Pregnancy, Parenting and Beyond

Its all over the internet... and among the mom's. A new programmable electric pressure cooker for safe and convenient cooking. With its delayed start function, stainless steel interior for healthy and nutritious cooking and energy efficient, I couldn't resist the urge to jump on the IP bandwagon. So here goes... Ordered it on black friday and still awaiting delivery.... What do I do in the mean time....Learn the basic functioning...  Try to get a hold on recipes... and Share the word among my friends for the same. A great review and awesome video for beginners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6-6nnbLJmM Getting to know your instant pot ~courtesy IP Youtube Click here if you need a video to follow for the Water Test. If you are a member on Facebook...there are several groups for Instant pot cooking and Instant pot for indian cooking where the members are very helpful with tips, recipes, reviews and more. If you are a member of Amazon Kindle...you dont need a Kindle...

1tsp Ghee/clarified butter (available at any Indian Grocery) 1 tsp Oil 1 cup Dal (masoor/red split lentils, tuvar dal/yellow pigeon peas) 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic/ 3-5 garlic cloves (mashed ) 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh coriander leaves/ cilantro 5-7 curry leaves 1-2 finely chopped hot green chilies - optional 1/2 tsp turmeric salt to taste 1 tsp cumin seeds 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 2 pinches of Asafoetida 1tsp - garam masala (optional variation) 1/2 red onion (optional) 1 medium tomato chopped in cubes. Wash the dhal 2-3 times. Let it soak for 20-30 mins. Using a pressure cooker for this preparation since it cooks the dhal until its a good mash. Take Ghee+Oil, add the cumin seeds, mustard seeds, curry leaves, asafoetida. Then add the green chilies and garlic and fry. Add the onion and saute until it softens. Next add the tomatoes and cook until soft. In goes the Dhal, salt, turmeric and garam masala. Let the dal cook for 5 mins. Then pour in 4-6 cups of warm water. ...

2 cups Rice. (long grain basmati) 4 cups water/broth 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds 5-7 peppercorns 1in stick of Cinnamon 2 green cardamoms 1 bay leaf 1 large pinch of Turmeric powder for color 2 tbsp of butter or olive oil Let the spices fry in the oil for a little bit. Add the Washed Rice to the pan and keep stirring adding 1 cup of water/ broth at a time. Once all the water is added, and is boiling. Cover with lid and lower the heat and cook for 13-14 mins. Garnish with dried mint or cilantro. Optional Garnish of Fried Onion/Cashew nuts/ Raisins. Serve as side dish with meat/fish or with Dal/lentil soup.

1 cup Potatoes 1 cup Cauliflowers 1/2 cup each of G.peas, carrots, green-beans,corn. 1 tomato Pressure cook with no water or about 1oz of water Mash and add slices of bread - wet and broken. Finely chop onions. green chillies and broccoli. Saute along with Ginger/Garlic Paste. Add it to the Mashed Veggies Combine and form small flat patties Coat with Rava or bread crumbs shallow gry Serve hot with Ketchup or Coriander Chutney Great for Party Appetizers, Lunch Sandwiches, Picnics. Prepare ahead of time and store in containers/ziploc for future use. Freeze and use within 30days.

Ideas for Bento Box laptop lunches Healthy School Lunch Snacks 10 Lunch Ideas

I have a few Feeding Schedules that I can share.... It is from some of the other members who shared this info with me when my DS was arnd that age. Most often at 6mnths ... u wud follow On Demand feeding. Do scrap or email me your current feeding schedule and I can offer u specific answer. These are schedules for 9 to 13mnth babies. 9months 6 a.m - 4 ounce formula 9 a.m- rice cereal/applesauce 11 a.m nap (4 ounce formula b4 nap) 12 p.m. snacks ,finger foods 2p.m. lunch Vegetable mashed and 4 ounce formula b4 nap 4:30 juice or yogurt on her preference 6:30 Thin arrowroot biscuit dipped in milk 8:30 Dinner rice cereal/fruits/veggie/khichdi 5 ounce before she goes to bed. 10months wake up - 7/8 AM - 4 ounces milk Breakfast - 9/10AM - Oats/cheerios with milk n a fruit Lunch - 12/1PM - boiled veggies wit Quinoa/Couscous/Ragi/Rava/egg Milk - 3/4PM - 4/5 ounces Snack - 5/6PM Fruits/Bread toasted with ghee/finger food/egg Dinner - 8/9 PM boiled veggies with Quinoa/Couscous/Ragi/Rava o...

