Confetti Mashed Potatoes!

Savory Roasted Veggies AND Confetti Mashed Potatoes!

More than your average mashed potatoes!

SAVORY ROASTED VEGGIES

3 zucchini
1 sweet potato
12 red potatoes
5 small onions
1 and 1/2 c grape tomatoes

pepper, to taste (or homemade Italian seasoning)

• Chop veggies in large chunks.
• In large bowl, combine all veggies and spices
• Rosemary tastes great with roasted veggies, rosemary has awesome anti-inflammatory properties!
• The quantities above are basically what I had and threw together.  With fewer veggies, you can fill a plastic bag to mix and coat all the veggies with a little water and spice.
• Dump everything on a rimmed cookie sheet.
• Spread out as well as you can -- but it's ok if it isn't one flat layer.
• You can turn veggies half way through baking, for more browning, but it isn't necessary.
• Bake at 375 for ~30 minutes.
• Test with fork that largest pieces are tender.
• Enjoy!

With leftovers, or for a little one, toss Savory Roasted Veggies into food processor. Blend until desired smoothness. You may add some milk if it seems dry, to increase creaminess. I like mine with a bit of chunkiness. To add some nutrition, as well as some crunch, add 1 c walnuts! Yum!

The unphotographed result is a lovely side dish of CONFETTI MASHED POTATOES!

They come out a light orange color, with tiny bits of a variety of colors (green, red, orange, etc) -- confetti!

This recipe makes a great BABY FOOD -- lots of nutrients, tastiness, and color! In fact, that's how I came up with it! I tend to throw anything into my food processor for my son (19 mos) to allow him to eat MORE. He is a great eater, but little ones just get bored sometimes and want to play!

DISTRACT YOUR CHILD: If you have trouble getting your child to eat, you can give them their own spoon, and a toy. Let them eat and play as they like, and you can give bites in their mouth all the while!

If you worry about your child eating TOO much, with this recipe, you'll know they are getting a nice rounded variety.

I make it a rule to TASTE whatever I am feeding my child, so I know it is yummy! He sees me taking bites which also encourages him to eat, to be like Mommy! When I tasted this, I knew other adults would LOVE it! It takes mashed potatoes, with so much added flavor!

COMMENTS: What textures do you love/hate? Do these preferences keep you from eating certain foods of which you know you would enjoy the flavor?

COSTCO Deal on a Mini Food Chopper!

I keep it simple in the kitchen.  There are a few items though that I CAN'T DO WITHOUT.  Namely, this 4-Cup Chopper/Grinder by Cuisinart!  NOW there is an INSTANT REBATE!

There is good and bad news - mine died!  I have to say though, that this isn't the first small food processor that I have put to rest.  It's not really a bad thing -- it's like my mom and her treadmill -- she got a lower-end treadmill and I challenged her to wear it out!  So, the idea is I found it so useful that I used it until it stopped! We make A LOT of Laraballs!

AND Costco has a great RETURN policy!  They'll take back anything, and so I took my credit, and marched right over the the food equipment section and grabbed myself ANOTHER ONE!  And CURRENTLY there is a $10 INSTANT rebate (no paperwork -- $10 straight off your bill)!  SO, I on the trip, I basically got $10 and a NEW machine!  $30-10 = $20 for a great little piece of equipment!

You might want to call ahead (Costco Store Locator) to check on this instant rebate, but if you shop at the Costco in Mayfield, Ohio, as of yesterday, the deal was posted!  

Besides all of the following uses, it just has a few parts that are VERY EASY to CLEAN!

What can you use it for?

1. LARABALLS -- delicious, nutritious and EASY no-bake cookies with versatile flavors!

2. Baby Food -- you can blend up ANYTHING the rest of the family is having (after child's first birthday), from sub sandwiches (did this once when my oldest was a baby!) to eggplant Parmesan to beans and rice, and of course ANY fruit or veggie or grain or meat -- or a combo of a few!

(PURPLE Baby Food above: blueberries, edamame, and mango!)

Last night, I made a combination of baked apples, CARROT SOUP, broccoli, and cauliflower!  The thing is, from 12-24 months, kids can begin eating anything and they get pretty good at biting and chewing, but they get tired/bored.  With a big, ground-up meal, they can eat a lot more -- getting more nutrients so their bodies and minds can keep rapidly growing!

CLICK for some beginning foods that don't even require a food chopper!  5 QUICK BABY FOODS

3. Hummus  -- here is a recipe!

4. Guacamole -- try this simple QUICK recipe: an avocado, Tbsp salsa, and 1-2 tsp lime juice!
Adjust quantities to your own taste preferences!

5. Anything you need CHOPPED VEGGIES for, in my kitchen, especially ONIONS!

6. NUTS and OATS can be ground up to form versatile flour alternatives.

Hurry and buy your chopper now!  I hope you enjoy it as much as me, and start using it by making these yummy Cranberry Cookies!

WHAT DO YOU THINK?  What is your favorite kitchen tool?  Do you have equipment you don't use?  Ever wear anything out?

Top 5 Quick and Easy Baby Foods

Nutritious, Easy, and Fresh!

1. AVOCADO - cut one in half and grab a spoon!

2. BANANA - Open it, mash it a bit with a fork, and viola! Depending on age, they might just take chunks in their hand, or regular bites from a whole banana.

3. SWEET POTATO - stab one with a fork a few times, pop it in the micro for 5-8 min depending on size, 8 min for a huge potato. Let cool, cut open, and grab a spoon!

4. PLAIN regular or Greek YOGURT - it is SO much easier to get a child used to this taste early. What a favor you are doing him or her! It took me years of tasting a bit myself when I was feeding my little ones, to finally enjoy the taste!

5. Old Fashioned Oatmeal (rolled oats) - dump some in a microwave bowl, add water until oats are covered. Make sure bowl is large enough for oats to bubble up quite a bit; overflow can be a little messy! Cook for 2-3 minutes. Let cool, stir in some ground flax seed, even some chia seeds!, and cinnamon, and add a little milk.

Plus, a delicious and nutritious oatmeal recipe coming soon!

Try these, and HERE ARE SOME MORE IDEAS! See what you AND your baby think!?!?

Jars are a great convenience for when you are out and about, but when your at home with your child, why not take a few extra minutes to make something from the heart, that is more nutritious AND will save you money too! Don't worry -- we will get into more variety, but this is an easy place to start!

TELL ME IN A COMMENT -- Have you ever made baby food? Have you ever thought about trying? I sure love the money I save doing it, as well as knowing exactly what my child is eating!