Gnocchi

Dinner tonight was such a huge hit that I have to share even though I really don't feel like typing out the recipe right now! :) Leyna literally RAVED about it the whole time she was eating and said, "Mommy, I could eat this ALL day!" Now that's good.
This recipe is from my new "Double Delicious" cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. I have been absolutely loving it and have my freezer nicely stocked with various veggie purees. Anyway, here's the recipe. MAKE IT!!!

 Gnocchi
1 (15 oz) container part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 C sweet potato puree
1 egg
1 egg white
1/4 C Parmesan
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 C whole wheat pastry flour (I didn't have the pastry kind and it worked fine)
1 C all purpose flour
1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce, heated

In a large bowl mix the ricotta, sweet potato puree, eggs, Parmesan, baking powder, and salt. Add both types of flour and mix until just absorbed, the puree is well combined, and a soft sticky dough forms.

Cover 2 baking sheets with waxed paper or foil. Cut the dough into 8 pieces. On a lightly floured counter, roll the dough into a log about 12 inches long and 1 inch thick. Slice off 1 x 1 1/2-inch pieces of dough to form the gnocchi. Transfer to the baking sheet.

Fill 8-quart stockpot with water and bring to a boil. Add half the gnocchi and gently stir. Cook until the pasta is tender and no longer translucent in the center, 4-6 minutes. The gnocchi should float. Lift them out of the water with a large slotted spoon and transfer to a serving dish. Cover with foil. Repeat with remaining gnocchi and top with sauce. Serve immediately.

Honey - The miracle cough cure

Is it just us or do coughs seem to linger FOREVER after you get over a cold? Cora is still coughing at night from the cold she had over 2 weeks ago. I put her down for bed and most night she starts coughing after about 30 minutes. Lucky for me, she does her best to keep sleeping and doesn't cry or wake up all the way, but I always feel bad for her since I know it's disrupting her sleep. What do I do? Grab the honey and a spoon! Last night Cora was having quite the extended coughing fit so I went upstairs arrmed with my natural cure. I scooped her up and fed her about a teaspoon full of the sweet goo (it takes her a few attempts to get it all off the spoon in her sleep). And guess what? Her cough was gone INSTANTLY and I didn't hear another peep from her until morning. I do the same for Leyna and I can't imagine ever wanting to spend money on expensive cough medicine with who knows what for ingredients every again. Just thought I'd share!!!

Pizza Friday - Hawaiian Pizza (again)

I know we did Hawaiian pizza not that long ago but it's just so good! Tonight was the best ever. Leyna didn't even ask for "Daddy Dip" (french dressing) to dip it in. Now that's good! And Cora had seconds which hasn't been happening lately. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
I used Pioneer Woman's "Basic Pizza Crust", deli ham that I fried up, cut up canned pineapple, and some kind of organic tomato sauce that I had on hand. DELISH!!!

Tragedy at the Table

Leyna wanted pasta for lunch today so I cooked some elbow macaroni and mixed it with spaghetti sauce and carrot puree. News flash: Carrot puree stains. Carrot puree stains BAD. It stains carpet. It stains booster seats. It stains clothes. And that's not all folks. It stains skin too!
So it's no surprise that today would be the day Cora decided to give herself a facial with her lunch. Even after I got it all wiped off and picked out of her eyelashes her skin was still orange. She looked like an Oompa-Loompa for the rest of the day. LOL.

A muffin tin lunch: Over the Rainbow

I'm kinda proud of our little muffin tin lunch from today. It was beautiful! Our fridge is stocked with lots of colorful fruits and veggies so I decided we'd make a little rainbow. I served chicken nuggets along with the muffin tin (hence the ketcup for Leyna!).

(clockwise from top left, Leyna's on top) ketchup/grape tomato halves, orange peppers/clementines, mango, grape-flavored fruit leather cut into a star shape, blueberries, and cucumbers & grapes

Leyna completely cleaned hers out and Cora left only a few oranges, tomatoes, and cucumbers. I think it was a hit!!!

Pizza Friday - Flatbread Pizzas

Wow, it's been awhile since Pizza Friday huh? We did our bi-monthly grocery shopping this morning and I found these cute little flatbreads. I thought they would be perfect for pizza and was all for the idea of not making dough and having to wash the mixing bowl ;)

I let the girls top their own pizzas and it was so cute to see how serious they were. Cora opted to put toppings on by the fistful (tomatoes, orange peppers, and black olives), while Leyna put them on one tiny piece at a time (just orange pepper and black olives).

They were both so proud of themselves and the pizzas were excellent!!!

Another muffin tin lunch

I was working puzzles about shapes with Cora this morning so I decided it would be fun to do a lunch focused on shapes.

(clockwise from top left) triangle cheese, circle cucumber, square crackers with peanut butter, oval banana slides, circle tomato slices, and star-shaped salami (nobody went for the salami)