6
Jan

Homemade Organic Baby Food

Matilda Jane – 6 Months

I can’t believe my little baby has started eating solids!  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I just blinked my eyes and there she is taking her spot in the “big girl chair” aka the high-chair.  I’m sure those of you with older children, can attest that time flies.  I’m trying my best to enjoy these precious early moments with my girls, but my goodness, before you know it they are going to be all grown up (sob, sob).
Since my sweet Matilda Jane is starting to eat solid food (well cereal, so far), I thought I would share one of my favorite homemade baby food recipes.  I had so much fun making baby food for my little Savannah Rose (not so little anymore…..again, sob, sob) and I definitely plan to cook some things for Matilda Jane.
Making your own baby food is very easy and affordable.  It’s really nice because you can control exactly what goes into your baby food.  I like to use all organic ingredients and add seasoning as well.  Just make a large batch, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it.  Once frozen, pop it out of the trays and into a freezer safe bag.  When your little sweetheart is hungry, just pop a few cubes in the microwave and you have fresh, organic baby food in seconds!
Delicious Butternut Squash Puree
Ingredients:
1/2 tablespoon butter
1 medium butternut squash
1/4 yellow onion, chopped
3/4 cup chicken stock
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Directions:
Peel your butternut squash.  Cut it in half and remove seeds and cut into 1-inch cubes.  Steam butternut squash in saucepan for 15 minutes and remove from pan (you know it’s done when it can easily be pierced with a knife).  Add butter to pan and saute onion on medium-low heat until translucent.  Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  Add chicken stock and cook for 2 minutes.  Return butternut squash to pan.  Use an immersion blender to puree or if you don’t have an immersion blender, puree in a food processor or regular blender.
Cottage Mama’s Note:  This puree should be introduced as a 2nd food (after introducing each food separately, in case of allergies).  Taste your puree to see if it needs more seasoning – it should taste good to you.  I like to start using seasoning early on in my kids food because I think it helps them become accustomed to the way our family eats, which is with lots of flavor.  No bland cooking going on around here at The Cottage Home!!
Here are a few more pictures of Matilda Jane starting solids
(just because I think she is so cute!)
My sweet little lady checking out her food (love those cheeks!)
Mama, I don’t know if this is a good idea…..
5
Jan

Bacon, Onion, and Sweet Pea Risotto

I love making risotto.  I’m not sure why I don’t make it more often, I guess I just forget about how delicious it is.  People seem to think that risotto is a fancy, complicated dish, but it is quite the opposite.  Risotto is a wonderful dish because you can combine it with many different things such as; mushrooms, butternut squash, shrimp, and in this case, bacon, onion or peas.  If you’ve never made risotto at home, give this recipe a try – here I’ll take you through step-by-step!

Bacon, Onion, and Sweet Pea Risotto
Serves 3-4
Ingredients:
1 cup Arborio Rice
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 onion, chopped (red or yellow)
4 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup parmesan + more for garnish
Directions:
 Ingredients
Get out two saucepans – one to heat your chicken stock and one for everything else.  Add stock to one saucepan and heat on medium-high.  Heat the “everything else” saucepan on medium and add bacon and saute.  Cook bacon to desired consistency and just when it is about ready add your onion.  Saute onion until translucent.  About 4 minutes. 
 Bacon and Onion cooking
Add white wine and scrape all the brown, delicious bits off the bottom of the pan.  Then add rice and mix with bacon, onion and wine mixture.
 Rice, Bacon, Onion and Wine
Cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add one ladle of stock to the rice mixture.  Once that liquid has cooked down, add another ladle, and do this until you have used all of your stock and your rice is cooked through.  Turn off the heat and add frozen peas and parmesan (stir together) – the heat from the risotto will cook the peas so they are perfectly green.  Sprinkle with more parmesan and enjoy!!
Completed Risotto
Cottage Mama’s Note:  If you run out of liquid, but your rice is not finished, add additional stock or water.  Also, make sure the wine you use is a wine you enjoy drinking……”cooking wine” will not do for this recipe.
4
Jan

Homemade Soft Pretzels with Honey Mustard Sauce

My husband, Brett, is a homebrewer – I don’t know if I have mentioned that on the blog yet.  Brett makes his own beer and wine in the cottage basement, which is not much of a basement, more like the cottage dungeon.  And though I know I am probably bias, his beer is some of the best I have ever tasted.  Since yeast is a major component in the brewing process my hubby is very familiar with its workings.  So recently he has taken an interest in other things involving yeast such as baking bread.

