The massive Listeria recall that affected frozen fruits and vegetables last week is expanding to meat and poultry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that approximately 47.1 million pounds of not-ready-to-eat meat and poultry products may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes. These products have been recalled from Costco, Trader Joe’s, Target, and other stores. The products by Ajinomoto Windsor, Inc where produced on various dates between May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2016.

Some of the recalled items include:

  • 14.2-oz packages containing “Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice” with best-by dates ranging from 01/02/2015 to 10/27/2017.
  • 12-lb cases containing 32-oz packages of “Fred’s Jalapeño, Corn & Bacon Cornbread Pop” with product code 0945137.
  • 20-oz packages containing “Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice” with case codes ranging from 261231 to 281211.
  • 20-oz. packages containing “HyVee chicken fried rice” with best-by dates ranging from 7/11/2015 to 3/03/2017.
  • 20-oz. packages containing “First Street Chicken Fried Rice” with best-by dates ranging from 7/11/2015 to 3/15/2017.
  • 30-oz. packages containing “Daily Chef Chicken Poblano Firecrackers” with packaging dates between 8/10/2015 to 1/25/2016.
  • 12.5-lbs packages containing “Golden Tiger SANTA FE BRAND CHICKEN EGG ROLLS” with packaging dates between 8/22/2014 to 11/6/2015.
  • 8-oz. packages containing “archer farms Chicken Poblano Firecrackers” with packaging dates between 7/15/2014 to 3/21/2016.
  • 1.15-kg packages of “Molly’s Kitchen Mini Chicken Pot Pie Empanadas” with packaging dates between 6/4/2014 to 1/7/2015.
  • 30-oz packages containing 30 pieces of “Petite Cuisine SOUTHWEST CHICKEN Handmade Firecrackers” with packaging dates between 10/9/2014 to 11/6/2014.

To see a full list of the products involved in the recall, please click here or visit www.fsis.usda.gov.

 

When every doodle, handprint, and finger painting is a priceless masterpiece (read: the drawers are overflowing with supplies and you haven’t seen the fridge handle in months), finding a place for all of your petite Picasso’s fabulous work can be a challenge. Take a cue from a few incredibly creative parents, whose innovation solutions to displaying the whirlwind of paper and glitter have us totally inspired. Flip through the album below for 12 artful solutions to the creative chaos.

DIY Colorful Gallery Wall

The Caterpillar Years came up with this beautiful solution to showcase her daughter’s art, hanging brightly hued empty frames of varying sizes and shapes. The artwork is easily interchangeable thanks to clothespins, giving the kids complete creative control. Find a list of materials plus instructions for creating your own gallery here.

photo: The Caterpillar Years

How do you organize, display or save your kid’s artwork? Share your ideas in the comments below. 

— Lauren Hill

 

What’s more fun than a day at the farm? A day at the farm celebrating your lil’ cowpoke’s big day! From barns with animals to barns with more carnival than cow, round up your petite posse for a fun, festive birthday at one of these local barns. With a moo, moo here and a cluck, cluck there—you are sure to see lots of smiles all around. Yee-haw!

Kelsey Creek Farm

Party with the animals at Bellevue’s Kelsey Creek Farm. This historic farm nestled in the middle of the city offers the unique opportunity to hang out with traditional barnyard friends. Meet and pet the farm’s pony, sheep, rabbits, goats and chickens and visit the historic barn before heading into the farm room for more party fun and a craft - create your own woolly sheep to take home. Party packages include one hour tour/craft time and one hour room rental. In addition to the animals, partygoers can enjoy the playground, trails and open spaces to run.

Good to Know: Parties are suited for kids ages 2-11 and are limited to 30 children and/or adults. Children under 2 are free. The Farm Room is a heated classroom with a small kitchen, three preschool-sized tables and chairs for your pint-sized partygoers, plus a small carpeted area for games and gift-opening. Parties begin at $160 for up to 15 children for Bellevue residents; non-residents are $175; each additional child is $5.50 each.

Kelsey Creek Farm
410 130 Pl. S.E.
Bellevue, Wa 98005
425-452-7688
Email: kelseycreekfarm@bellevuewa.gov
Online: farmerjayne.com

photo: Kristina Moy

Have you taken your kids to one of these spots for a birthday bash? Share your experience with us in the Comments below!

