granny…
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Added by Susan Conyers on February 13, 2009 at 10:50am —
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This can be a snack or dessert, easily doubles. For variety, try substituting cinnamon graham crackers every once in awhile.
Ingredients
1/2 graham cracker sheet
1 tbs milk
Instructions
Combine milk and graham cracker
Mash with a spoon
Enjoy!
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Added by Susan Conyers on February 9, 2009 at 8:44am —
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When I first started making Baby K homemade baby food, I scoured the baby food grocery aisle in search of ideas for recipes. Baby food can’t be that hard to “knock-off”, I thought, as most of the products had only a few main ingredients.
I noticed, and I’m sure you have too, that several brands have DHA fortified product lines. So I wondered, like any concerned parent, if by making my own baby food, I was denying baby of “support in brain and eye development”. Currently, The American Academy of…
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Added by Susan Conyers on February 9, 2009 at 8:42am —
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As Baby K gets a little older and her foods don’t need to be pureed beyond recognition anymore, it’s easy to combine soft foods and mash them with a fork for a quick, no-cook meal. I’ve already sung the praises of the banana, but have you thought about combining the sweet tasting banana with another no-cook food, the buttery and smooth avocado? (Need avocado guidance?)sliced avocado
Ingredients:
* 1/2 ripe avocado
* 1/2 ripe banana
Instructions:
* Combine avocado and banana
* Mash with a for…
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 29, 2009 at 8:19am —
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Nutrient-rich red bell pepper combined with the familiarity of carrot and banana. I haven’t yet tried to freeze this one. Have you? Let me know!
Ingredients
1/2 red bell pepper
1 carrot
1 banana
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 15, 2009 at 9:18am —
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This week I had the chance to check out the Baby Dipper Bowl. This bowl and spoon set is genius - it has a no slip base, which allows you to feed your baby with one hand
Baby Dipper
without the bowl sliding all over the table or highchair tray. The triangular shaped Baby Dipper Bowl has a gently contoured interior, which helps guide the spoon to the food and allows the spoon to rest in the lower corner when not in use. The spoon is cleverly designed as well to rest perfectly in the lower corner…
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 12, 2009 at 11:47am —
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This dish can easily be doubled or tripled to feed the rest of your family as well. Just skip chopping the chicken and pureeing. Also try it with turkey for a different flavor. Freezer friendly!
Ingredients
* 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
* 2 cups low sodium organic chicken or vegetable broth or water
* 1/2 cup fresh or frozen (thawed) corn
* 1/3 cup cooked basmati rice (may substitute brown rice)
* 2 bay leaves
* sprig of parsley
* 1/2 tbs unsalted butter
* 1 tbs whole wheat, organ…
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 11, 2009 at 6:13pm —
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Over the next few weeks I’m going to try a few instructions (recipes?) for homemade baby wipes. After I get a chance to try them out, I’ll post back on my favorites. Do you have any favorite methods? Have you tried any of these recipes? Please leave in the comments.
Not sure that the power tools are absolutely necessary, but blogger Bryan Horling details his method here, and makes a good case for the power tools. Bryan, my husband thanks you for turning a domestic task into a manly shop venture…
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 11, 2009 at 6:11pm —
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10 month old Baby K is far more interested in finger foods right now than she is any food involving a spoon. As far as the veggies, you can use any combination of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.
Ingredients
* 8oz mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
* 6 oz grated Cheddar cheese (also try with Parmesan for a different flavor)
* 2 1/2 tbs water
* 2 1/2 tbs olive oil
* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/2 tsp garlic powder
* 1/2 tsp oregano…
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Added by Susan Conyers on January 8, 2009 at 7:14am —
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Included in this recipe are options using red or Yukon gold potatoes. I encourage you to try both variations, as the Yukon gold potatoes provide a wonderfully distinct flavor, different than the red.
Ingredients
* 3-4 medium sized red or Yukon gold potatoes
* 3/4 cup organic chicken or vegetable broth
* 1/2 tsp rosemary, very finely chopped
* Dash of pepper
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Vanilla Pumpkin.
