Is This The End, Feeding Little Foodies? And, Orange + Currant Oat Scones.

Is this the end of an era--well a two year stint, that is, of what was Feeding Little Foodies? Many of you know that I created and ran the web domain www.feedinglittlefoodies.com. It began two years ago shortly after Noah began solids as a place to share all of the yummy homemade baby grub that I was whipping up in the kitchen for him. As his palate expanded, so did the popularity of the site as it grew to include cooking tips and family-friendly dishes and a little homespun business formed--one that offered inspiration and workshops for families who wanted to learn how to feed their own little foodies. While in Southern California, business was booming but our move to Canada and the subsequent birth of Fern last May put a freeze on the site and workshops--and it never regained its once-bustling momentum.

With no time to take the photography I liked to pair with each recipe (most "share-worthy" dishes were prepared after sunset and I insist on natural lighting in lieu of the dreaded flash), there had not been a new post for many months. So when my domain was up for renewal this past January, I was torn with deciding its fate and figured I had time to hash it all out. Upon realizing that though there was no new blog content, visitors from around the world continued to maintain traffic flows by frequenting old posts in the archives. And as I was still receiving comments, messages, and e-mails regarding those, I decided that it was still valuable as a resource while I remained in decision limbo.

So when I logged on last night to pay the renewal fee, my stomach flipped, turned and then ached as I learned that my domain had been purchased by a blogger in Granada, Spain. Not only had my renewal lapsed, but it had become available for purchase by others. It's no doubt my fault. My indecision and lack of urgency resulted in the inevitable. It never dawned on me that the traffic I had spent two years building would be of interest to someone else--effortless and free advertising for them, score zero for me.

While I was unsure about the energy and interest I had in maintaining Feeding Little Foodies, I certainly wasn't ready to let it go--yet--especially so abruptly and involuntarily. It had become an inadvertent chronicle of my adventures in the kitchen from a novice to a rather competent and sometimes adept whipper-upper of fine fare. Over the years, I had invested much time and love into its creation and maintenance and it made me so very happy to know that it was continuing to inform and inspire hungry families.

Now its fate is in the hands of another. I wrote a heart-wrenching e-mail pleading the new owner to release the domain back into longing hands of its creator and choosing another of their own. The content of Feeding Little Foodies still exists. I can always purchase another domain ending in .net, for example, and release the site once again on the world wide web--but then it begs the question...is this a sign? Is it time to let go?

In the meantime, let's hope I am not forced into a decision. Perhaps my pleading will strike the heart strings of compassion and they will take pity and relinquish. While I wait, I'll bide my time with this gastronomical ode to my lost love with a fresh new recipe to fill the tummies of you and your family.

- - - - -

These are some pretty scrumptious little scones that Noah and whipped up for an afternoon treat while Fernie siesta'ed yesterday. They are an adaptation from a recipe from one of my favorite food bloggers: 101 Cookbooks. They turned out deliciously and harbor the possibilities for so many variations. Try them smothered in butter, dipped in honey (our preference), or with jam. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Orange & Currant Oat Scones

Ingredients:

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup cold butter
• 2 cups rolled oats
• zest of one orange
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• 2/3 cup *fresh or dried currants

Directions:

1. Combine and mix flour, sugars, baking powder and baking soda
2. Add butter using a pastry cutter or food processor to create a coarse meal
3. Stir in zest and oats
4. Add milk and currants and stir until the dough just begins to hold together
5. Remove dough bowl and transfer to a large floured surface
6. Knead the dough several times (avoid over-working) and gently pat into a large round (if too crumbly, add more milk tsp by tsp--if too wet, add flour tbs by tbs)
7. Shape into triangles and place on a baking sheet
8. Bake @ 350 for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown

*Note:  I used fresh currants instead of dried as the recipe called for so there was a bit of moisture in my dough requiring me to add a bit of extra flour during the last steps. Because of this additional moisture, I also had to bake them several minutes longer.

Love Is . . .

apple lentil & walnut muffins with beet-dyed cream cheese

cotton yarn in terracotta

fresh berries in february

his favorite chair

knitted valentines

gifts for sweeties

vitamin d in the wintertime

Happy Valentine's Day!