4 Power-Food Pairings for Kid s Strawberries and Whole Wheat Toast The vitamin C in strawberries converts the iron in whole wheat bread to a form that cells can absorb. Oatmeal and Milk The magnesium in oats increases the amount of calcium your child gets from the milk by keeping it from binding to fiber and other nutrients. Olive Oil and Veggies Spritz spinach, green peppers, squash, and dark greens with olive oil. This healthy fat helps your child absorb the veggies' antioxidants. Chicken and Carrots Don't save chicken soup for sick days -- and always include carrots. The zinc in chicken helps the body metabolize the carrots' vitamin A.  Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

The Ultimate hunger buster... read  here . Source: www.yahoo.com

Foods that Promote Happiness

Breakfast Bites Bagel with butter or jelly/jam or cream cheese. Pancakes Muffins Toast Toast with butter or jam/jelly English muffin Dry Cereal - Cheerios Eggs - scrambled, omelet, hard-boiled Oatmeal - instant or rolled waffles Little Lunches Sandwich - Cheese slice, deli meats Pasta - Plain, butter/olive oil, cheese, sauce Cooked Veggies -Baby carrots -Florets of cauliflower or Broccoli -Asparagus and Green Beans -Squash and Zucchini Gerber graduate meals Cooked cubes of Yam or sweet potatoBits of Chappati or wheat tortilla Ravioli Cheese cubes or String cheese Fun Fruits Melon - watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew Cooked and cubed or Ready to eat from the store -Apples, Pears, Plum, Peach Cubes of Kiwi, Mango, Banana Snacks - not too Sweet...not too Salty Cookies Arrowroot and Banana Yogurt - Gerber or Yo Baby Puffs Cheerios Crunchies Wagon wheels biter biscuits cheeze it Graham crackers animal crackers

Try out some great recipes for your growing Toddler... Smashed Sweet potatoes with Cinnamon   Yummy and filling! Potato Pancakes    OMG! Who doesn't love pacakes, right... Serve with boiled baby carrots or florets of cauliflower/broccoli. Broccoli-Cheddar Cheese Nuggets   ooee..gooey..cheesy...Yum! Potato and Carrot mash with Salmon   Salmon is the best source of essential fatty acids.

Great home remedies Please add your own remedies as comments to this post. Thanks.

=> Not eating veggies: Mix it in with Fruits or Cereal. => Best Preparations are to Steam or Roast Puree and Pour into small container Fridge = 5days, Freeze = 3months =>No need to purchase new containers. Wash and reuse Gerber boxes. =>Veggie Pulav Rice+Lentils+ 2/3veggies(carrots, peas, green beans)+Veg Stock or Whole spices+Salt. Pressure cook and blend if required.

Its all about Texture and Presentation. Tiny Tots love pretty and cool looking stuff... colourful too. Similar food that you did from 6 to 12months... Pimp it up and serve it up, 12 to 24months, or older. APPY-CHEESE Cut the Apple into Half, then quarter. Remove the Core. Peel if required.  Cut each Quarter into three, so that u get thin slices. Arrange on a small plate, in the shape of a Fan. Alternate the Apple slices with Cheddar Cheese Slices. For older kids, you can also put in 1tbsp of smooth Peanut butter. SUMMER FUN It that time of the Year.. oh yeah! Melon Magic.  Get a melon-baller.  Use a combo of any of the following :  Cantaloupe, Honey-dew, Water-melon.  For older kids or adults, top with whipped cream, chopped nuts, chocolate syrup. You may add Grapes or berries too. KIWI KUPS Just cut in Half, and serve with a spoon. For smaller babies, mash with a fork.

No Cooking required. Unsuitable for freezing. AVOCADO Great source of Vitamin E and Boosts the immune system. Cut in half. Remove the pit. Scoop the Flesh. Mash. Serve plain or with breast/formula milk. BANANA Provide energy, treats diarrhea and constipation. Make sure its Ripe. Mash with a fork. Initially mix with milk to provide a familiar taste. PAPAYA Contains Papain - an enzyme that breaks down protein.helps to boost digestion as well as improve indigestion. Rich in Vit C. Provides soluble Fiber - important for normal bowel function. Peel. Remove the black seeds. Puree or Mash the flesh until smooth. The above 3 may be combined as well. The list below are suitable for Freezing. CARROT PUREE Carrots are more nutritious when cooked with a little fat. A dab of unsalted butter may be used. Cook the carrots until soft. Puree to the desired consistency. APPLES OR PEARS Good to offer to babies if babies has loose stools. Chop and pu into a sauce-pan. Add a little...

Your milk quality will not suffer from poor eating habits, but your own health is sure to suffer...So, Eat Well!! for your own good. As your child gets older, she will pick up on your eating habits... So, Dad's and mom's maintain a healthy menu and junk food moderation, right from the start!! Drink Plenty of Water : It is most important to stay hydrated while breast feeding your LO. Your body needs tremendous amount of water during lactation. Symptoms of dehydration are : Irritability, loss of energy and focus. Follow the Food Pyramid : 6 servings of Whole Grains 2 servings of Fruit 3 servings of Vegetables 2 servings of Milk Products 2 servings of Meats 1 serving of Fats and Sweets What to avoid? Certain foods pass into your breast milk and may cause allergic reactions in your baby... for e.g. fussiness, rash, diarrhea, vomiting or refusal to nurse... Common problem causing foods to keep a check on are : Caffine -- Chocolate -- Citrus fruits -- Dairy Product...