Recipes to share for the week...

I've gotten behind on blogging this week and posting new recipes. If you haven't noticed we love trying new recipes and creating menu's EVERY week. Food shouldn't be boring and cooking is a great way to spend time with our families in the kitchen over great conversation.

As promised, here is a toddler muffin recipe I have made James the past few months. It is a great way to sneak in their daily greens.

Spinach Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 large egg

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 bag/tub of spinach

1/3 cup sugar (can substitute with stevia or cut it out all together)

2 tbsp. vegetable oil (can substitute with plain yogurt)

1 1/2 cup whole grain flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Directions;

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a blender, mix all wet ingredients and spinach. Mix until pureed. Fold mixture into dry ingredients. Use a cookie scoop and scoop into 24 mini muffin cups. Bake 12 minutes. Keep refrigerated.  

Tonight, I made Cajun Jambalaya! This may be the best recipe I've ever made/had... This is also baby and hubby approved!!! Not only is it 258 calories per serving BUT it's only 6 WW points plus!!! I know I will be making this a lot now.

Cajun Jambalaya

Ingredients:

1 tomato

1 green bell pepper

1/2 yellow onion

2 celery stalks

2 garlic cloves

8 oz. uncooked shrimp (peeled and deveined)

6 oz. boneless skinless chicken breast

1/2 lb. turkey keilbasa

1 cup uncooked minute brown rice

1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 Tbsp. salt-free cajun seasoning

1 tsp. black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Chop up bell pepper, celery, onion, and garlic. Saute in skillet for about 5 minutes over medium-high heat. While that is cooking, chop up tomato, turkey keilbasa, chicken (1-inch pieces), and peel/devein shrimp. In a mixing bowl, add all ingredients. Split mixture onto 4 pieces of foil. Fold foil up so it's sealed tight. Bake for 35 minutes (or until rice is tender). Let sit for 15 minutes. 

Servings: 4

WW Points Plus: 6

Me and the baby actually split one packet so it makes a good size serving!

We had a great past weekend. We took James to the park and fed the ducks and geese. He LOVED it. He really likes animals and I am looking forward to going back to the Saint Louis Zoo this year with him.

I still am pretty interested in cooking and experimenting with quinoa these days. Jamie always seems to stick up his nose when I say I'm making anything with it but he then ends up loving it. I've been seeing on pinterest mac and cheese alternatives using quinoa SO I of course had to try it. 

Mac & Cheese Quinoa

Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa (cooked according to package)

1 1/2 reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup almond milk

1 egg

1/4 c. panko crumbs for topping

1 tsp. salt (optional)

1 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)

1/2 c. veggies of choice (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together except panko. Pour mixture into 8 mini ramekins. Sprinkle panko on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Servings: 8

WW Points Plus: 3

I would not consider this mac & cheese like since it wasn't very creamy. It was more of a rice side dish but it was still really good!!!

My little sous chef!!! He has really become interested in helping mommy this month. It might be a little extra work and a little extra mess but it's good to involve our children in these every day activities. There is so much to be learned from cooking but for a toddler a lot of it is sensory learning and it's so fun to see the enjoyment they get from helping us.