About a month ago, I was finally able to peruse through my new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. Some moms are blessed with hearty eaters, I am not one of those moms. I've tried and tried all sorts of ways to get vegetables down my kids throats with no avail. Janelle will eat salad only with ranch dressing, peas, corn, and carrots. Spencer will eat sweet potatoes and corn (are those even considered vegetables?). He is a major picky eater. He'd rather starve than touch anything new or something he thinks he doesn't like. (I blame it all on his dad who was a hopelessly picky eater as well. Right, Kay??) When I found this book I was really excited to see what kind of "deception" I could actually pull off. Amazingly, her technique works! Deceptively Delicious is now one of my favorite cookbooks! The main gist of this cookbook is adding pureed vegetables disguised in family favorites. (I wish I had taken a picture of all of my pureed vegetables a few weeks ago! It was pretty funny. Janelle asked, "What is all that baby food for?" I just smiled and shrugged.) My friend, Brianne, recently posted her own review of this cookbook, and I figured after trying quite a few recipes that I would follow suit.
(with sweet potato and pineapple puree)K, L, & J Approved!
So far this is my favorite recipe out of this book. It turned out SOOOOO yummy! The only thing I would do different is add a little more coconut. I love coconut, and you couldn't really tell it was in it - but I guess to keep it kid-worthy you have to limit some things.
(with cauliflower puree)J & S Approved!
Definitely Janelle and Spencer approved. They both gobbled this up! Who knew I could ever get them to eat cauliflower! I thought it was alright.
(with cauliflower puree)L & J Approved!
I was a little weary about making chicken salad for my kids. I knew Spencer wouldn't touch it, but I was just hoping Janelle would at least try it. Fortunately she humored me and took a bite, and what do you know? She actually liked it! I loved this recipe, it was so yummy!
(with sweet potato puree)L, J, & S Approved! (Kyle just hasn't been around to try it yet.)
This french toast has become an immediate favorite. Both J & S love it. It's one thing I can actually get Spencer to eat that has protein, sweet potato, whole grains, and fruit. In addition to the recipe, I like to add a little ground flax seed to the batter.
(with cauliflower or butternut squash puree)K, L, & J Approved!
Spencer wouldn't even try it. I thought for sure Spencer would like it since he loves noodles and especially macaroni and cheese. I think because I tried a noodle shape he'd never had before he was hesitant to try it. Next time I will try regular macaroni noodles. I had to call this "Cheesy Noodles" because the last thing Janelle ate before getting the stomach flu a month ago was macaroni and cheese, and she's told me about a hundred times that she will never eat macaroni and cheese again. (I don't blame her quite honestly!) Fortunately the "Cheesy Noodles" were a hit.
Spencer's "What in the heck do you think you're feeding me?" look:
Other recipes that I've tried but that I don't have pictures of:
Italian Meatloaf
(with carrot puree)
K, L & J Approved!
I used low-fat ground beef, though, instead of the ground turkey. I've tried ground turkey a few times and nobody ends up liking it. The turkey bacon on top was really good though. Again, Spencer wouldn't touch it, but he won't touch anything that's not cereal, crackers, cookies, or bananas.
Deviled Eggs
(with cauliflower puree)
L & J Approved!
Kyle hates eggs, so I didn't even bother having him try them and Spencer...well...you know him and any kind of protein.
Meatball Soup
(with carrot and sweet potato puree)
K, L, J & partway Spencer Approved!
K, J, S and I loved this recipe! (Again, I used low-fat ground beef in place of the turkey.) Spencer even ate some of the noodles.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip with Apples
(with carrot puree)
L, J, and S Approved! (K wasn't home to try it)
Mashed Potatoes
(with cauliflower puree)
K, L, and J Approved!
No one even knew there was cauliflower in them!
Chicken Fingers
(with broccoli puree)
Just okay!
Neither Kyle, Janelle, or I were very impressed with this recipe. Kyle and Janelle were both leery of the green beneath the breading, and I just didn't think they tasted that good. I'll probably make it again, but play around with the recipe a little more. The recipe also says you can make it with spinach, sweet potato or beet puree. (I haven't been brave enough to try beet puree!)
Tortilla Cigars
(with yellow squash and carrot puree)
J Approved! (K & L thought they were just okay)
Recipes I Can't Wait to Try:
Frozen Yogurt Pops (with mixed berry puree)
Oatmeal (with pumpkin puree)
Doughnuts (with pumpkin and sweet potato puree)
Chocolate Chip Cookies (with chickpeas)
Graham Cracker Ice Cream Sandwiches (with yogurt, lemon, and coconut)
Applesauce Muffins (with butternut squash and carrot puree)
Creamy Potato Soup (with butternut squash and cauliflower puree)
Mozzarella Sticks (with cauliflower puree)
Rice Balls (with sweet potato and spinach or broccoli puree)
...and more!
