When does a seven year old need baby food?

When does a seven year old need baby food?
When they get  BRACES!! I thought this was the perfect opportunity to chat about the UBFC.
Yes that is my face on the box, and I am loving the fact that I get to develop recipes and promote this product. The interesting part is, is that as much as I love developing toddler and baby food, my toddler just turned eight years old! *crying*

Ultimate Baby Food Center (UBFC)

I am always looking for new ways to use this machine, it sits on my counter and it does do lots of nice little jobs like chop nuts, steam a quick side dish for my lunch but best of all makes great baby food!

My baby (yes I know she is 8 now) got braces when she was 7 just a few months ago. First off I have to tell you what a warrior she is because braces hurt! She was not scared a bit or nervous at all, she obviously does not take after me I break out in hives at the thought of the dentist. 

Once she got the mouth bling, she was excited and proud to show off the colored rubber bands to anyone who would look in there.  The pain was secondary, I knew it hurt but she wouldn't cave to it, just a few whimpers from her was all I heard. 

I knew she couldn't chew or bite and the dinner that night, I had absently mindedly made something chewy and tough so that was out. I surely didn't want her to exist on Jello and pudding and canned soup for three days, how could I live with myself?

Baby Chef to the Rescue! I went to my handy copy of the little cookbook I wrote for the machine and made my Swamp Soup recipe. Perfect, I knew she loved it because we have been making it the traditional way for so long.  I knew I could whip it up in the UBFC machine in 5 minutes, steam, chop and voila! We also made lots of smoothies with wholesome ingredients to keep her going, she loves an egg in her milkshakes! (that is probably from us talking about the old days at Orange Julius)

For a few days I concocted some soupy recipes with ingredients like silken tofu, broth and beans,  and she ate it all.  So that is how a 7 year old ends up eating baby food. A puree is a puree, whether it is in a five star restaurant or just plain old baby food. At least when you make it you know what goes into it and you can really make sure your family is getting the best.  Get creative, make this with carrots or a blend of veggies.
Happy blending.

Swamp Soup For Ultimate Baby Chef Machine

Makes 1 ½ cups

 1 medium zucchini unpeeled, diced

1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

3/4 C. chicken broth

 Add water to the steaming chamber

Place zucchini pieces into steamer basket.

Place filled basket into steaming chamber, turn onto HI

Steam zucchini for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile add chicken stock and nutmeg to blender, spoon the avocado in, set aside.

When zucchini is done add steamed zucchini to prepared blender cup blend for 1 min or until smooth and silky.

As with all hot foods, when blending be careful and open blender slowly

Protein-a-luscious: A Fancy Pants Breakfast

Finished nests just out of the oven

If you know me you know I am a breakfast junkie, I am a believer in high protein breakfasts for kids. I think they act better, think better and grow better. With good for you foods in the early hours of the day their brains function much better than with sugary or even no breakfast. Some kids just don't like eggs so this is for kids who don't like eggs.  Call them nests!
I saw this recipe on Simply Recipes and I instantly loved the concept. The original recipe called for Gruyere cheese but I happened to have a cheddar and jack blend so I went with that. I have changed this recipe, I upped the servings and added a few tips of my own, enjoy!

I like making a few extra smaller puffs (as we call them) ones without egg just to snack on! So snack on and on....

My daughter said it was the best breakfast EVER!

I can't wait to start experimenting with some other ideas using this technique stay tuned.


The Bird is in the Nest (wink wink)


Egg Nests originally from 

La cuisine est un jeu d'enfants

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup grated Cheddar / Jack
Pepper or Paprika (optional)

Preheat the oven to 450°F with a rack in the middle. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or non stick silicone mat.
Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Keep each individual yolk in half of a shell on a rimmed plate or small bowl. (this way you don’t have to dirty four little bowls making for an  easier clean up.)

Yolks awaiting to be deposited in the white nests

Place the egg whites and salt in a very clean mixer bowl. Beat the egg whites with a whisk attachment in a mixer (or using a hand mixer), start on low speed working your way up to high speed, until stiff peaks form. Do not over beat the eggs here, you'll want them silky not chunky.

With a rubber spatula gently fold in the grated cheese, doing your best not to deflate the egg whites.

Create four equal mounds (or more) of the egg white mixture on the lined baking sheet. Form the mounds so they look like nests, using the back of a spoon make indentations in the centers.

Place nests in the oven for 3- 4  minutes until firm but not browned. After 3 minutes, take the pan out of the oven and gently add an egg yolk to the center of each nest. Return the baking sheet to the oven and cook for 4 more minutes. Sprinkle with a small amount of salt.

Serve immediately.

Unbaked nests with cheese

Tip* Make sure your egg whites are yolk free, free of any fat, the yolk will cause the whites to misbehave.