Apples, Pumpkins & Turkeys, Oh My: Part II--Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

Our first Canadian Thanksgiving proved to be a fabulous feast. We dined with our dear sweet friends and neighbors on turkey and all the fixins'. I contributed cranberry orange relish, an apple & rosemary rustic tart (with apples picked fresh from the orchard last week), roasted asparagus with brown butter and pecorino and rosemary garlic buttermilk biscuits to the scrumptious spread. Following an amazingly educational and enjoyable day at the Pioneer Village (see Part I), yesterday was restful as we lollied in the park most of the afternoon soaking up any and all of the rest of this fabulous Indian summer.

 

 

All For Fall.

Pumpkins before roasting, fallen maple leaves, freshly jarred homemade roasted pepper salsa.

Pinecone & sunflower butter bird-feeder that Noey and I made one afternoon.

Lentil soup with chicken and kale, wholewheat sunflower buns and homemade apple butter.


Powwow & Harvest Fest at the Ontario Museum of Archeology.

Fall is upon us. Real fall. The kind of fall that nibbles the tip of your nose with the quick flitting breeze that rustles leaves from their branch perch and sends squirrels into a nut hiding frenzy. It's been overcast, cool and rainy--the kind of autumn that I haven't felt for over a decade. I must be honest, it's nice--fall always was my favorite time of year. It never did feel quite right putting mums on the stoop in Los Angeles' 70 degree temperatures.

So, in light of the season, we pulled out our fuzzy sweaters and rain boots and dove right in. Decorative gourds fill a basket on the coffee table, leaves are raked into big puffy nests for jumping fests, pumpkins continually roast in the oven while loaves of hearty, seedy bread rise under warm towels on the kitchen counter. We've crafted pine cone bird feeders and leaf rubbings and stewed and jarred homemade apple butter, peach chutney, ketchup and roasted pepper salsa for the winter--all fresh from either the farmer's market or a neighbor's garden.

Yes, both the joys and bounties of fall are plenty. With Dean's birthday mid-week and Canadian Thanksgiving just around the bend, I am sure that there will only be more of them to follow.

Happy October and Happy Fall to All!

Little Baker Boy.

A serious little baker boy,
standing on a wooden red chair,
clad in a wee turtle apron,
for added fun and whimsical flair.

Making homemade shortbread with mama,
in shapes of animal fun,
to quickly devour without a crumb left to spare,
when the cookie making is all said and done.

All In A Good A Day's Play: The Weekend Edition.

When time is too short to write, pictures speak a thousand words.

The weekend was busy and super productive--the place is beginning to look like home. With Dean back to work today after a long three-day weekend, Noah Finn and I have a bustling week ahead. Annaliisa and Owen are coming today to stay for a few days followed by a short little visit from Asami and Kai. We have storytime at the Bluffs on Thursday and hopefully another productive weekend to follow.

Though I have so much to say and tell, photos that we have been collecting over the last few days are going to have to explain it all for me, for now.

So, enjoy, and happy Monday!

Our first official meal--Garlic Grilled Shrimp With Corn & Potatoes: the recipe can be found on my Feeding Little Foodies blog at www.feedinglittlefoodies.com:

Pictures from some Friday and Sunday beachtime--Leo Carillo beach is the closest. It's 5 miles down the mountain from us. The road that we live just off of dead ends at its rocky shore:

Photos of some of our outdoor spaces and our dining room that has moved outdoors:

Who Knew? Part Two.

For more of our YouTube videos, click here!

Who Knew?

Funny faces, peek-a-boo, brown rice noodles in the ear, salmon and zucchini motor boats . . . who knew eating could be so much fun? Apparently, Noah Finn did.

Noah Hearts Nectarines.

Noah's new "fav" food of the week is nectarines. I cannot keep our stock of them in the fruit bowl--I have to hide them behind picture frames and bookshelves--out of sight. When he sees one, he cries "ball" with his arms outstretched while fingers grasp the open air. He'll eat them all in a day. Everyday. So we ration them--one at each meal and snack. That adds up to five nectarines a day. Here's a newly walking testament to why buying organic fruit is so important. Otherwise, he'd surely have three eyes and 14 toes by week's end.

