Wordless Wednesday: Underduck

I'm always too nervous to do this with my own kiddo, but not my mama friend here - she's fearless! (And so's her little man, by the look on his face!)

What To Do With All That Zucchini: 7 Ideas

Zucchini (or summer squash) is one of our favourite veggies to grow in our garden. It's easy to grow, resilient & adaptable, isn't prone to attracting pests and the yield is phenomenal. This year we have 6 plants, and since early in July they've been producing close to one new zucchini per day. My father and stepmother have an even more abundant zucchini situation going on - probably closer to two per day! While it's awesome to have so much fresh, healthy veg, one can only enjoy so many zucchini & onion stirfries. So needless to say, we've done a fair amount of research and experimentation in our household to find other tasty ways to enjoy this prolific veggie. Here are our Top 7 ideas!

 

1. Make muffins or bread. Like the aforementioned stirfry, this one's a bit of a given. Finely-grated zucchini adds nutrition, moistness and a depth of flavour to bread products without actually contributing a zucchini-like taste. This is a great way to sneak in some greens for picky eaters! And with zillions of different recipes out there, you certainly don't have to stick with the same one every time! Try gluten free, or combine it with banana, applesauce or carrot. Nuts work well too!
2. Throw some into a casserole. Casseroles, of course, make for quick & easy meals, so naturally they're a favourite of many families. I made a variant of this dish the other day using four grated zucchinis instead of spinach, and ground turkey to bulk it up. The resulting dish was yummy, filling and super-healthy - definitely a keeper! (Stay tuned for a possible blog post on this!)
3. Make zucchini "boats". Wondering what to do with those baseball bat-sized zukes you'll find after neglecting to harvest for a few days? They're pretty tough and seedy, so need a little sumpin' extra to achieve tasty status. Perfect solution - make stuffed zucchini boats! Basic technique - chop 'em in half, scrape out the centers, incorporate your choice of other ingredients (other veggies, meat, cheese, etc.), stuff the mixture back in and bake or barbecue until delicious. Lots of recipes out there to try out, or make up your own!
4. Whip up some fritters. This is one of my favourite ways to use zucchini as fritters are ridiculously easy to make (especially if you have a food processor) and awesome as a side. I love frying 'em up in coconut oil for a little extra flavour and crispiness.
5. Slice 'em into zucchini noodles (or "zoodles"!). This is a particularly awesome idea for those on a gluten-free (or completely grain-free) diet craving some pasta or noodle soup. I have to admit, I haven't mastered the technique for these just yet myself, but I'm going to keep trying. If I do end up embarking upon an anti-candida diet, this'll definitely have a place on the menu!
6. Enjoy it raw.. I didn't even consider zucchini to be a veggie you can eat raw until I had the pleasure of trying it julienned into a salad at a cooking class last year. Crunchy, fresh and slightly sweet, this dish had me wondering why a raw preparation isn't more common.
7. Freeze it. Got a row of zukes 3 feet long lining your counter, or simply out of inspiration? Then toss some in your freezer to enjoy off-season! To store chopped zucchini, you'll want to blanch it first, however grated zucchini (for use in baked goods, etc.) can be frozen raw - just squeeze a little liquid out of it first.

How do you like to eat zucchini? Got any favourite recipes?

Sweet & Savoury Maple Spring Salad {Recipe}

Each year at the cottage with my inlaws on Saint Joseph Island, we brunch at Gilbertson's Pancake House, a lovely seasonal restaurant which showcases the family's tasty maple products. I usually load up on traditional breakfast fare such as sausage, pancakes and french toast, but this year wanted to go for something a little lighter so tried the maple spring salad with chicken, featuring their in-house sweet & savoury maple dressing. It was heavenly. I almost bought a bottle of the dressing to take home, but it was pricey and I figured hey - it can't be that hard to make! Especially since the ingredients were listed on the back of the bottle. Unfortunately, I made the dubious decision to commit the list to memory, and then on the ride home realized I'd forgotten at least a few items. Oops. But when it came time to recreating the dish at home, I ended up doing a pretty good job. (Well, at least I think so. I hope you'll agree!)

