Little Man's Birthday Cake

So, yes, it is another recipe post but this seems to be the easiest option when you are about a month away from delivering a baby but you want to put something out there on your blog. Besides this turned out way more delicious than I even thought it would be.

I have to admit that when I looked up this recipe I typed in "Vanilla Bean Cake" because I thought it would be extra Vanilla-y if it was made from Vanilla Beans. I wasn't looking for a gluten free cake or anything but I got one and all the sweetening was natural and good for you. Nothing with Vanilla Beans came up in the search and  I found them too expensive anyway. So, I thought I would give this cake made with white beans a whirl.

My son asked for "Manilla" cake for his birthday and he loved it. My dad ate four pieces of the cake (but he still doesn't know what it was made out of) and everyone else finished their's off. So here is the recipe. I altered it quite a bit from the original source:

"Manilla" Cake:

Add to blender (or food processor):

3 Cups of ....cooked white beans, pureed (I used dry White Northern Beans, soaked and then cooked them) let them cool to room temperature so that they do not cook the eggs.

9 eggs

1.5 T Lemon Juice

2 T Vanilla extract

1/2 cup of honey

Puree well.


THEN ADD:

3 T Agave Nectar
3/8 cup of Coconut oil
1/2 cup flax seed meal
 1/2 t sea salt
1.5 t baking soda
2 t baking powder

Puree well

Pour into a 9 x 13 and bake at 325 for 55-60 minutes.

"Manilla" Frosting ( I did a very thin coating)

Melt 1/2 cup of White Chocolate Chips
Dash of Vanilla Extract
A little Heavy Cream
A teaspoon of butter
Whip it with an egg beater and then spread on the cake.

Healthy Popsicles

So, I am sure that it is not just me that has a problem getting their child to eat vegetables. I used to think that it was a matter of parents not introducing vegetables early enough and not requiring them to be tasted. I am not sure if there is some influence in some other sphere that causes my son to think he should not try vegetables but my 3 year old declares that he doesn't like them (and then as kids like to do he contradicts himself and says he likes this or that vegetable for that day).

He has both been introduced early on and is required to eat at least a little bit each day. My husband heard a theory that our taste buds, when young, respond very negatively to bitter tastes as a means of protecting us from harmful substances. So, when children taste vegetables they react instinctively. I get that. Maybe that is part of it.

I have had some success by explaining that it is healthy for him to eat vegetables and by not allowing him to say that he does not like them until he has eaten some of what is on his plate. However, he still doesn't love them so I have to get them in any way I can and I have found popsicles to be an amazing resource. I would also like to note that he is aware that there are vegetables in his popsicle but he still loves them and I think that is an important step.

Through experimenting I have found ways to make a variety of colors. Kale and Spinach are virtually undetectable when paired with Banana and apple juice, I promise. I was a skeptic until I tried it. Now I regularly make banana spinach smoothies. So, green smoothies were my first experiment, but, then, my son wanted some orange popsicles and I knew the green juice would overwhelm any other color, what should I do? Carrots are sweet and orange, Squash is so mild-bam, orange popsicles! Then my son wanted red popsicles. I decided to go with a beet. It was risky but they have so much benefit nutritionally and, also, they don't have to be juiced because they aren't leafy so they puree perfectly. NOTE: I don't cook any of the vegetables, you don't have to and you get way more nutrition.  Guess what? Success!

My advice? Just don't try to go too far, sneaking in as much as you can, and pushing the veggie limit because then they will be unpalatable and you will not have won any battle. Not only do these get much needed nutrition in but he views them as a treat and soon maybe he will view a platter of veggies the same way.

Green Popsicle  (6 popsicles)

Juiced Kale or Spinach (3 oz. of juice)
Banana (1.5 large banana)
Apple Juice (2 cups)
Carrot juice (3 oz. of juice)

Red Popsicle (8 popsicles or 6 and a smoothie for yourself)

Beets (2 large beets)
Raspberries (1 pint)
Strawberries (1/2 cup)
Banana (1)
Apple Juice (1 cup)

Orange Popsicle (6 popsicles)

Juiced Carrot (5 oz.)
Squash (half a yellow squash)
Banana (1.5)
Apple Juice (2 cups)