Noah's First Pho.

As I've said on here before, living in Los Angeles--for going on 10 years now--is a real love/hate kind of relationship. One of the things, however, that I love, love, love about this city is the incredible diversity--ethnicity, religion, language, art, culture, food, yadda, yadda. You can expose yourself to any plethora of adventurous anything anytime of the night or day.

Vietnamese food is one of those cuisines that's hard to come by in great quality unless you are in a larger city, like L.A.--or in Vietnam, of course. Los Feliz, an artsy little nook of town just east of downtown, has one of the yummier Pho shops I've come by and Noah Finn had his first dish last week . . . funnily enough, with a little German friend of his also named Noah. The two Noah's eagerly dove head first into their bowls of broth, tofu, noodles, wood ear mushrooms and fresh basil, bean sprouts and lime. So much so that they were covered from head to toe in rice noodles resembling something of a Pollack food painting. My friend, Caro, documented the aftermath with her iPhone.

I'm guessing we'll have to Pho again real soon. Noah clearly dug it.

Feeding Little Foodies House Calls.

Feeding Little Foodies is proud to announce that it's taking the show on the road--well, making house calls, that is.

If you are interested in taking a "Little Foodie Feast" or "Little Finger Feast" workshop but are having a hard time getting out of the front door with tot in tow these days, or would rather learn in the comfort and familiarity of your own kitchen--after all, that's where the magic is going to happen--then "Feeding Little Foodies House Calls" is for you!

Simply say the word and I'll come running on over to your place armed with all of the gear, fresh produce, spices, handouts, reference books, inspiration and information we'll need to whip up a batch of yummy puree or finger food for your little foodie-to-be.

Your private one-on-one session will include:

• cooking demonstration from start to finish
• sample menus
• sample recipes
• sample food introduction schedule
• food allergy guide
• tricks and tips for planning, making, spicing, storing and freezing
• gear overview (what you'll need)
• freshly prepared food for your wee one
• a list of additional references and informational sources
  

For further information about "Feeding Little Foodies House Calls", please e-mail me at: feedinglittlefoodies@gmail.com.

Happy Feeding,
Joni :)

Feeding My Little Foodie: Roasted Spiced Pumpkin and Pears.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love fall--it's my favorite season. I especially love nature's culinary bounty--it's aplenty with home cooked goodness--baking, roasting, spices, sage, creamy, brothy, aromatic goodness. I love fall.

This past weekend I glazed fall up and put it in my oven. For the most decadently glazed pumpkin recipe you'll ever tickle your tastebuds with, go here. Enjoy. Noah did.

Feeding Little Foodies--New Look For A Splendid Season.

There are so many exciting things happening over at "Feeding Little Foodies": fresh and fabulous new fall, finger and family friendly recipes! And to celebrate this gloriously festive season, it has undergone a small makeover--a refreshed header.

Come, visit! If you are interested in preparing fresh, organic, homemade and delicious dishes for your little foodie--and your whole family--stop on by my other blog, "Feeding Little Foodies" for recipes, tips, advice, workshop information and much, much, more!

Happy Fall and Happy Feeding,
Joni

"Little Foodie Feasts" Workshop This Saturday!

Attention L.A. working mamas and papas . . . there is a weekend "Little Foodie Feasts" homemade baby food workshop this Saturday the 12th at 10:30 a.m. . . . and there are two spots left!

For more details about the workshop, please click here or e-mail me at jonisurettenelson@gmail.com.

Happy Feeding,
Joni

Announcing: September "Little Foodie Feasts" Dates!

Welcome September! Well, almost September . . . although, it doesn't feel much like fall is on the horizon here in Los Angeles. It's been in the incredibly toasty 100's all weekend and the valley is a blazing inferno, literally, as I speak. Let's hope that cooler weather is on the way.

Nevertheless, to kick off "fall" in festive foodie fashion, "Feeding Little Foodies" is proud to announce the lineup of September "Little Foodie Feasts" Workshops! There are three workshops scheduled--including a Saturday date for all of our working moms and pops out there:

• Thursday, September 3 at 1:00 p.m. (*only a few spaces remaining!*)
• Saturday, September 12th at 10:30 a.m.
• Thursday, September 17th at 10:00 a.m.
  