This salad meets all the key requirements to earn a spot on the regular rotation in our household. It's delicious, super-quick to make, versatile and it's made with clean ingredients. It *is* indulgent, however, so how healthy it ultimately is may be for up discussion. ;)


Sweet & Savoury Maple Spring Salad

Prep Time: 6-7 minutes
Yield: 1 single-serve bowl of salad (multiply the ingredients accordingly for additional servings)

Ingredients - Salad:

• 1/4 pear
• 1/4 apple
• 3 slices high-quality old cheddar cheese, cut in small pieces
• 20(ish) pecans, lightly toasted
• A few thin slices of red onion (optional - I didn't include these in the version above)
• Handful of spring mix

Ingredients - Maple Dressing:

• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 pinch of celtic sea salt
• Pepper to taste

Steps:

• Layer salad ingredients in a bowl starting with spring mix
• Whisk together maple dressing ingredients and pour evenly on top of salad
• Enjoy!

Baby Gourmet Creamy Brown Rice Cereal: Review & Giveaway (Closed)

Vanilla Banana Berry Risotto. Vegetable Lentil Dahl. Menu options from a classy fusion restaurant? Not quite! They're actually two of the many scrumptious, organic meal varieties for babies and toddlers offered by Baby Gourmet, a company which believes parents should never have to compromise taste nor nutrition for the sake of convenience when it comes to feeding our little ones.

 A little more about the company, from their website:

Founder Jennifer Carlson wanted to feed her babies food that was healthy and tasty, but was disappointed by grocery store options. With a little ingenuity, she started making her own - whipping up baby-friendly batches of tested and much-loved family recipes. The results were so yummy, she enlisted the help of her sister, Jill Vos, and Baby Gourmet was born.

As VP Product Development, Jill makes sure our recipes are filled with only the best, freshest, organic, kosher ingredients from around the world.

Jen oversees every aspect of Baby Gourmet with the passionate and watchful eye of a mother and a business person.

Founded on a mother's love and fueled by an unwavering commitment to quality, we make great tasting healthy, organic baby food.

Every package of Baby Gourmet passes strict nutritional and food safety guidelines. We pass all USDA and organic certifications. But, as moms, we go a step further. We actually taste every single batch ourselves. If we don't absolutely love it, we pour it out and start from scratch. It's true! Because our bottom line is not 'the bottom line'. It's our commitment to making great tasting, nutritious food - the only kind we would feed our own children.


Baby Gourmet has Canadian roots (it was initially made in Canada - in Jen's own kitchen! - and sold at the Calgary Farmers Market) but is now produced in the United States.

The BG product line includes both purees (available in numerous flavour combinations and different consistencies) and rice and oat-based "Great Grains" cereals. Their website allows you to browse by age group to determine appropriate options for your child(ren) at any given point.

We've tried various Baby Gourmet purees and Squoosh for our daughter (now 32-months-old) and, aside from one staunch refusal during a period when she was boycotting pear, she gobbled 'em all up like they were going out of style! So far, we've made all our own purees for CJ (now 7 1/2 months) but I'm sure there'll be times when we grab some Baby Gourmet for convenience. BG is definitely the commercial brand I trust the most to provide healthy, minimally processed purees for my little ones when we're in a time crunch.

Today, however, I'll be switching gears and reviewing Baby Gourmet's Creamy Brown Rice cereal, one of three products within their Great Grains line. I'd experimented a bit early on with making rice cereal for our daughter, but ultimately wasn't a fan of the process nor (more importantly) convinced we were providing baby with superior nutrition, so we went with a commercial product. We decided to do the same for CJ, so when I learned that Baby Gourmet had recently introduced its own version and that it was made with brown rice (widely considered more nutritious than white), I was eager to give it a try!


Product Info:

One of the simplest foods to start baby on  - rice cereal.  It is gluten free and easy to digest.  Creamy Brown Rice cereal is an excellent source of iron & B vitamins.  It is simply delicious.

