It's been a while

Hey there old friend :)

I know it has  been a while since I've posted much. Believe me I have a few really good pots, food too, just haven't had a lot of computer time and what time I do have I am spending with my teething, needy child. But I do enjoy being needed :)

I haven't forgot about you!

Seven Months

This guy is 7 months old! Time is just flying right by. We went to the pool the other day to test out the water and Jackson was so curious about it. He loves taking baths so it was just a glorified bath to him. He was so intrigued! 

So let's see some of his stats after 7 whole months of age:

He likes Pears, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Squash, Avocado, Banana, slightly Carrots and of course cereal. 

He's testing out the sippy cup and how to hold it with both hands. As for drinking out of it, he's just mastering holding it.

He puts EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in his mouth. 

Speaking of his mouth, he has 2 bottom teeth that came in about 3 weeks ago. Poor guy is still battling some pain. He's done so great though!

Still in size 2 diapers, almost bordering size 3.

Weighs 17 lbs (almost 18) and is 27 inches long. This guy is getting heavy!

He sleeps through the night still, though wakes up from time to time.

He has gotten much more needy and needs his mama. I can't blame him, I hate to be away from him too!

He makes sounds like "Mmmmmmaaaammma" "Daathda" "mmmmmba" (bottle?). 

He likes being on his tummy and can swirl and push backward, no crawling yet.

For only being 7 months old he sure does a lot!

I love this little guy and all the time we spend together. 

He loves to wear no clothes, just his diaper!

Love this fresh food feeder. It's like popsicles. "Thanks mom, this makes my tooths feel better"

Trying out the sippy cup.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Baby Food 101

Making apple sauce

All of the baby food that Jackson has eaten so far, I've made. Besides the oatmeal rice cereal, I've made everything else. It has been pretty cost effective too. We've tried Avocado, Banana, Sweet Potato, Zucchini, Carrot, Apples (sauce), and next is Butternut Squash. 


It has been pretty easy thanks to my handy dandy food processor. This thing rocks!


The baby food making process has been pretty easy and fun too! I love that I know exactly what is in the food that he eats. And color compare, WOW! It's hard to believe the color of the food on the shelves is what it says it is when the color of the natural stuff I make is so different. Carrots are a vibrant orange, zucchini is a neon green, apple sauce smells of warm apple pie. Bananas and avocado are easy, just peel, remove seed (avocado) and mash up real good. The food processor does that too for the other foods.


I freeze the pureed food in ice cube trays and then transfer to a zip lock bag. So easy! Take a cube or two (depending how much baby eats) in the morning to put into a container and leave in the fridge. It should thaw out by afternoon time. Or do it the night before. Wa-la!


When Jackson eats this, I scoop out of the container into a bowl he's eating from. Important: because once you dip into the food, put in mouth and back to food it has been introduced to bacteria. So to keep the food in the container "clean" I just scoop what I need into a bowl. Plus, by only using a cube at a time, I'm saving all the rest for later.


Genius!


Give it a try if you like. The apple sauce is really good. Yes, I tried it. Baked apples with a touch of cinnamon. Pureed. Who says it's just for baby? This might be "baby food" but it's all regular food made for Jackson.

Some of the goodness in the freezer: Carrots, Sweet Potato

For all the recipes and tips, I've used Wholesome Baby Food for help.

Potstickers Return

As I sit here with a cat on my lap who wants to cuddle, and its pre-6am on a day off, I must write. Gotta get this out and send it off. Not that I didn't try to go back to bed. But it seems that little Bean sleeps better while I'm awake??? At least this morning he is. Poor guy is teething and is doing so well. The last couple nights have been a bit rough though. Good thing I have today off. I hear a nap calling my name in the VERY near future.

Something came over me to make these. I hadn't made them in a while and it sounded good. While easy to prepare and cook/bake, it takes a while and thus as soon as they come out of the oven someone is bound to grab a few. 

Instead of steaming these like I have in the past, I baked them at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes each. Just to make sure the meat inside is cooked through.

Ingredients:

1 package wonton wrappers (or egg roll wrappers if you want bigger ones)

1 1/2 lbs ground meat (I used half turkey, half pork sausage)

1-2 tablespoons Soy Sauce to taste

Hot sauce, to taste if preferred

green onions, optional

Mix all ingredients in a bowl (except the won ton wrappers of course). Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with foil. Makes for easier clean up! Won ton wrappers: You will need a small bowl of water, this is your glue. Lay out a wrapper and put meat filling in the middle. You will see how little it takes to fill these. About an over sized spoon full. Of course, fill it fuller if you wish to have it bursting at the seams. Dip your finger in the water and run along edge of wrapper. Bring sides up to meet together and it will form a "peak" of sorts when closed. Really, all you need is to close the thing, so however you want to "design" it, go for it.

Bake for about 15 minutes and take out. Wa-la! I like to dip mine in a soy sauce - hot sauce dip. Siracha hot sauce to be exact.

Enjoy!

