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Tortilla ‘Cigars’

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Prep: 10 minutes   *   Total: 15 minutes   *    Serves 6   *    Packable

Ingredients:

1 cup (240cc) sauteed or roasted chicken or turkey cubed or pureed 1/2 cup (120cc) cheese1/2 cup (120cc) each of yellow squash and carrot purees 4 ounces (110gm) cream cheese 6 large whole wheat tortillas. (Note: if tortillas are not readily available in your area, there is a recipe at Peter’s Wife . Whole wheat flour can be substituted for white flour for more nutrition.)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Line baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together the chicken or turkey, cheese, squash and carrot purees, cream cheese, and garlic powder and salt to taste. Cut the tortillas in half. Place one half on the work surface with the straight edge facing you. Spread about 2 Tablespoons (30cc) of the filling along that edge from one side to the other. Starting at the edge, roll the tortilla into a cigar shape, completely enclosing the filling. Place seam-side down on the baking sheet. Stuff and roll the rest of the tortillas the same way. Bake until the tortillas begin to brown, 4-5 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Making Purees for Deceptively Delicious Recipes

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You begin by making purees, a few at a time. Divide each into potions and freeze them for use in the recipes.

For apples, berries, cantaloupe, cherries and pineapple, just wash, cut the fruit and puree in a food processor or blender for about 2 minutes. (Instead of fresh berries, cherries, or pineapple, you can use frozen or canned without syrup.) [Read more…]

Deliciously Deceptive

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While I was on home leave in December, I found a book full of great ideas for getting children to eat their veggies. Yes, there is help for those of you with children who would love the t-shirt our son got for Christmas one year. It said, “Vegetables are UGLY!” Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld, Dr. Seuss books, and stuffed toys were on sale for $5.00 each. I couldn’t resist! I could get $5.00 worth of good ideas out of any cookbook. But this one is worth a lot more to me and moms who can’t get their kids to eat their vegetables.

Jessica starts her book with, “I had tried everything, and yet all my efforts to feed my family were being undermined by a powerful force: vegetables. Mealtimes were reduced to a constant pushing and pulling, with me forever begging my kids to eat their vegetables, and them protesting unhappily. Instead of laughing and having fun with my family, I was irritated and stressed as I labored to coerce them to eat food they found ‘disgusting.’ I couldn’t take it any more. I just wanted a little peace around the dinner table.”
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Brain Development and Early Learning

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Child Brain Development and The Science of Early Learning

By Madeleine Fitzpatrick<

Your baby is born with most of the brain cells she will ever have, but during her first 12 months in the world, her brain will become increasingly complex. By the time she reaches the age of two, her brain will already be 75 percent of its adult weight. By the age of three, it will have reached 90 percent of its adult weight.

Almost 50 percent of the brain cells your baby is born with will wither and die during the first few years of life. This process, known as neural pruning, organizes the brain and makes it more efficient. The brain learns through experience.

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Sibling Rivalry

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Quarreling and fighting among siblings is a perennial problem. Every mom of two or more kids faces it. Remember Joseph and his brothers in Genesis? Even Fairy Tales like Cinderella talk about sibling rivalry. We hope to make this an on-going discussion. Why not share your examples, strategies, and resources for other moms facing the dreaded Sibling Rivalry?

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