If you have picky eaters - young or old - this is the book for you! I highly recommend it!
14 comments:
My friend was just telling me about this book. She tried the broccoli chicken nuggets and said they were good. I noticed that most of the recipes were cauliflower puree and I never thought it was that healthy of a veggie since it wasn't green. I did some research and found that I was wrong. It is really good for you. Anyway you probably already knew that since you have been sneaking it in your kids food. I will have to get the book and try it out. Do you puree all the veggies and then freeze them? Or do you puree them every time you cook something?
I SO need to try this cook book. I homemake baby food and I was thinking about how in a year I'll be making baby food again, I might as well start now and add it to our foods and then I'll just be in the habit. I really need to do this!
Jenni- Yeah, I didn't think cauliflower was that good for you either until I looked it up. I was happy to be wrong, because it's such an easy ingredient to sneak into foods. I just picked a day and made a punch of purees and then froze them until I needed them. They defrost really easily so that's nice. (Except spinach - when you freeze spinach and then defrost it, it gets really watery. I would just use the spinach fresh.) Anyway, you should get the book, it's so fun trying all her recipes!
Jen- Yeah, I made baby food with Janelle, but got lazy with Spencer. It's been nice getting back into the habit...not that Spencer really eats baby food anymore! Oh well, more practice for the next one (NOT that that's any time soon!).
I just bought this book!! I haven't cooked anything yet from it. I need to get a food processor. I can't believe all the things you have made already!! That's great that they have liked everything.
Whoa, you've tried a lot! Isn't pureeing kind of fun? I made the Italian Meatloaf after you posted about it last time...it was really good and I even used ground turkey for it. I honestly didn't think Ben would touch it, but he LOVED it! Seriously gobbled it right up and asked for more. Anyway, you should definitely try the frozen yogurt pops and the chocolate chip cookies. We really liked them both and so did Ben. John said the cookies weren't his favorite but just because they're really light and cakey, not compact and chewy, just FYI. Happy cooking!
Great review Laura!!! You've tried a ton! Those Aloha chicken kabobs look awesome!
I really don't know if my girls would eat any of this. They wouldn't eat the food if it didn't have anything "snuck" into it. But, I'm thinking it'd be worth it to try!
Ashley- I can't wait for you to get your food processor!
Brianne- I just bought chickpeas today so I could make the cookies! I also bought popsicle sticks so I could make the popsicles (I don't have a mold). Can't wait! Thanks for the recommendations!
Sarah- I know what you mean, Spencer still won't eat most of it. It drives me crazy that he is such a picky eater. Although he has surprised me and tried a few things. I figure the more things I introduce him to, the more things he'll end up liking eventually...right??? I'll let you know if it worked in a few years. :)
Ok, I've had the cookbook since November, and I've only tried 3 recipes! You are a champ. I really enjoyed the turkey Chili, and we loved the french toast as well. Now I've had a hard time getting around to making the purees, any suggestions?
PS If you want more recipes of mom's like us check out the blog: http://bloggingitswhatsfordinner.blogspot.com/
I guess I'm the only one who hasn't gotten on the bandwagon yet, I'd better get crackin! Though, I will have to say that I have been blessed with eaters that are willing to try almost anything. BUT-- a little extra boost never hurt anybody!
That all looks so great! You are such a good mom Laura! I bought the cookbook a few weeks ago, but need to get trying things. I pureed some vegetables, but need to put them into use.
Also I was going to tell you that I have bought most of my boy's church ties at Children's Place. I bought like 6 matching ties for Jake and Austin at the Children's Place in the outlet mall in Allen last summer. I love that store!
Kendra- I know the purees are kind of a pain to make, I just pick a day and make like 6 or 7 of them and then freeze them until I need them. Thanks so much for that website! I was looking through it and my mouth started watering. I can't wait to try some of the recipes! Oh yeah, and just so you know, I FINALLY got the fondue recipe from my FIL, I'll post it soon!
Emily- You ARE blessed with good eaters, lucky duck! It's a fun cookbook just the same, there are some things in there I would never think to make...like rice balls!
Marcia- Thanks so much for telling me about the ties!!! I love the Children's Place outlet too, I'll be heading there soon to look for toddler ties. THANKS!!!
This book has been popping up everywhere! I think I need to get myself a copy just because it sounds like such a cool idea.
I got this for Christmas from my sister but I have to say I have not pulled it out yet. I guess I will have to do that soon. I guess I was putting it off until I was making baby food.
I got this cookbook from ny brother and sister-in-law for Christmas, and I'm totally excited to try it! Thanks for sharing the recipes that have been successful for you!
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