Wednesday, May 5, 2010

healthy, cheap, EASY Crackers!

So for about a month now I have been trying to find a way to duplicate those wonderful Gerber toddler/crawler snacks. They are SO expensive and due to some issues it is about the only solid food G will eat. But the boy cannot live on Puffs, crunchies and Cheerios, so desperate to get REAL food into his system I made this recipe. It works out great because the whole family likes them...wait no, LOVES THEM, and AB and the G get plenty of veggies and fruits!!!


Veggie Crackers

2 Cups flour (I used white but I bet you could do any flour you like)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt (I would back off just a tad if you use left over veggies that have been seasoned)

(I sprinkled onion powder for some seasoning, dill would be good too!)

4 TBSP butter softened (I used salted sweet cream butter, you could use unsalted if you use the 1/2 tsp and salted veggies)

about 1 1/2 cups mashed veggies (I used broccoli and cauliflower And cheese just a little maybe a 1/2 cup shredded Cheese, I added about a tbsp of milk (you can use water as well) and mashed it up, it was still a bit chunky, if you use potatoes or squash I would probably only use about a cup)



1/4 cup water



Whisk together your dry ingredients in a LARGE bowl. Add softened butter and cut with a pastry blender/fork/knife whatever until the mixture looks like small crumbs. Add Veggies mix thoroughly.



Sprinkle the water over using ONE TABLESPOON AT A TIME until the dough just comes together.



wrap in plastic wrap and stick in fridge for an hour.



preheat oven to 375°

Pull out dough and roll out on a lightly floured surface, the thinner the crispier. I did mine a little thick in order to not be Doritos texture. Poke holes through out the rolled out dough with a fork then cut (I used cutters at first but that wasn't fast enough for AB so I just used a pizza cutter and cut squares). Place on Greased cookie sheet.



Cook 18-22 minutes (I averaged about 19-20 minutes so they weren't too crispy for G).



Cool on wire rack and enjoy.




AB stole them off the cooling rack faster than I could get them on.


Ok here is the fruit cracker recipe, a little more sticky, but OH SO GOOD. (I didn't take pics of these but I promise you they look great and the kids are eating them and fast....

Preheat to 350°

2 Cups Flour
1/4 Tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking SODA (the other recipe i did was powder so don't assume :))
1/4 tsp Cinnamon (or any spice you desire)
6 TBSP butter softened
To sweeten you have 2 choices (some people stay away from honey until babies are 1-2 years old)
2 TBSP of honey mixed with 2 TBSP of warm water OR 2 TBSP of Maple syrup mixed with ONE TBSP of warm water
1 Large mashed banana OR 2/3 Cup of your favorite fruit mashed (or even applesauce)

Whisk together your dry ingredients in a LARGE bowl. Add softened butter and cut with a pastry blender/fork/knife whatever until the mixture looks like small crumbs. Add mashed fruit mix thoroughly. Slowly add your sweetened water to the mix once it forms a cohesive ball then that is enough (I didn't use all of my maple syrup mix but did with my honey, guess it just depends)

This dough is a bit stickier so make sure you flour well roll out in the same manner as the veggie crackers, cut place on greased cookie sheet (you can sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar if you like) bake for 15-20 minutes.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

A new spin on an old Favorite.

Oreo Cookies, Who doesn't love them?? I hate chocolate, but I LOVE Oreo Cookies ( I am weird I can't help it).

I got this recipe from Bakerella She is so talented, and I love making her stuff and putting my own twist on them.

Ok to the good stuff. Here is what you need to make your self-induced Sugar Coma ;)

A package of Oreo Cookies

An 8 oz package Cream Cheese Softened

White Chocolate Almond Bark (Bakers Chocolate, or vanilla flavored candy melts would work)

A food processor (or a ziploc bag, a Hammer and all of your frustration:))
A bowl
A spoon
A Cookie Sheet
A piece of wax paper

That is it, now lets get started.

Bakerella suggests that you take 7 Cookies out crumble them in the food processor and set aside to sprinkle ontop of your goodies (my 7 oreos didn't make it to the food processor, we ate them...oops)

Ok take the remaining oreos and chop them in the food processor Until all the cookies are crumbled into a Powder almost (not chunks). Take that and add in a bowl with your cream cheese using the back of a large spoon mix together until it is all blended.



Now you need to roll them into balls (the original recipe suggests that you do 1" balls in hindsight, I wish I would have done them way smaller, bite size they are super rich and one ball goes a long way). Place on your cookie sheet (that is covered with wax paper) I popped mine in the freezer while I prepared my white chocolate.




In a microwave safe bowl put your almond bark/candy melt/ white chocolate (whatever you decided on) nuke it in 20-30 second intervals stirring after each 20-30 seconds, until melted and smooth. Drop the balls in (don't move around a lot and for Heavens sake don't stir!) Drizzle the chocolate over the oreo ball with a spoon until coated.



I should have coated mine more, but they were still super yummy!

have fun enjoy!

*sorry for the craptastic photo job (I NEED a new Camera)