Do you know what goes really well with beer?  Soft pretzels!!  This is my husband’s recipe for Soft Pretzels with Honey Mustard Sauce that comes to you via Draft Magazine.  These pretzels are SO awesome!!  He made them on New Year’s Eve and we gobbled them up so fast that they disappeared before our eyes.

Soft Pretzels with Honey Mustard Sauce
Makes 15-20 small-sized pretzels
Soft Pretzels:
1 package of active dry yeast
5 cups flour
1 1/3 cups warm water
1/8 cup warm water
1/3 cup brown sugar
Water, baking soda
Sea Salt
Honey Mustard Dip:
5 ounces creme fraiche (or sour cream)
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons dijon or german mustard
Salt and sugar to taste
Directions:
  • Dissolve yeast in 1/8 cup warm water.
  • Stir in 1 1/3 cups warm water, brown sugar and flour.  Beat until smooth.
  • Knead dough until smooth and elastic.
  • Heat oven to 475 degrees.
  • In a saucepan, add 2 tablespoons baking soda to each cup of water.  Use enough to fill the saucepan; bring to a boil.
  • Tear off some dough and roll a pencil shape with your hands.  Pick up both ends, cross to form rabbit ears and then twist the ends and pull the back to the rest of the loop (making a pretzel shape).
  • Place twisted pretzels in water/baking soda mixture for 15 seconds until pretzel dough is golden or yellow in color.  Remove pretzels from boiling water and place onto cookie sheet.  Sprinkle tops with sea salt.  
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until pretzels are golden brown (see picture above).

Honey Mustard Dip

  • Stir creme fraiche (or sour cream), honey and mustard until creamy.
  • Add sugar and salt to taste.
Pretzels Ready to Eat

Cottage Mama’s Note:  Make sure to enjoy your soft pretzels with your favorite craft beer!

3
Jan

The Best Soap & Cleaning Product EVER!

Have you heard of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap?  Well I had heard of it and seen it in our local Trader Joe’s, but I hadn’t really paid much attention to it.  Lately, I have been trying to get my family “back to basics” by trying to eat more organic food as well as incorporating more earth friendly products into our daily lives.

So yesterday I was at Trader Joe’s and thought “I’m going to give this Castile Soap at try.”  And boy am I glad I did – it is AWESOME!!  This one bottle of soap can tackle 18 different tasks and has the most amazing peppermint scent ever.  The soaps are biodegradable and vegetable-based and are made with certified fair trade and organic oils. 

Today I used it to clean my entire house.  I used 16oz of water with about 1 teaspoon of the soap and went to town.  I cleaned my furniture, my floors, my countertops, my sink, and the list goes on.  And what’s even better –  I didn’t even barely use 1/30th of the bottle!!  My house has never felt cleaner and I feel really good knowing that the soap I used is 100% safe for my two little girls (both under age 2).

According to the Dr. Bronner’s website you can use this soap as a body wash, shampoo, facial cleanser, toothpaste, mouth wash, laundry detergent, dish-washing detergent, on babies to cure cradle cap, and again, the list goes on and on.

So if you are interested in switching cleaning products to something that is safer for you and our environment, I highly recommend Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap.  Try it – you won’t be sorry!!  Click here to find out more information.

31
Dec

New Year’s Resolutions

It’s resolution time again and this year (in no particular order) I will………

1.  Be more present in the moment instead of always looking to the future (I guess that’s the planner in me).

2.  Sew most of my children’s clothing (aside from some of the basics like socks and onesies, ect) and try to stay away from Gymboree as much as possible.