— Abbey McGee

If your kid is begging for a popsicle at every meal, skip the sugar-laden, plastic wrapped kind and head to Pleasant Pops newest downtown brick and mortar for a fresh, homemade treat. Many of the pops come with veggies blended in, so technically it could be dinner. Sssshhhh!
Just for Petite Palates
Made with mostly local produce and dairy from farmers’s markets, Pleasant Pops are good and good for you. First timers can stick with kid faves like Strawberry Ginger Lemonade, Cookies & Cream, and the Guac Pop (which is made with avocado and lime).
Pops Plus
Not in the mood for a popsicle? The small cafe also serves up a mighty menu full of coffee from Ceremony Coffee Roasters, fresh baked pastries (croissants!!) every morning from BakeHouse, and other treats from local D.C. producers.
Stay for a While
Located on the ground floor of The Woodward Building, there is wheelchair/stroller access into the cafe where there are four small tables and seating for up to eight guests. Outside,there are two big picnic tables with umbrellas that could easily fit a small crowd or family. Can you say, “family date night”? There’s also some fun “pop art” to pose for pics with. #yummy

731 15th St., NW (Downtown)
202-558-5224
Online: pleasantpops.com

Have you had a Pleasant Pop yet? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

 

Dining out with your entire brood can be an exercise in extreme patience. Thank goodness for smartphones and tablets to keep tots with growling tummies busy. However, if you’re looking to up the dining out fun factor, these six Seattle-area establishments will provide good eats with a side of entertainment for the kiddies.

Anthony’s Beach Cafe

Gorgeous views of the sound and delicious Northwest seafood are enough to entice anyone to the Anthony’s Beach Café in Edmonds. The kids may not fully appreciate the water views on a sunny, warm day, but they will enjoy the giant sandy play area adjacent to the outdoor patio. You can linger a little longer over your food and beverages while your kids get creative and build their masterpieces in the sand. Petite pescatarians will also enjoy fish ‘n chips, prawns ‘n chips or good ‘ol traditional mac ‘n cheese. Finish off the meal with a kid-sized hot fudge sundae and the minis will be begging to come back!

456 Admiral Way
Edmonds, Wa 98020
425-771-4400
Online: anthonys.com

photo: Barker Landscape Architects, P.S.

Do you have a favorite restaurant that entertains your kid crew? Tell us about it in the Comments below. 

— Abbey McGee

feature photo courtesy of Dee L. via Yelp

Just when you thought you’d seen everything that could be made from flour and frosting, Baby Bea’s Bakeshop broke ground in Beverly Hills in January. With desserts from stunning to silly, Hello Kitty to Wild Thing, custom cake behemoths to bite size nibbles, these fondant frosted fairytale creations will capture your little one’s imagination while delighting their taste buds.

Where Fashion Meets Frosting
It may have begun with a Hello Kitty fixation (one which Miss Beatrice, the Bea of Baby Bea, never fully outgrew), but along the way to perfecting her Kitty shaped cupcakes, Miss Beatrice picked up a knack for fashioning frosting atop an outrageously artful cookie, cupcake, cake pop, or multi-layered cake.  Baby Bea’s proves what you’ve secretly always known to be true: everything is more magical with frosting on top.

Does This Cake Pop Come in an Ombre?
She may not have been the first to put cake on a stick, but get a load of these options. The Peppa Pig Cake Pops are giggle getters, the rainbow sprinkle cake pops resemble every technicolor temptation known to kid-kind, and the ombre ruffle cake pops (swoon inducing in teal and pink), look like some hybrid of Vogue meets vanilla. Not just delicate and girly, there are boy bait versions, too: Star Wars cake pops delight young Jedis, and should your young Tim Burton like their dessert with a side of squeamish, check out what Miss Bea’s done with the Eyeball Cake Pop, or the Ugly Monster variety.

When A Cupcake Can Make You Cry
You know how tears can well up when you look at a work of art?  These mini to maxi treats  inspire the same awe. And there’s something for everyone and every occasion.  For that shower you have to throw, Miss Bea can go modern with a monogram.  For your kiddos, it’s more Max themed with the Where The Wild Things, or many shades of muted turquoise in her fantastical (you knew it was coming) Frozen line. Hippos to Hello Kitty, her cupcakes are a thing of edible beauty. And how they taste, well, that’s a different level of happiness entirely. Make no mistake, Baby Bea can bake.

Cultivate Good Taste with Things that Taste Good
This isn’t the bakery counter at your local market (no disrespect intended, sometimes you need a quick and inexpensive sheet cake). Hand baked, exquisitely frosted, and packaged as whatever pleases you most, each item is a work of edible art. No occasion on the horizon? No worries. Pre-made goodies are always available in store. So that you can make an occasion out of say, Monday.

