toddler chicken vegetable soup: nourish your little oneBy foodjoyaChicken soup is a traditional cold remedy for little children (and even adults). But did you know that chicken vegetable soup is a staple young children's meal in Eastern Europe? The reason for its popularity among parents is simple: It contains most of the nutrients a growing child needs. (Add a glass of calcium-rich beverage and a fresh fruit for dessert, and you've fully nourished your precious one.) As you read our recipe, you will see that we have upgraded the wise tradition. To start with, we've increased the variety and amount of vegetables and bade farewell to noodles. To cultivate in children a healthy palate and preference for real food, we've added plenty of herbs. The result is just that: a recipe for a perfect toddler chicken vegetable soup. How do we know that our toddler chicken vegetable soup is just sooo good? For the past three years, my 4.5 year old has been gobbling up bowls of this soup nearly every day. And, with the exception of our red beet soup (borscht), he will not eat any other soup - even if it comes from fancy stores and restaurants. Lastly, note that you can easily modify the toddler chicken vegetable soup to your liking. Feel free to use only chicken breasts, substitute one vegetable for another, or even use quinoa instead of sweet potato. Kale White Bean Stew: Infused with Herbs, ParmesanBy foodjoyaEver since I tried a kale white bean stew, I'd wanted to recreate one at home. Unlike the common versions, the soup for my family had to be tomato-free but still flavorful. (Tomato sauce and tomatoes are used too frequently in legume soups.) In my initial attempts, I used leeks instead of onions, and that helped create a creamier and more refined flavor. I then turned to my favorite cookbooks for inspiration and found a perfect fix of parmesan rind and rosemary. For sure, a generous amount of parmesan rind, rosemary and thyme infused the stew with a rich creamy flavor. Try this hearty Kale White Bean Stew! It's easy, budget-friendly and nutritious and may become your cold weather staple! (My favorite inspiration sources were The New York Times and Eating From the Ground Up.) Finally, if finding cannellini beans at your grocer's has been challenging, you can purchase organic grown from this vendor, and conventionally grown on Amazon.Easy Ratatouille Recipe: Delightful Vegetable MedleyBy foodjoyaOur easy ratatouille recipe uses diced tomatoes and a delicious tomato sauce. This dish is perfect for the vegetables from your prolific summer garden. Do you know what "ratatouille" means? According to one source, this vegetable stew likely originates from Provence and has become most popular in Nice. Dating back to 18th century, it means "stir up." Ratatouille usually consists of various vegetables, such as eggplant, onion, zucchini, pepper, tomatoes and garlic, cut in bite sizes. Some chefs cook all ingredients together, while others separately sauté each vegetable. A similar dish exists in other countries in Southern Europe and Mediterranean. Thus, for example, a close relative of ratatouille in Moldova (where we were born) is a "ghiveci," often made with cauliflower. Our easy ratatouille recipe can be used for making a side dish or main dish with grains or, better yet, with grain-free, flourless Simple Mills crackers. Parmesan Roasted Zucchini: How to Make Them Juicier, SweeterBy foodjoyaVery often, cooked zucchini turn out soupy and bland. And that is no wonder, since this vegetable is about 96% water. The secret to a better tasting zucchini, then, is to eliminate excess water while concentrating the juices. And that's exactly what this recipe is about. By cooking the vegetable at a high temperature, our recipe for Parmesan Roasted Zucchini helps avoid this undesirable result. Much of the water evaporates at high temperature, and the remaining juices pleasantly caramelize and release the signature floral flavor. In addition, browned savory Parmesan creates a beautiful contrast to naturally sweet zucchini. As always, we are roasting in a convection oven. If you are using a non-convection oven, be sure to increase the temperature by about 20 to 25F. Polish Borscht Recipe: Beet Elixir You Will Delight InBy foodjoyaThis rich, savory borscht takes only 10 minutes of your active cooking time. Are you skeptical? Don't be. The Polish Borscht recipe is a traditional, time-tested and beloved way of cooking the festive beet soup in Poland, where my husband hails from. Of course, this borscht has a secret: it requires an extraordinary amount of brightly colored beets and a reduced cooking time. The borscht will not turn out if the beets are not brightly colored. Similarly, when cooked longer than suggested here, it will lose its scarlet color and flavor. Richly infused with simmered vegetables, the borscht is a delightful elixir of health. It is no wonder that my toddler demands his red beet soup every time, and happily sips it from a cup or devours it spoonful after delicious spoonful. Crema di Ceci e Rapini: herb-infused Italian chickpea pureeBy foodjoyaThis velvety dish is inspired by a traditional and beloved Italian dish of mashed chickpeas with dandelion greens. (If you understand Italian, take a look at the original here. In essence, Crema di Ceci e Rapini is a rich, velvety chickpea puree with a touch of Japanese sweet potato drenched in fresh herbs, garlic and olive oil. The Italians traditionally serve Crema di Ceci e Cicoria with bitter dandelion leaves (i.e., “cicoria”). But we chose broccoli rabe (“rapini”), which is more widely available in our grocery stores and less bitter than dandelion leaves. For maximum taste, we recommend using fresh chickpeas, and for this reason, the cooking times appear long. In reality, much of the cooking is passive, and you are free to do anything you like while the chickpeas are cooking. For a heartier meal, Crema di Ceci e Rapini pairs wonderfully with shrimp, calamari and halibut.
