What an exciting day. . . it's Toddler-Meal-Tuesday and Super Tuesday. I hope you had a chance to vote today!

I've been posting a sampling of the foods we eat at mealtime and wanted to share a recipe for an unconventional favorite around our house- marinated artichokes. Any vegetable my toddler will eat is a great vegetable!

I've made a few tweaks from the recipe in Danielle Walker's Against all Grain. These prepare quickly with ingredients you have on hand and taste SO MUCH better than store bought artichokes. If your child is texture averse, you can always throw these in the blender for "hummus."

Ingredients

2 12-oz bag frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
5 cloves garlic, minced
3 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon chili flakes
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Method

Place all the ingredients except the lemon juice in a sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. I like to mix all the ingredients up and then add the apple cider vinegar last in order to keep the garlic from turning blue (blue garlic is apparently unappetizing to small children. . .) Continue to boil 10 minutes.
Stir in the lemon juice, then cool to room temperature before storing in a glass jar in the refrigerator for later use.

So there you go! A yummy new vegetable to add in to your meal routine. These are a great addition as a stand-alone side, in a pasta salad, or on top of chicken. Let me know how this recipe turns out for you!

VEGGIE TIP: If your child is a picky eater (and most are), I always recommend that parents introduce new foods at lunch. Lunchtime is usually more relaxed and allows for extra time for trying something new. Dinner time is usually a "business meal" as bath and bedtime are quickly approaching. I find that my daughter, Evie, will often try foods at lunch that she won't touch at dinner.

We love these stainless steel plates!

Happy eating!

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My oldest daughter Evie is 2.5 years old, and I'm looking forward to to celebrating Valentine's Day as she understands the love and fun of the holiday this year. Last year we celebrated by making dough hand prints, and this year we have celebrated all month long! I found a little tin mailbox (similar to this) and have been leaving goodies in there for her to find when she wakes in the morning. I'm a little overbearing about sweet treats, so her mailbox treasures have been stickers, cookie cutters, and fruit snacks. She doesn't know Valentine's Day is all about the candy for many, and I plan to keep it that way!

My girls are so little and are just as entertained by $1 bouncy balls as they are elaborate gifts, so my focus for them around any holiday is making memories and enjoying experiences together. I took Evie on a Starbucks date for some hot chocolate earlier this week while my mom watched Norah (as a side note, Evie spilled about half of her drink across various locations in the store. . .) We've made heart-shaped waffles and colored on pictures to share with her friends.

Those quiet demonstrations of love everyday make a greater impact than elaborate demonstrations on rare occasion. My brain is often pulled in so many directions that I frequently find myself physically present but mentally detached. I'm working on being mindfully present with those that I love. Our children are able to skillfully detect if we are really paying attention to them and their behavior is often an indicator of whether or not they feel seen and known. Let's see those sweet faces in front of us.

I hope you make some special memories with your loved ones this Valentine's. Showing our love doesn't have to be complicated- it just requires us to be present and thoughtful. Set aside just a few minutes this week for those you love and enjoy the moment. Laugh, hug, tell stories, watch Elmo, share a cookie. I would love to hear how you celebrate!