3.  Attempt to buy more organic/locally grown produce.

4.  Open my etsy shop (The Cottage Mama) to sell my handmade girls clothing.

5.  Organize my office and turn it into my crafting room – might need the hubby’s help for this one (wink, wink, if you are reading this, dear husband of mine).

6.  Follow through and finish all the projects I start.

7.  Continue to only give handmade gifts whether I make them or support others who craft handmade goods.

8.  Go outside more and enjoy nature with my family.

9.  Continue to blog.

10.  Learn to live on less.

11.  Remain focused and centered on my number one job;  being a truly good wife and mother.

Cottage Mama’s Note:  Ok, so now I’ve put all of my resolutions out there for the world to see.  Hopefully this will help me to hold myself more accountable and really stay focused this next year.

What are some of your New Year’s resolutions?

I wish all of you a very happy and healthy 2010!!
Happy New Year!
29
Dec

Christmas Tags from Old Christmas Cards

Over the last month I have certainly enjoyed all of the wonderful Christmas cards we have received in the mail from our friends and family.  It’s so nice to see what everyone has been up to and how the little ones have grown.  But now that Christmas is over, what do we do with ALL of those holiday cards?

Well, you could recycle them, that would be one option.  Lately I have really been into repurposing items, so rather than get rid of your cards, why not turn them into something useful?  Why not turn them into gift tags for next year?!  That’s what I did!

My Grandma Peggy had given me this idea several years ago, but I have finally decided to put it into action.  Thanks Grandma!!  All you have to do is gather up all the holiday cards you have received (personally I don’t cut up the ones with family pictures – those are still on the fridge for display).  Cut out whatever shape you like (circles, squares, hearts, tag shape) out of your cards, punch a whole in your shape, thread a ribbon through and presto – you have your gift tags for next year!

Completed Gift Tags

I love not being wasteful and this is a great way to use up all of those beautiful cards.  And better yet, when you are doing your holiday gift wrapping next year, you can look at the tags and think of your loving friends and family.

28
Dec

Community Supported Agriculture – CSA Programs

One of my top New Year’s resolutions this year is to incorporate more organic food into my family’s diet.  I feel like I have fallen off the wagon lately when it comes to what we are putting into our bodies.  The more I hear about what the effects of pesticides and growth hormones are having on us, I feel it is my responsibility as a mother, and as the main cook in our household, to take charge of what my family is putting into their bodies.

Are you familiar with the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs in your area?  Or have you heard of CSA?  I have tried in the past to incorporate as much organic into our diets as possible, but sometimes those cheaper prices get me.  Organic produce, meat, and dairy is often quite a bit more money in our regular supermarkets; however, there are ways to save on these items.  This is where CSA programs come into play.

Here’s how it works:
With a CSA program, a local farm offers a specific number of “shares” to the public for the growing season.  You buy into the farm by purchasing a share (which will feed a family of 4) or you can purchase a half-share, if you are not sure about the level of produce you will be using.  Each week (or every other week if you are doing a half-share), you go to the farm to pick up your box of organically grown produce.  Some farms have other designated pick-up spots, if the farm is not in your exact town.

Most CSA’s are geared towards vegetables; however, some include flowers, herbs, and a little fruit.  A share is somewhat equivalent to a paper grocery bag full of vegetables.  You can also purchase fruit only shares through some farms and add-on organic eggs and chicken to your weekly pick-up.

Through the CSA you will get to know your specific farmer and exactly where your food is coming from.  I know that, if I am going to be spending a little bit more money purchasing organic food, I would prefer to know that my money is going to support our local farmer’s.  Most farms encourage families to come out for a visit.  This is a wonderful way to educate your children on the workings of a farm and to show them where the food they eat comes from.  Additionally, if you have a picky eater, they may be more likely to eat the produce they have seen harvested first-hand.  Some farms have volunteer opportunities and gatherings for CSA members as well.

