Make Your Own Teething Biscuits & Baby Rusks

by Oz SpiesMarch 28, 2024

Once your child hits the one-year mark, soothe their sore gums with baby teething biscuits and snacks that also give them a nutritious boost. This magical remedy is known by many names—teething biscuits, teething crackers, or baby rusks—and they’re easy to make yourself with these quick recipes, including no-bake versions, wheat-free biscuits, and sugar-free teething biscuits too. So the next time you see baby gnawing, you’ll be prepared with a homemade teething biscuit.

1. Healthy Homemade Teething Biscuits

Oats, bananas, and coconut oil are all you’ll need for these teething crackers. Add vanilla and spices like cinnamon, ginger, or nutmeg for extra flavor, or keep them plain. Super Healthy Kids has the recipe.

2. Quinoa Teething Crackers

Protein-rich quinoa is the only ingredient in this crispy cracker. Cradle Rocking Mama blends the nutritious grain in three forms (cooked flakes, uncooked flakes, and quinoa flour) to get consistency kids like.

3. Sweet Potato and Chamomile Teething Biscuits

These flavorful biscuits from My Kids Lick the Bowl cleverly include chamomile from a tea bag to relax a child who’s suffering from teething pain, along with sweet potato and oat flour.

4. Apple, Banana, or Pumpkin Teething Biscuits

Mama Natural shares three recipes, highlighting apple, banana, and pumpkin. All three are gluten-free, thanks to a combination of rolled oats and steel-cut oats as the base. They also include maple syrup and baking spices for sweetness and baby-friendly flavor that makes this homemade teething biscuit top our list.

a baby with a big smile sits in a crib waiting for a baby teething biscuit — iStock

5. Oat & Banana Drops

Momtastic offers up this classic vegan recipe full of oats and mashed bananas. Choose overripe bananas for sweetness and add a few spices like cinnamon and cardamom. In 15 minutes, you’ll have a tasty homemade teething biscuit.

6. Fruit & Vegetable Teethers

Teething biscuits don’t get any healthier than these fruit and veggie snacks from Weelicious. Thinly slice fruits and veggies like sweet potato and kiwi, and then put them in a dehydrator. If you don’t have a dehydrator, this banana leather version requires only an oven—and is a hit with older kids too.

7. Pear-rific Oat-tastic Teething Biscuits

The name of Everyday Champagne‘s recipe says it all. Pears plus oats=awesome teething treats. Mix together oat flour, baby cereal, pear puree, and allspice to make a sweet biscuit that’s free of added sugar or salt.

8. Grain-Free Teething Biscuits

Created by a nurse, these grain-free teethers from Real Food RN are packed with nutrients. The ingredient list is longer than some: coconut and cassava flour, applesauce, maple syrup, molasses, egg yolk plus spices. But the extra effort is worth it, as each ingredient packs a nutritional punch. The recipe also includes clove, a spice that some say soothes teething pain. When stored in the freezer, the biscuits last for months and offer a cool treat for your little one’s gums.

9. Sugar-Free Baby Rusks

You probably have the ingredients in your kitchen right now for these sugar- and salt-free homemade teething biscuits from the Welsh-Italian Chiapa sisters: eggs, flour, baking powder, and applesauce (or another fruit puree). Add cinnamon, orange zest, or Parmesan for extra flavor.

10. Healthy Homemade Teething Biscuits

Boys Ahoy‘s recipe calls for rice cereal, flour, coconut oil, cinnamon and banana (or applesauce). Roll out the dough and cut with your favorite cookie cutter to create crisp mum-mums in fun, baby-friendly shapes.

11. The Natural Mum’s Super Easy Rusk Recipe

With only two ingredients, you can whip up these teething treats from the Natural Mum anytime. All you need is a fruit or veggie puree and a few cups of spelt flour. Because the puree choice is up to you, the flavor options are endless. Try sweet potatoes one day and peaches the next.

Make sure to capture all those toothy grins—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

Pasta Jambalaya

by writerredtriApril 3, 2023

Getting kids to eat their veggies may be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. The trick, according to recipe creator Leah Singer of Leah’s Thoughts is simple: add a veggie puree to your dish. This recipe for jambalaya also swaps the traditional rice for pasta, making it extra hearty.

