A different kind of cooking
While I made the chickpea patties last night, I also ventured into a new-to-me kinda cooking.
Baby food!
How cute are these little baby bullet containers?!
(Peas, carrots and green beans)
We’ve been experimenting with babyled weaning so far – the baby is given large pieces of the same food you’re eating. The only obstacles we’ve encountered are the facts that Oliv hasn’t developed her pincer grasp (so peas would be a little rough) and I like to salt our veggies pretty heftily, and salt is out for beebs.
I thought I’d help her out by steaming and pureeing some plain veggies that she can mash around and grab handfuls of:
and the Pilot and I helped her scoop up and eat bites during the meal.
I wasn’t sure how much she’d like it- I don’t even like peas plain- but she went crazy for them. After dinner, it was legendary bath time and bed for Liv, and then I hit up the gym to do the week 1 circuit. Thank you so much to those of you who have been checking in with the workouts! I love the pics on Twitter, too. I left the gym sweaty and triumphant.
Kind of random: Bell got a haircut yesterday. I dropped her off at the groomer’s and the Pilot went to pick her up when he got off work.
This is the picture he texted me, along with this caption: IT’S THE BEAL!!!!!
(We call Bella “Beal” along with about a hundred other strange nicknames)
I laughed so hard. I really thought the groomer decided to do something new, but it turns out that the Pilot snapped that shot in a dog magazine while waiting for Bell to be finished with her haircut.
Much better:
She looks so pretty 🙂
This morning was the standard egg burrito with watery coffee:
I try to make iced coffee every morning and the ice just ends up melting. Halp me.
Time to pack up my work snacks and g-o. It’s a Zumba day!
Have a happy humpday!
xoxo
Gina
Check in here!
Leave a comment to let me know that you’ve done your steady state cardio for the day! It can be anything: running, walking, spinning, elliptical, rowing, Zumba- you name it. Try to go for at least 30 minutes. Also, what’s on the menu today? If you’re participating in the Shape Up, be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water and get in 5 servings total of fruits and veggies!
Shout outs: Athena, Ana, Ann, Jayme, Mandy M, Katie H, Amy, Sarah B., Kate, Shelley, Jamie, Lisa, Mel, Madison, Stacy, Abby F, Siobhan, Rachel C and Emma! <– just a handful of the fabulous ladies who rocked out their workouts and checked in yesterday!
Today’s workout jam:
Awesome for sprints (or today’s steady state!). I totally thought it said “it started with the whiskey” instead of “with a whisper” until I searched for the video right now. And the meaning of the song just changed.
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im not sure what kind of coffee pot you use but i always brew up a really strong batch the night before 🙂 that way the ice cubes don’t melt as fast, and even when they do start melting the strongness of the coffee keeps it from tastint too watery. ive also heard of people making coffee icecubes which i have yet to try but have been meaning to attempt! 🙂
oh i love that idea! we have a k cup maker so i can’t really make it in advance
ah yes the k cup (which i love as well). my boyfriend has a k cup maker (i have one of those old coffe pots at my apartment) so when im at his place i use the iced coffee k cups and they actually work pretty well. they make iced tea ones too. 🙂
Sure you can. Make it the night before and put it in the fridge…that’s what I do. And add a splash of milk in the morning. chocolate almond milk is divine.
I have the Bullet too! Made some sweet taters last night.
If you buy the K-cups taht are specifically for iced coffee they are extra strong because they know the ice cubes will melt and they take that into consideration. Their iced teas are really good too!
amaaazzzing
I would second coffee ice cubes! That’s usually what I do.
LOL i don’t know what i would have done if the Pilot had brought Bella home actually looking all fluffed up like that!! Cardio for me today was 30 mins on the StepMill, followed by some weights and teaching my spin class. Legs are already feelin’ it!
Starbucks Iced Via is AMAZING!!! I just mix half a packet with 8oz of ice cold milk. Perfection. Also, The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for iced coffee on her blog that is simple. Try those 🙂
Yes coffee ice cubes! And brewing coffee extra strong. That’s what we did at one coffee place I worked at 🙂 Also, I’m sure you are, but adding a little bit of almond milk helps keep it from getting too noticeably watery.
I love the baby bullet!! Whenever a friend is having a baby, that is on the top of my list for them! They are just genius and of course, adorable!
this is delish:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/
it takes a bit longer, so it might not be an every day kind of thing, but so worth it to try sometime!
that looks outta control amazing
I was going to post this too!! It’s a little time-intensive up front {for me at least}, but the “concentrate” lasts a long time. Plus, it’s really versatile – you can make all kinds of iced lattes/mochas/etc.
