Homemade Baby Food

OK - so I don't breastfeed for any longer than 6 months tops. The newest addition didn't even get that.

BUT I do make homemade baby food. Can we say easy??? If you consider the cost per jar of baby food this really will save you some money (which I am wasting on formula). Not too mention there are no preservatives and you know exactly what you are feeding the baby.

Equipment:
Ice cube trays for easy storage
Food processor if you don't have one go and get a moulis, or a hand held blender
Then you need a stacked steamer or a collapsible steamer

Today, I was a busy mommy - Christmas decorations are gone and I got quite bit of baby food made and frozen.

Green Beans
Carrots
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Zucchini
Parsnips (sound yucky but rather good mixed with carrots)

I make these the same way. Prepare them and throw them into that steamer for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Then transfer to food processor, add some of the cooking water to get to a nice runny texture suitable for your baby. Save some to use now - put the rest in the ice cube trays - VOILA! Baby food.

Butternut Squash or Sweet Potatoes ( I had saved some of the cooking water from the carrots and green beans to add to the food processor)

Cut the squash in half - brush with melted butter cover with foil bake 1 hour @350. Transfer to food processor and freeze in trays.

Bake sweet potatoes @400 for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Peel, toss in the food processor, and freeze.

Once they have frozen in the tray - pop them out into labeled freezer bags - thaw and heat in the microwave or on the stove. DELICIOUS!

FRUITS
Apples
Pears
Peach
Mango
Plum

Now these you don't steam. You place the pieces of the peeled and cored fruit into a heavy saucepan with 1-2 Tblsp of water. Cover and cook over low for 10 minutes (apples) to 4 minutes (pears).

Blend in the food processor and freeze. Make sure the fruit is ripe and juicy!

You can use a banana, avacados, papaya, or melon - just make sure it is ripe. These fruits are not suitable for freezing and don't need to be cooked.

This is so easy friends! My babies all get so excited to eat. I'm also happy to report that they are not picky eaters now (almost 6 and 4).

So good luck! I promise it is worth the time!

**The fruits are yummy mixed with rice cereal**

**You can make a potato puree just don't use the food processor it makes the potatoes really starchy and gooey.

Christmas and New Year's

Christmas is over…aaaaahhhhh. Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas, it is my favorite holiday. The season itself is what wears me out. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s we have 5 birthdays in addition to Christmas.

Christmas in Short
1. I worked – ugh having to flip your sleep schedule around for Christmas stinks!
2. In-laws were here. That was awesome – see #1 – no stress
3. SNOW – IT WAS GREAT!!! White Christmas – other than getting stuck leaving church and it taking an hour to get to my mom’s it was pretty cool.
4. Baby Girl turned 4 (on the 27th). She turned the corner this year and finally didn’t get sick of opening presents.
5. The scooters Santa ordered online in the 11th hour made it and they were a huge hit
6. The Leapsters that Santa ordered were also a big hit
7. My carpet now has scooter ruts in it ☹ I had to let them play with them though…right? We still have snow on the ground – in fact it’s snowing again.
8. Chris and I had to go to 4 stores on Saturday the 26th to get the perfect tea set for the bday girl and return half of the Leapster games my siblings bought them. Lucky for us, no store was busy (see #3).

Goals for 2010 – I work tomorrow night and New Year’s Eve so I better get this in print NOW!
1. I will lose the baby weight and the nursing school weight in time for 2 of my closest friends weddings. I have til April.
2. I will keep making the baby’s food. He loves it! How could I deny him?
3. My blog, I will contribute to myself consistently.
4. Frugal…I will get a printer cartridge, print coupons and SAVE $$$ (so perhaps I can convince hubbie that a #4 and me working part-time would be super cool).
5. We will take the older 2 kiddos to WDW in June.

I have so many more – but whoa crazy don’t get ahead of yourself…..


NOW WISHING YOU AND YOURS NOTHING BUT LOVE, PEACE, AND HAPPINESS IN 2010! I sense it is going to be a great year!

COLEMAN $25 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY

CONTEST DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!!!! Due to the holidays - poor planning by me!CONTEST WILL END DECEMBER 30th!!!!







Twitter Contest

Every day for 50 days Coleman is giving away a $25 gift card to one lucky follower! To enter, all you have to do is:


1) Go to http://twitter.com/ColemanCampfire - Follow @ColemanCampfire on Twitter
2) Tweet your answer to this question, "What would you buy this holiday season at Coleman.com and why?" Make sure you put @ColemanCampfire in your tweet to qualify!


