Archive for the ‘Feeding’ Category

As promised, my Rainbow Cake

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Time for some fun birthday surprises! So many people have asked me for this recipe, I had to post it. If you have been inspired, tell me about it, comment below.

I started this cake with two boxes of Betty Crocker Butter Yellow Cake Mix s-5th-birthday-021

( I know, if you know me, you know that the cake lover in me finds this unacceptable.  However, when I make a cake for the kids to devour, they just want something pretty.  If you want good cake, wait for another week!)

Make the cake mix according to box directions.

Now take out six similar sized bowls.  Evenly break up batter into the six bowls.  Now add food coloring to each bowl for it’s appropriate color.  I used rainbow colors of Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Violet.  Use lots of gel coloring or food dye, or whatever it is that you use, but make the colors vibrant!

Next take your round cake pans, I used tw0 ten inch cake pans, and grease and flour (or parchment).  Take 1 cup of the red batter and pour it directly in the middle of your first pan.  Now, using a clean measuring cup, pour 1 cup of orange directly into the red, like pouring oil in the middle, go slowly, make it even.  You should still be able to see red, but it should be moving to the outside of the cake pan.  Repeat with the s-5th-birthday-135Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet.  Now, make one more of these, but do the colors in reverse.

Bake according to package directions.

Finished Product

Finished Product

When cakes are cool (really cool) slice in half, so you have four moon shapes.  I layered the moon shapes, with frosting in between.  Then frosted a crumb coat and flipped it on it’s side to make my “rainbow.”  I then frosted the entire cake in cream cheese frosting (my daughter’s favorite and so easy to make!), and added skittles to make my concentric half circles for the rainbow coloring.  Okay, so actually Mr. Guertin applied the skittles.  I was onto grilling eggplant.

Make 2009 a year of healthy choices for your baby

Friday, December 26th, 2008

100 million of us Americans will make new years resolutions this year (that’s 1/3 of us!) A majority of those resolutions will be to lose weight or eat healthier. Have we thought about healthier eating for our children? Look back at 2008, did you introduce solid foods? Do you feel you have you been making the best choices for them when it comes to what is going into their mouths? We all know it’s hard to find the time to prepare healthy, nutritious meals but think of it this way…in the half hour (ok…maybe an hour at first) that it takes to watch your favorite television show you can prepare your baby healthy foods for the whole week. If making your own baby food has been something you have been thinking about, you’re in the right place. Kelly has been making baby food since Emilia started solids, and after feeding her many of her meals I have to tell you it smells better, tastes better (I had to try the sweet potatoes) and is nutritionally better for her. While we were at the ABC Show in Vegas, we got to demo the Beaba cook. It was only available at Williams Sonoma at the time and as soon as we could get it delivered to us we did.

At Bellani we took out the guesswork to help you get started. One of the greatest inventions in the history of baby-food making would have to be the Beaba 4-in-1 steam cooker-blender. beabaThe Beaba functions in 4 ways: It steams, blends, reheats, and even defrosts. Can you imagine only having to clean 1 container? We think it’s amazing. Aside from consolidating all of the steps for baby food making, you can be assured that by preparing the food via this method you are preserving as many vitamins and minerals as possible as opposed to microwaving or other preparatory methods.

If an all-in-one appliance sounds a little too intimidating, there is also the KidCo Food Mill available in electric as well as manual. food_mill food_mill_electic
KidCo also has a great selection of other baby food preparing gadgets like the Healthy Snack multi-slicer that will stand to be useful even after your “baby” is a baby (I use my multi-slicer at home to make baked sweet potatoes fries…so delicious!)

Eating healthy isn’t always easy. But now there are tools to make it easier, faster and less expensive (I still can’t believe how much those little jars cost, not to mention the frozen ones at Whole Foods). The decision to make your own baby food is a personal choice and you might find that not only is your baby is eating healthier, but you are too! What a great resolution.

Baby Food Makin’ Made Easy

Thursday, December 11th, 2008

I know us mothers are queens at multitasking, wouldn’t be nice to let Beaba take over every once in a while. beabaThis 4 in 1 steam cooker multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster. Fresh, healthy, homemade baby food in less than 15 minutes! It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, meat and fish, then purees or blends them to your desired consistency. You can also use it to quickly reheat or defrost precooked foods. From what I hear its’ easy to clean, so forget about all the pots and pans and blenders and stuff. If your planning on making your own baby food this is one of those gadgets that just makes life a little easier.

The Tides are Turning

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

I am happy to post I made the most delicious baked ziti last night from The Sneaky Chef cookbook. As my two boys gobbled it down, I couldn’t help but smile with every bite they took thinking you’re eating cauliflower, white beans, tofu, tomatoes, carrots, sweat potato and whole wheat pasta. It was one of the most satisfying meals I have made. After feeling confident of my one meal, I took a chance on a new banana bread recipe this time from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook. With 3 bananas, 1/2 cup of cauliflower puree, whole wheat flour and many more healthy ingredients I was eager to try it. My five year old ate 3 pieces while saying “this is really good”. Am I onto something here? I now can’t wait to make other recipes. To think that last week I wanted to throw in the towel. What’s next? Breakfast cookies and chicken chunks are on the menu (sounds weird, but they look great!).
Hope you had a wonderful weekend.
-Shannon

Nutrition Workshop: Making Baby Food

Monday, January 14th, 2008

So you’ve read about doing this, you have tried doing it yourself, or maybe you are just trying to figure out if this is for you. Join us on Monday, January 28th from 6:30-8:00 pm for a Baby Food Making Demo and Instructional Night with Katie Mulligan, a registered dietitian specializing in pediatrics. Kate will be making baby food and letting us in on all the know how’s of makeing baby food efficiently and affordable. There will be plenty of time for asking questions and looking at all the great gear and books for making your own baby food at home.

This workshop will be $10 per person for non- members, and $5 per person for members. Registration is availiable onlie here (member registration) (non-member registration) and also by calling Bellani, 401-234-1279.

An artful way to feed your Baby

Wednesday, November 21st, 2007

Skip Hop has come out with a creative way to help feed our children. It’s called the Palette Plate feeding set. Essentially it’s an artist’s pallet. There are 3 drop-in bowls with lids that are microwave safe and handy if you have to throw it back in the fridge, a place for a cup, a shallow bowl plus matching fork and spoon; all with a skid-resistant base. It’s ideal for the preparation, storage and serving of finger foods for babies or toddlers. I would have loved this when my children where younger. Having one child who screams if his food touches another one, this would have been ideal. We have plenty in stock for the holiday season.
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