Thursday, May 22, 2008

Frozen Greens

Frozen greens (or non-greens) is a quick and easy way to meal preparation. While we would much prefer to cook our little one's meals from fresh greens, they are times when stock has run out or, we simply do not have time enough to soak, trim, cut, etc. etc.... to prepare the greens to make it fit for consumption.

Malaysians might not have as big a variety of frozen greens in our supermarkets' chillers but we do at least have the simple corn, peas and/or carrot. If you are lucky enough to be living near a supermarket that sells lots of imported food, like Cold Storage, you will also be able to find varieties such as brocolli, cauliflower, string beans etc. etc.

Choose!
You might want to stay away once anything not 'fresh' comes to mind but frozen greens, if well tended to, can be just as good as fresh ones. Just make sure that the veggies are still fresh to the eye... DO NOT get the over-frozen ones as they will cook to be stiff and stale-tasting

Cook!
Preparing frozen greens for your toddler is simple. Either of these will work as fine:
  1. Steam - Just steam with the steamer rack!
  2. Boil and drain - Bring water to boil, add a drop of oil (this is essential to lock in the greens), add in the greens, boil until cooked, drain

Season to taste... usually, a little butter and a little salt will do. Some greens do not even need any seasoning at all (e.g. corn, brocolli, peas) as they are naturally sweet and tasty ;)

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Junior Pikelets

... aka mini pancakes
Good finger food
1 cup self raising flour
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons oil
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

  1. Sift the flour into a bowl. Stir in the sugar.
  2. Combine egg, milk and oil.
  3. Make a well in the centre and whisk in the combined egg, milk and oil to make a smooth batter. Add raisins if you wish... (only add if your little on is able to chew/process them)
  4. Heat and lightly grease a frying pan. Drop teaspoons of the batter into the pan and cook until bubbles form. Turn and cook the other side until golden. Cool and serve.

The cooked pikelets can also be frozen, layered between sheets of greaseproof paper, for up to a month.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Yogurt for Tots

I still remember clearly how little Jung Min (my nephew who was about 2 years old then) got diarrhea from drinking Yakult. Before you start thinking that there's something wrong with the product... it's more like the cultured drink is more for adults and children but not babies and toddlers.

If you do not already know, cultured dairy products (i.e. cultured milk, yoghurt etc.) are usually too strong for your baby/toddler, resulting in disturbed little tummies.

Then again, due to the benefits of the good bacteria it provides, many parents, like myself, would like to introduce them to their little ones.

Just like how they have Yakult for adults and older children and Vitagen for the younger market, there's yogurt for babies and toddlers, too.

You just have to look them up at Cold Storage or even certain Jusco stores. Unfortunately, they are imported (quite pricey) and usually comes in six packs...

Fortunate for me, I am able to get them as they are the very thing that can treat Arthur's cold... even when medication failed.