I highly suggest you check out the CSA programs in your area.  Most farms are taking CSA applications for the 2010 growing season right now – if you are interested, sign-up as soon as possible because shares fill up quickly and you might miss out.  Go to www.localharvest.org/csa or click here to find out more information.



Cottage Mama’s Note:  When searching for a farm in your area, do no disregard farms that my be an hour or so away – check them out because they may have an additional pick-up spot in your area.  Also, consider going in on a “share” with another family if you aren’t sure exactly how the CSA program will fit into your current lifestyle and eating habits.
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27
Dec

The Snowy Cottage Home

We got almost a foot of snow here yesterday at The Cottage Home!  I guess this is what you would call a white Christmas.  I just had to post this picture of our house all snowy and white.  I usually prefer our home in the Summer months with all the greenery growing up the side of the house, but as I was outside taking this picture, I was in awe of what beauty the snow has brought us.

I love old homes – our cottage home was built in 1934.  I cannot foresee my family and I ever living in a newer home, my husband and I feel that the older the better.  There is something so comforting about living in a home that you know has a history, that has been around since before you had even set foot on this earth.  I feel so blessed that we have been given the opportunity to make this house our home.  Here are a few more pictures of our Snowy Cottage Home.

The vineyard my husband planted on our property – we make our own wine.
Well on our property – no longer working, but charming nevertheless.
Side-View of The Cottage Home
Cottage Mama’s Note: One of these days I will post some interior photos of what we have done with our home.
26
Dec

Olive Cheese Bread

I feel the need to shout this from the roof-top – I LOVE OLIVE CHEESE BREAD!  This recipe is out of my Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook that I got about a month or so ago.  I’ve been dying to try this recipe and I decided Christmas Eve would be the perfect opportunity.  And, oh my gosh, was it good!

Now this is definitely not a figure-friendly recipe, but when you are looking to indulge a little bit (such as around the holidays), you cannot go wrong with this bread.  I served this with our Christmas Eve meal – we had a barbequed turkey, potatoes gratin, cornbread stuffing with bacon, and sauteed garlic spinach.  In retrospect, the bread would probably be better served as an appetizer or a meal by itself as it is so filling, but I am in love and so is everyone else who tried it.

I apologize in advance – I do not have a picture of my completed bread.  I wasn’t a hundred percent sure it would be “blog-worthy” (as my husband and I say) so I didn’t snap a shot.  And then before I knew it – poof –  the bread was gone.  That’s the magic of this recipe – it is so delicious that you will blink and it will disappear!

So here is the Olive Cheese Bread recipe from The Pioneer Woman Cooks :

Olive Cheese Bread

Ingredients:
One 14.5 ounce can black olives, drained
One 6 ounce jar pimento-stuffed green olives, drained
2 green onions
1/4 pound (1 stick) of butter, softened
1/2 cup mayo (real mayo, no substitution)
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1 loaf crusty French bread

Directions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2.  Roughly chop black olives.
3.  Roughly chop green olives.
4.  Slice green onions, then roughly chop.
5.  In a large bowl, combine the butter, mayo, cheese, olives and green onions.
6.  Stir until thoroughly combined.
7.  Slice French bread in half, lengthwise.
8.  Spread the olive-cheese mixture in an even layer on each half.
9.  Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese mixture is thoroughly melted and beginning to turn light brown and bubbly.  Cut into diagonal slices and serve immediately.

Cottage Mama’s Note:  The Pioneer Woman says you can make this bread a head of time and freeze it for up to 6 months.  Also trying substituting other ingredients for the olives and Monterey Jack – for example, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella or artichoke hearts and parmesan.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is an amazing cookbook with beautiful photography and a wonderful story.  If you like good southwestern, southern comfort food, you must check it out.  It is available on Amazon  right now for only $11.50 (regularly $27.50)!

26
Dec

Tutorials Featured – Someday Crafts

My giant stuffed fleece fish and cloth baby doll diaper tutorials are being featured on Someday Crafts.  Head over to Michelle’s awesome blog and check it out (www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com )!!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!