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Rice Cereal with Cinnamon apples + bananas

2  Cups water (or milk)
1 cup arborio rice
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/2 t. cinnamon

Bring water to a boil, add rice. Allow to simmer until the rice begins to soften and get creamy. Add more water if necessary.

Add banana pieces, apple sauce and cinnamon. Stir and cook for 2 minutes. 

Puree if your child isn't quite ready for this consistency.

*Alternative: use milk to cook the rice or add milk to reach desired consistency.  Maple syrup would also be nice with the bananas and apple sauce!

Lentil Rice Patties

Great Vegetarian recipe that kids enjoy

14 oz chicken broth or vegetable broth
3/4 C. water
1/2 C. chopped onion
1/3 C. uncooked regular brown rice
1/2 t. red pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 C. brown lentils, rinsed & drained
15 oz. garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained
1 C. regular rolled oats
2 slightly beaten eggs
1/4 C. fresh, chopped basil (fresh makes a big difference)
1 T. worcestershire sauce
1/4 t. salt
1/2 C. chopped walnuts or almonds, toasted (optional)

In  med. saucepan, combine chicken broth, water, onion, rice, pepper and garlic. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add lentils. Simmer covered for 25 minutes or until the rice & lentils are tender.

Remove from heat.

Add mashed garbanzo beans to saucepan and mix. Stir in oats.  Let stand for 5 minutes

Combine egg whites, basil & worcestershire sauce & salt. Add to lentil/rice mixture stirring to combine. Stir in nuts if used.

Pan fry on med heat until light brown.

Add shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes or plain yogurt as toppings.

enjoy

Fruit Compote

One of the first recipes that was handed down to me by my son's pediatrician, was fruit compote.  You can use any dried fruit to create a compote, but a favorite is the one using prunes, raisins & apricots.

With so many moms preparing homemade rice cereal by grinding up whole grain rice and slow cooking it in water, some pediatricians are concerned about the lack of iron babies are getting, which was otherwise added to box rice cereal.  No worries here, prunes and raisins are rich in iron so it's perfect to add to the cereal.  Here's the recipe

Fruit Compote
1 handful pitted prunes
1 handful unsulfured apricots
1 handful raisins (i prefer golden raisins)

Place all ingredients in a pot of boiling water and allow to stew for 15-20 minutes.
Puree
Keep covered in the refrigerator and use for the next 4 weeks.

Great served alone, with plain yogurt or with a morning cereal.  A little goes a long way!

Enjoy