Easy Easter Treat

{Mouth watering? Good.} Image here

I've come across a great recipe I must try. Sounds pretty simple and I know a guy who loves these Cadbury Easter Egg Treats. While these are packed with sugar, who can't stand to have a little treat every now and then.

Homemade Cadbury Eggs (from Totsy)

Ingredients: 

• 1 1/2 ounces of milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup of corn syrup
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• yellow food coloring
• egg molds

Directions: 

1. First mix together the corn syrup, butter and vanilla. Then add the powdered sugar. Separate mixture into two bowls (about 1/3 of mixture should be in second bowl). Add yellow food coloring to one (yolk). Put in fridge. 
2. Make little yolk balls and then put back in fridge or freezer to harden.
3. Take a small amount of white filling out and flatten it into a circle. Wrap the white around the yolk ball and then stick them back in the fridge.
4. Melt chocolate and fill molds. Place a ball in the center & join the halves. Pop in the freezer so they get hard. 

How cute do these look and how simple does this sound? I hope it is as simple as it says, because I want to try these!

What are some of your Easter treats? Must haves? Any cute ideas for things to make?

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

I'm linking up with {Hanna over at Bouffe e Bambini} and her Handmade Hog, such a cutie!

Health Nudge: Vitamins

Have you had an Emergen-C today?

image here

Yes, I'm going to plug another health topic. Who can't use the nudge for healthy stuff today? Especially with cold & flu season still here, coming back, or allergies making their stay in our bodies, I don't know about you but I can use all the help I can get.

Taking one of these drinks each day can help you feel better and is good for you!

I mix mine with water and this raspberry flavor is pretty good!

Here are the "good for you's" about it:

Antioxidants: Help protect the cells in your body. Vitamin C, Zinc, Manganese.

B Vitamins: Help metabolism for extra energy. I know I can tell when I haven't had enough of this during the day, definitely can feel that energy & not a shaky kind! 

Electrolytes: Mineral ions lost during sweat and activity. These work to regulate heart and nerve function, water and bodily fluid levels and movement of oxygen in the body. Very busy stuff! Calcium, Sodium, Potassium.

This is a great way to start your day, with a glass of Emergen-C. It tastes good, goes well with breakfast (or for those that don't have breakfast this is a great sub!), a nice afternoon push through the rest of your day...and above all, It's GOOD FOR YOU!

Stay healthy this spring!

Wordless{ish} Wednesday

Had to share some of these great photos I took the other day. It was for Jackson's 6 month mark, a few days past the "official" 6 months, but who's counting? Was so glad these turned out good. It was really impromptu as we were getting ready to leave and he was in a great mood! I just love his facial expressions & his little shoes! He loves his Uncle Jimmy Bear :)

Enjoy & Happy Wednesday!

Photo Challenge: eyes

Little Bean :)

Linking up for a photo challenge over at The Paper Mama. This is our first time in a photo challenge. I adore The Paper Mama blog, she is pretty creative and thrifty!


More photos to come from this photo session we had yesterday, impromptu of course. Jackson did amazing and we got some great shots. 

Drink Order

Happy 1st Day of April. Or April Fools day. Spring is here, still, and summer is right around the corner. At least for us here in the Southwest summer is quickly approaching. Yesterday we got up to 94 degrees, wowza! Still beautiful and not so "gross-ly" hot yet. But that is soon coming too. Right now it reminds me of summer in Colorado with warm temperatures and being outside. Which brings me to this post.


Normally my cooking and baking adventures don't include drinks. I'm not one to drink much else than water. That could be its own post right there, because I'm pretty sure there might be something wrong with me with the amount of water I drink during the day. Seriously!


We had some friends over for dinner the other night and I made a great meal and had hopes to whip up a cool, refreshing drink other than just ice tea or water. Well I forgot and didn't get to make it. So I made it a few days later. This turned out great and just came to me while I was in the produce section at the store. It is a great little refreshing drink, good for summer time events. Could probably be spiked with alcohol if you so pleased.

Cran-Apple Up

7-up (2 liter)

Cran-Apple juice 

1 orange

1 lime

1 lemon (optional) 

You could add just about any fruit combos you like and I chose the Cran-Apple juice to get some other flavors other than just cranberry and 7-up. Maximize the variety of fruit, was my goal.


The amount of 7-up and Cran-Apple juice I used was almost equal, with maybe a touch more 7-up, just to avoid it being too sweet. But start with small amounts and add more to taste. I only made 1/3 of a pitcher not knowing how it would come out. Slice 1 lime and 1 orange into slices and add slices to juice/soda mix. Then with remaining ends of fruit, squeeze juice into soda mix. Stir/swirl and chill or serve over ice. SUPER SIMPLE! This would be great at a baby shower, wedding shower, BBQ, ladies brunch/dinner, book club meeting, Thursday evening when you want to make something awesome, the possibilities are endless! 

Plus, 7-up is caffeine free so you won't be up all night and I used a little less juice so it wouldn't be so sugar-y. PLUS, all of the fruit, score!


Enjoy!

Check out my girl Hanna at {Bouffe e Bambini}