I find it kinda funny how some recipes just seem to come to me out of thin air while others can be right in front of my eyes and I miss them completely. For example, Kenya LOVES eggs, peas and rice, so I can’t believe I didn’t think of making this dish sooner. This isn’t your usual “fried” rice, though, laden with oil and msg. This is a healthy version that has all the flavor of fried rice while still being super easy to make.
I usually prepare a big batch of brown rice to keep in the fridge for everyone in the house to nibble on all week. Also, since you can make so many fast simple sauces to mix in with brown rice, having some already cooked makes meal time that much simpler. I try as much as possible to give Kenya recipes without salt, but that would cut out a ton of Chinese and Japanese dishes I want to make him, so I use Bragg Liquid Aminos as an alternative. Bragg’s has less sodium than soy sauce and has 16 amino acids, the basic structural building blocks of proteins.
This is a great dish to take along when you don’t want to carry three different food groups on an outing. With this one, you have everything all in one dish!

Vegetable “Fried” Rice (Makes 6 Toddler Servings)

1 Cup Cooked Brown Rice
2 Eggs, beaten
1 Tbsp + 2 Tsps Oil, peanut or vegetable
1 Tbsp Scallions, diced
1 Tsp Ginger, minced
2 Tbsp Red Bell Pepper, chopped fine
1/2 Cup Peas
1/2 Tsp Sesame Oil
1 Tbsp Bragg Liquid Aminos or Low Sodium Soy Sauce

1. Heat 2 Tsp of oil in a wok or non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the eggs and coat the entire pan like a pancake. Scramble for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through. Place the eggs on a plate. Cut into bite size pieces.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in the same skillet over medium high heat and saute the scallions, ginger and red bell pepper for 2 minutes. Add the peas and rice and continue to stir and cook 1 minute.
3. Add the sesame oil, Bragg’s or soy sauce and cook another minute or until all the ingredients are throughly combined.
4. Serve.

This dish reminds me of something you would have on a cool night in Tuscany. Cannelini beans, also known as white beans have a smooth texture and a nutty flavor. Combined with the brown rice, you have a 
complete protein. I’ve been making the adult version of this dish for years. When you 
make this for babies it becomes a creamy puree that — I’ve found — they can’t stop eating. This is one of those dishes that I crave when I think about 
it. This baby version of it is so quick, inexpensive and easy.
 Whether I soak my own beans or open a can of organic ones, I always put aside a few for Kenya to pick up and feed himself. Since they’re nice 
and mushy, it’s easy for babies, even with few teeth, to munch on.

Tuscan White Beans (10 Baby Servings)

1 Cup Kale or Green of your choice
1 Garlic Clove
1 Tbsp Onion, chopped
1/8 Tsp Oregano
1/2 Cup Brown Rice, cooked
1 Cup White Beans, cooked
1/2 Cup Tomato, fresh or canned, chopped

1. Place the kale in a steamer pot over boiling water and cook for 4 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and onion and continue cooking for 6 more minutes.
3. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth.
4. Cool and serve.

Fish is such a wonderful protein for babies, but most parents are intimidated to cook it for their little ones. Even as a child, the only time we had fish, it was cooked under the broiler and stunk up the whole house (sorry Mom)! Most white fish have a mellow flavor and can be easily paired with other flavors.
While shopping at the Farmers Market I asked our local “fish ladies” (as I call them) if they had anything mild for Kenya. One of the fish ladies, with her big hair, gigantic smile and pearly whites, said how about the Hawaiian Silver Snapper?! The name sounded so luxurious and exotic. I looked over at my 13 month old and thought, nothing’s to good for my little guy.
Going with the Hawaiian theme, I came up with flavors I enjoyed from past trips to the tropical paradise. Pineapple, rich in vitamin C, ginger, brown rice and just a hint of sesame oil.
We took Kenya to Hawaii last year when he was 4 months and he could only eye the fresh fruits and fish on Mommy’s plate. Finally, I can bring the idea of being in the Islands to his tummy.

*I usually make a smaller amount of this dish since it will only stay fresh in the refrigerator for a few days. Freeze whatever is left over. For more tips, checking the “freezing“.

Hawaiian Silver Snapper (8 Baby Servings)

1/2 lb. Snapper (any mild white fish will work)
1 Tsp Fresh Ginger, peeled and sliced into 2 thin coins
1/2 Cup Brown Rice, cooked
1/2 Tsp Sesame Oil

1. Place ginger in a steamer pot over boiling water and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Add the fish to the pot and cook 4 more minutes or until cooked through.
3. Place all the ingredients in a food processor (make sure there are no bones in the fish) and puree until smooth.
4. Cool and serve.

This recipe was thrown together by default. There were very few ingredients in the fridge and Kenya had to eat.
I always recommend that you keep a little garden of herbs growing (if your weather permits) so you can trim a few pieces off at times like this to jazz up a recipe, even if it’s just for baby. Or maybe I should say, especially if it’s for your baby. I feel like we don’t give kids enough credit when it comes to flavors they will enjoy. In this recipe, I used the leaves and stems. When steamed, cilantro loses some of its potency, which is nice in order to mellow it out for babies new palate. The chicken’s flavor, mixed with the sweetness of the corn and spiciness of the cilantro made this a winner with Kenya.

