3-ingredient Banana Pancakes

I'm always looking for tasty treats for my kids that aren't filled with processed sugar, so my sister told me about this really easy banana pancake recipe.  Three ingredients?!  Yes, please!  I chose to add cinnamon, too, so ours were 4-ingredient pancakes.  Simple to make, and I don't feel guilty about serving it as a baby's finger food!

I'll be honest, these don't last long in our house.  There's something about things that are mini-sized that makes them easier to eat in large batches, right?  And it totally doesn't count because it's mini.  And because these things are really only banana and egg!

She kept stealing all the food!  First pancakes, then raspberries.

I meant to save some to see how they would freeze.  You can see how that panned out.

They're really moist, and the texture is in between a pancake and an omelette.  It's like the sweet centre of french toast!  You can make these the night before and warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave before you serve them.  They really don't need maple syrup, but if you're feeling a bit naughty, why not pour some (a lot?!) on?

Ingredients (for 15 silver dollar pancakes):

• 1 banana
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• cinnamon (optional)

Tip!  Add in nuts, seeds or chocolate chips to personalize your pancakes.

Method:

1. Mash banana thoroughly using a fork.

   

   My daughter loves mashing bananas.

2. Mix in baking powder and cinnamon.
   
   
   
   
3. Beat in egg.  The mixture will be fairly thin, almost like a crepe batter.
   
4. Heat pan over low heat.
5. Oil pan and pour in batter in silver-dollar size rounds.
   
   
   
   
6. Flip, when the pancake looks dry around the edges.  Be really careful, because it's a really soft pancake.  Fry for another minute or two to brown the other side.
7. Eat.  Eat all the pancakes.  Let your child reach up and steal each one as it comes off the pan.  They're delicious!

   

   We ate them all.  Very quickly.  Didn't even save any for my son!

If you prefer a more fluffy pancake, just increase the amount of baking powder you put in.  I threw in about 1/4 tsp in another batch I made with 2 bananas and 1 egg, and those are the ones pictured with strawberries.

Have you ever tried a recipe like this?  Let us know how long these pancakes last (or don't last!) in your house!

Yogurt drops for teething

It's that time again.  That time when the grumpy teething monster rears its ugly head!  Our little ones have teeth coming in, and it is making them cranky!  We're always on the lookout for things to ease their pain, and these yogurt drops are fast, easy, and perfect for the job.  Now, if only Sophie the Giraffe came in yogurt form!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup yogurt (greek or strained works better for getting "plumper" drops, but we used plain organic and it worked but the drops were thinner)
• fruit or veggie addition of your choice (we made 2 batches: one with 1/2 avocado and one with 1/2 banana) 
• parchment paper, cookie sheet
  

Tip!  Consider making these drops with your favourite smoothie or other baby food.  You can really do it with any liquid!

Method:

1. Mash ingredients together with a fork, or blend together for a smooth consistency.
   
2. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.  The smaller you make them, the faster they melt, so keep that in mind! If you're type A like us you can use a squeeze bottle or ziplock bag with the edge cut off to form perfect little circles.
   
3. Place cookie sheet in freezer until drops set.
4. Remove drops and enjoy!  Store these in the freezer until a teething emergency beckons.
   

We had to try these out, too, and they're delicious! Our little ones devoured these, although the cold texture shocked them at first!

Get in my belly!

Let us know how your little one enjoys them!  Also let us know what your best teething tips are!  We need the help....Help!

pin me!

Easy & Healthy Chocolate Bark!

I thought the chocolate avocado pudding was my ultimate favourite chocolate dessert until I caught wind of this incredible chocolate bark recipe. My sister discovered this recipe and raved about it incessantly so I finally decided to give it a try. My only regret...not trying it sooner! Crispy, chewy, rich, cold, chocolatey; it will drive your senses bonkers! Takes literally no time to make and it is a fun activity for the kiddies to participate in.

Ingredients

• Base
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (I use virgin cold-pressed)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• Toppings
• 1/3 cup rice krispies
• 1 tbsp hemp seeds
• 1 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp dried cranberries
• 2 tbsp shredded unsweetened coconut

Tip! Feel free to add in any other "toppings". You can really add in anything you want! Walnut crumbs, chunks of dried fruit, sunflower seeds...don't be shy!

Method

1. Combine cocoa powder, coconut oil and maple syrup until smooth. 
   
2. Add in toppings: rice krispies, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries and shredded coconut.

   

   Such great little helpers!

3. Spread mixture out thinly on parchment paper lined baking pan.
   

   

   So helpful with clean-up:)
4. Place baking pan right in the freezer. Freeze for a couple hours.
5. Break apart and enjoy! Remember to store bark in the freezer!

   

   Yup, they loved it!

We strongly encourage you to try this recipe and let us know how you like it! What fun toppings did you add in?

pin me!

Easy Meal & Snack Trays for Kids

There is this awesome restaurant in our neighbourhood called The Beet that offers "nibbler platters" on their kiddie menu. My toddler is always asking for a nibbler platter. It's the small bite-sized portions and variety that she finds appealing. I decided to make my own version of the nibbler platter using ice cube trays (I'm sure you've come across them in pinterest).

