Mommy Lifesaver - Easy Blueberry Mufffin

Mommylicious

If your little muffin is not as fond of Blueberries as mine is, then this muffin might just do what you have always wanted to do - make them eat blueberries. 

Blueberries are one of the most anti-oxidant rich fruits. It is high in Vitamin A and C and fiber. Packed with nutrients, blueberries make the perfect snack. 

I introduced my son to blueberries in the pureed form soon after he started solids. He was fond of blueberries till I started giving it to him as finger food. So, I had to look for ways to incorporate blueberries in his diet, be it in the form of blueberry yogurt or berry smoothie or blueberry muffins. The muffin, is hands-down, his favorite way to eat blueberries. He loves the blueberry muffins for breakfast or as a quick snack. I even give it to him as a sweet treat. 

I found the recipe for this blueberry muffin on the internet and thought it would be perfect my little one. My son is 13 months old and is a pro at solids, so this muffin is great for babies who have been used to solids for a while and is entering toddlerhood. However, make sure you are always close by to monitor your baby/toddler to avoid choking. 

This blueberry muffin recipe is very simple and most moms will have all the ingredients on hand all the time. It takes only 15 minutes to make and add 5 minutes of preparation time. So, you can whip it up real quick, even if there was no plan for it (as it happens with me most of the time).

Ingredients:

Dry-
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup granulated sugar or 1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Wet-
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain yogurt, whole milk or greek
1/3 cup butter (melted)

Method:

• Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 
• Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
• Mix all the wet ingredients in a separate bowl.

• Add the fresh or frozen (but not thawed) blueberries into the dry ingredients and fold it in.

• Mix the dry and the wet ingredients with a spatula. I say spatula and not a whisk because the batter is going to be pretty thick.

• Line a muffin tin with paper liners or just spray the muffin tin with cooking oil. 
• Scoop out the batter into the muffin tin.

• Bake it at 375 degrees for 15 minutes. Check the center of the muffin with a toothpick to ensure it is cooked through. 

Serve when the blueberry muffins cool down and see your little one just go at it. 

I have used whole milk yogurt so that this blueberry muffin is moist and soft, and needless to say, make it rich in protein.  

Make these Blueberry Muffins in batches and store them and enjoy them for a few days. This Blueberry Muffin is so easy and fast that you will hardly feel as if it is an extra chore. These are so delicious that they have become a family favorite. We adults love it just as much as our toddler. It is truly a lifesaver for moms.  

My MommyCon Experience + Coupon Code

Mommylicious

This past weekend I attended the much-awaited MommyCon at the San Jose Convention Center. It was just this year that I came to know of MommyCon and I immediately got my tickets. I was lucky that I did not have to drive a hundred miles or to a different state to be at MommyCon. 

San Jose was the last MommyCon of this year and it coincided with the Halloween weekend, which made it more special. I also had the good fortune of becoming a part of MommyCon's media team. I got my husband along to have a family day out.  

As the day approached, I could not hold my excitement any longer. I reached the venue ahead of time as I was not sure about getting to park close to the venue. MommyCon had been resourceful in providing the participants with a parking map around the venue. I happened to get a parking spot right next to the venue and at the cheapest rate. 

There was a Media members-only breakfast prior to the event and I really enjoyed the spread. So, did my 13-month-old, who wanted a share of everything. 

At first glance, I have to admit, MommyCon did look smaller to me compared to what I had expected from the MommyCon social media photographs. I thought I would be done covering it all in a couple of hours. But I was wrong. It took me the entire day to go around all the stalls and attend all the sessions. 

What sessions you ask? MommyCon actually started on Friday with an exciting line-up of VIP sessions about baby-wearing, feeding the baby, cloth diapering etc. The VIP sessions come at an additional cost of $50-$100, depending on the session. I did not get a chance to attend any of the VIP sessions but I got very positive feedback from moms who did. 

On Saturday, there were 3 sessions held every one hour. These sessions were open to anyone with a general admission ticket. Some of the sessions that took place were Natural Birth, Green-washing, Cloth Diapering, Geek Parenting, Car Seat safety, Potty-training, Baby-wearing, Wrapping by Moby Wrap, Mom Guilt, Intimacy after baby, Post-partum rehabilitation, Body Positive Image and Menstruation Workshop by the DivaCup. There was also a special session for expectant parents and Sleep Consultation. I wish I could attend all, but I attended as many as I could. All these sessions left me feeling more hopeful, confident and empowered. My favorites were Car Seat safety by That Dad Mat, What love Tastes like by The Leaky Boob and Potty  Training by Super Undies. The speakers were very resourceful and relatable, funny and most importantly, real and made moms feel like they are not alone in their struggle with different aspects of parenthood. Having that kind of support is all a mom needs sometimes.

