| |
Custom Search |
|
Last Updated: Apr 28th, 2010 - 22:06:40 |
Toddler Treat: Blueberries N’ Banana Cream
By Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Feb 2, 2010, 22:34
Blueberries are great finger foods for toddlers. Try making this recipe as a surprise snack or for dessert.
Age to introduce: Over 12 months. All berries contain high allergen properties and should not be introduced to babies under 12 months old. This recipe also contains honey, which should not be introduced before age 1.
Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 ½ cups blueberries, rinsed and drained
Directions:
1. In a food processor or blender combine all ingredients except the blueberries. Puree until very smooth, about 2 minutes.
2. Pour into a medium size mixing bowl and fold in the blueberries gently. Serve in bowls with a big spoon!
This recipe does not keep well. Refrigerate leftovers and use for breakfast the following day. Makes 4 servings.
Blueberries for the family
At the market: Blueberries are available in many forms: fresh, frozen, juice, puree, concentrate and dried. Fresh blueberries should be firm, dry, plump and smooth-skinned. Ripe berries are deep purple blue to blue-black. Stay away from containers of berries with juice stains, or that contain moldy, soft, watery or wrinkled fruit.
Storage: Store covered in the refrigerator for five to seven days. Don’t wash blueberries until to you are ready to use them.
Preparation: Wash fresh or frozen berries before using them.
Freezing fresh blueberries: While blueberries are available year round, they are least expensive when they are in season in your area. Take advantage of your local crop year round by freezing blueberries. That’s right, blueberries freeze very well. To freeze blueberries: Do not wash them. Lay a single layer of blueberries on a cookie sheet (or flat pan) and freeze them. Once frozen, packed the berries into containers or freezer storage bags. This method makes it is easy to grab a handful of berries from the freezer for pancakes, smoothies, etc. Wash them before using.
Blueberry pancakes: A weekend family favorite. To prevent your batter from turning purple and for easier flipping, add the blueberries as soon as the batter has been poured on the griddle.
Dried blueberries: Available in many stores, dried blueberries are great in scones, banana bread, cookies, trail mix or sprinkled in popcorn or Chex mix.
Blueberry Relish: This delicious and simple relish is great with grilled chicken breast or pork. It is also wonderful on grilled cheese sandwiches.
Ingredients:
• 1 cup onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup sherry
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries
• 1 cup chopped tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes (drained)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
1. Add olive oil to saucepan over medium heat. Add onions, and cook until onions are golden, about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Add sherry, vinegar, blueberries, tomatoes, salt and pepper.
3. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and gently simmer 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and transfer relish to a serving bowl. Stays fresh in the refrigerator for five days. Can be frozen for up to two months.
Blueberry-Mango Soup: Looking for something different to serve for dessert? Try this soup. It is very impressive and quite easy.
Ingredients:
• 6 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups diced mango
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 teaspoon cardamom OR cinnamon
• 1 cup apple juice
Directions:
1. In a saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, lime juice and cardamom. Over medium-high heat, bring mixture to a boil; cook and stir until sugar dissolves, about 7 minutes.
2. Transfer to a blender and purée until completely smooth. Stir in apple juice and chill in refrigerator until serving. Serve in martini or margarita glasses, garnished with a dollop of vanilla yogurt.
Blueberries
Unlike most fruits, the blueberry was not introduced to the United States by Europeans or other immigrants. Blueberries are native to North America, and it was the Native Americans who introduced European settlers to this wonderful, healthful fruit.
Blueberries were important to the Native Americans. They were eaten fresh, added to soups and stews, dried for the winter and used for medicinal purposes, making strong teas from the roots. American settlers learned quickly about blueberries, and early medical books show blueberry tea was used by wives of settlers during labor. Blueberry juice was used for "old coughs" and tea made from Wild Blueberry leaves was believed to be a good tonic to help purify the blood.
New research provides proof that the Native Americans and settlers were correct in believing that blueberries held great healing power. Ranking No. 1 in antioxidant levels, blueberries are most likely the best food to eat for cancer prevention. The total antioxidant capacity of blueberries is twice that of spinach and three times that of oranges. This extraordinary fruit is also rich in pectin, a soluble fiber that has been shown in several research studies to be effective in lowering cholesterol. Blueberries are also rich in vitamin A and C.
Blueberries can be effective in combating the "runs,” because they contain anthocyanin. This substance has mild antibiotic properties, especially against intestinal bacteria that cause diarrhea.
Even though, blueberries have a short season, they are almost always available in your grocery store. They are grown throughout the US (35 of the 50 states), with local seasons ranging from early summer to the fall. And thanks to today’s modern transportation methods, blueberries from South America are available throughout the winter.
|
| |
About
the Author(s) : Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children, and founders of Fresh Baby (www.FreshBaby.com). Raised by parents who love fresh foods and entertaining, their mom, a gourmet cook, ensured that they were well-equipped with extraordinary skills in the kitchen. Both with long track records of business success, they decided to combine their skills in the kitchen with their knowledge of healthy foods and children to create Fresh Baby. Cheryl and Joan put a modern twist on the conventional wisdom that when you make it yourself, you know it’s better. Their goal at Fresh Baby is to make the task of raising a healthy eater a little bit easier for all parents. Fresh Baby’s breastfeeding accessories and baby food making supplies provide parents with practical knowledge and innovative tools to support them in introducing their children to great tasting, all-natural foods – easily and conveniently. Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits! |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - -
|
