Broccoli & Cheese Souffle

Holy Moly Batman.  These are GOOD.  I found this recipe and I was planning on making them for Veronica.  They sounded good and all.  The minute we gave them to her she started INHALING them.  I made my husband try it.  Just because I wanted to try it and it was labeled as a baby food recipe on the site I found it on and well...I am picky.  He tried it and said it was good.  I gave it a shot and let me tell you this is SOOOO good.  True babies can eat it, but I bet you will eat them too!

Ingredients:

•  1 cup of ricotta
• 1 cup mozzarella
• 1/8 cup parmesean cheese
• 1 10 ounce package of frozen chopped broccoli (I used florets and chopped them up well) 
• 2 eggs (or 4 egg yolks)
• 1 teaspoon of pre-minced garlic (Best invention EVER)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh rosemary, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon of fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

1. Thaw and drain the broccoli.  Make sure to get as much water out as possible.  I put mine between paper towels and smooshed it.
2.  Preheat oven to 350F and spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray.
3. In a bowl beat the eggs until foamy.  My hand mixer has a whisk attachment.  I used that.  It fluffed them up nice and quick.  You can also push down and make sure you get the stuff on the bottom foamy as well.
4. Add the cheeses, pepper, and herbs.  I gave the mixture a quick beat with the whisk attachment again to mix it all together.
5. Fold the broccoli into the egg/cheese mixture until just combined.
6. Divide evenly in the muffin tins.  Mine filled all 12 holes halfway.
7. Bake 20-30 minutes.  The original recipe said 20-25minutes.  I changed this a bit so mine had to stay in longer.  Mine went for 28 minutes.  From about the 20 minute point I would just keep an eye on them.
8. Serve warm.  But I best these would be just as yummy chilled!

mmhmhmhmmm...

Prune Baby Food

Prunes are baby food from the Gods.  Once your kiddo starts eating more then milk/formula things can be a bit "tough" for them.  I find myself cheering for V. "Push them out Push them out WAY OUT!"  TMI?

Anyway, if she gets prunes a lot, things are much better.  The only challenge I find in packaged baby prunes are you can't really find them past stage 1.  They also cost a crazy amount.  You can buy a container of prunes for less then $4.00 and so far I have made about 8 meals out of it and still have enough to make about 4 more servings.

So $4 versus about $14.00 (Amazon price).  Which do you think I chose?

Do I have something on my face?

Prunes are not cute and pretty, so I started with a picture of V enjoying her prunes.  Hope you don't mind.  :)

Ingredients:

1 cup of prunes

water (I used filtered, you could use spring)

I chose bite size, just so my Baby Bullet wouldn't hate me as much.

Put the prunes in a bowl and add warm water.  

I actually boiled my water and poured that on the prunes.

Before soaking

Let the prunes sit in the water until they soften.  I added water to mine and let them sit for about 2 hours.  Not because they needed that long, just because I had to run out to my sons class.

Once softened, remove from the water(Don't pour it out!) and place the prunes in your Baby Bullet, blender, processor, whatever you have to grind it up. 

After soaking-notice how they are less wrinkly?

PLEASE check your prunes for pits and pieces of pits!  They say they have removed the pits, but some make it through!  I know I pulled out a large one and you do NOT want to break any equiptment here.  Sort of defeats the purpose of saving money if you have to buy a new blender.

Start grinding the prunes.  For one cup I needed to add about 1/4 cup of the reserved water to get the consistency Veronica likes.  She is about 7 months at this point and does thicker foods.  Just add water to your desired thickness. 

Mmm....LUNCH!

Rice Congee

Congee- A Chinese rice gruel eaten for breakfast.

An unsweetened. unseasoned rice pudding.  I think I like that definition a bit better.  Either way, that is what Veronica is eating tonight!

This makes about 2 cups.  You can serve plain, to your baby, or spruce it up with fruit for a yummy breakfast!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup short grain rice (I used Thai fragrant)

2 1/2 cups water (I used filtered)

Directions:

If you have time, soak the rice for 2 hours in plenty of cold water, then drain.  

If not, put the rice into a roomy pot and add the water.  

To make the pudding the rice needs to absorb A LOT of water. (4 times their own volume) 

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat.

LOOSELY cover.

Simmer gently for AT LEAST 30 minutes.

Stir occasionally, until you have a soupy, soft pudding.

For babies- I would cool it down.  Don't want to burn their little mouths!

Warning! Warning!  I did not simmer gently.  Mine sort of cooked out all the water before it got to  soupy state.  If that happens to you, just add a bit more water, reduce to SIMMER, and keep cooking!

Enjoy! I know I will!  I think I am going to add a dash of cinnamon and a few raisins to this and have dessert!