sneaky & deceptive cooking

Our four year old (and first born) is a wonderful eater!  He will eat any thing, any time and at any place.  I always knew that we were lucky but I didn’t truly realize how fortunate we were until our second one came along and pretty much only wants to eat anything that is flour-based (pasta, crackers, pretzels, oh, and an occasional banana when he’s feeling like it).  As a foodie mom that wants her kids to eat nutritionally sound meals, it can be a tug-of-war (it’s an internal conversation with me saying, “make him eat fruits and vegetables”/ he won’t eat, let him be excused from the table).  I’ve always known about the popular cookbooks, the Sneaky Chef and Deceptively Delicious (and Double Delicious!) but never had to look into them… until now!

Times like this call for devious measures on mom’s part and I need to be getting fruits, vegetables and healthy foods into my little graham cracker (also known as my youngest).  I pulled out a copy of Deceptively Delicious and got cooking!  I made the "Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato & Beet)", "Macaroni & Cheese 1" and "Chocolate Chip Cookies" (recipes below).  My husband and oldest son happily gobbled up all three dishes.  My youngest loved the cookies, but as usual, dismissed his dinner.  I think I am going to have to add a lot of patience to my sneaky & deceptive cooking! 

Chicken Nuggets (with Broccoli or Spinach or Sweet Potato or Beet)

1 cup whole-wheat, white or panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup flax seed meal

1 Tablespoon grated Parmesan

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 cup broccoli or spinach or sweet potato or beet puree (I used 2 jars of spinach baby food)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken tenders, rinsed, dried & cut into small chunks

1/2 teaspoon salt

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Tablespoon olive oil (I used a lot more than this)

(1.)  In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, flaxseed meal, Parmesan, paprika, garlic, and onion powder on paper or foil and mix well with your fingers.

(2.)  In a shallow bowl, mix the vegetable puree and egg with a fork and set the bowl next to the breadcrumb mixture.

(3.)  Sprinkle the chicken chunks with the salt.  Dip the chunks into the egg mixture and then toss them in the breadcrumbs until completely coated.

(4.)  Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat.  When the skillet is hot, add the oil.  Place the chicken nuggets in the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan, and cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3-4 minutes.  Then turn and cook until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crisp all over, 4-5 minutes longer.  (Cut into a piece to check that it is cooked through).  Serve warm. 

Macaroni & Cheese 1 (with Butternut Squash or Cauliflower)

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/2 cup nonfat (skim) milk (I used whole milk)

1/2 cup butternut squash or cauliflower puree (I used a jar of sweet potato baby food)

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese (I used regular, full fat cheddar cheese)

4 ounces (almost 1/4 cup) reduced fat or nonfat cream cheese (I used full fat cream cheese)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon pepper

(1.)  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni, and cook according to package directions until al dente.  Drain in a colander.
(2.)  While the macaroni is cooking, coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.  Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1-2 minutes.
(3.)  Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3-4 minutes.  Add the vegetable puree, Cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.  Stir in the macaroni and serve warm.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had to try these!  Seriously… chocolate chip cookies made with garbanzo beans!?!  Definitely make them!  They were really delicious and definitely worth baking.

Nonstick cooking spray

1 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar

3/4 cup trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread (I used butter)

2 large egg whites (I used whole eggs)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained & rinsed

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

3/4 cup raisins (optional)

2 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour)

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt (I omitted b/c I used salted butter)

(1.)  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

(2.)  In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth.  Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips.  Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.

(3.)  Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.  Press gently with a fork to flatten.  Bake until the cookies are brown and just set, 11-13 minutes; do not overbake.   Transfer to a rack to cool.

(4.)  Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

What tricks do you use to get healthy foods in your child(ren)?

Check out our e-cookbook, Cooking FUNdamentals: yummy, healthy and quick recipes for kids & grown-ups!

happy thanksgiving!

We are so thankful for our dear readers!  We thank you for following, supporting and sharing eco ike!  We hope you have a very happy, healthy and delicious Thanksgiving!!!

image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

leftover love

Leftovers are one of my many favorite things about Thanksgiving, but not everyone feels the same way.  If your family likes a different meal every night, you can re-use your Thanksgiving fixings and create a delicious, easy and new dinner!  That is definitely something to be grateful about.