Please visit my workshop flier at my "Feeding Little Foodies" blog to find out more information about the workshop or e-mail me at jonisurettenelson@gmail.com to sign up.

Happy Feeding,
Joni

Nutty Wild Rice Salad.

I usually save recipe posts for my Feeding Little Foodies blog--but this was too good not to share (and besides, it's not baby food).

We finally got around to preparing a recipe found on a blog that my friend Asami introduced me to a few months ago called, Cooking With Trader Joe's. This fantastic foodie find is written by two women--Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati. They are self proclaimed lovers of food, cooking and Trader Joe’s. So, as far as I am concerned, they are my kind of ladies!

As anyone who really knows me knows, we pretty much exclusively shop at "TJ's". So, a blog that provides recipes with ingredients found strictly at Trader Joe's is a winner in our book. And, as luck had it, this recipe was definitely that!

Dean made it for us for lunch today and we can't wait for a refeast! The very simple recipe can be found at their blog, but I am also going to post it below with our minor modifications because what the heck, it was darn yummy. Thanks, Deana and Wona! You'll find our before and after pictures above--hope we made you proud . . .

Nutty Wild Rice Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz) pkg fully cooked Wild Rice
• 2-3 cups pre-cooked Just Chicken (or cook your own)
• 1 1/2 cups red grapes, halved
• 1 cup roasted cashews, whole or pieces
• 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts (WE OMITTED because we don't like them--yuck!)
• 2-3 stems green onion, chopped

Dressing:

• 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice (WE USED LIME because that is what we had on hand)

Directions:

1. Open the package of wild rice and put the contents into a large bowl, breaking up the rice.
   
2. To the rice, add chicken, grapes, cashews, water chestnuts (omit!) and green onion. Stir to combine.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and lemon (lime) juice. Pour over the salad and stir to distribute evenly.

*This can be served warm or cold.
**Preparation time is 10 minutes and it serves 4.

Space Available: Saturday's "Little Foodie Feasts" Workshop!

I hate to be redundant--I guess that's the curse of having two blogs (sorry readers of both) . . .

Attention Los Angeles mommies and daddies . . . there is still space available in Saturday's "Little Foodie Feasts" workshop!

Armed with . . .

• helpful handouts
  
• hands-on demonstration
  
• your very own container of fresh food made during the workshop
  
• a sprinkle of confidence
  
• and a dash inspiration

. . . you will leave equipped to feed your little foodie--freshly, naturally and deliciously!

For details about the workshop, please visit my other blog: Feeding Little Foodies

For more information and to sign up, please contact me by e-mail at: jonisurettenelson@gmail.com.

I hope to see you all there!

Happy Feeding,
Joni

Announcing My First Guest Post: "Pooptastic, Pooperiffic: The Adventures Of Solid Wastes"

Greetings loyal readers and blog followers . . . this is a week of firsts for m a m a :: m i l i e u. Not only have I received my first blogger award, but today I am announcing my first guest blog post!

My dear friend and fellow blogger, Domestic Dork, has gone on vacation. While she is gone, she will be posting several guest's postings in her absence and I am the first one--she has just posted it today! Please pay her blog a visit this week to check out her lineup of great guests!

The guest post that I wrote for her is called, "Pooptastic, Pooperiffic: The Adventures Of Solid Wastes". You can find it below and at her blog at www.DomesticDork.com. Enjoy and happy Monday!

Pooptastic, Pooperiffic! The Adventures Of Solid Wastes.

You know you're a mom when you begin to obsess about poop--that's right, the color, the texture, the frequency, the smell, the consistency.

Bringing your wee bundle home from the hospital means that you, as a freshly squeezed parent, must begin the many tasks of your baby's care--bathing, feeding, soothing and, of course, changing. And, interestingly enough, it's the changing part--the poop part--that often gets the most attention from pediatricians and therefore, moms too.

Why all of this poop quandary? Well, because changes in your baby's poop can be an important signal, not to be missed, that something has gone awry with your baby's well being.