L’Petite Treat
Because you don’t want to OD on the sugar, her cupcakes and the majority of her baked goods are appropriately sized for kid-kind. Just a few bites each, and that’s all it takes to get hooked.  But when you’re in the mood for something grander…

Custom Cakes Are Calling
You gotta lay eyes on these beauts: quick before the kids commandeer the process. Quite literal works of art, they’re not the most frugal find, but when you’re looking to make a statement, look no further.  The design is not the only customizable feature, either. Vegan cakes? Check. Vegan frosting? Gluten free? Check and check. For families with dietary concerns, come to the place where baked beauty does not discriminate. Just the way you want it to look, adhering to just the dietary restrictions you feared would make finding the perfect cake impossible.

But The Real Question Is…
Baby Bea does do birthday parties at her house (shop) not yours, beginning in February. Filling a birthday party niche, here finally is a place to decorate their cupcake and eat it too. All inclusive cookie or cupcake decorating for a petite party of 8 kids or under is waiting for you to just book it. In a dedicated, sun lit space, the room’s all ready and everything’s handled, call for prices and details.

The New Bakery on the Block
Robertson may have already been ripe with fun family friendly finds (like the beloved Joey’s Gym), but a new beaut of a bakery puts the cherry on top of anything, most especially this bustling boulevard. The smashing window dressings are more Manhattan than mid-way to the 10: they stop strollers in their tracks. Yet like the baked goods, the store’s trappings are visual candy, but the taste is the real treat.

Baby Bea’s Bakeshop
311 South Robertson Boulevard
Beverly Hills, Ca 90211
Phone: 424-249-3362
Online: babybeasbakeshop.com

Have you been to Baby Bea’s?  Which sweet treat is your favorite indulgence?

-written and photographed by Jolie Loeb

Who knew endless naps and snacking would get old? If you and the babe are ready to get out (get dressed), and greet the world, we’ve rounded up the best activities for mom and her little bundle, from newborn-friendly yoga, to baby music workshops to storytimes for the smallest of the small.

Photo courtesy of Le Petit Baleen

Swim!
There’s a reason your little one loves the bath—he or she has probably spent more time in water (9 months?) than they have on dry land, so it’s never too young to get ‘em swimming and splashing. Le Petit Baleen and American Swim Academy offer classes for babies as young as 8 weeks, and with their extra warm indoor pools, friendly instructors and viewing benches (grandma and grandpa will want to see this), it makes for the perfect activity (and photo op) all year round.

American Swim Academy
6948 Sierra Ct.
Dublin, Ca
925-479-7946
Online: americanswimacademy

Le Petit Beleen San Francisco
933 Mason Street
San Francisco, Ca
866-896-3603

La Petite Baleen San Bruno
434 San Mateo Avenue
San Bruno, Ca
866-896-3603

La Petite Baleen Half Moon Bay
775 Main Street Half
Moon Bay, Ca
866-896-3603

LaPetite Baleen Atherton
60 Fifth Avenue
Redwood City, Ca
866-896-3603
Online: swimlpb.com

Photo courtesy of Pretend City

Read!
Your nearest public library undoubtably offers a weekly baby-and-me class aimed to introduce little droolers to the joys of reading though music, movement and lots of cuddles. The (free!) classes also offer new parents and opportunity to relearn all those sweet kiddie songs that they probably haven’t heard in a few decades, and to bring home a few new books to keep that bedtime routine interesting.

Baby Rhyme Time and Playtime
San Francisco Public Libraries
Mission: Mon., 1:15 p.m.
Ocean View: Mon., 2 p.m.
Sunset: Mon., 2 p.m.
West Portal: Tues., 10:30 a.m.
Ortega: Wed., 3 p.m.
Presidio: Thurs., 10:15 a.m.
Mission Bay: Thurs., 10:15 a.m.
Bayview: Thurs., 11 a.m.
Main: Thurs., 3: 30 p.m.
Online: sfpl.org

Babies and Books
Larkspur Public Library
Wed., 9:30 a.m.
400 Magnolia Ave.
Larkspur, Ca
415-927-5005
Online: ci.larkspur.ca.us

Baby Bounce
Oakland Public Libraries
Main: Tues., 10:15 a.m.
Golden Gate: Tues., 11:15 a.m.
Diamond: Wed., 10:15 a.m.
Lakeview: Wed., 11 a.m.
Montclair: Thurs., 11: 30 a.m.
Online: www.oaklandlibrary.org

Just Baby and Me
Burlingame Public Library
Fri., 10:30 a.m.
480 Primrose Rd.
Burlingame, Ca
650-558-7400
Online: burlingame.org

Baby Lapsit
San Jose’s Martin Luther King Library
Thurs., 11:30 a.m.
150 E. San Fernando St.
San Jose, Ca
408-808-2183
Online: sjlibrary.org

Photo courtesy of Pomegranate

Stretch!
Those first few months with baby are a serious workout, and you’re likely to be feeling sore in places you didn’t even know existed. And your babe is probably still unfolding from his or her time curled up in your belly. Take some time to stretch it out at one of these relaxing mom and baby yoga sessions. Crying little ones are par for the course, so don’t stress about your babe being on their best behavior!