Ingredients for Pasta Jambalaya Recipe:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1 kielbasa sausage, sliced
2 cups of shrimp (we use frozen)
1 chopped onion
1 – 2 teaspoons of garlic
2 cans diced tomatoes (undrained)
Pinch of chili flakes
Cajon/Creole seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound penne pasta (or whatever you have around)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup carrot, spinach, or other veggie puree (optional)

Method
1. Saute the kielbasa with olive oil in a large Dutch oven. Remove sausage from the pan and replace with chicken. Do not empty the oil–it gives the chicken great flavor. Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the skillet.

2. Add a bit more olive oil and add onion and garlic. Saute until cooked through. (If you’re a fan of peppers, you could add chunks of peppers at this point.) Add cans of diced tomatoes, spices, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Add back into the pot the chicken and sausage. If you’re adding a hidden veggie, do it now!

3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, and add to the meat and tomato mixture. Taste of seasonings. At this point, add the frozen shrimp and let them steam cook for a few minutes. Stir and add the cream.

Leah Singer is a freelance writer and editor. She shares many family-friendly recipes, as well as stories of motherhood, craft ideas, writing, and other such topics at Leah’s Thoughts.

Chicken and Veggie Nuggets

by writerredtriFebruary 13, 2023

Chicken nuggets take on a whole new fun form in this recipe from Brooke McLay of Cheeky Kitchen. Use cookie cutters to transform these homemade nuggets that are baked and not fried. Fill us in below to tell us how your chicken and veggie nuggets turned out.

Ingredients for Chicken and Veggie Nuggets:

1/2 lb ground chicken
1 package thawed veggie
1 egg
2 c panko bread crumbs
1 tsp of onion salt
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Combine veggies and egg in a blender, and blend until pureed.

3. Combine puree, chicken, and onion salt into a large bowl and mix together with a fork.

4. Spread a thin layer of panko crumbs on a large cutting board.

5. Flatten the chicken mixture over the crumbs until it is 1/2 inch thick.

6. Sprinkle more crumbs, salt and pepper on top.

7. Use a cookie cutter to create fun shapes.

8. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray.

9. Place nuggets on a cookie sheet and bake for 14 to 16 minutes.

Photo and recipe courtesy of Brooke McLay of Cheeky Kitchen

Spread the Love with These Heart-Shaped Macarons from Costco

by Erica LoopJanuary 26, 2022

Valentine’s Day just got sweeter—at Costco! The warehouse club has Le Chic Patissier’s heart-shaped macarons back in stock, just in time for the holiday.

The fab French-inspired foodie find was already spotted by Instagram user @costcosisters as early as Jan. 8 and we’re about ready to head to the warehouse ourselves to grab a box or two.

photo: Red Tricycle

Fans of the petite treats may remember Le Chic Patissier’s strawberry-vanilla and raspberry macarons from year’s past. These Valentine’s Day goodies feature vanilla and raspberry flavors. Le Chic Patissier’s website describes the delish delights as, “Using 100% natural ingredients, we source high-quality vanilla from Madagascar and fresh seasonal fruits for the puree.”

Nab a box of 25 for $12.99 at select Costco retailers while these limited-time sweets are still on store shelves.

—Erica Loop

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Starbucks’ Newest Fall Drink Tastes Like Dunking Apple Pie in a Cup of Coffee

by Sarah ShebekAugust 24, 2021

Move over PSL, there’s a new fall drink in town! The Apple Crisp Macchiato has fallen in a Starbucks cup near you and it sounds absolutely magical. Complete with a caramelized apple drizzle on top!

The latest and greatest fall beverage is available at Starbucks nationwide starting today and we don’t blame you if you’re drooling over your screen. You can expect layered flavors of apple and brown sugar along with the classic base of espresso and steamed milk. The topper is made of apple juice, apple puree, cinnamon and nutmeg, so it also smells amazing. Basically an apple pie in drink form, it’s available hot or iced for whatever weather you experience this fall.

Starbucks says its research and development team taste tested a variety of apple flavored items before landing on the newest macchiato. The combination of the gooey taste of apple crisp and a hot cup of coffee was too good to pass up!

“Creating an ingredient with a spicy baked apple flavor was crucial to be able to bridge an autumn red apple to espresso,” said Raegan Powell, senior manager on the Starbucks research and development team. “Consider how well a delicious slice of warm apple pie pairs with a cup of coffee or how well the combination of Starbucks roasty signature espresso pairs with warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.”

Like the rest of Starbucks’ fall lineup, this one is only available for a limited time. Pairing with a slice of pie or a cider donut is optional (but highly encouraged).