Advantages:

• Excellent source of iron & B vitamins
• Easy to digest
• No added sugar or salt
• Dairy free
• Gluten free
• No artificial colours or flavours
• BPA-free package
• Enriched with niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine
• Easy pour spout
• Resealable pouch locks in freshness

Complete Recipe List:

• Organic brown rice flour
• Electrolytic iron
• Niacinamide
• Riboflavin
• Thiamine Mononitrate
• Soy Lecithin

My Review:

I was sent a 6-pack of Baby Gourmet Creamy Brown Rice cereal (227g each) to review.

First of all, I have to say the resealable spout format (carried forward from their puree packaging) is awesome - a marked improvement over the infuriating cardboard punch-out spouts that are unfortunately the norm for baby cereals. The recyclable spout makes it much easier to pour the cereal and is also a great solution for keeping the product fresh. Long gone are the days of wiping up powdery spills from the counter and fiddling with awkward plastic wrap / elastic band combos!

The consistency of the dry cereal is "heartier" than the white rice variety we used to buy. It definitely has the appearance of a wholer grain.

That said, it's still an instant cereal like the others; it's ready to serve immediately once combined with a liquid or puree.

We first introduced the cereal when CJ was a week shy of 7 months. Upon the advice of professionals we've seen (due to his low weight gain), we introduced vegetables and meat first to ensure he started with some "bulkier" nutrients. So he was pretty much an old hat at solids when he had his first taste of his Baby Gourmet brown rice (prepared with breast milk). We captured the occasion on video; no jury required to deduce that he enjoyed the experience! And big sister even wanted in on the action too!

For the first few days, we continued to prepare his cereal with breast milk. After that, however, we started to prefer adding it to purees for two reasons - to thicken them up, and because his bowel movements are on the infrequent side (once every two days or so) so we want to ensure that when he's eating rice (which can trigger constipation) he's also getting other foods which promote movements. Here we've mixed about a tablespoon into a pear puree to make it nice & bulky!

 

Overall, it's clear that CJ enjoys eating this cereal. We do have a non-picky eater so far in general, so it's hard to "speak" for all babies, however I've tasted it myself and it's certainly pleasant - it has a smooth texture and even a hint of sweetness, despite the fact that it contains no sugar.

In terms of nutrition and health, first of all I appreciate that the cereal is made with brown rice. Although opinions are still divided on white vs. brown as an early food for babies (with proponents of white stating mainly that it's easier to digest), I feel that white is basically empty calories, and I'd rather give my baby a wholer grain - especially since he's on the small side. Second, obviously the USDA organic certification is a Good Thing - this means that the cereal is made with 95%+ organic ingredients.

Third, the ingredients themselves. I'm fine with the addition of iron and various B vitamins to ensure baby's maintaining an adequate store of these important nutrients. However I wasn't as thrilled to see soy lecithin on list as the choice of emulsifier. We try to steer clear of GMOs in our household, and soy is one of the most genetically modified crops. The cereal package doesn't explicitly say non-GMO, so I checked with my PR contact at Baby Gourmet who confirmed that although many of the cereal's ingredients are GMO-free, the full product hasn't been certified. Which means the soy lecithin may, indeed, be from a GM crop. :( But - here's the good thing! My contact also mentioned that moving forward, the company will replace soy lecithin with an organic sunflower lecithin in its production, which should eliminate the GMO threat. Am I concerned enough about the current batch to stop feeding it to my baby? No - I still think it's a healthier option overall than most, if not all, other commercial baby cereals available today. However once the sunflower version becomes available (depending on where CJ is at with foods) I may purchase some new packs and donate any that are remaining from my review package.

Overall, out of all the commercial baby food companies operating today, I trust Baby Gourmet to go above and beyond when it comes to taste, convenience, nutrition and health, and also to strive for ongoing product improvement. Their Creamy Brown Rice cereal is no exception; it's yummy, made with nutritious whole grains, and soon will be completely soy-free. Overall, I think it's a great option to consider incorporating into a baby's early diet.

Buy It: 

Visit the store locator to find a store which sells Creamy Brown Rice cereal and other Baby Gourmet Products near you!

Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win a 6-pack of Baby Gourmet Creamy Brown Rice cereal of their own! Open to CANADA ONLY.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please follow all instructions within each entry option to ensure your entries are valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The prize is being provided and shipped to the winner by Baby Gourmet.  I received no financial compensation for writing my review or offering this giveaway, although I did receive the sample items free of charge.  This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday: Pick Your Battles

Our 32-month-old is going through a "challenging" phase  - she's back to beating on her brother, she must do everything by herself and "No!" has become her middle name. At times like these, we've learned, you gotta pick your battles. Like today when she refused to nap in her own bed and insisted on lying down in Mom & Dad's room. Almost 2 (relaxing) hours later, I snapped this gem. Sometimes giving in = ftw!

Which battles have you "won" or "lost" recently? :)

CJ at 7 months: Our Irish Jigger

My coworker told me that mat leave with kiddo #2 goes redonkerously quickly. Amen to that, sistah. I feel like I just wrote CJ's 6 month update, and here we are tackling the next one!

...which'll be a fun one indeed, as Month 7 was such a stark contrast to the earlier months which were riddled with specialist appointments, constant worry and multitudinous pukey outfit changes per day. We're really beginning to have some fun with the little guy now that he's not tossing his cookies every 28 seconds! And now that he's on solids (and good, hearty stuff like chicken and avocado), his weight gain has accelerated and he's looking a little more solid himself. :) Which is important, as he'll need some extra energy now that he has officially figured out how to achieve forward motion!


Official 7 Month Photo:

Got him when he was sleepy here and, unfortunately, couldn't coax a smile!

(Compare with months 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.)


Physical Development:  

Weight: 14 lb 9 oz (3rd-4th percentile)
Height: 27 1/2" (60th percentile)

Lots of milestones this month:
Army crawl: check!
Sitting unsupported (well, mostly): check!
Supporting himself in the standing position: check!

So yup, he's getting around a lot better and enjoying some new vantage points during play. Though, of course, this opens up new less-than-ideal destinations for him to explore. Such as power cords and the DVD shelf, which (unlike the bedroom furniture) is not affixed to the wall. Why must babies and toddlers be most drawn to the stuff they shouldn't be getting into??!!

As I mentioned during the last update, he has turned into a Kick Machine. When held facing outward and exposed to some mad beats, he really gives 'er! We were so impressed we had him audition for Riverdance. Whatcha think - did he get a part?

Cognitive, Social & Emotional Development:

I'm happy to report no change in CJ's overall happy, smiley disposition, and his affinity for (giving and getting) big, wet kisses. That said, he's also beginning to assert himself when he's not so thrilled - for example, the back arch + grunt combo when attempting to get out of a diaper change or car seat lockdown. He also gets crabby when he sees one of us preparing food, but it's not getting delivered quickly enough. Or when we pause a feeding to temporarily do something else. Little man definitely follows in his sister and mama's footsteps - he loves him some grub!

In other news, his vocalizations got a lot more creative this month. He's added bababa and wawawa to the arsenal, though he continues to prefer dadada and high-pitched shrieks (which his sister can't help but ape back at him. Usually in a restaurant or other public place, of course!)

Finally, no sign of stranger or separation anxiety at this point. Then again, his sister never really went through it so maybe he'll be spared too!

All that said, of course I prefer to assume he loves me the most. ;)

Sleep:

No real changes here. He's still going about 9 PM to 7:30-8 AM with one feed in the 4-6 AM range. Naps are much more consistent (and generally lengthier) too - we're down to 2 per day for usually 45 mins to 2 hrs each.


Food:

CJ is loving his solids! By month's end we'd checked off avocado, broccoli, zucchini, peas, beans, carrot, sweet potato, banana, pear, mango, chicken and brown rice cereal. Oh, and Mum-Mums, mainly to keep him occupied and allow him to work on his motor skills!

More CJ updates: 6 months
View what big sis was up to at 7 months!

No-Bake Coconut Almond Date Energy Balls {Recipe}

Until recently, I often found myself in a quandary. I'd crave sweets, but the options readily available to fulfill the craving weren't winning any nutritional awards. As a believer in (and general abider by) a clean, healthy diet, I'd either grumpily abstain or give in and endure the subsequent guilt and (all too often) havoc wreaked on my system.

