Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Ok Moms, I have a bit of good news. Your toddler who won't eat anything but wheat thins and pickles has an alternative!
Our soon-to-be four year old has really developed that independent streak - she has decided that most of the foods that she once liked are off-limits. And of course it's not that she doesn't like them anymore - she's just being her own girl. Unfortunately, it makes mealtime a hassle every night, when she takes an hour to eat half a grilled cheese sandwich - something that we are constructively working on. (She doesn't actually take an hour any more - if she's longer than 20 minutes, she goes without dessert, which seems to be the current best incentive. Dessert is homemade ice cream, which she helped make.)
So in my quest to figure out exactly what food preferences she's acquiring, I came up with the best French Toast recipe - one that's NOT sweet and covered with powdered sugar or candied fruit, or even maple syrup. So here it is.
Savory, Crispy French Toast (serves 2)
2 eggs
1 Tbsp milk
1/8 tsp garlic salt
butter for frying
4 slices white bread (Wonder works the best - it stays pretty airy)
OK guys, the secret is in the cooking. The idea is to end up with crispy bread, not milk-soaked mush. Speed is essential.
Beat the eggs, milk and garlic salt together, and put the mixture in a flat plasticware bowl. Ready the bread for dipping.
Wait until you have a hot frypan, and a pat of hot butter melted in it. Then dip your first slice of bread, front and back, shake off extra (carefully - I have had airborne raw egg on me recently). Drop it right in the pan, and let it fry for 2 minutes. Flip it, fry the other side - until the egg is all cooked, and starting to turn brown (and crispy!).
Take it out, put more butter in the pan, fry up the rest of the bread one by one.
Our daughter requests this at least once a week (and has started helping me make it). It's full of protein, and I use the fortified Wonder bread with the calcium added. And best of all, it's not full of sugar, which as a mom I'm really learning to appreciate.
Here's another quickie recipe - a busy mom favorite. This is my breakfast at least once a week too.
Fruit Shakes!
1/8 cup crushed ice
1/4 cup orange, apple or grape juice (anything but grapefruit - it's too strong)
2 other kinds of fruit, for example a banana and and a kiwi, raspberries and blueberries, pineapple and papaya - any combination of these
1 cup fruit flavored or vanilla yogurt
Throw them in a blender until everything is, well, blended. Makes about 16-18 ounces, so good for mom and kid to share. This is great for bananas that have been on the counter a few too many days, and those last 4 strawberries that are starting to look mushy. When fruit prices get a bit steep in the winter, I use more of the pre-packaged fruit cups, and put them in there wholesale as one of the servings of fruit.
Let's hear it for kid-friendly food!