––Sarah Shebek

All images courtesy of Starbucks

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Popsicle Brings Fun (& Minions) to Your Freezer

by Jennifer SwartvagherJanuary 19, 2021

If the ice cream truck has taken a break for the winter, have no fear. The freezer aisle just got sweeter and a lot more fun. The iconic Popsicle brand just released its newest treats for 2021 and they are now available at a grocery store near you.

Popsicle has created new colorful and delicious products that will inspire imaginative play for parents and kids alike – Popsicles Mango, Strawberry and Vanilla Swirl Fruit Twisters and fan-favorite Minions and Spider-Man Popsicles.

The New Popsicle Fruit Twisters with Mango, Strawberry and Vanilla are made with real fruit and milk. The pops feature mango puree and nonfat milk twirled around a frozen strawberry core. Popsicle Fruit Twisters are agood source of Vitamin C, contain 10g of sugar and 70 calories per pop, and made with colors and flavors from natural sources. A pack of six retails for $4.49.

Minions Popsicles feature a despicably delicious combination of fruity strawberry, banana and tart blue raspberry. Spiderman Popsicles feature the irresistibly delicious fruity flavor of strawberry, blue raspberry and lime. Made with colors and flavors from natural sources they are a perfect treat for the whole family. This frozen treat is 70 –80 calories with under 10 grams of sugar per pop. A pack of six retails for $4.49.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Popsicle

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News Flash: You Can Buy Elf on the Shelf Fruit Snacks

by Karly WoodNovember 6, 2020

Despite parents having a love/hate relationship with the family Elf on the Shelf, kids just can’t seem to get enough of the mischievous little guy. On a recent visit to Target.com, our editors found a bit of a gem: Elf on the Shelf Fruit Snacks!

The 22-pouch box retails for $3.99 and is made by Kellogg’s. Each pouch comes with shape that include a reindeer, gift, puppy, Christmas tree, an elf and what we can only guess is a wolf.

Elf on the Shelf fruit snacks are made with real fruit puree and are gluten and fat free. You can grab a box for $3.99 at Target.

––Karly Wood

All photos: Target

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Should You Buy a Baby Food Maker?

by Eva Ingvarson CeriseAugust 29, 2020

Get the scoop on the pros and cons of a baby food maker, along with our top picks

Your baby is six months old. You’ve made it through the newborn stage, and maybe they’re sleeping through the night. It’s time for you to tackle another big milestone—solid foods. At this point, you’ll need to decide whether or not to buy pre-prepared purees or make homemade meals, and if you ask other parents if you need a baby food maker, be prepared to get some strong opinions, both for and against. But have no fear, we’ll help you with the answer. Read on to find out if a baby food maker is right for your family and which brands we recommend.

Why Some People Love Their Baby Food Maker

1. Making your own baby food is cheaper than buying store-bought baby food, and more environmentally friendly since there are fewer jars and pouches to throw away.

2. You can control exactly what your child is eating, making sure you give them a variety of nutrients and limit sugar, salt, and preservatives. You can cook up fruits, veggies, meat, and fish in your baby food maker, with any herbs and spices you like.

3. By pureeing foods that the rest of the family eats, you introduce your child at an early age to flavors they’ll be eating as they grow up.

4. Baby food makers are built with busy parents in mind. Some operate one-handed, and they have timers so you can set them to steam or blend and walk away until the food is ready to eat.

5. They have more longevity than you might think. You can use your baby food maker even if your child doesn’t eat baby food purees. Use it to steam veggies or make mashed potatoes or applesauce for your baby or the whole family. You can also use it to reheat chilled foods.

Why Some People Skip It

1. Buying, washing, chopping, steaming, pureeing, and storing baby food takes time, and not everybody has that. You also need to carve out time to clean the baby food maker and the reusable containers you store the food in, as well as plan out your menus and find baby food recipes.

2. Baby food makers are usually compact, but they’ll still take up space in your cupboards or on your countertop.

3. If you spend a lot of time outside your home on errands or adventures, you need to find a way to pack and refrigerate the foods you bring with you and heat them up when it’s time to eat. Store-bought foods are often shelf-stable and you can buy more as you’re out living your life.

4. If you already have a steamer and a blender or immersion blender, you can perform the same functions of a baby food maker, just with a bit more clean-up since baby food makers let you steam and blend in the same container.