Leftover potatoes (russet or sweet) can become Potato pancakes

2 cups mashed potatoes

1 egg, beaten

1/3 cup flour

Salt and pepper

In a bowl, thoroughly combine the potatoes, eggs and flour.  Season with salt and pepper.  In a large heavy skillet, heat olive oil over moderately high heat, until it is hot but not smoking.  Drop Tablespoons of the potato mixture, being sure to flatten them with a fork.  Cook for approximately 1-2 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown.  Transfer the pancakes as they are cooked to paper towels to drain and if desired keep them warm on a rack set on a baking sheet in a preheated 250 degree oven.

Leftover turkey can become Barbecued Turkey Sandwiches

Combine and heat 3 cups shredded turkey with ¾ cup prepared barbecue sauce.  Serve on a brioche or onion roll.

Leftover cranberries can become Apple Cranberry Crisp

Leftover cranberries (up to 1 ½ cups)

6 cups peeled apples, thinly sliced

¾ cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup flour

2/3 cup oats

½ cup butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine cranberries & apples and place in a buttered 8x8 pan.  In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, oats and butter together; blend with fingers until crumbly.  Evenly top apple/cranberries with oat mixture.  Bake for 35 minutes.

mashed potato pancake recipe adapted from epicurious
apple cranberry crisp recipe adapted from Cooking FUNdamentals
photo courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids

E is for Environment

Looking to encourage a little more green in your offspring?  Check out the lovable book, E is for Environment!  Brother and sister, Elliot & Lucy are featured in 26 engaging stories filled with ways to make a positive difference for the environment.  The stories are cute and charming while teaching kids fun lessons and examples of how to be eco-friendly! 

Each story has an adorable illustration (we wish there were more of the sweet pictures!) and features questions at the end of each story (for the record, my son wasn’t into the questions, but he loved each of the stories).

Written by Ian James Corlett and Ilustrated by R.A. Holt, this book would be a perfect holiday gift or addition to a child’s library! 

Check out E is for Environment on Amazon!

iPhone apps for kids

I am guilty of letting my kids use my iPhone or iPad to keep them busy.  I have mixed feelings about it… we pretty much know that exposure to cell phones carry some potential hazards (and that’s especially true for children!).  But our kids are growing up in a technological world.  They are constantly adapting, growing and learning along side technology, and they love and understand the tools that they have available to them.

But, truth be told, I don’t give them the devices to help with their computer know-how.  I do it so I can make a 5-minute phone call in peace.  Or start dinner without the kids hanging on me (or asking for food even though they just ate 2.5 minutes ago).  So if I am going to cave in, I should at least make their experience educational on some level… right?

Thankfully for me, Babble.com provided a Top 50 iPhone Apps for Kids (they also have the Top 25 Android Apps for kids).  They ranked their Top 10 Favorites for: Education, Stories & songs, Art & hidden pictures, Fun & games, Familiar friends & classic games.  My sons and I played around with their list and instantly found some new favorites (it’s hard to believe how quickly kids can maneuver and get acclimated to these apps).

Here are our new favorite apps thanks to Babble’s list:

123 Color - Talking coloring book

Fish School - Letters, numbers, colors, shapes & matching

Letter Writer Oceans - Teaches preschoolers to write their letters

Preschool Connect the Dots



Tell us what app(s) your kids love?

2 for tuesday

421,000 units of bacteria (including E. coli!) can be found on the soles of shoes.  Another great reason to leave the shoes at the door.

98 percent of non-organic apples have pesticide residue on them, which is why they top the Environmental Working Group's "Dirty Dozen" list of the 12 most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables.

We've written about the importance of taking shoes off in the home and the dirty dozen list.  Read all about it!  



1 source, photo.  2 source & photo.

displaying children’s art work

images found here, here, here, here & here

I have to admit that I recycle 99% of the artwork that my children bring home!  Fortunately for them, they get to paint, color and do a lot of cute projects all year long, so the amount of pieces that they bring home every day adds up quickly.  My kids (like all kids) love showing me what they made.  In an effort to encourage their love for art and show them how treasured their work is, I keep and highlight the special pieces.

