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Subject: |
Soups are Souper!: A Great Introduction for Toddlers |
| Date: |
2009-05-25
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Soups are Souper!: A
Great Introduction for Toddlers
By Cheryl Tallman
www.FreshBaby.com
Soups are a terrific way to introduce your toddler to vegetables and
fruits. There are many types of soups. The best place to start
with your toddler is with pureed soups. They have a pleasing
smooth texture. If your child's "spoon" skills are not refined
enough for soup, pour it in a cup and sip away.
Pureed soups, such as cream of asparagus may sound exotic, but they are
quite simple to make. Even a novice in the kitchen can be successful. A
hand held immersion blender is a good appliance to invest in for making
pureed soups hassle-free. This appliance is placed right into the
soup pot, move it around, and viola - pureed soup!
Don't overlook fruit soups. They are sweet, healthy and
refreshing. Most fruit soups require no cooking. You simply put
ingredients in a blender and whirl away. Fruits soups are a huge hit
with toddlers.
Toddler Treat: Creamy Asparagus Soup
Teething toddler? Frozen, cooked asparagus spears make a soothing
teether.
Even some of the pickiest of toddlers will eat their veggies when they
are in soup. This soup is a creamy puree, so it if you child's "spoon"
skills are not refined enough for soup, pour it in a cup and they can
sip away. Always check the temperature of soup before serving it to
small children.
Ingredients:
1 pound of asparagus, cleaned and chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp Herbs de Provence (optional)
1 cup milk (dairy or soy) OR 1 cup coconut milk
3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Directions: Over medium heat, add oil, celery, and onions to a large
soup pot. Saute until soft. Add asparagus, potato, herbs de Provence,
and soup stock. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover and
simmer 15 minutes. Puree soup until smooth with a hand blender, food
processor or blender. Stir in milk (dairy, soy or coconut). Salt and
pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Create a “Soup Bar” to make it family fun! Prepare a simple soup recipe
and spoon it into bowls or cups. Line up a series of topping
choices and let the kids sprinkle their own toppings on the soup! Here
are some suggestions:
- Thinly sliced green onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Cubes of avocado
- Wedges of lemon or lime
- Sour cream
- Bacon bits
- Diced Ham or chicken
- Shredded cheese
- Croutons or broiled cheese
toasts
About the author: Cheryl Tallman
is the co-founder of Fresh Baby, creators of the award-winning So Easy
Baby Food Kit, available at many fine specialty stores, BabiesRUs.com,
Target.com and national chains including Whole Foods Markets. Visit
Cheryl online at www.FreshBaby.com for more delicious tips. Permission
granted for use on
DrLaura.com.
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