I loved how MommyCon had paid attention to details and made sure everyone attending the event had fun. There was a crafts and coloring corner for the older children. There was Baby Food Corner by Stonyfield YoBaby, serving unlimited bibs, spoons and yogurt to babies and moms. YoBaby is my son's yogurt of choice and he was just too happy to be digging in it.

There was Vagina Village, dealing with issues of Feminine Health through a couple of sessions.

There was a Quiet Room for the little ones to nap in peace. It had playpens, sleeping accessories and dim lights.

There was also a Changing Area by Babyganics with an unlimited supply of diapers, wipes and hand sanitizers. So, all any mom needed to enjoy the day was her baby(ies) and not care if she was well-equipped with baby supplies. 

There was a great array of exhibitors showcasing innovations in the land of baby products. It was a shopaholic mommy's paradise. From feeding accessories, baby balms, baby food, diaper bags, breast pads and teething jewelry, baby carriers and nursing covers to car seats and cloth diapers, they had it all. On the one hand there were start-ups that were yet to make their retail presence felt; on the other hand there were retail giants like Babies R Us and Stonyfield Yogurt and Babyganics. My son enjoyed the little snack samples handed out by the baby food brands like Happy Baby, Yobaby yogurt and Plum Organics. 

And just when I was overwhelmed purchasing baby products, I noticed there was a bunch of stuff for mommies too like organic breast pads, sanitary pads, tampons, all free of harmful chemicals. 

If you are anything like me and retail therapy is your solution to all kinds of stress, MommyCon was THE place. 

MommyCon, as an advocate of natural parenting, has been very influential and inspirational for me as a new parent. Sadly, MommyCon is giving the bay area a miss in 2017, but I plan on visiting Orange County for being part of this grand experience all over again. 

Tickets are on sale at MommyCon. If you want a $5 discount on your ticket, for any location (US and Canada), use the coupon code MOMMYLISCIOUS17. 




This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

Breastfeeding Gear – Suck It Up!

Mommylicious

It all starts with the question at your OB/GYN’s – Are you going to breastfeed? As you circle around ‘Yes’, little do you know what a special journey you will embark on with your little one.

Having exclusively breastfed my son for 6 months (and still going strong at 14 months) , all I can say is breastfeeding is the most fulfilling aspect of motherhood. It is hassle-free, easy and economic. But if you are a first-time mom, you need to gear up for it.

Must-Have Breastfeeding Gear:

A few things to invest in to make breastfeeding more enjoyable:

·        Breastfeeding Attire:

If there is one thing that will make nursing easy, it is your clothes. The pre-pregnancy bras will not fit anymore. So quit purchasing all those Victoria Secret bras when you get pregnant. A regular bra will only cause more pain to your engorged breasts. Having nursing bras, nursing tanks and a few button-down shirts will give you one less thing to stress about while tending to a hungry baby. I lived in nursing tanks for the first one year after my son was born. It is comfortable, easy to unclasp and all tired nipples need. 

 

·        Nursing Pillow:

Breastfeeding can be back-breaking too (as if pregnancy was not enough!). Getting a nursing pillow will ensure you do not strain your back while breastfeeding every few hours. Not only will you be comfortable, but so will your baby. With a nursing pillow, it is just so much easier to give support to your arms and the baby. I loved the Boppy Pillow as it can be used for propping up the baby by the second month and helping the baby sit later on. 

·        Nursing Pads:

Truth be told, breastmilk will leak and stain your clothes. When my baby would feed on one side, my other side would leak all the time. For 11 months, I could not stay a day without nursing pads. I had extras stuffed into the diaper bag and my purse just so I am not caught with milk stained clothes. Nursing pads will keep you dry and save your pretty dress. They come in a few varieties but my nursing pad of choice is the disposable one with adhesives. 

·        Nursing Cover:

When your newborn needs to be fed, it needs to be fed. If you are anything like me and are not comfortable with breastfeeding in public, a nursing cover is the answer. Nursing covers come in a wide array of colors and patterns, and they are breathable. The one I used by Boppy had a way of marking the side I fed my baby. It also prevents the baby from getting distracted when you are trying to feed him in a mall (or aquarium, like me). This one by Boppy folds into a little pouch and is so easy to carry around. 

  

·        Nipple Cream:

It is the only solution to cracked and sore nipples. As harsh as it sounds, as a new mom you will experience sore nipples (and maybe cracked too, in some cases); what with feeding the baby every 3 hours for months. Nipple creams will soothe and heal sore nipples. Some nipple creams are harmless if consumed by the baby at the time of breastfeeding. So, lap it up. I loved Lansinoh as it does not have scent or color and is completely safe for the baby. 