Post Natal Yoga with Jane Austin
Yoga Tree
1234 Valencia St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-647-9707
Online: yogatreesf.com

Mom and Baby Yoga
Pomegranate
25 Tamalpais Ave.
San Anselmo, Ca
415-785-3173
Online: pomcenter.com

It’s Yoga, Baby + Massage
It’s Yoga Kids
569 Ruger St.
San Francisco, Ca
415-750-9990
Online: itsyogakids.com

Postnatal Yoga (with childcare!)
Yogalayam
1723 Alcatraz Ave.
Berkeley, Ca
510-655-3664
Online: yogalayam.org

Mom & Baby Yoga
Blossom
299 S. California Ave., Ste. 120
Palo Alto, Ca
650-321-2326
Online: blossombirth.org

Mom and Baby Yoga
Yoga at Change
400 Ben Franklin Ct.
San Mateo, Ca
650-340-9642
Online: yogaatchange.com

Photo courtesy of Music Together

Sing!
Whether or not you can carry a tune, your voice is still the sweetest sound your baby hears. Learn some songs, explore different instruments and give your baby the gift of music during his or her first months.

Music Together
Hundreds of classes in Bay Area locations everywhere.
Find a class here: musictogether.com

Mini Music Time
Inner Rhythms
518D Tamalpais Dr.
Corte Madera, Ca
415.895.6144
Online: minimusictime.com

Baby Move & Groove
Ark Row Kids
122 Main St.
Tiburon, Ca
415-435-2200
Online: arkrowcenter.com

Kindermusik Sing and Play
Piedmont Center for the Arts
801 Magnoila Ave.
Piedmont, Ca
510-531-3190
Online: nanmusik.com
Music at Gymboree
925 Blossom Hill Rd.
San Jose, Ca
408-629-5813
Online: gymboreeclasses.com

 Do you have a favorite activity to do with your new babe?

—Erin Feher

 

Whether you have a mini Messi, a budding Beckham or a Wambach wannabe, Seattle’s hot soccer scene is a perfect place for kiddos to get onto the pitch. And if your little player is still clamoring for more soccer after the recent  World Cup, then you’ll want to check out these four Seattle-area soccer programs. Before you know it, your wee one will be kicking and striking and you will be known as that soccer mom or dad.

Arena Sports – Lil’ Kickers
For the Littles, Lil’ Kickers is the place to be. The program is found at various Arena Sports locations throughout Seattle and caters to pint-sized soccer stars starting at age 18 months through 9 years old. Parents take part in the fun on the field in the Bunnies, Thumpers and Cottontails classes which are for the under 4 set. While Hoppers, Jackrabits and Big Feet are for players in the 3-6 year old crew. The best part of the Lil’ Kickers program, other than the fun your kiddo will have, is that classes are year-round and indoors, unless you’re one of the brave parents who chooses one of their outdoor satellite locations.

Helpful Hint: Looking to build your pint-sized player’s confidence on the field? Arena Sports also offers a Skills Institute for kids ages 5-12 who want to improve their soccer skills.

Mark Your Calendars: Fall classes run Sept. 2-Nov. 26, 2014

Redmond Arena Sports
9040 Willows Rd., Bldg. 102
Redmond, Wa 98052
425-885-4881
Online: arenasports.net/locations/redmond-facility

Issaquah Arena Sports
2115 N.W. Poplar Way
Issaquah, Wa 98027
Phone: 425-270-2030
Online: arenasports.net/locations/issaquah-facility

Magnuson Arena Sports
7751 63rd Ave. N.E.
Seattle Wa
206-985-8990
Online: arenasports.net/locations/magnuson-facility

SODO Arena Sports
4636 E. Marginal Way S.
Seattle, WA 98134
206-762-8606
Online: arenasports.net/locations/sodo-seattle-facility

Starfire Sports – Youth Programs
20 minutes south of Seattle you will find a soccer complex known as Starfire Sports. Kid classes begin at 18 months and go through age 6. The one-hour classes focus on fun and games and working as a team. Summer classes are already in session, but new players are always welcome and classes are pro-rated if your kiddo starts in the middle of a session.

If your soccer sprout wants a little more competition, consider signing him or her up for the Micro League. Classes start with a 20-minute warm up followed by a 30-minute game held on an indoor field, which means parents are protected from the elements. Score!