We are in the process of creating a play room, so I have been curious about the best way to integrate the artwork into the playroom.  Here are some fun and innovative ways to display your budding artists work! 

oh brother-



for all of the kids dressing up as superheros! 

regardless of what costume gets worn tonight- have a fun, safe & happy halloween!

image and print from couture prints

apple chips

Feel like trying a fun, easy and yummy new snack?  These apple chips are the perfect thing!  My four year old can’t get enough of them!  Every time that we run out (which seems like every other day) he wants to make more.  They are so healthy and simple to make that it’s no problem… the hardest part is finding a three hour chunk of time for them to bake. 

This is a great recipe to make with your kids!  I do the mandoline cutting and I always let my son arrange the apples on the tray (and then I correctly arrange them afterwards :)    I let him help sprinkle the cinnamon sugar on top and the chips taste just as good where he doused the cinnamon sugar as well as the ones that he completely missed.  This recipe is uncomplicated and hands-on.  It is great to make with children of all ages.

One thing to note, when slicing into the middle portion of the apple, I try to get the seeds out with a knife, but leave everything else in tact… I like the natural star shape in the center of the apple.

2-3 granny smith apples

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 200°.
2. Line two baking sheet pans with parchment paper.
3. With a mandoline (or very sharp knife and great cutting skills), thinly slice apples. 
4. Arrange slices in a single layer on the baking sheet pan.  Be sure not to overlap. 
5. Combine sugar and cinnamon.  Put in a fine sieve and sprinkle evenly over apples.
6. Bake in the top and bottom third of the oven for 1.5 hours.  Pull apples out and turn them upside down and rotate baking pans positions when putting back in the oven.
7. Bake for another hour and a half (if your apple slices were a little bit thicker, it may take them a teeny bit longer to crisp up.  After 3 hours, if you have a combination of completely crisp and some that are a little chewy/crisp, take the crisp ones off of the baking sheet and put the rest back in the middle of the oven for another 20+ minutes).
8. Remove from oven and cool chips before transferring to a sealed container.

want to get your kids in the kitchen? our e-cookbook has 56 yummy, healthy & quick recipes for kids & grown-ups! Shop Amazon

Recipe adapted & photo courtesy of Ontario Apples

connect 5

Sometimes the simplest moments with your children at home, are the best!  Here are 5 easy ways to connect with your child today:

1. Bake!  Bond while measuring ingredients, sifting and stirring your way to a tasty outcome.  It’s a great way to catch up on their day and share a yummy bite.
2. Read!  You can read to your child or they can read their own material while you read yours.  Grab a blanket, sit next to one another on the couch and enjoy quiet together time.
3. Go for a walk!  If you have a dog, suggest a family walk… or to look at the leaves changing colors, or to enjoy the cooler temperatures.  The exercise and fresh air is great for everyone and wonderful together time.
4. Clean!  Were you thinking about organizing a closet or going through the toy box?  This may not sound like a fun way to connect with your child, but working together to achieve a family accomplishment is a great way to bond & build family team work. 
5. Get silly!  Helping with homework?  Make up funny acronyms or games to help them learn.  Or, have an indoor picnic for lunch.  If it’s in between mealtime, put on a selection of everyone’s favorites music and dance.  Turn up the fun factor… both you and your kids will love it!

print courtesy of PeaPress1

roasted pumpkin seed recipe

What vegetable is high in Vitamin A, potassium, beta carotene and fiber?  The great pumpkin, of course!  Pumpkins are so much fun to pick and carve… and they have the added bonus of delicious seeds!  Roasted pumpkin seeds are tasty, but they are also loaded with nutritional value.  Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of minerals (particularly magnesium, potassium and phosphorus) and are loaded with iron, zinc, fiber & protein.

Below is a simple roasted pumpkin seed recipe, but trying adding chili powder, garlic powder, cumin, or your favorite spice.  For a sweet change, toss the seeds in the melted butter, a teaspoon of honey and cinnamon.

2 cups pumpkin seeds

2 Tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter)

salt

1.)  Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2.)  Toss seeds with oil & salt and evenly spread on a baking sheet.

3.)  Bake for 20-30 minutes; stirring every 10 minutes, until golden and crisp

Look out for an apple chip recipe next week!

photo courtesy of marthastewart.com

trick or treat

Decorate oranges to look like little jack o lanterns! some kids may think it's a trick, but it's a healthy & fun treat for the lunch box or fruit bowl!

Use a fine point Sharpie to decorate (when you eat the fruit, just cut off the marker area with a knife).