While most people will say how breastfeeding saves you a ton of money, it needs some investment. Breastfeeding is good not just for the baby but also for the mom. If you can breastfeed and get the chance to do it, embrace it. It is a blessing. 


This is not a sponsored post. 

5 reasons to attend MommyCon

Mommylicious

MommyCon is coming to San Jose on October 29th, 2016. Here are 5 reasons why you should be there.


1. Connect with the other Moms

MommyCon is that one place where all moms gather. Apart from all the friends you have made at the park and your local Mommy and Me Meetups, this is the chance to make new mom friends in your city. MommyCon encourages moms to exchange contact information so that they can meet time and again. It is a great chance to bond with other moms who have a similar journey in the parenting world and bask in the joy of motherhood. Who knows, you might end up meeting your new bestie here (and maybe, your little one too)? 

 2. Experience all things Baby

MommyCon is an event where you will spend almost 8 hours (or more) being surrounded by all things baby. If you are expecting, you will get hands-on (literally) experience of all the stuff you need for your baby. You can try stuff on and test them before purchasing them like baby carriers, car seats, breast pumps, teething jewelry etc. These are premium brands that you will not find at the regular baby stores. If you are a mom already, be ready to enter mommy paradise. You will get a great chance to shop around for your little one. 

3. Shop till you drop

Are you one of those moms who loves shopping for their babies? I sure do. There are over 50 vendors who will have their products on display. Most of the brands are eco-friendly and want to make moms and their babies feel special. You are sure to stumble upon brands that adhere to your style of parenting. Some of the brands are pretty exclusive to MommyCon and can be hard to come by at the regular supermarkets. So, don't miss this chance.

4. Make it a fun family outing

It is a convention for moms and moms-to-be. But dads are welcome too. You can get your family along (kids below 12 go free) and have a fun-filled day. There is something for everybody. There are workshops and seminars on car-seat safety, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, childbirth, baby wearing, sleep consultation etc. Your little ones can get busy at the Crafts and Coloring Corner. You can head to the Baby Food Court when you need to feed your baby or toddler. Come together as a family and frolic.  

5.Giveaways and Freebies galore

Do you like free stuff? Who doesn't? If you are like me, you know the value of freebies. You will actually get to sample these amazing products for free before you actually decide to invest in them. It is the best way to try out new products while not spending your hard earned money on it. Anyone attending MommyCon goes home with a Swag bag packed with goodies from sponsors. You also get to participate in all the giveaways throughout the event and win awesome prizes.



Event Details: Mommy Con San Jose
At the San Jose Convention Center
On October 29th, 2016, Saturday
Tickets- $45 - $100





This post is not sponsored. 

Mommy Lifesaver - Quick Tuscani Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Mommylicious

Italian is my favorite cuisine. I love my pizzas and pastas. Every now and then during my trips to Target, I stop by at the Pizza Hut in it to grab a quick bite. More often than not, that happens to be the Tuscani Chicken Alfredo Pasta. As much as I love having this pasta, I hate how little I get for the money. So I decided to recreate this pasta dish at home.

As with everything else, I did my research and came up with at quick and easy mommy version of the Tuscani Chicken Alfredo Pasta. Most of the cooking happens in the oven so mommies can give all the attention to your little ones. 

Ingredients:

Pasta (any kind)
Alfredo Pasta Sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Chicken Breasts
Cheese (Mozzarella and Parmesan)
Olive Oil
Crushed Red Pepper (optional)

Method:

1. Boil the pasta according to the package instructions. You can use any kind of pasta you have on hand. I used spaghetti on this particular day. Drain the pasta and keep aside. 

2. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees. 

3. Heat up some olive oil and grill the chicken breast. Season the chicken with some salt, pepper and crushed red peppers for some heat. Once cooked on both sides, let it cool and slice the chicken up. 

4. In a baking dish, pour the pasta. Generously pour the Alfredo sauce on the pasta. Sprinkle the sliced grilled chicken. Top it with lots of Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. 

4. Bake it at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes.

Before getting into the oven.

After it comes out of the oven.

This Tuscani Chicken Alfredo pasta is a dish you can play around with depending on the time you have on hand. You can use different types of pasta each time you make it. You can add minced garlic to the chicken or in the Alfredo sauce, if you are a garlic-fanatic like me. And if you have time or are in the mood, make your own Alfredo sauce. I resort to store bought pasta sauce since becoming a mom. 