Three Baby Food Makers We Love

BÉABA Babycook Baby Food Maker and Blender, $160
This powerhouse prepares up to 4.7 cups of food in 15 minutes or less, so you can bulk-cook or prepare food like soup or applesauce for the whole family. In addition to steaming and blending, you can defrost and reheat foods to a comfortable temperature for the baby. The unit can be used one-handed if you’re holding your baby, and it comes with a spatula, mixing lid/smoothie filter, and a recipe booklet. The Babycook Neo ($260) comes with a glass bowl and stainless steel basket and holds 5.2 cups of food.

Baby Brezza Glass Baby Food Maker, $173
The Baby Brezza has a 4-cup capacity and three modes: steam, blend, or steam automatically followed by blending. For convenience, you can steam and blend in the same glass bowl without any transferring.

Tommy Tippee Quick Food Baby Food Maker, $80
This compact, budget-friendly option lets you steam and blend up to 7 ounces of food in the same container for convenience. There’s also an included basket you can steam in if you want to remove the steaming liquid and blend up a chunkier puree for your child.

Make sure to capture all those adorable first-food moments—and share them with your family and friends near and far—with the Tinybeans app. The secure platform puts parents in total control of who sees and interacts with photos and videos of their kids.

Cinnamon Cheerios Recently Launched & Banana Nut Cheerios Are Back

by Jennifer SwartvagherApril 20, 2020

Today is a great day to be a cereal lover! General Mills recently announced that they were launching Cinnamon Cheerios. They are also re-releasing the fan-favorite Banana Nut Cheerios.

Banana Nut Cheerios are coming back for a limited time. Made with real banana puree and cinnamon, this cereal tastes like fresh baked banana bread. They will be back on shelves nationwide now through May 2020.

Cinnamon Cheerios are made with real cinnamon. This variety will be available on store shelves starting Apr. 2020 and more widely available in Jun. 2020.

Both varieties are perfect for your morning bowl or an on-the-go snack.

Banana Nut Cheerios retail for $3.99 for a mid-sized box. Cinnamon Cheerios retail for $4.79 for a large box and $4.99 for a family sized box.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of General Mills

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Make This for Breakfast: Lemon Poppyseed Buckwheat Pancakes

by Erin LemJanuary 1, 2020

If your’e a fan of lemon poppy seed muffins, this recipe is sure to please. Courtesy Lisa Viger, author of Easy, Affordable, Raw: How to Go Raw on $10 a Day, and raw food expert, these buckwheat pancakes make for the perfect weekend breakfast or brunch dish. Serve with agave or date syrup.

Makes 4-6 pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup (100 g) ground buckwheat groats, soaked and dried
½ cup (50 g) ground flaxseeds
Pinch salt
½ cup (115 g) apple puree
3 tablespoons (45 ml) lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
¼ cup (60 ml) agave
3 tablespoons (30 g) date paste
¼ cup (60 ml) water
2 tablespoons (15 g) poppy seeds

Method:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the buckwheat, flaxseeds, and salt. Add the apple puree and then the lemon juice, lemon zest, agave, date paste, and water. Stir until well combined. Fold in the poppy seeds.

2. Using about 3 tablespoons (45 ml) of batter for each pancake, scoop out pancakes onto a lined dehydrator tray, making 2- to 3-inch (5- to-7.5 cm) rounds that are about ½-inch (1-cm) thick. Dehydrate at 118°F (48°C) for 6 hours. Peel from the tray liner and flip over onto an unlined dehydrator tray. Continue drying until the outside is beginning to get a little crisp and the inside is still a bit mushy.

3. Pancakes are best straight out of the dehydrator, but they can be kept in a lidded container in the refrigerator for up to a few days.

Nutrition FYI: Buckwheat
Buckwheat isn’t a grain. It’s a fruit seed related to rhubarb and sorrel. It’s high in manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, copper, and fiber, and it has been linked to a lower total serum cholesterol, lower LDL cholesterol, and lower blood pressure. Buckwheat works in synergy with vitamin C and contains flavonoids and antioxidants.

Do you cook or bake with buckwheat? Tell us your experiences in the Comments below!

EASY, AFFORDABLE RAW [Quarry Books, August 2014, $24.99 US / $27.99 Can] kick starts the raw food lifestyle with everything readers need to know. It provides tips for organizing the kitchen, the right foods to buy, and how to prepare each ingredient. Author Lisa Viger, blogger and raw food expert, easily breaks down the raw food lifestyle including health and environmental benefits of a raw food diet. She also answers common questions about nutrition, protein, and energy. Buy the book on Amazon.com.

ML Interest Tag: puree

Pasta Jambalaya

Ingredients for Pasta Jambalaya Recipe:

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