Gluten Free Peanut Butter Brownies

Thanks to my friend Larissa for this yummy chocolate fix of a recipe!!
WARNING: do not give in to the temptation to eat entire pan in one sitting!!

Best Ever Gluten Free Brownies

1 Cup Almond Butter (or other nut butter - I used all natural peanut butter)

1 Egg

1/2 Cup Raw Honey (I used regular honey)

1/8 Cup Maple Syrup

1 Tbsp. Vanilla

1/4 Cup Cocoa or Carob Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 Cup Chocolate Chips

Mix all ingredients together and put in a greased square baking dish. Sprinkle with chocolate chips (and walnuts if desired).

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 325 degrees. 

5 Worst Foods For Babies

Here are bits from an article I found interesting on babycenter.com

5 Worst Foods For Babies

From 500-calorie desserts disguised as coffee drinks to greasy, salt-encrusted french fries, we adults usually know when we're making unwise food choices. But often we don't realize that many of the foods we routinely give babies are essentially junk food – high in calories, sugar, or salt, and low in nutrients.

Eating junk food is more damaging to babies than adults. That's because babies don't need many calories, but they do need lots of nutrients. It's easy for them to fill up quickly on junk food's empty calories, leaving no room for nutrient rich healthy foods.

Here's the list of the worst food offenders for babies.

Soda

It seems too obvious to mention, but believe it or not, some babies are served soft drinks as early as 7 months of age, according to a survey of more than 3,000 families presented at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) conference in 2009.  

Juice

Sure, it comes from fruit, but that doesn't mean it's healthy. The fiber in fresh fruit is largely lost in the juicing process, and what's left is a whole lot of sugar.

Using certain types of juice – specifically apple and pear – to sweeten your baby's food isn't a good idea either. The sugars in these juices can speed up the food's passage through the digestive tract. When food passes too quickly, the body doesn't have time to absorb all those lovely nutrients. It can also lead to diarrhea in some babies.

What about advertisers' claims that juice provides babies with necessary vitamin C? Don't be fooled. Babies can easily get their vitamin C from one small serving of fruit.

What should your baby drink instead? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies younger than 6 months drink nothing but breast milk or formula. Babies 6 to 12 months old can have small amounts of water, but breast milk or formula should still be their main beverage. After the first birthday, cow's milk is recommended.

Crackers

They make convenient snacks once your baby can bite and chew, but it won't take many to satisfy your little one's appetite, leaving no room for nutrient-rich foods. Also, just as eating sweet things can help babies develop a sweet tooth, eating salty things can give them a "salty tooth." The survey presented at the 2009 ADA conference found that nearly three-quarters of toddlers and preschoolers get more than the recommended daily amount of sodium.

The ever-popular fish-shaped crackers fall into this category. Fruit slices are a much better choice. And if you're looking for an instant grab-and-go snack, low-sugar cereals have more nutritional value than crackers, she says.

Processed meals

People define processed foods in different ways, but in general, the more the food is modified from what was originally caught, raised, or grown – and the longer the list of ingredients – the more processed the food. With heavy processing, foods often lose significant nutritional value and gain unhealthy additives.

The more processed the food, the more nutritional value tends to go down, and the more the sugar, salt, and fat content goes up.

The worst processed foods parents serve up are the ones not specifically meant for babies, such as canned pasta. They often contain way too much sodium. You're better off boiling up some noodles and topping them with a few crushed tomatoes.

Gelatin desserts

You'd be surprised at how many people think a gelatin dessert is a wholesome food for babies.  Why the misconception? Many people think gelatin contains protein, perhaps because it's made from processed animal bones and cartilage. But it doesn't, at least, not in any significant amount. What the baby ends up eating is nearly all sugar, artificial color, and artificial flavor, and a trace amount of gelatin to make it wiggly.

True, gelatin is easy to swallow, but then again, so is this healthy dessert: a baked, mashed apple with a sprinkle of cinnamon. It's naturally sweet and has good fiber, vitamins, and a yummy, smooth texture.