This Tuscani Chicken Alfredo Pasta will be ready in no time. All the ingredients are sitting in the pantry or refrigerator all the time. It is perfect for days when you are in a rush to get done with dinner, or want to have something delicious without having to go to a restaurant; or if you are just feeling lazy but don't want your family dinner to reflect that. Your family will love this pasta dish and you will be flooded with requests to make it again. 

It is a go-to pasta dinner in my house. I prefer having my go-to recipes rather than having to-go from a restaurant. 



This is not a sponsored post. I love Pizza Hut and let me just say that imitation is the best form of flattery. 

Mommy Lifesaver - Healthy First Birthday Smash Cake

Mommylicious

First birthdays can be really daunting to plan (at least for first-time moms). Not to mention how challenging it is to come up with the perfect smash cake for the little one. Challenging, I say, because not only will your baby smash it and play with it, but he might also taste it or eat a big chunk of the cake. I wanted my son to have fun with the smash cake but I did not want him to have all the sugar. 

Since the introduction of solid foods, I was so careful not to add salt and sugar to the baby-food. Some babies do not have egg whites up until their birthday cake. And then cow's milk is off the list too. But just as your little munchkin turns one, he is suddenly allowed everything. But we, of course, do not want to introduce them to excessive amounts of sugar, egg whites, (cow's milk) butter and cream together on his first birthday. You would not want to live the whole day in fear of some unknown allergies spoiling your baby's birthday. 

I love the tradition of smash cakes and I feel the birthday cake is a significant part of any birthday party. 

As an advocate of all things healthy, I did not want my son to pounce on a big store-bought sugar-y cake. I wanted to know the ingredients list and have some control over it. So, I did my research and came up with a healthy smash cake idea. It is a delicious 2-tiered cake with simple ingredients. It has very little sugar as it derives its sweetness mostly from fruits like bananas and applesauce. 

Ingredients:

Cake-

1 cup flour (can use wheat flour instead)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1 ripe banana
1 apple made into unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup milk (prefreabbly whole)
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (alcohol-free)

Frosting-
4 oz cream cheese
1/8 cup confectioner's sugar

Directions:

Cake-

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• You can use 2 small 4 1/2 inch spring form pans or 1 large 9 inch spring form pan. Grease the cake pans with butter and dust flour on them.  
• Mix all the dry ingredients like flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a bowl.
• In a blender, blend the banana, applesauce, egg yolk, vanilla extract and milk. 
• Mix the wet and dry ingredients in a bowl using a hand whisk. Do not over-mix. Make sure the batter is free of lumps.
• Empty the cake mix into the pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when poked into the center of the cake. 
• Place the cakes on a cooling rack while you prepare the frosting.

Frosting-

• Use an electric hand mixture to whisk the cream cheese (room temperature) till it is light and fluffy. You can totally use whipped cream instead. Or add a little whipped cream to the cream cheese. It will all be yummy. 
• Add the sugar and whisk some more. You can skip the sugar altogether if you want it to be healthier.
• For fun colors, you can add any berry puree to the frosting like blueberry or strawberry or raspberry. Match it to your party theme. 

Assembly- 

If you have 2 small cakes you can place one top of the other and place frosting in the middle. If you have one large cake, cut out 2 smaller cakes from it using a glass or bowl. You can even have 2 different sized cakes and make an interesting 2 tier cake.

Put the frosting on all sides and give it the look you desire. Make it as colorful as you want. You can decorate the cake with anything, from sprinkles to fruits to cheerios. Match it up to the theme of the party. Your munchkin will love it anyway. I left my frosting white and added some cheerios and sprinkles. Just make sure you do not add anything that can be a chocking hazard for the baby.   

The ripe banana and the applesauce will make the cake moist, so you will not need to add butter. This healthy smash cake is going be a little dense, not quite like the fluffy store bought cakes. But this smash cake is healthy and yummy. 

We celebrated my son's first birthday last weekend and he just loved this cake so much. He played around with the frosting, munched on the cheerios, and ended up eating the cake like a pro. I guess he gets his sweet-tooth from his mommy!

The preparation time was about 1 hour. Seeing my son's face light up while eating the cake just made me happy beyond words. The experience was so fulfilling and all you want to do for your child is ensure that he is healthy and happy.  

This recipe is totally mommy and baby approved. You must have guessed by now that I love baking, especially for my family. For more simple recipes you can go here or here. 