It's frightfully fun!



image from pinterest

mini pumpkin whoopie pies

Oh me, oh my, we love these whoopie pies!  These little autumn cake bites are delicious and the tastiest way to indulge with pumpkin.  This gem of a recipe comes from Martha (thanks Martha!).  We did not modify the recipe at all (it’s perfect) except to make them much smaller (about a heaping teaspoon of batter baked for 8 minutes) and to cut the recipe in half (it makes a lot of whoopie pies)  The original recipe is below.   Whoopee!

For the Pumpkin Whoopie Cookies

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 tablespoon ground cloves

2 cups firmly packed dark-brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

3 cups pumpkin puree, chilled

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Cream Cheese Filling

3 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Make the cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves; set aside. In another large bowl, whisk together brown sugar and oil until well combined. Add pumpkin puree and whisk until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Sprinkle flour mixture over pumpkin mixture and whisk until fully incorporated.
3. Using a small ice cream scoop with a release mechanism, drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Transfer to oven and bake until cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of each cookie comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on pan.
4. Make the filling: Sift confectioner' sugar into a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until smooth. Add cream cheese and beat until well combined. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla, beat just until smooth. (Filling can be made up to a day in advance. Cover and refrigerate; let stand at room temperature to soften before using.)
5. Assemble the whoopie pies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Transfer filling to a disposable pastry bag and snip the end. When cookies have cooled completely, pipe a large dollop of filling on the flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, pressing down slightly so that the filling spreads to the edge of the cookies. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate cookies at least 30 minutes before serving and up to 3 days.

want to get your kids in the kitchen? our e-cookbook has 56 yummy, healthy & quick recipes {including a pumpkin muffin recipe} for kids & grown-ups! Shop Amazon!

photo & recipe courtesy of MarthaStewart.com

let the good times roll

October is National Roller Skating Month… so grab those roller skates and get rollin’!  Let kids enjoy the crisp autumn air while getting a great aerobic workout!  Roller skating is equivalent to jogging in terms of health benefits, caloric consumption, reduction of body fat and leg strength development, but causes less than fifty percent of impact shock to the body than jogging does.  It's a fun way for children to improve gross motor movement, develop balancing skills and coordination. 

Falls and bumps hurt a little more with roller skating than with other sports, so be sure to put your child in a helmet and elbow & knee pads. 

To find the closest rink to you, type in your zip code at rollerskating.org

have you seen our organic onesies & baby/kids tees?  they are the cutest!  shop here!

photo courtesy of buyrollerskates.info

10 places to donate unused items

Most homes are stuffed with items that may hold a sentimental value, but are truly taking up precious space.  Here are 10 places to donate the unused items that you love, and in return, help people in need!  

