Yep, almost every mother needs this list ;)

Jackson's and Zeytin's (my dog) Favorite Soup

I am very glad that Jackson actually likes healthy stuff unlike his momma. I have a tendency to eat junk food sometimes but, everyday I have less and less craving for them. I weight around 120 lbs., but trust me, I can finish a whole bag of chips or eat 4 slices of bread for breakfast in one sitting. Now of course I'm trying my best to feed him healthy, but it also helps me to eat healthy too. Jackson is completely changing my diet. My little miracle doesn't know how much Mommy appreciates him. So, to make this very simple soup you are going to need:

 

1 big size sweet potato, cut into cubes

1 big or 2 medium-sized carrots, roughly chopped

5 spears of asparagus

1 skinless, boneless chicken breast or thigh (you can make it w/o it too) chopped into cubes as well

2 cups of water

 

Into a mid-size pot, place the chicken and add water. Boil it until the chicken is half way cooked. Next add the potatoes and carrots, let it cook for another 5 minutes and then add the asparagus. Cook for another 5 minutes. With a knife pierce a potato and see if they are all cooked all the way through. Then with my favorite kitchen tool, I use a hand blender (sometimes I think of getting an immersion blender, like I need it in this small kitchen hahaha) and blend it all up. Stir the soup to see if everything is well blended and smooth. Turn the heat off and serve it when it gets a little bit cooler. Also a little something extra you can do. I add an avocado and smash it in after everything is cooked to balance out the sweetness of sweet potato and the carrots, plus it becomes creamier. Avocado is the best fruit for good fatty acids and rich in Potassium, Vitamin B6,C, E, K, Fiber and Folic Acid. I'm pretty sure that everyone in the household including your dog will love it :-). When I make it in big batches I put them into the BPA free breast milk bags and freeze them for later use. Whenever you don't have time to cook up something for your baby or even going to Grandma's house, it helps so much.

 

Enjoy!!! :-)

 

Eda 

Who knew a lemon could do so much. I always make sure to zest the lemon before I squeeze and throw it away ;)

I personally have a hard time eating broccoli, but knowing its benefits helps big time :)

Red Lentil Soup

Baby Version: 
 

1 cup of red lentils, rinsed and drained

1 cup of yellow onions, rough chopped

1 cup of carrots, rough chopped

1 stalk of celery, rough chopped
1 medium-size any kind of potato, rough chopped

3 cups of chicken broth or water (if you are not using your own chicken broth, I suggest low-sodium organic for babies)

 

Adult Version:

 

2 tablespoon of olive oil or butter if you like

1 teaspoon of salt, pepper and cumin

1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

 

In a medium-size pot, add red lentils, onions, potatoes, carrots, celery and chicken broth or water and cook until all the veggies are soft. With a hand blender mix it thoroughly. If it's too thick you can add more chicken broth or water.

 

Now, this version above is made for Jackson, but for older kids or adults: add in salt, pepper and cumin. In a small pan pour 2 tbsp. of olive oil and heat it up until a pepper flake sizzles. Turn the heat off and add up the red pepper flakes. After you pour the soup into the bowl, drizzle a little oil-pepper mixture on top. Serve with a wedge of lemon.

 

We all grew up with this soup in Turkey, this is one of my favorites. It was a very cold day today in San Francisco and while I was walking my dog, suddenly I was inspired by a cold wind slapping me in the face. I came home right away and made this soup.

 

Enjoy :)

I think this kind of information is important when you are cooking too.

This is a picture I took last October in Napa Valley. I am so in love with the vineyards so just wanted to share a good picture to start with.

Hello blog lovers,

I am the new girl in town who didn't know how to boil water until a handsome, cute, little boy came into my life. A 37 year old new mommy to Jackson Ada, he is 9 months and 4 days old today. I am a proud, madly in love momma who didn't know how important nutrition was until the day my son was born. As for myself, I was born and raised in Istanbul. It is one of the most beautiful, mysterious, historical and rich cities in the world. My mother is a health concious person, that's why my sister and I were lucky to be raised on healthy, nutricious and very tasty meals. Since there was always someone around to cook and take care of me, I never felt the need to learn how to cook. After we were sent home from the hospital, my husband and I looked at each other like "ok,now what?" I breastfed Jackson for over 6 months, but unfortunately that was it, no more milk. I panicked so much about feeding my baby healthy, nutricious and organic. Of course formula helped me, but I was still not feeling very comfortable. Then I started searching the web, I asked a few friends who have kids and my own mom of course. In my entire life I never thought that I would be my own kitchen's chef, but I am now! It's a great feeling. Now I love cooking soo much! Never missing a chance to invite my family and friends over to try new recipes. I am still learning though and if I can learn cooking then you definitely can too my friend, that's all I'm sayin'! :) Hope to see you all here very often cuz I cook everyday and am looking forward to helping all the new mommies out there not feel as lost as I did.

With love Eda <3