I realized that my daughter would surely eat all the good stuff (fruit, crackers etc.) first if I handed her a tray mixed with random food items. It made more sense to create actual meal/snack trays. It looks really time consuming but it actually takes very little time and effort! I just used items I had in my fridge/pantry. You can always fill 2 or more cubes with the same food item if you don't have 12 different items to fill your tray. You can easily make these trays ahead of time. The ice cube trays I use are actually meant to freeze baby food (fresh baby so easy food/breast milk storage trays) and they come with lids!

The ultimate bento box to go!

Perfect for packing up for a picnic or road trip! Just be sure to layer cling wrap in between the tray and lid to keep all the contents in place. The best part of these trays is that your kid is getting a wide variety of healthy food choices.

The deconstructed salad tray basically has all the components to make one amazing, healthy salad. I made sure to fill 1/3 of the tray with foods high in protein. You can mix and match steamed, raw and roasted veggies. I also like to include some heartier starchy veggies, like sweet potato or corn to keep my toddler satiated.

Here are some ideas of what you can put in your salad tray:

• chickpeas
• edamame
• peas
• snap peas
• green beans
• asparagus
• brocolli
• cauliflower
• tomatoes
• sweet potato
• corn
• beets
• carrots
• cucumber
• pepper
• mushrooms
• boiled egg
• cheese
• nuts
• seeds
• tofu
• meat
• avocado
• lentil pasta

Tip! If your kid is a dipper, fill one or two cubes with a healthy spread like hummus or tzatziki.

The breakfast tray has all the components for a well rounded breakfast. Again, try to include some healthy protein and carb choices. The breakfast tray also makes a really healthy snack tray.

Here are some ideas of what you can put in your breakfast tray:

• french toast/pancakes (I make my own using whole grain bread/flour)
• muffin (I cut up pieces of our healthy pineapple breakfast muffin recipe)
• whole grain pita
• cereal (low in sugar preferably)
• boiled egg
• meat
• cheese
• nuts
• seeds
• dried fruit (prunes, dates, apricots etc.)
• blueberries
• blackberries
• strawberries
• cherries
• grapes
• apple
• pear
• melon
• citrus fruit
• banana

Someone is enjoying their nibbler tray!

I also thought of a trail mix tray. Haven't made it yet but planning on it. Here are some ideas of what you can put in a trail mix tray:

• different types of cereal (again, be sure to check the sugar content!)
• whole grain pretzels
• crackers
• nuts
• seeds
• raisins
• other dried fruit 

So grab your ice cube tray and start assembling! Let us know if you come up with a different tray theme! Deconstructed pizza or hamburger tray perhaps?

Pin me!

Pineapple Breakfast Muffins

This hearty breakfast muffin is perfect for those early mornings where you need a quick, healthy meal on the go! Oats, bran cereal, eggs, hemp seeds, pineapple...all yummy breakfast ingredients wrapped up in one compact little muffin. It will keep you satisfied until lunch-time! And there are rumours that oatmeal helps with milk production for all you breast-feeding mamas out there:)

Start your morning off right with these healthy muffins!

Ingredients (makes a dozen muffins)

• 1 large can (540 ml) crushed pineapple 
• packed in pineapple juice, NOT syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp real vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1 1/2 cup instant oats
• 1/2 cup bran cereal 
• Try to find a brand low in sugar, I use Blue Menu Fibre First 
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
  
  
  

Tip! Throw in some shredded unsweetened coconut, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, raisins or even dark chocolate chips!

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
2. Grease muffin pan with coconut oil.  
3. Drain crushed pineapple using a sieve. You won't need the juice for this recipe.
   
4. In a medium sized bowl blend drained pineapple, eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
   
5. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients.
   
6. Add dry to wet and stir until just combined.  Let sit 5 minutes for absorption.
   
7. Fill 12 muffin tins with batter.
   
8. Bake for approximately 30 minutes. 
   
9. Let cool, remove from pan and enjoy!
   
10. Store leftover muffins in a sealed container and refrigerate.

    

    Pin me!

What are your quick breakfast solutions? Try this healthy muffin recipe and let us know how you like them!

Chocolate Pudding Series | Avocado Chocolate Pudding

Back to our favourite topic...CHOCOLATE pudding! A special thank-you to my sis-in-law for this awesome healthy avocado chocolate pudding recipe. Apparently she has tasted quite a few avocado chocolate pudding recipes and this one reigns supreme! Did you know avocados contain more potassium than bananas? They are loaded with nutrients and healthy fats; so go ahead, dig in!

Creamy and delicious!

Ingredients (makes 2 servings)

• 1 medium size avocado
• Remove skin and pit
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• You can use any type of milk you want, but coconut milk tastes soooo delicious!
• Feel free to add more milk to adjust the consistency of the pudding (I like mine thicker).
• 2 pitted medjool dates
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp pure peanut butter (optional but highly recommended)

Method

1. Blend all ingredients in a food processor, vitamix or use a hand blender until smooth.
   
   
2. Chill in fridge for a couple of hours.
3. Enjoy!

   

   Garnish with shredded coconut to make it look extra fancy!

And there you have it! Now you have THREE healthy chocolate pudding recipes to try (and make your kids try). Please let us know which one is your favourite so far!

Pin me!