Blueberry Lemon Greek Yogurt Bread

Introducing: Blueberry Lemon Greek Yogurt Bread!  Yes, it's true three of my favorite things all in one bread.  Blueberries, lemon, and Greek Yogurt, what more could a girl ask for?

This summer,  I took Jonathan blueberry picking, and of course we ended up with a lot more  than a family of three could eat before they went bad.  So while surfing pinterest, I came a across a recipe for a Greek yogurt and banana bread, and my first thought was I could do that!  All I have to do is switch out the bananas (which I hate) for blueberries (which I love).

Hence the Blueberry Lemon Greek Yogurt bread was created.  Did I mention that it's healthy?  I have to say that having this loaf in the frig on a morning when I'm trying to get out the door, has been a lifesaver. 

FYI, You're going to want to store this in the frig as it will go bad if left out too long. 

This was inspired by the original recipe posted here, I hope you all enjoy this as much as we did.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED: 

• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cane sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla (please use the real stuff!)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup fresh blueberries

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Start by combining flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl
• In a separate bowl, Add eggs, sugars, Lemon zest, and vanilla.  Once combined add the Greek Yogurt.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Your batter will be a little lumpy.
• Next fold in the blueberries.
• Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and distribute evenly.
• Pop into the oven and bake for one hour, the top is golden brown and a toothpick should come out clean.

Pear and Peach Bake for My Little Chubbarella

This has to be the easiest thing to make.  All you have to do is peal your fruits, add water, place in the oven to bake, and then puree.  Could making baby food be any easier, I think not!

 

Here is yet another one of Emilie's favorite meals.  You'll notice that in the second picture the puree looks a nice pale yellow, please note that while this freezes well.  The mix could have some browning, you might want to consider adding a little lemon juice to puree prior to freezing.  I have not done this, as did not notice much a change in color, and even if it did down there is not change in taste.  Therefore, I didnt feel that it was that big of a deal. 

 

Happy baking for your little one.

 

 

 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 6 pears, I recommend Bartlett pears
• 6 sweet peaches

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

• Peal pears and peaches and place in baking dish.
• Pour just enough water to cover the bottom of baking dish
• Place dish into over at 350 degrees and let bake until pears and peaches are soft and have turned mushy.
• Allow fruits to cool, the transfer to blender to puree, use leftover water, to thin if necessary. 
• Transfer your baby food to ice cube tray and allow to freeze. 
• Each cube equals one ounce of baby food.
   

Chicken and Sweet Potatoes for Baby

Have I mentioned Yams is one of the easiest things to make and so good for babies.  Well that still hasn't changed.  Neither has my need to make my own baby food.  While on vacation last week I had to stop and buy a couple of jars of baby foods and I couldn't believe how much 1- four ounce jar was.  If you're looking for a cost affective alternative for feeding your baby making your own is the way to go. 

 

So at Emilie's 6 month appointment I was asked if Emilie has gotten any proteins.  Which I had started giving her yet, I really thought that came at 8-9 months, boy was I behind with the times.  I decided that I would give her pureed chicken combined with one of Emilie's favorite meals, sweet potatoes, (AKA yams).  I tried to make all my baby food once a week so I'm not making it during the week.  This will take about 3 lbs of yams and  1 to 1.5 chicken breast  to make a weeks worth of food, if your little one is eating 4ounces daily.

 

Steamed Sweet Potatoes

 

Pureed Chicken Breast and Sweet Potatoes

Like always, Happy cooking!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Large stock pot
• Steamer basket
• 3-4 lbs of Sweet potatoes
• 1-1.5 Chicken breast

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

• Wash the yams and split them length wise.
• Place yams in steam basket and let steam until yams are squishy when lightly squeezed.  Once sweet potatoes are done, allow to cool, then scoop out sweet potatoes into blender
• In a second pot, pooch chicken breast until fully cooked, once done let cool before added to blender. 
• Use some of the water use to steam the swett potatoes to get desired thinness.  (Due to the added protein, this might require more water than what you expect.)
• Once puree has cooled transfer to ice cube tray and freeze.
• Each cube equals one ounce of baby food.

I hope your little ones enjoy it as much as mine does.

Chimichurri Sauce

About a year ago while traveling for work I stopped one night at one of the local restaurant's and while looking over the menu I came across a steak that was covered in a Chimichurri Sauce.  I had no idea what that was and the waitress said I had to tried it.  It was one of the best items on the menu, she even went as far to say if I didn't like i, then dinner would be on her.  How could I turn that offer.

 

So the steak comes out, and the sauce was on the side and I dig in to one of the best steaks I ever had.  She was right.  That was one delicious sauce.  One night while watching the food network, someone was making this and my husband was like OMG!  "I want that steak right now!"  apparently she had, had this before and loved it as well.  So next time I grilled some steaks, what do you think I drizzled over it?  That's right this amazing sauce. 

 

This really is a great and easy sauce to make.  I suggest making it next time you grill some nice steaks. 

 

Recipe adapted from the food network

 

Like always, Happy Cooking, or in this case Happy Saucing!

 

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• 2 cups fresh parsley firmly packed
• 1/4 cup fresh oregano leaves
• 8-9 cloves of garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped onion finely chopped
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 2tablespoon lime juice 
• Kosher salt and red pepper flakes to taste

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

• Pulse the garlic and onion in the food processor until finely chopped.
• Add the parsley and oregano and pulse briefly, until finely chopped.
• transfer mixture to a separate bowl.
• Add the olive oil, lime juice, and vinegar, and stir. (Adding the liquids outside of the blender gives the chimichurri the correct texture. You don't want the herbs to be completely pureed).
• Add salt and red pepper flakes to taste.
• Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Do not heat up before serving. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Yams for My Little Ham!

Wow! Can you say MIA, oh my! I actually thought that having a second child would be easier, boy was I mistaken. So quick update as to where I've been.  I went back to work 8 weeks after Emilie was born, and with that I've been doing some last minute travel for work.  So when I am home, my focus has been on the kiddos. Jonathan is going to start school in less than a month. Here he is on his 5th birthday.

 

And my little Emilie, is no longer my tiny baby, she's 10 months old and crawling all over the house.  The husband and I will surely have to keep an eye that one. Here she just a month ago with her brother.

 

OK, now that we got that all out of the way here's some good news.  I haven't given up on cooking or baking, and I've been trying new things, but I have been slacking in getting things posted, but I hoping that will all change since I do have a bunch of recaps for you all.  Setting a new goal of posting at least one a week. 

As of late I have turned my focus to baby foods.   Yes I'm still making my own baby food. Let me say this before I continue, I am not knocking any one's choice when it comes to what you give their baby.  There are many jar foods that are good your babies. I just prefer to make my own because not only do I know what goes into the food, it's also cost affective.

Yams is one of the easiest things to make and so good for babies.  This is one of Emilie's favorite meals. I tend to make a big batch every time I make this, it takes about 3 lbs of yams to make a weeks worth of food, if your little one is eating 4ounces daily. 

Like always, Happy cooking!  

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Large stock pot
• Steamer basket
• Sweet potatoes

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

• Wash the yams and split them length wise.
• Place yams in steam basket and let steam until yams are squishy when lightly squeezed.
• Allow to cool, then scoop out yam meat into blender.
• Added any needed water to get desired thinness.  (if this is a first food then I would add about half cup of water.)
• Once puree has cooled transfer to ice cube tray and freeze. 
• Each cube equals one ounce of baby food. 

 I hope your little ones enjoy it as much as mine does.