LOVING that song right now, too!! Haha, hilarious about whiskey v. whisper. Oh my gosh, those baby bullet containers are beyond adorable, I can hardly stand it. I love that you’re making your own baby food! Awesome 🙂 I keep meaning to try out the Pioneer Woman’s technique for making iced coffee (except with almond milk/ stevia): http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/perfect-iced-coffee/ Thought it might help you to avoid watery iced coffee!
I have a Keurig, so I just brew a cup the night before and stick in the fridge overnight. It’s cold in the morning and I toss a few more ice cubes in for that iced coffee feel haha ghetto iced coffee at it’s finest!
Got in my walking today!
I third the coffee ice cubes–it definitely helps!
Coffee ice cubes work great. You could even make some almond milk ice cubes and throw them in the blender with your cooled coffee for a frappucino-like drink.
ahhhh! GENIUS
I make coffee ahead and keep it in a liquid-friendly container in the fridge. I also tend to make my coffee extra strong, so that it doesn’t taste too watered down. And, I think coffee-ice cubes sound like a great idea! Hopefully, something will work for you 🙂
Oh, and great song!
International Delights has an iced coffee out now that is DELISH. You just pour it over ice and its ready to go. Check for it back in your dairy section – mine was by the creamers.
Not going to lie – when I made M some sweet potatoes…I definitely snuck in a couple of bites 🙂
Going running today in the afternoon…yay!!
I’ve been wanting to try BLW, too, but Emmie isn’t 6 months old yet, so I’ve been waiting. How has Livi been doing with it? She’s not quite 6 months yet, is she? I’d like to start a little earlier, if possible, as Emmie is SUPER interested in our food and has done well with everything (pureed) we’ve given her so far.
she’s a tiny bit over 5 months and is doing really well with it! i was going to wait until 6 months, but couldn’t since she’s grabbing at my food all the time anyway 😉
That’s good to hear. I might start early, too, then. We have the same problem with her trying to grab our food! 🙂
Hahaha, the fake Bella pic is hilarious!
Do you have a French Press? I usually put a hefty amount of grounds in the french press, add warm water, let it steep over night and then “press” it in the morning. It’s more of a concentrate then, and goes a little farther. I just add more water or a little milk to make it drinkable. It’s very good and not watery at all!
Bella looks like she’s smiling in that picture. So cute!
When I make iced coffee I usually do it the night before. I brew a pot (or make a pot of French press), cool it to room temp and then stick it in the fridge overnight. In the morning I pour it into a glass and add ice. If you’re feeling fancy, freeze coffee in an ice cube tray, so when the ice melts it just adds more coffee flavor.
Awesome that you’re making your own baby food! My daughter is 3 months and I can’t wait to start puree-ing away. My husband bought me this cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Homemade-Baby-Food-Planet/dp/1592334237/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339602379&sr=8-3&keywords=baby+food+cookbook, should be fun!
If you’re going to make coffee the night before to chill for the next day, you might as well just cold brew it: http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2012/04/best-way-to-make-cold-brew-coffee-iced-coffee-technique-tips.html
That’s how we made it at a coffee shop I used to work at – it really tastes so much better than regular coffee that’s just been cooled down.
You need a french press if you don’t already have one! You can actually just put cold water and coarsely ground beans in cold water overnight or 24 hours, ideally, and then strain with the press, voila.. cold press coffee! It is richer tasting because you eliminate a paper filter which sucks all the delicious coffee oils out of the beans. It is also a lot smoother because heat is what brings out the bitterness and acidity. It is usually strong enough to withstand some dilution with ice cubes and if you add some almond milk… don’t even get me started : )
I used to do all my baby food prep on Sunday mornings. I would do a handful of different foods, freeze them in ice trays, pop ’em out and keep them in gallon freezer baggies in the freezer till I needed them.
So easy, so healthy, so much cheaper and it was just so fun knowing I was making her foods!
60 minutes walk this morning with a friend:)
I’m doing Teach for America and we have our institute training at Georgia Tech in Atlanta and they have a 3.14 mile long ‘pi’ run that me and a friend did today!! So much of it was uphill though!! It was crazy!
LOVED the baby bullet!
Coffee ice cubes! I make a tray every morning, and since I like my coffee a little sweet, before I pour the coffee into the tray, I mix in a splash of almond milk and a bit of stevia, and sometimes a drop or two of vanilla extract. SO GOOD.
I got up early & walked with a neighbor. It was lovely & the temp was a little cooler than morning which felt great!
I hope to make my own baby food too when my little man arrives in a couple of months! Those all look yummy, much tastier than the jarred stuff at the store!
Also ideas for iced coffee. i’ll brew coffee, stick in in the fridge and then the next day brew another pot using the cold coffee in place of water. comes out nice and strong! I like the ice cube coffee idea too!
Two iced coffee tips, my dear: 1. Freeze some brewed joe into iced coffee cubes, then pour your regular brewed coffee over it in the morning. 2. Cold-brew your coffee with this method: http://pinterest.com/pin/180847741256954271/. Good luck!