But then I discovered No-Bake Energy Balls, and All Was Well With The World! (And this is only a minor exaggeration - I promise!)

So what are NBEBs, you may ask? Basically, they are bite-sized morsels of deliciousness made of healthy ingredients which provide energy and other nutritional benefits. And, duh, they don't require baking. Nor cooking in any other way, for that matter. You just need a bunch of pantry staples and a means of mashing them up together (generally a food processor). A full batch takes only minutes to prepare, and the lack of heat and chopping means little hands can get in on the action too. Perfect for young, busy families!

A quick search turns up approximately a jillion NBEB variants, however I have arrived at what I humbly believe is the awesomest of them all. They're ridiculously tasty (and I'm not alone here; almost everyone I've shared them with has requested the recipe), chock-full of key nutrients such as iron, fibre and omega 3 fatty acids, and ridiculously tasty. Wait - did I say that already? :) 


No-Bake Coconut Almond Date Energy Balls

Prep Time: 8-10 minutes
Yield: 24 balls (approx)

Ingredients:

• 10 pitted dates
• 4 pitted prunes
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut + 1/2 cup for rolling
• 1/2 cup one minute oats
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tbsp flax seeds
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup water (Depending on how moist you prefer them. I use 1/2 cup myself.)

Steps:

• Put everything except water and 1/2 cup shredded coconut into a food processor.
• Pulse for 20-30 seconds until items are incorporated.
• Slowly add water and continue to pulse until "batter" is moist but not runny.

 

• Form into balls about one inch in diameter
• Roll each ball in extra shredded coconut

• Refrigerate and enjoy!

A couple notes:

• Up until now, I've thrown in the almonds as-is. The next time I make the recipe, I might try soaking them for 24 hours to improve nutrient absorption and reduce the beating endured by my food processor. Other recipes also suggest soaking the dates and prunes for up to an hour, as this helps them incorporate more readily. Another thing to try out.
• As fabulous as this exact recipe is, the beauty of the NBEB is that it's so flexible. So feel free to add, remove or swap ingredients based on your own preferences, availability, etc. (Though note that you may need to adjust the amount of water accordingly.) I'll probably try some variants in the future myself - e.g., pecans or nut butters instead of almonds, cocoa powder instead of cinnamon, etc.

Do you like to make energy balls or any other types of healthy no-bake desserts? What are your favourite recipes?

Wordless Wednesday: Cottage Life

Wordless Wednesday: Bubble Battle Cry!

Sand Gone: A Must for Beachgoers! - Review & Giveaway (Closed)

While growing up, my family vacationed frequently at destinations along the Atlantic Ocean. These trips left me with many fond memories (riding frothy waves on our boogie boards, strolling along the shore searching for shells and burying family members up to their necks in sand) but I also remember what a cumbersome process it was to remove salt and sand from our skin after a day at the beach! Grit ended up all over towels, car seats and hotel room floors (apologies to the maintenance staff!) and, inevitably, some would remain behind and chafe at us until we had the chance to grab a shower. Luckily, beachgoers today have an alternative option  - a nifty little product called Sand Gone! Consisting of vegetable and plant starches (plus a little fragrance) Sand Gone is a non-toxic powder which removes sand and salt from the skin without using water. The product was invented by a mompreneur named Tiffany who knew there had to be a better way after many years spent wrestling with her own post-beach sand-covered children!


Product Info (from website):

SAND GONE is a dry body powder that, when applied to sand covered skin, removes the sand and leaves the skin soft and smooth while feeling fresh and clean.

Sand Gone comes in an attractive eight ounce jar with a screw-able lid. Within the jar is a microfiber applicator. It is extremely soft but also durable. It can be cleaned by household washers and dryers when necessary. The applicator also has a strap across it to help secure it to the user's hand as the powder is applied.

The dry, white powder is both non-toxic and non-talc. It also contains a hint of coconut fragrance. Sand Gone is best used when cleaning up while leaving the beach. However, Sand Gone works perfectly well when cleaning up after the sand box, playground or wherever one encounters sand. It is like having a "dry shower" from a jar. In addition to removing the sand, Sand Gone also removes the salt from your skin after a day at the beach. No more uncomfortable "scratchy feeling" under clothing during the drive home.

