Teething Cookies

I got this recipe this morning and plan on trying it tomorrow for Baby Sutton. He loves a good, hard cookie for his little gums. I was thinking you could probably make different flavors with different kinds of puree's (instead of using just plain applesauce). I will try it their way first before I change it.


Teething Cookies


1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup maple syrup
3 Tbsp applesauce

Heat oven to 300. Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and stir with a wooden spoon until dough begins to hold together. Dust the counter with flour, then transfer the contents of bowl to the counter. Knead lightly until the dough is smooth, about 3 minutes. Roll out with a rolling pin until 1/2 inch thick. Cut out cookies using an inverted cup and a clean soda-bottle cap for the hole in the middle (the finished cookie looks like a donut - perfect for little hands to hold). Transfer cookies to a greased cookie sheet. Bake until barely browned, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely on cookie sheet. They're ready to eat now (under adult supervision, of course). Store for up to 2 weeks in an airtight container.

I will never understand

Normally, I put the parenting magazines in the "let the kids practice scissor skills" pile-snatching the Gymboree coupons first, but tonight I was bored. I read through a few pages and came upon a fine article about how kids eat. Now, I try not to be critical BUT can someone please tell me how your kids eats only grilled cheese or white foods. I don't even understand how this starts. As an infant, we give them all kinds of veggies and fruits. What the heck happens?

My grandma believed very much in giving us a love for fresh veggies and fruits. It never dawned on me that I could have requested a grilled cheese-much to which I am sure she would have spanked me for even asking. So, how does this all happen? I have raised 4 good eaters and convereted 1 not so hot eater so I am in awe of those who say-my kid only eats grilled cheese and boxed mac and cheese. My kids have never even had boxed mac and cheese-not because I am too good to buy it but because it is DISGUSTING! So, we travel down the road a bit further, another mom says her kid eats only white things. What the heck is white? Would cauliflower count-but I am sure that is too nutritious?????

Adam and I expect our children to eat what I cook. There is no second chance, no other meal, you eat what is served. We recently let Easton pick one thing he didn't like and he chose corn. He says it gets in his teeth. That is logical. I will accept that he doesn't like corn because 1) he had a valid reason and 2) he eats me out of house and home in every other sort of fruit and veggie. Sutton is 7 months and went to a Parents Night Out program last night. The teachers went on and on about how he ate everything I packed. Of course he did! I am not a short order cook! You get what you get or you go hungry. Our Pediatrician is quick to back me up and tell me that your child won't let themselves go hungry.

Very Berry Crumble

The kids LOVE this first thing in the morning. I serve it hot or cold if I have some left over. They love it on top of yogurt or ice cream too!

topping:
3/4 cup sliced almonds (ok, I rarely have these so I usually use chopped pecans)
1/3 cup quick oats (this is a rough estimate)
A few squirts of honey
A sprinkle of cinnamon
A sprinkle of nutmeg
A tsp or so of Vanilla
2 tablespoons of butter
A sprinkle of flax meal

Filling:
2 bags of frozen fruit (still frozen or thawed) (I use peaches, blueberries, strawberries, or a combo-just whatever I have)
Squirt of honey
A sprinkle of cornstarch (a sprinkle of baby rice/oatmeal cereal works just as good-just in case you are out of cornstarch =)

Mix the topping ingredients all together with a fork. The kids love the topping so I double it. Mix frozen fruit in a pyrex (I use the square one-whatever size that is). Squirt a little honey on top and sprinke cornstarch or baby cereal on top. Mix together.
Spoon on the topping and spread pretty evenly.

Bake at 375 until hot and bubbly.

Granola

I absolutely love this stuff, and make it in big batches (which go very quickly around here). You may add or remove various ingredients as you like, until you come up with your own custom granola mix that your family likes! Here's what I do, measurements may not be exact, as it's a very organic process for me (picture me throwing in a bit more of this, or that, at whim- it's usually how I cook).

Granola:


First, I mix the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Ingredients, Mix together:


* 12 c. oats
* 3/4 c. wheat germ (I rarely have this, so I now leave it out and double-up on the ground flax seeds, aka. flaxseed meal)
* 1 c. flaxseed meal (I use 2 c., when not adding the wheat germ)
* 8-12 oz. (or 16?) of cocunut, depending upon how much you like it! I use alot! ;)
* 2 c. of slivered almonds (I usually add an extra shake of this too)
* 3/4 c. of sunflower seeds, if you like 'em or any other seeds/nuts you want to try
* 2 tsp. cinnamon
* .25 tsp. nutmeg
* 1.5 tsp. ginger
* Now I (sometimes, if I have it on hand, but it's certainly not necessary) sprinkle some Oat Bran flour over the mix, and mix in (probably about 1/2 c. or so, the more you add, the more bready-type hard *clumps* you'll have in your granola. I don't like too much, but some might like to add up to 2-4 c. of oat flour- in which case you'd need to add more honey and oil to make it stick together, just experiment).


Now I start adding in the liquids:


* 1 tsp. almond extract
* 2.5 tsp. vanilla extract (you may want to add more, just have to experiment)
* Oil: *note* Again, for this ingred., you can experiment and use what you like. I use 1/4-1/2 c. of flax seed oil and a stick of unsalted butter, sometimes I've used 1/2 c. of vegetable oil, light olive oil would work too, or grapeseed oil. There are no rules with granola, except to make it as healthful as possible. But basicly, you'll need about 3/4 c. of oil for this amount of granola.
* 1.5-2 c. of honey
* 1/4 c. of molasses (we don't use this)

Mix it all up real good and spread on parchment paper, or brown paper bag on the largest cookie sheet you have.


Bake @ 300 degrees for 20 mins. or so, until golden brown/toasted looking. I even accidentaly burnt a batch the other day, and it was still delicious.


After it comes out of the oven, and cools off, I like to add organic raisins, dried blueberries or cranberries. You could add any dried fruit that you like. I've tried baking it with the fruit in it beforehand, and prefer to wait now. I found that the fruit sorta burns faster than the rest of the mix. ;-) I also mix in chocolate chips sometimes if I want to add more sweetness.


Peanut Butter Granola

Makes 5 cups - can double

2 3/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup natural wheat germ
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
2T vegetable oil
1/3 c honey
1/3 c chunky all natural peanut butter
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/2 c raisins
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 300. Stir together oats, wheat germ, and sunflower seed in a large mixing bowl. In a saucepan heat oil and honey, stiring occasionally. Remove from heat; add peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well. Spread over a cookie sheet. Bake 20 - 25 minutes, stirring every five minutes until granola browns evenly. Mix in raisins and nuts-I usually add extra nuts because the kids love them. STore in an airtight container. I use Krema peanut butter because it is salt free.