So, the parental poop-i-scope focuses it's lens on every diaper removed from your baby's buns throughout infancy . . . and then the feeding of solid food begins and everything changes. Radically. Every sign of hazard you had been trained to spot becomes the new norm--green poop, speckled poop, stiff poop, dry poop, and the most worrisome . . . no poop.

My little Noah Finn was a regular pooper--he pooped three to four times a day when he was strictly breast feeding. But the recent introduction of solids has given his digestive system a run for it's a money, a kink in the cords, a cog in it's wheel. And the result? Poop has once again become a household fascination and dinnertime talk topic as my husband and I frequently ask one another, "Has Noah pooped today?", "What did it look like?", and so on.

Now, the poor little guy has harrowing three and sometimes four day lapses between those blessed movements of the bowels. And when those moments of relief finally come, it aint' pretty. It's a day full of grunting, straining and red-faced pushing that results in many, many dirty diapers. Needless to say, on those days we are scrubbing diapers until sunrise.

We have increased his water intake and have introduced plum and prune puree and flax seed oil into his diet--just until his plumbing acclimates. It seems to help so far, and so has feeding solids with regularity--the more solids he eats, the more "regular" he becomes.

So the lesson here is, beware new parents and parents who are slated to soon be experimenting with solids. They're lots of fun going in, it's just the coming out part that really stinks.

Introducing "Feeding Little Foodies"!

My dear sweet friend, Carrie, has inspired me! I took her advice and have begun my own baby food making workshop . . . and well, here is the announcement that I will be selflessly promoting to every mom, mommy group and local mommy store that I know. I was also thinking of posting it at our local Whole Foods and Trader Joe's stores?!

In addition to the workshops, I have also launched a companion Feeding Little Foodies blog that will serve as the workshops' web page, as well as, an online baby food making resource for all parents.

Please spread the word, add the new blog to your "favorites" and don't forget to "follow" it too!

The first "Little Foodie Feasts" workshop has been scheduled for next month. The announcement is below for you to pass along to anyone you may know in the greater Los Angeles area . Cross your fingers that it will be a success!

"I am a first time mommy. I am a homemade baby food enthusiast. I am a former teacher and a lover of fresh organic produce. Put all of these together and you get an enthusiastic teacher of organic and homemade baby food making!

Making your very own incredibly delicious and nutritious homemade baby food from fresh and organic fruits and vegetables is easier and more fun than you think--and, it is incredibly rewarding knowing that you are filling your little one's tummy with fresh, wholesome, pesticide-free and incredibly pronounceable ingredients.

Please join me for my first baby food making workshop called "Little Foodie Feasts" at my house on Tuesday, August 11th at 1:00 p.m.

If you have any interest in making your own fresh organic homemade baby food for your little one but don't know how to begin, are intimidated by the mere mention of it, or feel as if it would be too much work/money/time, then this workshop is for you!

The workshop will include the following:

• demonstration from start to finish
• sample menus
• sample recipes
• sample feeding schedule
• tricks and tips for making, spicing, storing and freezing
• gear overview (what you'll need)
  
• your own container of pureed food to take home with you!
• discussions with other moms about common concerns/fears/anxieties/problems with starting solids

Feel free to bring your little one. I will have a fellow mom there to "keep an eye" on the kiddies. We have a padded playmat with tons of books and toys to share for your wee one's entertainment while you stick your head in the kitchen for the pureeing fun!

If you are interested, please RSVP by Tuesday, August 4th!

For more information, please visit my blog at www.feedinglittlefoodies.blogspot.com.

I hope to see you all there!"

Sweet Barley Potato Balls.

I got this great finger food recipe off of wholesomebabyfood.com this morning. I think that I am going to make them this weekend--they sound absolutely delicious! Plus, for whatever reason we have an overstock of sweet potatoes. I'll let you know how they turn out!

Sweet Barley Potato Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup soft cooked pearled barley (not pureed)
• 1 cup cooked sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup apple or peach puree
• pinch of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg as desired

Directions:

• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.
• Shape into small bite sized balls or plops for a nice baby finger food.

Can be used as finger food or as a meal for "pinching" and spoon practice.

For more foodie tips and tricks, please visit my other blog, feeding little foodies!