After using Sand Gone, you will quickly find that it becomes one of those must-haves at the beach, sandlot or park. You will know to bring your sunblock and shades...but also your SAND GONE.


My Review:

For review purposes, I received an 8 fl oz Sand Gone plus applicator.

The powder itself is very soft and delicate, and the coconut scent is nice - you definitely notice it but it smells natural and isn't overpowering. The applicator is plush, sturdy and large. One side has a ribbon "handle" and the other is smooth across the whole surface.

Our first experience using the product was quite spontaneous! I'd just received it a few days prior when my husband, following a lengthy backyard play session with our 2 1/2 year old, called in through the screen door - "Quick! I need something for S! She's all full of sand!" I thought ahhh, perfect and grabbed our unopened Sand Gone off the counter. About one minute and several wipes later, she was indeed sand-free!

This first experience was successful but involved just sand and water. As our next experiment, I was curious to see how the product performed over mineral-based sunscreen which we use when outside mid-day. Mineral-based sunscreens (e.g. containing zinc oxide) leave a barrier on the skin versus "standard" sunscreens which get absorbed, so there's a bit more to contend with for a product like Sand Gone! I'm happy to report that the product works in this scenario too, as the following video demonstrates.

Next up - the Hairy Man Arm Test. (Thanks to my ever-helpful husband for this suggestion. And, for volunteering a Hairy Arm.) Unfortunately, as you can see, this was somewhat of an Epic Fail.

It would appear that Sand Gone definitely prefers a smooth surface to work with.

A few other comments & observations:

• Kids love using Sand Gone! We're (ever so appropriately) at the cottage right now, and following a product demo both my daughter and her two cousins have requested using it on a few occasions. They all agree that it works well and love the scent!
• It works best to use a "moderate" amount - i.e. you don't need to cake the powder on there but you do want a light covering across the applicator.
• Longevity-wise, we've used the product about 15-20 times now and the tub is about 1/3rd empty, so you do get quite a few uses out of it. Tiffany mentioned that one tub lasts her family about one beach season (and her family's at the beach regularly!)
• We've admittedly been sporatic in applying it here at the cottage, and as such there's been a lot of sand trekked across the floors. To prevent this scenario (especially in one's home or a cottage not quite as rustic as ours ;) an idea that comes to mind is to designate a single "sandy body" entry point and leave the Sand Gone there so that everyone can easily clean up before entering the building. 

 Finally, a few issues and improvement suggestions:

• Although effective at removing grit, the powder itself sticks around on your skin and get can on clothing, floors, etc. Not a huge issue as it washes easily, but something to note.
•  Given the product's open-faced application method, it would be quite easy for the entire tub to spill out (especially if children are using the product). A shaker style applicator might be a better option to prevent this.
• Although the coconut scent is advertised as being non-toxic, the actual ingredients aren't disclosed thus some individuals with fragrance sensitivities may have trouble. As such, it would be nice if the product was available in an unscented format as well.

All in all, Sand Gone's a neat product that works quite well as advertised (hairy man arm test aside ;). If you're tired of continuously wrestling with sand-covered family members and corresponding grit inside your home, cottage, tent, etc. definitely give Sand Gone a shot!

On a related note: if you're a frequent beach-goer, check out this list of 10 Must Haves for the Beach put together by Tiffany and a few other companies. From totes to toys to thirsty tots, this list covers many key needs and wants for a fun day in the sun! :)


Buy It:

Sand Gone can be purchased directly from the product website as well as on Open Sky and at various beach and gift shops. From the website, shipping is available to Canada and the United States.

Win It:

One lucky Manager to Mom reader will win an 8 oz family size container of Sand Gone, including a soft soothing applicator! Open to CAN/US.

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Please follow all instructions within each entry option to ensure your entries are valid.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  The prize is being provided and shipped to the winner by Sand Gone.  I received no financial compensation for writing my review or offering this giveaway, although I did receive the sample item free of charge.  This is my completely honest opinion above and may be different from yours.