Misadventures Of Mom Of 3 Giveaway

Readers also have an additional chance to win a $25 gift card here! To enter to win here, the format is much the same.
1) Follow @ColemanCampfire on Twitter
2) Leave me a comment here answering the question "What would you buy this holiday season at Coleman.com and why?" <--- this is your entry comment For additional entries:
~ Follow me (join this site with Google Friend Connect)
~ Blog about this giveaway and leave me the link
~ Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this giveaway Win a $25 GC to Coleman.com

By TwitterButtons.com
Also check out the Twitter contest @ColemanCampfire ($25 GC a day!) (RT 1x per day)

THIS GIVEAWAY WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 30 - WINNER TO BE NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR PROFILE IS PUBLIC OR LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO YOU CAN BE CONTACTED IF YOU WIN. THE WINNER WILL BE SELECTED AT RANDOM BY RANDOM.ORG

Cheap Cookie Cutters

I have a confession - I'm a holiday baker.

Breads, dog treats, candies, and OF COURSE COOKIES!!!!


I was sent these cookie cutters to test and review from CHEAP COOKIE CUTTERS. I was sent a set of Christmas Cookie Cutters - an angel, candy cane, snowflake, and Christmas tree.

Christmas Cookie Cutters

The cookie cutters were easy to use - very sharp (which is awesome not having to press with a ton of force for all 5 dozen cookies). The sharp edges also meant the cookies retained their shape when baking:


THE FINAL PRODUCT DECORATIONS BY THE KIDDOS


The cookie cutters also went thru the dishwasher really well. I hate hand washing!

There are a variety of shapes to select from. Did I mention I make homemade dog treats?! Well, Cheap Cookie Cutters also has a selection of dog shaped cutters!

Dog Shaped Cookie Cutters

They also have dog bone shapes:

Dog Bone Cutters

I'm excited by the endless opportunities like action heros, Spiderman, Star Wars, Nativity sets, alphabets, numbers, babies, professions (there was a gavel - haha!) and many more. If you don't find one you like - get this - you can even custom design your own cookie cutters!!! And the best part - you get a great quality product at a very reasonable price.

12 Days Of Whataburger

Here is a link for the 12 Days Of Whataburger....

Free coupon every other days between now and Christmas Eve. It could be a shake, fries, or even a whataburger.

The microwave of goo....

So, Fridays after I have recovered from my work week and I only have 2 out of 3 kiddos home. I clean the house. Nothing glamorous for me! Just hours and hours of scrubbing. Ugh. Just the thought makes me want to cry. Oh to be rich and famous and have someone clean every week.

The pre-clean clean for me is the hardest. Putting away all of the junk that makes it out while I am working. You wouldn't think that the poor husband only has the kiddos for several hours the 3 nights I am gone!

But the house was sparkling on Friday when the husband came home. Dinner was on the table - truly felt like Bonnie Homemaker :) Oh and all the Christmas decorations were up. So proud.

Made Chili on Saturday for football watching. My microwave hates me now. I left for several hours on Sunday afternoon for some much needed mommy time. I came home and the husband had fed the children chili. It was all over the microwave. Caked would be an appropriate term. Let me share my secret for not scrubbing for hours....

Take a bowl of water with some dishwashing liquid or vinegar in it. Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

Using a damp rag wipe up your microwave! It comes clean and removes the foul odor!

CYBER MONDAY DEALS

HERE ARE THE DEALS THAT CAME TO ME VIA EMAIL - THOUGHT I WOULD PASS ALONG AND HOPE THAT THE BABY COOPERATES SO I CAN NAP AND SHOP BEFORE WORK TONIGHT!


**BATH AND BODY WORKS

25% OFF ENTIRE ORDER

ENTER CODE: CYBERMONDAY


**FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

BUY ONE – GET ONE HALF OFF + 20% OFF + FREE SHIPPING

ENTER CODE: CYBER09



**JCPENNY

FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OVER $25

ENTER CODE: 25MERRY



**GAP, BANANNA REPUBLIC, GAP KIDS, PIPERLIME, OLD NAVY

20% OFF ONLINE PURCHASE + FREE SHIPPING ON ANY PURCHASE

ENTER CODE: MONDAY

**THE GOLF WAREHOUSE (TGW.COM)

15% OFF


**BORDERS

BUY ONE – GET ONE 60% OFF

ENTER CODE: BCM1219B


**ROBEEZ

25% OFF ENTIRE PURCHASE

ENTER CODE: GIFT09

I'm the WINNER!!!!