Mommy Lifesaver - No-bake Strawberry Cheesecake

Mommylicious

It was my husband's birthday last weekend and (like always) I could not zero in on the kind of cake I wanted to make for him. I always bake him a cake for his birthday, no matter what the situation. Last year, when I was still very pregnant, it was relatively easier for me to get things done. But this year I have an 11 month old, and let me just tell you my hands are full. It is just incredibly hard to get anything done around the house, let alone do something fancy like bake a cake.

So, I had to come up with a quick fix. A no bake cheesecake it is, I thought. After using my son's nap times to research on the kind of cheesecakes, I finally zeroed in on a very simple yet crazy delicious Strawberry Cheesecake 2 days before the birthday. That evening I made a quick trip to the grocery store. 

Let me first tell you how it is a Mommy Lifesaver. Firstly, it requires no baking. Yes, that means no eggs, no flour and no checking in on the oven. All you do is mix everything up and shove it in the refrigerator. Secondly, it takes a few ingredients and very little time (I am talking 30-45 minutes) to get the cheesecake done. I made this cake when son went to bed the night before the birthday. 

To give you some perspective, we just moved into our new house exactly a week back, there is an 11 month old cruising around the house bumping into and banging everything, it is my husband's birthday and I am expecting a few guests. This No Bake Strawberry Cheesecake just made me look in-control and put-together (despite the craziness). It is so delicious that everyone tasting it will only rave about your culinary and mommy skills and how you managed to pull this cake off with a toddler sticking to your legs in the kitchen (true story!).
Now, getting down to the recipe. I found this recipe from the Philadelphia Cream-cheese makers. They literally, saved the day. However, you can use any brand of cream-cheese. This blog post is not sponsored by any brand and I paid for all my ingredients (in case you were wondering).

A little side-note - you would want to make this cake at least 12 hours in advance, as it needs to set in the refrigerator. 

Ingredients (for a 9 inch spring-form pan):

Graham Crackers - 1 pack
Butter - 1/3 cup (melted) and 1/2 cup (room temp.)
Fresh Strawberries - 4 cups
Cream Cheese - 2 8oz packs (room temp.)
Heavy Whipping Cream - 2 cups
Orange Juice - 1/2 cup
Lemon Juice - 1 tbsp
Confectioner's sugar - 2.5 cups
Unflavored Gelatin - 2 envelopes

Method:

Crust - Ground the Graham crackers in a food processor and mix in the melted butter. Line a 9 inch Spring-form pan with parchment/wax paper on the bottom and the sides. Pour in the graham cracker-mix at the bottom and press it hard in place with a flat-bottom cup. 
I recommend using a spring-form pan for cheesecakes, it just makes life easier. 

Keep this in the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the cake.

Cake- Keeping aside about 6 strawberries for garnish, slice up the remaining strawberries vertically. Use the largest slices to line up the sides of the spring-form pan over the wax paper. Finely chop up the smaller bits of strawberry slices and keep aside. 

Heat up the Gelatin in a small pan over low heat while you mix up the rest of the ingredients. Stir occasionally. 

Use a stand or hand mixer to mix the following - cream cheese (room temp.), 2 cups sugar, 1 cup whipping cream, orange juice, lemon juice, gelatin and chopped strawberries. 

Pour this mixture into the spring-form pan.

You could leave it at this and just garnish with a few fresh strawberries.

Or you could just add a whipped cream frosting, which is incredible easy to make but ridiculously yummy.

Frosting - Use an electric hand mixer to mix 1 cup of whipping cream, 1/2 cup of confectioner's sugar, 1/2 cup room temperature butter (a few drops of vanilla essence - optional). Make sure this is beaten till it is light and fluffy.
A little tip - never microwave the frozen butter, you will never get the right texture for the frosting. Use soft room temperature butter for the perfect fluffy frosting.

Spread this yummy goodness over the cream-cheese mixture on the spring-form pan and garnish with strawberries on top. Decorate the cake with fresh strawberries whichever way you want. 

Keep the cake in the refrigerator overnight or at least 6 to 8 hours before serving. 

Before serving, take off the side of the spring-form pan. Slowly remove the wax paper from the sides and a gorgeous Strawberry Cheesecake will be staring at you, ready to be cut. 

I will confess I tasted the batter while making it (only to check the sugar I promise). So I kind of knew how yummy this No bake Strawberry Cheesecake was getting. 

It completely wow-ed my husband and my guests. They did not mind the huge slices I gave them. This no bake cheesecake is of a supreme kind that you can make on special occasions. It is perfect for birthdays. No one will ever know how pressed you are for time and how easy this is when they have this cheesecake. A must-try this mommy says. 

Are you looking for a healthy smash cake recipe for your baby's first birthday? Find it here.

Find a delicious one pot pasta recipe here, totally mommy-approved.