WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A LOLLIPOP CAKE, everything was purple and lavender. Heavily influenced by a certain Fancy Nancy, Phoebe’s third birthday party was a color coordinated, albeit small affair. Since she’s expecting a baby brother any day now, we celebrated Phoebe’s special day a little early with a tea party for three. Along with…
Egg, spinach & ham breakfast cups–flower style
I FINALLY FOUND A USE FOR THESE SILICONE FLOWER molds. Because I nearly threw them away. Or considered using them as Popsicle molds later this summer. Don’t you hate them? Ugh. Be it brownies, cupcakes or muffins, every time I’ve made something in these Wilton molds, the dough refuses to come out entirely. And honestly,…
homemade deep dish pizza with pepperoni (with a surprisingly healthy ingredient)
THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS to say about this pizza: First, it’s (pretty) good for you. Second, it’s only moderately popular at our place. {Wah, wah.} Estelle and I seem to like it best…which makes Paul and Phoebe something of pizza purists. This is after all, Italy…
Strawberry mini muffins
WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH fresh strawberries! Hoping to soak up the best of the season, we’re experimenting with new recipes all the time. This one was quite tasty–and thanks to the magical combo of a freezer and a zip-top bag, we’re still enjoying them a week later. Well, those of us who aren’t cutting FIVE…
Roman chicken with peppers
THIS WAS A GREEN EGGS AND HAM kind of night. Phoebe didn’t even want to try one bite and certainly had no intention of eating a pepper. But then she did. “Mmm. That’s good!” I couldn’t help myself. I had to call her on it! After all this time (after all, we’ve had nearly 3…
roasted turkey breast with mustard & rosemary marinade
WHAT MAKES THIS A KID-FRIENDLY DISH? The meat is so moist and juicy that even those with four teeth (or less) will easily–and happily–dig in!
Chicken Mirabella: chicken with olives & prunes
I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLY MADE THIS RECIPE CORRECTLY, UNTIL NOW. Not that the recipe is complicated; I’ve simply had a hard time following directions. Sleep deprivation? (And what will I blame in the future when I actually do get to sleep again? I am going to sleep again, right?)
Apple cake pops for Teacher Appreciation Day
TALK ABOUT MAKING FOOD FUN! My friend Amber emailed these amazing cake pops that she made for Teacher Appreciation Day. Besides being so cute I can hardly stand it, they’re filled with…OREO truffles.
Easy spring veggies: asparagus & peas with lemon & cheese (plus baby food version)
FRESH AND SIMPLE. What better way to cook kid-friendly vegetables in the springtime, especially when the whole process takes 10 minutes?
Baked oatmeal with balsamic strawberries
OATMEAL WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. Now that I’ve discovered a baked recipe that works for the small and smallest members of our household (aka with strawberries and without), I may never stand over a bubbling pot of oatmeal again. Or at least I’ll take a nice break from it.
BBQ pork & cheese quesadillas
IT DOESN’T GET ANY EASIER. And in my condition (insane 36 weeks pregnant with number 3), there’s nothing better. Using leftover pork roast, plus a little cheddar cheese, I diced my way to a simple dinner for four.
Baked risotto with sausage, barley & fresh green beans
AS THREATENED PROMISED, baked risotto has made its way into our weekly repertoire and here’s why: the kids love it! Plus, a baked version of this traditional Italian dish is easy to make before they even get home from nursery school. Sitting on the stove, it’s ready to be warmed again at dinner time. No…
corn dog mini muffins and sautéed green beans with garlic
IS IT ME OR ARE CORN DOGS having a moment? I’ve seen tons of ideas all over Pinterest, including this gorgeous batch of fried mini dogs from Food Glorious Food, and decided to give it a whirl. The results were mixed: one-year-old Estelle liked them, nearly three-year-old Phoebe wasn’t thrilled. If you love your furry…
chicken & vegetable stir-fry with noodles
WHEN I SAW PHOEBE CLOSE HER EYES and suck up each noodle in this simple stir-fry one by one, I knew we had a hit. Even better, she actually ate ALL the vegetables. Including sworn enemies such as zucchini and carrots. So, yes, we’ll be making this again. It’s just a variation of toddler-friendly Asian noodles…
whole wheat penne pasta with pesto & beans
THIS DINNER WAS DONE IN 15 MINUTES. As if that wasn’t enough of a mini miracle for this mom, it was also eaten. Happily. Heartily. And so another spin-off series begins… Get ready kids. There’s more pasta on the way! And more, and more…
easy ham & cheese quiche
THIS WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. Toddlers love eggs. Scrambled eggs. Green eggs and ham. Even baked eggs with a crispy crust and tons of tasty fillings. Served hot or room temperature, it’s also as easy to eat like a pizza as it is with a knife and fork. And that’s just the beginning.
Homemade skillet pizza with pepperoni, salami and peppers
BARBARA KINGSOLVER, in the gorgeous memoir, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle“, says her family eats pizza every Friday. Homemade pizza (her husband whips up the dough), and while toppings always vary, never having to think about “What’s for dinner?” just simplifies their week. I think it’s brilliant.
Baked risotto with bacon and peas
SPIN-OFFS ARE A VERY BIG PART OF MY master plan (rubs palms together yet controls the urge to laugh maniacally. Probably because that would be weird. Anyway…). Estelle LOVES rice these days so without driving everyone crazy, I’m going to try as many variations as I can, as often as I can. Also, Phoebe thinks…
Peanut butter dip with fresh apples…to go!
Today I’m honored to present a guest post from an extraordinary baker, Hani of Haniela’s Food & Photography. Snack time has never looked so good! Hello, my name is Hani, I’m an editor of Haniela’s and today I’m visiting Foodlets and will be sharing a really delicious recipe with you. Peanut Butter Dip with Fresh…