My oldest blogging friend (actually we were friends WAY before blogging) - just made me a winner - sniff sniff Thanks Mrs T!  IF you haven't ever done so, please visit her blog - she always has some amazing giveaways!

tot-to-go

Reading the About Us page of tot-to-go, I was holding my breath for a moment. You see, the story of how tot-to-go slings (and other great baby products later) was not an especially happy one. Thankfully though, the story had a happy ending!Based in British Columbia, Canada, tot-to-go is the home of sleek designedslings and nursing covers. Featuring fashionable prints (no cutesy bears here like the first sling I owned, how embarrassing!) and stretch cotton, tot-to-go's versatile sling can be used with babies and toddlers all the way up to 34 lbs.We checked out the Olivia design because I loved the hues of purple, pink and green. My daughter isn't much of a sling baby anymore but I wanted to see if she could be supported on my hip, which she was. I am hoping to use this sling daily should we ever make that decision on baby-three; it's so gorgeous that I can't bear to give it up as a gift to anyone else! How cute is tot-to-go owner Shani's youngest daughter?

The material of the sling has just enough stretch to 'give' a bit, making it comfortable on my shoulders and back, and the sleek feel of the material felt great against my skin and my daughter's too. Size is important, so make sure you refer to the sizing chart on the site for a perfect (non-adjustable) fit. No rings to adjust, no ties to deal with!If someone on your holiday shopping list is expecting or has a newborn, tot-to-go slings and nursing covers are a really great holiday gift to consider. Being a new mom, many of us were hesitant to purchase something we weren't sure we 'needed' in those early months and instead suffered needlessly because of it. Slings are essential but especially if you have a high needs snuggly baby. I, for one, would have loved to receive a sling as a baby gift over countless items I had doubles or triples of at the time. Right now until December 4th readers can use discount code Feisty to receive 30% off any regular priced baby sling from tot-to-go!

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Who wouldn't want to win?

Super Chocolate Cookies

If you like chocolate these cookies are for you!!  These are really rich and full of chocolate.  I sent these with my mom to a cookie exchange.  Needless to say the DH wasn't too excited to exchange - he wanted to keep all of these little chocolate gems for himself!

16 oz milk chocolate chips

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 packages (24 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Hershey Kisses chopped in half

Preheat oven to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Microwave 16 oz. milk chocolate with the stick of butter until melted smooth ( for me I microwave 45 seconds and stir - then cook again for 45 seconds).

In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl mix together eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla on high speed until light and fluffy.  Reduce speed and add the melted chocolate.  On low speed, add the flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, but leave out the kisses.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets.  2-3 inches apart.  Place a kiss on top of each cookie dough.

Bake until cookies are shiny and crackly yet still soft - typically between 12 -14 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheets for about 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack with a spatula.

Today when I made these cookies I got about 5 dozen (but I made them smaller than normal).  Normally 4 dozen.

Oh, I've heard stories about that happening to people.....

My Thank You.....

I'm one of those people. You've heard stories about people like me. Many think we exist only as urban legends unless you know one of us. During this time of thanks, I'm so grateful to be one of "them". Looking at my brood, my life wouldn't be the same without everyone of my blessings.

My husband and I tried for years to get pregnant. We gave up. The money was running out, our marriage was collapsing as I tried to fill this void in my life to become a mother. Adoption was always an option. Why were we wasting all this money on a body that obviously had no desire to carry a child....it was Thanksgiving 6 years ago when we did our last fertility treatment. At that same time I was filling out applications to become adoptive parents fearing rejection. We were young and broke, did we stand a chance?

The next February, I was holding my son. He was two hours old when I first saw his beautiful brown eyes. He had me at WAAA! It was love, a love that I have never felt before but have felt twice since. The first moment when you see a child that you have been wanting and waiting for.

Fast forward 10 months - 6 pregnancy tests later and it was confirmed. I think that I am pregnant - huge shocker (this is when we become what urban legends are made of). My daughter was born - same love - overwhelming, just thinking about it makes me cry.

Now, fast forward again. I had just passed nursing boards and was moving to the night shift. Several stick tests later, confirmed I'm pregnant again.

There was a master plan. I am eternally grateful. Even when they are fighting or crying, I love the moment, remembering that this moment almost didn't happen.

50 Free 4X8 photo cards ENDS 11/30!!!

THIS IS AWESOME! Freebies4mom is offering 50 FREE 4X8 Photocards - but you must act fast - the offer expires November 30. I just ordered our cards tonight using this code - I saved over $25.00.

So - click on the link and order your Christmas cards today! You'll get the promo code on the other site!

Great Sale!!!!

As a mom of 3 with some baby weight to shed fashionista left my vocab a long, long time ago. But - here is a link to some great sales. Missoni, Tusk Ltd, and more!

There is also a link to a da-nang kids sale. The stuff was pretty cute!

Take some time and check it out! Perhaps you will find just the right gift for the to me, love me Christmas present (my personal favorite!).

Apple Walnut Salad

This salad is excellent for Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner.  I have brought this to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner the last few years...so good.  Even picky eaters like the dressing.

Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh cranberries
2 Tblsp honey
1 Tblsp white sugar
1 Tblsp chopped red onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil in a blender or food processor.  Slowly add oil.

Salad:
2 packages Spring Mix
3 medium red delicious apples chopped - coated in lemon juice if preparing in advance
1 cup toasted chopped walnuts

In a large bowl toss salad mix, apples, & walnuts.

Add salad dressing - toss and serve.

* I think that this salad would also taste amazing with candied walnuts or pecans.

What to do with all that art?

The amount of construction paper art that crosses our threshold is overwhelming.  The thought of parting with the art work is depressing.

Solution:
I am currently using my digital camera to photograph all of my art.

I then transfer those pictures to my digital picture frame.  Now not only do I have them, but I am constantly displaying their art.

The kids love to watch it and tell me whose picture is currently displaying!

Martha Anyone?

Who doesn't want to be Martha?

Here is a free download of her Thanksgiving Cookbook!  It downloads straight to your computer - really nice too!  56 pages of recipes from great Chefs, many of which you will recognize if you watch the food network!

Free Martha Thanksgiving Cookbook Download

Stick that on your power cord!

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Amazing Cornbread!

I made this one today and it was fabulous! Give it a whirl.

Cornbread:

1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup creamed corn
1 large egg
3/4 cup heavy cream (can sub milk)
2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 425. Grease 8X8 or 9X9 pan.

Sift flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. In a different bowl mix, creamed corn, egg, cream, honey and butter - until the honey is dissolved.

Add the wet to the dry. Stir until combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 -26 minutes or until golden. This salad is excellent for Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner.  I have brought this to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner the last few years...so good.  Even picky eaters like the dressing.

Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh cranberries
2 Tblsp honey
1 Tblsp white sugar
1 Tblsp chopped red onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
3/4 cup vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients except vegetable oil in a blender or food processor.  Slowly add oil.

Salad:
2 packages Spring Mix
3 medium red delicious apples chopped - coated in lemon juice if preparing in advance
1 cup toasted chopped walnuts

In a large bowl toss salad mix, apples, & walnuts.

Add salad dressing - toss and serve.

* I think that this salad would also taste amazing with candied walnuts or pecans.

If you like chocolate these cookies are for you!!  These are really rich and full of chocolate.  I sent these with my mom to a cookie exchange.  Needless to say the DH wasn't too excited to exchange - he wanted to keep all of these little chocolate gems for himself!

16 oz milk chocolate chips

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 packages (24 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Hershey Kisses chopped in half

Preheat oven to 350.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Microwave 16 oz. milk chocolate with the stick of butter until melted smooth ( for me I microwave 45 seconds and stir - then cook again for 45 seconds).

In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

In a large bowl mix together eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla on high speed until light and fluffy.  Reduce speed and add the melted chocolate.  On low speed, add the flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, but leave out the kisses.

Drop by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets.  2-3 inches apart.  Place a kiss on top of each cookie dough.

Bake until cookies are shiny and crackly yet still soft - typically between 12 -14 minutes.  Cool on cookie sheets for about 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack with a spatula.

Today when I made these cookies I got about 5 dozen (but I made them smaller than normal).  Normally 4 dozen.

Chicken Pasta Salad

Dressing:
1/3 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2/3 cup EVOO
4+ Tblsp garlic cloves
2 Tbsp Honey
Sprinkle of Italian Seasonings
Pinch of Salt and Pepper


Mix all in a blender. Taste and adjust seasoning.


Salad:
1 lb cooked bowtie, penne, or wheel whole wheat pasta
1 handful cilantro or Italian parsley
3 cups Rotisserie chicken chopped
green onions chopped
1 package grape or cherry tomatoes halved
2 cups fresh spinach chopped
1 red bell pepper cut into strips

Mix ingredients together and drizzle with dressing. So delicious!

Filling and light. It is perfect for summer. And it's incredibly easy, it took me about 30 minutes to whip the whole thing together! YUMMY!!!!


From Scratch Brownies


1 2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
2 Tblsp water
2 lrg eggs
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Preheat oven to 325. Grease 9X13.

Combine butter, sugar, water. Stir in eggs & vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, & salt

Mix dry ingredients with wet.


Stir in chips. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 20 minutes or so (I want to say that they cooked a lot longer but I was making dinner at the same time- I know I checked them twice and put them back in). So, just take them out when they don't leave brownie mix on the knife or toothpick or whatever you use to check for doneness.

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About

About



I am busy Mom of 3. My kids are my world. I do work (occasionally) outside the home. I'm a L&D nurse at a hospital here in town. I love my jobs. I love to try new things, share recipes, tips and tricks to make life easier, and of course ramble of my daily musings.

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