10 Best Foods For Babies

There are SO many resources for mommy life. With books, blogs, websites, friends and family - sometimes all the "advice" can be a bit overwhelming. One of my favorite websites as a first time mom has been babycenter.com. I find their articles helpful and practical. A recent article on the site titled "The ten best foods for baby" caught my attention. I have a fascination with nutrition in general. As a mommy, I want to give Baby Girl food that will not only satisfy her hunger, but benefit her nutritionally as well. I'd like to make my own baby food to avoid all the additives in bought baby food and also to be cost effective. My blog post today is an excerpt from this article on babycenter.com . . .


10 of the best foods for babies . . .

• Squash
• Lentils
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Broccoli
• Blueberries
• Avocados
• Meat
• Prunes
• Garbanzo beans
• Mandarin oranges

Squash

Squash is an excellent source of vitamins A and C, is naturally sweet, and has a pleasing, creamy texture.

Serving idea: Sprinkle parmesan cheese and a little chili seasoning on half a squash, roast it, and scoop out a serving for your baby. Cooked squash with a little cilantro, mild chiles, and garbanzo beans are another great combination.

Lentils

Crammed with protein and fiber, lentils pack a powerful nutritional punch. They're also one of the cheapest healthy foods you can buy.

Serving idea: Combine cooked lentils with mixed vegetables, rice, and seasonings of your choice. Try basil and oregano, or toss in a bay leaf, which works really well with lentils. (Remove the bay leaf before serving.)

Dark green leafy vegetables

Leafy greens boast high amounts of iron and folate. While spinach is perhaps the best known of this group, there are many other varieties, including kale, chard, and collard greens.

Serving idea: Steam and puree a batch of greens, then mix with iron-fortified cereal to give your baby a double dose of iron. Experiment with the proportions to see what your baby likes; try starting with two parts veggie to one part cereal.

Broccoli

Brimming with folate, fiber, and calcium, broccoli is also known for its cancer-fighting properties. And thanks to its sulfur compounds, it has a unique flavor that can help expand your baby's tastes.

Serving idea: Steam pieces until soft, then chill. Steaming takes the bite out of broccoli; chilled broccoli is sometimes better accepted by babies. It can also be soothing during teething.

Blueberries

The deep, brilliant blue of these berries comes from flavonoids called anthocyanins, which are good for your baby's eyes, brain, and even urinary tract.

Serving Idea: Combine 1 cup of blueberries with one-quarter cup of water in a bowl, microwave for one minute, and let cool. Then swirl some plain yogurt on top. 

Avocados
Avocados are a rich source of unsaturated fats.  In fact, the fat composition is somewhat similar to that of breast milk." 

Serving idea: Try combining mashed avocado with other foods, such as cream cheese, apples, or canned fish.  When it's playgroup time, ditch the crackers and take an avocado along instead. Avocados can travel in your bag at room temperature and you can offer them in slivers or spread on toast fingers while you sip coffee with your friends.

Meat

Many of us don't think of meat as a typical baby food, but it is a great source of zinc and iron

Serving idea: Cook stew! Stew is the ideal baby food – easy to make, easy to chew, and endless in its variety. Experiment with adding different veggies and seasonings, such as ginger and parsley. Just be sure to cook the stew long enough for the meat to turn soft and scrumptious. 

Prunes

Prunes have lots of fiber and can help relieve constipation – which your baby may experience after you introduce solid foods.

Serving idea: Puree prunes and serve them straight or mixed with other foods, such as cereal or applesauce, for a naturally sweet treat. If your baby is badly constipated, try adding a teaspoon or two of prune juice to formula or expressed breast milk.

Garbanzo beans

Like lentils and other beans, garbanzos are rich in protein and fiber. They're also inexpensive and versatile.

Serving idea: Try hummus. You can find it in many grocery stores, or make your own by pureeing cooked garbanzo beans with garlic, lemon, olive oil, and tahini. You can also make a delectable finger food by sautéing or roasting the beans.

Mandarin oranges

High in vitamin C and antioxidants, mandarin oranges are a supreme finger food. Babies really love the flavor.

Serving idea: This is a particularly easy one to prepare – just cut the segments into bite-size pieces and serve. You can buy mandarin oranges fresh or canned, but make sure the canned version is packed in water, not syrup, which contains added sugar.

The website recommends after introducing any new food, wait three days before moving on to the next new food to identify any possible allergic reaction. If your baby's still a beginner at eating solids, grind or puree the food as needed.