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.