I love coffee iced cubes! And Keurigs! So far that and the stocked fridge is the only benefit I’ve found for moving back in with my parents two weeks ago..I just graduated college last month and Keurig makes coffee 10x better than the super old coffee maker we had in our apartment!
Just went to the gym and busted out 40 minutes on the elliptical! I’m about to go foam roll too – my quads are so so sore after the workout yesterday.
I loved making food for my twins! I made mine with the regular old bullet. They came out with the baby bullet after we needed it. 🙁 I’d spend a few hours on a Sunday whipping up baby food and freezing them in ice cube trays, pop them out and put them in freezer bags. My kids loved it!
I’m a huge magic bullet fan and my co-worker was telling me all about the baby bullet. We don’t have kids yet but I’ll be getting one for sure when we do. Good luck with the transition to solid foods!
I have to switch up the calender a bit because my gym doesn’t have Zumba on Wednesdays (boo!) so I did a supa’ sweaty hour of that yesterday. Excited to hit up the circuit later this morning!
Thank goodness the groomer didn’t actually do that. I would have felt so bad for Bella.
I have three beagles so I never have to get them groomed. Though sometimes it’s hard to believe that such a short-haired breed can shed SO MUCH!
I hopped on the elliptical today for 30 minutes and then tested out a few of the moves to see what I could do with my pregnant belly 🙂 I was able to do all the moves except for #5. With #6, the mountain climbers were modified, but I felt really good after doing it.
You should make ice cubes out of coffee!! Then when it melts it’s just cool coffee 🙂
When Livi starts teething, perhaps try some frozen peas. My mom said she used to give us frozen peas all the time and that we absolutely loved them. Also, check-in for Insanity – Pure Cardio & Cardio Abs 🙂
I’d suggest making coffee ice cubes with leftover coffee or brew coffee just for that purpose. Then no more watery coffee!
Hi Gina,
I LOVE your blog! I signed up for my very first marathon (Marine Corps in DC in October) and have started a little blog of my own too 😉
TIP for the “melty coffee”: My brother works at the Four Seasons and just told me this weekend that for the customers who order Iced Tea at the pool in the summer, they use Iced Tea ICE CUBES so that when they melt, the tea isnt watered down. I was going to try this on my own, and Id imagine you could do the same with your coffee! Brew some coffee, let it cool and fill up some ice cube trays then the next morning when you make your coffee, you can use a coffee iced cube that will cool your nice hot coffee but wont water it down!
Try it out, hope it works!
Stacey
My coffee was the same this morning. And my sister gave me the same advice as Ashley above. Coffee ice cubes. She also said either make the night before and put in frig…covered or your other food will taste like coffee. Or let chill in freezer for an hour. Tomorrow is another day.
I switched up the days and did the HIIT + Workout 1 today and the steady state yesterday. Whew I was sweating hard core today! Great workout and I’m excited to have a plan for the month to help me out!
That baby weening approach looks like an epic mess 🙂
you have no idea. hahah
For iced coffee:
Make the coffee the night before. Let it cool completely. Once cooled, put it in a pitcher (or mug) and put it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, load up your cup or mug with ice, pour coffee and any other sweet additions. Works like a charm.
Enjoy!
this idea is more for the whiskey drinker, but it still serves the same purpose LOL. Stones that you freeze and put in your drink to keep it cool, but it doesnt melt or water down your drink.
http://inventorspot.com/articles/whiiskey_stones_keep_drinks_cool_and_potent
those are so cool! the pilot would like them too
yup, definitely a “man thing” 🙂
Brew coffee. Pour it into any container you have. Put in fridge & let it cool. Drink in the next day or two, over ice, doctored up with cream and sugar or however you take your iced coffee. Super simple 🙂 People make a much bigger deal out of it than necessary but just refrigerator any and all leftover coffee from a pot of coffee and use that the next day or two. Been working for me for about…15 years that way 🙂
So cute with the baby food….let high chair cleanup begin!
I put the coffee in the fridge overnight and then ice it in the morning – voila! No meltage 🙂
How long does the pureed baby food keep? Did you follow a recipe somewhere or just mush it up on a whim?
i just steamed and pureed it. i’m thinking it will be good for about 3 days- i kept 3 in the fridge and froze the other 3
You need to make coffee ice cubes!
Cold brewed iced coffee will be the best thing to ever happen to your taste buds. 1/3 cup finely ground coffee in a pitcher, add 1.5 cups of water, cover and let sit over night. In the morning strain out the grounds. To drink fill a glass with ice, then put in enough coffee concentrate to fill 1/2 the glass. Top with water.
I rocked steady state cardio on the elliptical today. SO sore, so this was really needed!!