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 29, 2008 at 4:40pm —
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Together, with the discriminating palate of my 9 month old, Baby K, we put over 25 mass produced, organic, jarred baby foods to the test. All of these were available at our local Target or Meijer, range from stage 1 to stage 3 foods, and include fruits, vegetables, grain blends, meats and dinners.
Aside from the few that made the top three, there were several that were tasteless and bland, and then several that were downright cringe-inducing. Watch for my post on the Worst 3 Jarred Baby Foods i…
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 21, 2008 at 5:40pm —
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Vanilla Pumpkin's Facebook page has launched! Stay up to date with posts, photos, review and coming soon - contests! Please consider becoming a fan by
visiting our page. Feel free to invite your friends - thanks!
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 14, 2008 at 8:17am —
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As with many of the foods I make, I love the variety that many of them provide. Try substituting different types of cheeses for the Cheddar, such as Parmesan, or Monterey Jack.
Ingredients:
* 8 oz (1/2 pound) shredded mild Cheddar cheese
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 5 tbs softened butter
* 1 tbs parsley or chives (optional)
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 14, 2008 at 7:51am —
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Avocados are considered superfoods, and one of the most easily digestible protein and healthy, unsaturated fats. They provide the perfect ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates, all in one fruit. Unsaturated fats are helpful to baby’s developing brain and central nervous system. Additionally, avocado requires no cooking, and boasts the simplest prep process of all of the baby foods I’ve tried, except bananas of course.
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 2, 2008 at 10:17am —
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Ingredients
1/2 pound dry lentils
1/2 pound vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans
1 small onion
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Added by Susan Conyers on December 2, 2008 at 10:15am —
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OMG Thanksgiving is only a few days away! A lot of moms are opting to make a special little meal for their baby - here's a sample menu and recipes to get you started. Enjoy!
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Added by Susan Conyers on November 22, 2008 at 8:02am —
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One of the great benefits of making your own baby food is the versatility. Once baby has been exposed to spices, a single ingredient recipe can take on a multitude of culinary experiences. Sweet potatoes are a great food to start experimenting with, since they're so easily paired with cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spices. Some moms even add a dash of brown sugar. Sweet potatoes are one of nature’s superfoods, delivering beta carotene and Vitamins C and B6. Commonly one of baby’s first foods, s…
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Added by Susan Conyers on November 19, 2008 at 5:20am —
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A favorite freezer-friendly recipe at my house, Spiced Pumpkin Puree is easy, versatile, nutritious, and plentiful. Gentle enough to be a first food. One medium sized pie pumpkin yields about two quarts of frozen puree cubes.
Ingredients:
* 1 Pie Pumpkin (be sure to use a pie pumpkin, not a jack-o-lantern pumpkin, as pie pumpkins are more flavorful and less stringy)
* 1 cup of water (slightly more or less to reach desired consistency)
* Vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, cinnamon
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Added by Susan Conyers on November 13, 2008 at 9:49am —
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I came across an interview of John Hodgman by AV Club’s Scott Tobias, which may be one of the most articulate and compelling “reality-based” arguments I’ve read about the dynamics of the never-ending 2008 election. John Hodgman is the PC in the “Get a Mac” Apple campaign. He’s one of those personalities that you never actively look for, but intersects daily life at the most random moments. You can read the interview in its entirety at AV Club, but be forewarned - longest.interview.ever. Well wor…
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Added by Susan Conyers on October 27, 2008 at 9:13am —
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Hey Twittermoms, as more and more moms (and dads) are taking it upon themselves to make their own baby food using both organic and non-organic ingredients, I'm blogging about best practices, how tos, recipes and tips about home made baby food, teething biscuits and first finger foods. The site is at
http://vanillapumpkin.wordpress.com. Vanilla Pumpkin is in its infancy right now (I'm talking newborn here), but I'm looking for your best recipes, t…
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Added by Susan Conyers on October 26, 2008 at 7:00am —
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