Tag: vegan

Chocolate Crackles

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Chocolate Crackles (2)

These sweet small treats are great if your kids need an afternoon pick-me-up: sugary enough to taste decadent, but with a few “good for you” ingredients thrown in.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups rice-crisp cereal
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 3/4 cup shredded coconut
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons coconut oil
  1. Combine all the ingredients except the coconut oil in a large bowl.
  2. Melt the coconut oil and drizzle over the dry ingredients, then mix well.
  3. Divide the mixture evenly among 30 mini muffin cups (alternatively, just press into mini cupcake liners and place on a tray). Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

Chocolate Crackles (1)

 

Citrusy Rice Salad

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Citrusy Rice Salad

This salad makes a nice introduction to citrus fruits for toddlers. Veronika hesitantly asked “Apple?” when I spooned some onto her tray. Close but not quite!

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon agave nectar
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chopped green beans
  • 1/4 cup chopped orange
  • 1/4 cup chopped pineapple
  • 2 chopped green onions
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  1. To prepare the dressing, whisk together the orange juice, agave, and olive oil in a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. Meanwhile, steam the green beans for about 6 minutes, or until tender.
  3. Add the green beans to the bowl with the dressing, along with the remaining ingredients, stirring to coat.

 

Samosas

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Samosas (4)

These hand-held treats make a fantastic after-school snack, or can be part of a larger meal packed in a lunchbox. They’re the perfect size for kids’ hands! Try Wholly Wholesome’s pie crusts for a vegan version.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup prepared mashed potatoes
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Dash black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon minced cilantro
  • 2 chopped mint leaves
  • 2 (9-inch) pie crusts, thawed
  1. To prepare the filling, stir together the mashed potatoes, cumin, salt, black pepper, cilantro and mint leaves in a large bowl. Set aside.
  2. Roll the pie crusts out on a flat surface and trim slightly to form a rectangle. Cut with a pizza wheel into a tic-tac-toe board, for 9 squares in each crust.Samosas (2)
  3. Spoon the filling evenly into the center of the squares. Fold over into a triangle shape, pinching the edges to seal.Samosas (1)
  4. Transfer to baking sheets and bake at 350 degrees F for 18 minutes, until lightly brown.

Samosas (3)

Matoke (Plantain Stew)

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This hearty stew brought international flair to our kitchen tonight; the plantain-based dish is similar to those traditionally served at birthday celebrations in Kenya, a nice little addendum to some birthday learning Travis has recently enjoyed.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 8 ounces meatless crumbles
  • 3 ripe plantains, peeled and chopped
  • 2 baking potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 2 cups water
  1. Heat the canola oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes.
  2. Add the tomatoes and meatless crumbles; cook for about 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the chopped plantains and potatoes, then cover with the water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, until the potatoes are very tender.

 

 

Strawberry Applesauce

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Strawberry Applesauce (2)

This chunky applesauce is a great homemade alternative to store-bought pouches, and a nice way to introduce berry flavor to toddlers.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup peeled and chopped apple
  • 1 cup chopped strawberries
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  1. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for 12 minutes, until the fruit is very tender.
  2. Mash with a potato masher and cool before serving.

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Fairy Bread

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If children could invent a snack, Fairy Bread would probably be it. This treat, apparently popular at birthday parties in Australia, sure made our after-school snack feel like a treat!

Spread Earth Balance butter on slices of white bread. Trim off the crusts.

Fairy Bread (1)

Sprinkle with rainbow sprinkles to taste, then cut into triangles. I prepared the first slice for Travis, but let him be in charge of the sprinkles for the second.

Fairy Bread (3)

Clearly this indulgence is meant to be a once-in-a-while treat, but it sure put a big smile on his face today!

Split Pea Curry

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This protein-packed vegan curry introduces your toddler to new flavors and spice without overwhelming little taste buds.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup split peas
  • 2 baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1/2 cup carrot, chopped
  • 1 cup cauliflower, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 and 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
  1. In a large pot, combine the split peas, potatoes, carrot, cauliflower, and garlic.
  2. Add the water, tomato sauce, and curry powder, stirring to combine.
  3. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then continue to cook for 1 hour, or until the split peas are very tender. Let cool before serving.

Split Pea Curry

Toddler Chick’n Dinners

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Chickn Pea Potato (1)

Here are two ways I love to serve vegan chick’n strips to my Baby Led Weaning toddler for a full meal.

Parsnip & Chicken Dinner

Chicken Parsnip (1)

Peel and chop 4 small parsnips. Cover with water and bring to a boil; continue to cook for 20 minutes, until very soft.

Drain and return to the pan, then add 1 teaspoon Earth balance butter and mash until smooth. Serve with finely chopped Gardein chick’n strips.

Chicken, Sweet Pea, & Sweet Potato Dinner

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Microwave 1 sweet potato for about 6 minutes, or until very tender. Let cool slightly, then scoop the flesh from the peel and mash to desired consistency.

Serve with finely chopped Gardein chick’n strips and cooked green peas.

 

Chocolate-Eating Game

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Chocolate-Eating (2).JPG

Travis learned about this hilarious game from his latest Highlights magazine, traditionally played at birthdays in Germany. It sounded so silly and fun we had to give it a try just for an after-school snack!

If you’re playing with multiple players, you’ll need a dice. Anyone who rolls a 6 quickly puts on a hat, mittens, and scarf, and tries to unwrap a chocolate bar with a knife and fork. The next player to roll a 6 takes that first person’s turn, and if the bar is unwrapped, then whoever rolls a 6 now gets to eat the chocolate with a knife and fork. Silly, right?

Because it was just me and Travis, we took turns donning all the winter gear and working at the wrapper with the utensils.

Chocolate-Eating (1)

Mommy got us in! Time to fork into our chocolate.

Chocolate-Eating (3)

Whoever manages to eat the most chocolate wins, of course! I can see this being just delicious to play with a batch of kids at a party.

Tomato & Orzo Soup

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I love this hack for making a hearty family dinner: Start with a canned creamy soup, add a few ingredients for added nutrition, and dinner seems gourmet in minutes flat.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups creamy tomato soup
  • 1 cup canned black beans
  • 2 cups cooked orzo
  • Plain non-dairy yogurt
  1. Heat the soup in a saucepan until warm. Add the beans and cooked pasta, stirring until combined.
  2. Ladle the soup into bowls, and top each with about 1 tablespoon yogurt.