Pumpkin Pear Buckwheat Muffins

I am definitely not a baker, but this is what happens when I watch a few episodes of cupcake wars! I had pumpkin puree and some pear left over and was trying to think of something I could make with both of them. I thought they would taste good together in a muffin, so I came up with this recipe. Again, I am not a baker so this recipe could've been a big miss.  Luckily the muffins were really yummy and surprisingly moist and light. My husband and son loved them. I might have to start experimenting a little more with baked goods!

Here's what you need:
1 cup buckwheat flour
1 cup multigrain pancake or baking mix (I used Trader Joe's)
2 eggs beaten
1 cup canned 100% pure pumpkin
1 pear peeled and finely diced
1 tblsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tblsp pumpkin butter
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup milk

Preheat oven to 400F. Mix ingredients together until it forms a smooth batter. Spray cupcake tray with cooking spray. Pour batter into tray. Place in oven and cook for 20 minutes. Let cool, serve and enjoy!

Whole Wheat Rotelle with Grilled Chicken in a Spiced Pumpkin Sauce for Baby

I've been experimenting with different pasta sauces lately, and came up with this one today. It's full of vitamin A, C, calcium, potassium, and folate. Add pasta and chicken and you've got your whole grains, protein and iron. You can puree this for little one's 6+ months or serve as is for little one's that are eating finger foods.

Here's what you need for 1 serving:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
2 tblsp canned organic 100% pumpkin puree
1/4 cup finely diced organic peeled apple
1 tblsp ricotta cheese
1/3 cup rotelle pasta
1/4 cup whole milk (use water or plain yogurt if your little one is less than 11 months)
1 tblsp pasta water
Pinch ground ginger
Pinch ground nutmeg
Pinch cinnamon
Pinch dried sage


Bring a small pot of water to boil. Add rotelle and cook according to package. Reserve 1 tblsp pasta water and then drain.   Grill chicken in a grill pan cooking for 7 minutes on both sides and then cut into bite size pieces. While pasta and chicken are cooking, combine the pumpkin, apple, cheese, milk (or yogurt), and spices in a small sauce pan under medium heat. Stir in pasta water and remove from heat. Add pasta and chicken to sauce and toss to coat. Puree with a little water, or serve as is and enjoy! Make sure to test the temperature of pasta before serving it to your little one.

Grilled Chicken with Pumpkin Ragout for the Whole Family

Fall is here and so are the pumpkins! I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE pumpkin. Pumpkin is a delicious and super nutritious food for you and your family. It is full of vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, folate, and potassium. I dreamt up this recipe the other night, and decided to make it for dinner last night. This ragout is made with pumpkin, carrots, dates and apples so it's jam packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Add the grilled chicken and you have a delicious healthy meal for the whole family. You can puree this for babies 7+ months, or cut up into small pieces for babies that are eating finger foods.

Here's what you need: (serves 4)
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small to medium size pumpkin peeled and chopped into cubes (you can use butternut squash if you don't have or can't find pumpkin)
1 organic apple peeled and diced
2-3 medium to large organic carrots peeled and chopped
2 cups chopped dates
1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tblsp chopped fresh or dried sage
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper
olive oil

Peel and chop 1 pumpkin (remove seeds) into bite size cubes. Heat 1 tbslp olive oil over medium heat in a large deep pan. Add pumpkin, apple, dates, carrots, nutmeg, cinnamon and sage. Toss to coat. Add chicken broth and cover and let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Toss every so often. Cook ragout until pumpkin is soft adding more chicken broth if needed. While pumpkin ragout is simmering, lightly season chicken with salt and pepper, and place on a grill or in a grill pan. Cook for 7-8 minutes on each side. If chicken looks like it is drying out poor a little chicken broth into grill pan. Slice cooked chicken and spoon ragout on top. Serve (or puree with a little water for babies 7+ months) enjoy!

Pumpkin Banana Pancakes for the Whole Family

Happy Fall!! Here's a yummy pancake recipe for all you pumpkin lovers. Pumpkin is a seriously nutrient rich food for you and your little one. Pumpkins are jam packed with vitamin A beta carotene, potassium, protein, and iron. This is for babies 8+ months and Mommies and Daddies of all ages.

Here's what you need:
1 cup multigrain pancake mix (I use arrowhead mills)
1/2 tblsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup canned organic 100% pumpkin (do NOT get pie filling)
1 egg (If you use arrowhead mills pumpkin mix you don't need egg)
1-2 organic banana cut into tiny pieces
2-3 tblsp plain whole milk yogurt or 1/4 cup milk

Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Heat 2 tblsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Ladle the pancake batter into the skillet. Flip when you see air bubbles starting to form in pancake. Serve and enjoy!

Garbanzo Bean and Pumpkin Puree

My little one absolutely loves garbanzo beans (so do I),  and I'm finding out that they taste good mixed with almost anything! This is a simple puree that is full of Vitamin A, iron, protein and other essential nutrients for your little one. This is for babies 6+ months.

Here's what you'll need:

2 oz pumpkin puree

2 oz garbanzo bean puree

pinch cinnamon

pinch ground sage

There are a few different options with pumpkin. You can cut, peel and bake pumpkin at 350F for 30 minutes, cut, peel and steam pumpkin for 15 or so minutes, or you can use canned organic pumpkin. If you  use canned pumpkin make sure that it is 100% pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix. I use canned or jarred organic garbanzo beans. Rinse them thoroughly, and then puree with filtered water. Mix pumpkin and garbanzo puree, add cinnamon and sage. Serve and enjoy!

Pumpkin Banana Yogurt for Baby

Good Morning! We are on vacation, so I haven't had time to post, but I thought I would share this yummy yogurt mixture. I've given my little guy pumpkin banana puree before, but this morning I decided to add some Greek yogurt to add some protein. This is full of calcium, protein, potassium, and vitamin A. This is for babies 6+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
2 oz pureed cooked pumpkin (I use organic canned pumpkin when they're not in season. You can also cut up a pumpkin into small cubes and steam or cook in the microwave. If you steam do it for 10-15 minutes, if you cook it add some filtered water and microwave for 5 or so minutes.)
1 banana mashed
2 tblsp plain 2% or higher Greek yogurt (I use Fage)
Pinch of cinnamon

Mix together, serve and enjoy!

Pumpkin Apple Puree

The unseasonably cold weather we've been having in the bay area this week has me thinking of autumn, and about yummy pumpkin. Pumpkin is a great food for your little one. It's super nutritious and delicious. You can introduce pumpkin to your little one around 6 months. It's a great first food.

2 oz pumpkin puree (When they are in season I buy fresh, bake and then scoop out the flesh. The rest of the year I buy organic canned pumpkin puree. It is totally safe to use canned pumpkin puree, just make sure you buy 100% pumpkin and NOT pumpkin pie mix.)
2 oz cooked apple puree (I peel, steam and then puree, however when I have time I slice up and roast in the oven with cinnamon and then puree)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (if you roast apples with cinnamon you don't need to add this)


mix together, serve, and enjoy!