Helpful Hint: Not sure if your tot will enjoy dribbling the soccer ball as much as he likes dribbling his milk? Register for a free trial class before you commit to an entire season.

Mark Your Calendars: Fall classes begin September 2, 2014. Check their website for up-to-date information.

Starfire Sports
14800 Starfire Way
Tukwila, Wa 98188
206-431-3232
Online: starfiresports.com/youth

UK Petite Elite
If your soccer loving squirt dreams of playing for the Sounders one day, then you gotta check out U.K. Petite Soccer—a fun way to introduce your tiny tot to the world’s most beautiful game. U.K. Petite Soccer offers 6-8 week classes for ages 2-6. Coaches teach the players about teamwork, individual ball skills and small scrimmages through games on the field that are fun and easy to understand. During the summer, classes are focused around week-long camps. In the fall, kiddos can play on a weekly basis.

UK Petite Soccer programs are found at various community centers. Check their schedule for a program in your ‘hood.

Mark your calendars: Fall classes start September 22, 2014.

206-455-1855
Online: ukpetite.com

Seattle Youth Soccer Association
The Seattle Youth Soccer Association caters to thousands of kiddos whose parents sign them up to play soccer in the fall and spring. These are the dedicated soccer moms and soccer dads who stand along the sidelines, wrapped in Gortex and fleece and clutching their triple venti mochas, as they cheer on their soccer stars.

Helpful Hint: Youth soccer programs begin at age 5. To find a club in your neighborhood, visit the Seattle Youth Soccer Association website and click on the “Find a SYSA CLUB” link.

Mark Your Calendars: Fall classes start around the same time school starts. Register online.

206-552-0723
Online: sysa.org

Does your little athlete have a favorite soccer program? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

–Natalia Dotto

Images courtesy of Arena Sports, Starfire Sports and Natalia Dotto Photography

The start of the school year can be a hectic time: back-to-school shopping, signing up for activities, sports practices, the list goes on and on. But as the kids settle into the groove, it’s time for you to take some much-deserved time out, and nothing spells relaxing like a fresh glass of wine from local grape growers. 7×7 Magazine has put together a fabulous list of urban wineries in the Bay Area, which will turn a frantic fall into a soothing and delicious autumn.

The 2011 growing season, which will forever be remembered as cool, damp and unpredictable for Northern California, is coming to a merciful close. But don’t feel bad if you didn’t make it up to Wine Country to experience the full thrill of harvest (trust us, the traffic was terrible anyway). This week, the grapes are coming to you.

The following urban wineries are still bringing in fruit and they wouldn’t mind one bit if you stopped by to lend a hand, taste some juice, and find out once and for all what the difference is between wild and cultured yeast.

Dogpatch WineWorks’ shiny new crushpad will be awash with Merlot and Petite Verdot from the Coombsville area of Napa this week. And, to complete their Bordeaux-style blends, superstar cousins Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc will be arriving the week of October 24th. If you’re interested in playing winemaker, ask about the WineWorks’ custom crush options and next year, you can be the one deciding whether or not to inoculate.

If you’re more into Rhone varietals or would just like to know what a “Rhone varietal” is, Carlotta Cellars, a label that uses the WineWorks facility, will be competing for space on the crushpad to process their Carignan, Grenache and Mourvedre this week and next. Email proprietor David Grega david@carlottawines.com if you are interested in swinging by.

Dogpatch WineWorks – 2455 Third St. (at 22nd Street), 415-525-4440

To see more great wineries, read the full 7×7 article here.

Written by Courtney Humiston

This is our weekly guest post from our friends at 7×7, a site that keeps you up on the best of SF. We’ve teamed up for an exciting partnership to bring you a fantastic Date Night idea each week. Be sure to check out their blog for hourly doses of the best of SF.

Mom favorite and kid-approved Petite Bateau have created a full line of clothing and underwear for kids of all ages that are high in quality, stylish, and comfortable. What more would you expect from a French brand that has been pleasing parents and kids alike for over 100 years? According to LA Confidential, “Petite Bateau’s simple approach to style makes this boutique the one-stop shop for the whole family” and we couldn’t agree more!

This one-stop shop for all things clothing (they also have lines of maternity and women’s clothing) is now offering a can’t-miss sale at their Beverly Hills store, which will continue until August 21. Eager shoppers will find Spring and Summer styles for babies, kids and women at 20%-30% off the original retail price. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, the store even provides free parking at the Bedford Drive parking structure. Be sure to head on over before all these awesome goods are snatched up!

9661 Brighton Way at the corner of Bedford Drive
Beverly Hills, Ca