Fall Recipe: Apple Cider Pancakes

Apple Cider Pancakes 

(I saw several recipes and adapted what
I found to come up with this)

2 cups white wheat flour
½ t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
2 eggs
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cup apple cider

In a small bowl, whisk the wet ingredients until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into a bowl of the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (not until smooth, lumps are good).

What We Eat Wednesdays

My 2 year olds breakfast recently: a bowl of whole milk plain yogurt and blueberries, and some banana bread that we were given. Not pictured: a glass of milk.

Flavor Your Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great breakfast (or lunch, or dinner!) for your child. To mix it up some, here are some flavor suggestions/add-ins (the chunkier add-ins are for your toddler, and the purees are for baby and toddlers. Obviously, still be careful about choking with you give your toddler):

Soft seasonal fruits like:
- peaches
- nectarines
- plums
- blueberries
- bananas
- raspberries

Soft cooked/roasted fruits like:
- soft cooked apples & cinnamon
- soft cooked pears & apples
- roasted strawberries

Purees:

- pureed pumpkin
- applesauce
- prunes

Or:

- raisins
- whole milk plain yogurt
- apple or pear butter
- apple and peanut butter
- frozen berries (defrosted, or for your older toddler who is still teething - the frozen berries might be nice for them to chew on)
- low sugar jam/jelly

Or if you want to go sweet:
- brown sugar
- maple syrup
- honey**
- chocolate chips

Spices that go well with oatmeal: cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla

Mix and match add-ins. For example: applesauce and raisins, yogurt and blueberries, strawberries and banana, banana and chocolate chips, pb&j, etc.

You can also go more savory with oatmeal and are up for trying out some more adventurous options, here are some suggestions:
- pureed vegetables
- cheese
- chopped up ham
- chopped up vegetables
- egg (hard boiled chopped up, fried, or scrambled)
- avocado

**remember to NEVER give honey to a child under the age of 1

Breakfast Ideas

Here are some ideas to mix up breakfast in your house for your toddler:

Oatmeal (with or without fruit chopped up and added in, or purees for your younger one)
Plain Whole Milk Yogurt with fruit

Plain Whole Milk Yogurt with dry cereal (my daughter currently loves dipping things)
Cereal (like rice chex, whole grain cherrios, or Weetabix)
Toast with butter, peanut butter, mashed up bananas, cream cheese, or mashed avocado
Muffins
Eggs - scrambled or fried (with butter, if any fat is used to fry it). Add some grated cheese to the scrambled eggs to mix it up a little.
Smoothies (like a Green Smoothie - more smoothie recipes to come!)
Bagel & Cream Cheese
Pancakes (like these Banana Pancakes, or another healthy recipe)
Quiche
Banana bread (healthy recipe to come soon)
Cottage cheese and fruit
A healthier version of french toast, with applesauce to dip in

In our house, everyone gets some fruit with breakfast so if isn't with the item listed above, it gets added on the side.

Any one have other ideas to contribute to this list?

Banana Pancakes

Kids and adults alike love pancakes. Here is a gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free quick and easy recipe for Banana Pancakes.

1 ripe banana
2 eggs

1. Mash 1 banana
2. Mix in 2 whole eggs
3. Cook

Simple as that! They taste like pancakes (albeit thinner pancakes) and don't have a strong flavor of banana. We had them just the other night for dinner and really enjoyed them. You could also make them in smaller, silver dollar size, and serve as a snack.

Banana Oat Muffins

I found this recipe via pinterest and have made it a couple of times (with my own adjustments). It's quick and easy and my daughter really enjoys them. I make them in a mini muffin tin and freeze them. Being mini muffins, they defrost quickly and are a good size for her.

Banana Oat Muffins
 
2 1/2c. oats (not quick oats)
6 oz. plain whole milk yogurt
2 eggs
3/4c. sucanant or sweetener of choice
1 1/2t. baking powder
1/2t. baking soda
2 bananas

1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
3. Spray muffin tin (or use silicone, etc.)
4. Divide batter and bake (20-25 mins. for regular sized muffins, 10-15 for mini) until toothpick comes out clean.