Chicken and Corn with Cilantro (12 Baby Servings)

1 Chicken Breast
1 Cup Chicken Broth or Water
2 Tbsp Onion, sliced
1 Garlic Clove
2 Tbsp Cilantro, stem and leaves
1/4 Cup Corn, fresh or frozen
1/2 Cups Brown Rice, Steamed

1. Place all the ingredients, except the rice and corn, in a saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cover.
3. Steam ingredients for 5 minutes.
4. Add the corn and continue to steam for 3 more minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
5. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree. Add broth as needed to make puree smooth.
6. Cool and Serve.

Garam Marsala has one of those fabulous, exotic names that scare most people off when they see it in the spice aisle. It’s actually a mix of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, cumin, black pepper and coriander. This dish has a mix of protein, vegetables a starch and is vegetarian. You don’t need to add very much garam marsala which gives it a little kick and smells incredible.
I’m usually a stickler for farmers market fresh, but let’s be honest, not everyone has the option of keeping seasonal produce in the fridge at all times. Most of the items in this recipe can be canned or frozen.
I find canned organic tomatoes and beans to be a saving grace. They’re soft and the tomatoes have added juice which is nice when you’re thinning a puree. It’s not ideal, but when tomatoes are out of season, it’s a perfect time saving option.

Garbanzo Beans with Garam Marsala (12 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1/2 Cup Cauliflower
1/4 Cup Peas (fresh or frozen)
1 Cup Brown Rice, steamed
1 Cup Garbanzo Beans, rinsed and drained(canned or fresh that have been soaked overnight and cooked)
1 Cup Tomatoes, chopped, canned or fresh
1/2 Tsp Garam Marsala

1. Add cauliflower to a steamer basket over boiling water.
2. Cover and cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add the peas and cook for a total of 5 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender.
4. Place all the ingredients in a food processor and puree until smooth.
5. Cool and serve.

Who doesn’t like Mexican? Its simple food, but somehow the flavors are so vibrant and delicious. I was also shocked at how gorgeous the finished product looked.
This is a beginner version for using peppers which have tons of beta carotene and vitamin C. With the remaining bell pepper, I cut it into cubes for Kenya to eat as finger food. You could add a little chili powder to add spice, but I didn’t want it to over power the other flavors, so instead I added the fresh cilantro.
I let Kenya press the button on the food processor and he was chatting away, begging to scoop it out and let him try a bite. This one is a total hit with babies.

Mexican Chicken (8 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1 Chicken Breast
1/4 Bell Pepper, any color, cut in chunks
2 Tbsp Cheese
1 Tomato, fresh or organic canned
1 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro, leaves only
1/4 Cup Brown Rice, cooked

1. Place chicken in a steamer pot over boiling water. Let steam for 4 minutes.
2. Add the bell add continue to steam another 4 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
3. Place all ingredients in a food processor and puree. You can use some of the chicken stock from the steamer pan or the juice from the canned tomatoes to make it smooth.
4. Cool and serve.

Recently I’ve gone on a “protein kick” cooking for Kenya. Chicken, beef, fish, but what about beans. Some people dread cooking beans because they think there are too many steps in the preparation. That’s where lentils come in handy. When mixed with a grain they become a protein and lentils are packed with iron, important for the creation of white blood cells and antibodies. Iron is more readily absorbed when eaten with vitamin C, so I added tomatoes to this dish.

*Don’t be freaked out by the purple color in the dish. I used purple cauliflower.

Indian Lentil Stew (15 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1 Tbsp Onion, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, chopped
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Brown Rice
1/4 Cup Lentils
1 1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Curry Powder
1/2 Cup Tomatoes, canned or fresh
1/2 Cup Cauliflower

1. Heat oil in a 2 quart saucepan and saute onion and garlic until soft.
2. Add water and bring to a boil.
3. Add lentils, cumin and curry powder. Cover and simmer for 50-60 or until soft.
4. 10 minutes before mixture is complete, add tomatoes and cauliflower. Cover.
5. Puree mixture until smooth.
6. Cool and serve

Babies need more protein then adults because they’re growing so fast. This is especially true in first few years of your babies life. Most of the time I cook with skinless, boneless chicken breasts, but last week I found organic/free range chicken thighs that looked delicious. The thigh is higher in fat then the breast, which is a good thing for babies and it also has more iron and twice as much zinc.
The first time I gave it to Kenya he kind of turned up his nose. I couldn’t figure it out since he loves carrots and corn. After try number two, I added a little hot water to thin it out and presto, he loved it. Always take into consideration the texture of babies food. Sometimes a creamy texture is all it takes.

Chicken with Carrots and Corn (10 baby servings, freeze 1/2)

1/2 Cup Brown Rice
1 1/2 Cup Water
2 Chicken Thighs, skinned on the bone
1/2 Cup Baby Carrots, sliced into coins
1 Cup Chicken Stock
1/2 Cup Frozen Corn

1. In a saucepan bring water and rice to a boil and immeditaly cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring stock to a boil.
3. Add the chicken and carrots and reduce to a simmer.
4. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add corn and cook another 2 minutes or until carrots are tender and chicken is cooked through.
6. Let mixture cool for several minutes.
7. Remove the meat from the chicken and put into a food processor with the remining ingredients and puree until smooth.
8. Cool and serve.