These are a few of my favorite things...mommy style

Of course when you are having a baby everyone has their favorite things that worked for their kids. However no one told me about these three things that I now can't live without.

1. Kiddopotamus Snuzzler - Charlie likes to be snuggled and won't sleep any other way. For a while he would only sleep in our arms. I put this in his carrier and he sleeps like a champ in it! It snuggles him and keeps him snug with the soft sides. Plus it helps keep him warm and cozy when we go out in the cold. They make a warm one (pictured here) and a summer one (the one I have). OK technically my friend Jaime told me about this and let me borrow hers but I forgot about it until our neighbors gave us one after Charlie was born.

2. The Moby - I saw someone in one of our local boutiques with her 7 week old wrapped and strapped on her front. I thought that Charlie may like it since at that time, he only wanted to be held and snuggled tight. Not very conducive to mommy getting anything done! Once I figured out how to tie it, he LOVES it! I can take both dogs for walks, cook, clean the house, etc all while he's happily strapped to me. There are tons of ways to use this too. Whenever Charlie gets cranky, I strap him in and he settles right down. In fact, when he was younger, it was sometimes the only way I could get him to sleep (strap him in and walk).

3. Wubbanub Pacifier - Charlie only likes the Soothie pacifiers, which is what the hospital gave us and what my pediatrician recommends. However, he constantly lets it drop out of his mouth and he gets frustrated. Usually I just hold it in for him but that can also get tiring in the middle of the night or if you are busy with something else (like making dinner). However, I just found these and he loves it! It gives him something to hold on to but the animal part is big enough to help hold it in his mouth. The first time I gave it to him, he sat and happily sucked on the paci while touching and rubbing on the stuffed animal until he fell asleep (they come in a variety of choices - we have the red dog and the giraffe).

So these are a few of my favorite things. They make great unique gifts if you know anyone having a baby soon!

Love,

Happy Momma

Great Cookbook

The title of my blog is food, faith and design. I've posted a few posts on faith and design but not one thing on food! So while I'm sitting on the couch with Charlie snuggled and sleeping on my lap, I thought I'd post a couple of new recipes just in time for the holidays.

Fire Crackers

1 1/3 cup canola oil

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dip mix

2-3 tsp red pepper

hot sauce to taste

3 boxes of mini saltines or 1 large box regular saltines

Mix the first 4 ingredients together and pour over the saltines. Shake well. Let sit for 24 hours, shaking periodically to keep the seasoning from settling. These are DELICIOUS and a great unique snack. Would be wonderful with tomato soup on a cold winter day.

My new favorite cookbook is Double Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. My mom got it for me when she was here when Charlie was born. It has great recipes that use various veggie purees to help you get more nutrients. The two I've tried so far is the butternut squash tomato soup and balsamic chicken italian sandwiches. The sandwich recipe is below...

Balsamic Chicken Sandwich

2 lbs boneless chicken, cubed

salt to taste

pepper to taste

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour (or regular flour)

3 Tbsp olive oil

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

6 Tbsp firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup broccoli puree*

tomato

6 ciabatta rolls or 12 slices crusty Italian bread (I use 7 grain Italian bread)

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Place flour in large bag then add chicken. Toss to coat chicken. Preheat oven to 350. Warm oil in large pan over med-high heat and add the chicken and garlic. Decrease heat to medium and cook until chicken begins to brown and garlic becomes fragrant. Add chicken broth, vinegar and brown sugar. Bring to boil and simmer 10-15 minutes. Add broccoli puree and cook 2-3 minutes more to incorporate flavors. Let cool for a few minutes so it thickens up. Place bread on a baking sheet and top with a slice of tomato on one side. Place chicken on other slice of bread. Top both with mozzarella. Bake until cheese is melted and bread is crisp. Make into sandwiches and serve immediately.

*broccoli puree: for 1/2 cup, take 1/2 bag of broccoli florets and steam. Place them in blender or food processor. May need to add a few Tbsp water to get creamy consistency.

Bon appetit!