1. Bridesmaids Dresses- help a teen attend prom!  That dress that you wore down the aisle at your friends wedding can help a disadvantaged teenage girl proudly attend her school prom with the rest of her class (and you'll get a tax deduction).  Formal gowns in every size and style are needed all over the country.  To find an organization: go to DonateMyDress.org and click on "where to donate and receive".
2. Wedding Gowns- help a cancer patient!  Instead of being stuffed in the back of a closet, the Brides Against Breast Cancer organization will sell it in a wedding show to a new bride and use the proceeds to grant the wishes of a terminal cancer patient, just like Make-a-Wish, but for adults.  The charity also accepts mother-of-the-bride and flower-girl dresses, and donations are fully tax deductible.  For more information: go to BridesAgainstBreastCancer.org or call 503-491-8091.
3. Halloween Costumes - help an underprivileged kid trick-or-treat!  Sewed or purchased a beautiful costume for your child last year, and now it's sitting in a box somewhere?  You can give that great costume a second life on another child who might now have been able to afford one - so it can provide a wonderful Halloween memory twice!  To donate: In South Florida, go to FreeCostumesForKids.org; in Philadelphia, contact TheHalloweenHelpers.com.  Both have local drop-off spots and accept mailed donations.
4. Stuffed Animals - help comfort a traumatized child!  Not only are they one of the things we feel most sentimental about, "used stuffed animals are the most difficult to find a home for,".  Stuffed Animals for Emergencies, Inc., to the rescue!  They distribute gently used stuffed toys (as well as other toys, books and blankets) to organizations and homeless shelters that help kids in times of crisis.  Donations are never sold; all go directly to children in need.  To find a chapter near you: click on "Chapters" at StuffedAnimalsForEmergencies.org.
5. Baby Gear - help a struggling new mom!  Remember all the stuff you had to buy when your little one was born?  You can ease the way for a single mom just making ends meet while making sure those outgrown items - from clothing to strollers - go to good use.  "Most take maternity clothes, too".  To donate:  In the New York area, check out BabyBuggy.org (212-736-1777) or RoomToGrow.org (212-620-7800).  In the Los Angeles area, contact Baby2Baby.org (323-933-2229).  Around Boston, try CradlesToCrayons.org (617-779-4700) and RoomToGrow.org (617-859-4545).  Near Philadelphia, contact CradlesToCrayons.org (215-836-0958).  Can't find a charity near you?  Log on to HandMeDowns.com to place a free ad to give your baby gear to someone who needs exactly what you have.
6. Furniture - help furnish a needy family's home!  Because so many charities don't have the space to store it or the capacity to move it, furniture is the second hardest thing to donate.  Enter the National Furniture Bank Association (NationalFurnitureBank.org), which makes tax-deductible furniture donations easy.  "They arrange pickups, then match your donation with people in need.
7. Old Greeting Cards - help better the life of a neglected child!  Think nobody would want all those old, hand-written on cards you haven't been able to throw out?  The kids at St. Judes Ranch for Children (StJudesRanch.org) will turn those used greeting cards into brand new cards, then sell them and use the money to help abused and neglected kids.  They accept all but Hallmark, Disney or American Greeting cards.
8. Costume Jewelry- help someone get a job!  Don't want to wear it yourself, but want it to go to someone who will appreciate it?  Donate it to Dress for Success (DressForSuccess.org), which provides disadvantaged women with gently used professional clothes and accessories to wear on interviews.  "A unique necklace makes a great conversation piece," explains Jamie Novak, author of The Get Organized Answer Book.  "It can be a good way to break the ice in an interview!"
9. Communion Dress - help a girl experience Communion!  You know how much it meant to your daughter, and you also know that some families just can't afford one - which is the reason Gail Roca collects donations at her Long Island consignment network, TheKidsKloset.com (click on "Communion Dress Donation" and you'll get a $5 Kids Kloset gift certificate and your donation receipt).  Another option: Junior Scout Makayla Shinnick and her mom, Teresa, do the same at the education center of St. Francis of Assisi near Chicago (708-460-0155).  Looking for someplace near home: check for local drop-off options at DonateMyDress.org or call your church's outreach program or a teacher or counselor at the local school a few months before communion season starts.
10. Graduation Gown - help a student receive a diploma in style!  Did you know that in many places, high school and college students who can't afford to buy a cap and gown aren't allowed to walk at graduation?  They need to either get their diploma at the school office or have it mailed to them!  To do:  call your high school's office or nearby college or unioversity to ask if they have a service that accepts donations.  If they don't?  Post a "for free" ad on a local bulletin board or site like Craigslist.

article adapted from Woman's World 'Clutter Cures that Make the World a Better Place'

avoiding artificial colors

Neon pink yogurt, blue shark “fruit” snacks & green sport juices!  Food companies know that if you want to attract the kids (and their persuasive ways with purchases), you’ve got to make the product bright & shiny!

Food dyes are synthetic chemicals.  They provide zero nutritional value and have reportedly been linked to allergies, hyperactivity in children and, possibly, cancer.

Sometimes it’s hard for Mother Nature to compete against food coloring, such as Red Dye #3 (especially when it’s paired with Dora the Explorer). 

Here are some steps to eliminate food dyes:

1. Read the labels!  If you see a color next to a number, pass on the product. 
2. Buy organic.  By definition, organic food products can not contain any synthetic dyes in order to be defined as a USDA Organic product (among other criteria that they must follow).
3. Don’t be deceived by healthy sounding names.  “Natural”, “fruit”, “pure”.  Products can be very tricky with their product description.  Be sure to read the labels and know exactly what you are buying.
4. Seek natural food coloring.  Not expecting to see “beet juice” in children’s cereal?  There are lots of natural and unusual ingredients that can safely give a food product color.
5. Eat real food.  Buying and preparing dishes from fresh ingredients and avoiding processed foods allows you to have control over what is going in your families bodies. 

what do you do to avoid artificial coloring in foods?

photo courtesy of slashfood.com