Tough weeks

I didn't blog for a few weeks now… but I have a good reason :o) my baby-girl have been through a lot in the past few weeks. We had a throat infection...It was a nightmare! Without any warning such as sneezing or coughing, she woke up one night very hot. Dry, without any sweat, that scared me sooo much! We never had any fever previously. My girl was screaming… She was refusing to drink milk or water. So I just sat with her for the rest of the night, applying dump towel on her body. We sat like that, hugging and I crying till her temperature finally subsided. I didn't want to give her a cold shower, because I just didn't want to stress her more, until of course there is absolute need for it. I wasn't prepared at all, and still cursing myself for it, because we didn't have any Tylenol or Ibuprofen in the house! She finally slept for 15 minutes in my hands.
The next morning, after failing to feed her with anything, we went to the doctor. PD prescribed us antibiotics for three days. I thought that will be it… But she woke up again and again for the next two nights with the high fever. Then she started coughing. All those days I will put boiling kettle in her room ( got this tip from one of the forums). Since day one, she wouldn’t sit without me even for a minute. I was carrying her in my hands all the time. My princess didn't eat anything for two days, just some milk and water. I thought I am going to shoot myself. On the third day, she finally had half of banana and toast. On the fourth day, I was desperate and called that doctor again, telling her that our girl didn't eat properly for days. She calmed me down, saying that it’s normal. While I was talking to her on the phone, our son was having his dinner and my baby-girl step down for the first time, to pick up some of pasta from his plate. I just started crying and laughing at the same time.
After that horrid experience, may be three days later, she was teething! Well, we have two molars and one canine came out :o) Hurray!! And… one lower incisor on the way.

Easy muffins recipe for kids

2 cups of flour.
1/3 cup of vegetable oil.
1/3 cup caster sugar or apple sauce.
1 egg lightly beaten.
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder.
1/2 teaspoon salt.
3/4 cup buttermilk.
1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
150 g of added flavors ( such as pineapple, ripen banana, sweet potatoes, chopped nuts(1 year +), raisins or dry fruits)
Preheat oven to 180 C. In the bowl mix all dry ingredients. In the separate bowl combine all wet ingredients. Then mix it all together and add additional flavors. Scoop it in to greased muffin tins up to 3/4 of a tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
We don't have buttermilk in our supermarkets. Here is the substitute for it. Take 3/4 cup of cow's milk add 1 table spoon of lemon juice or vinegar. Mix it well and wait few minute for milk to curdle.

What i find out about tropical fruits

We’ve been living in Kuala Lumpur for about a year and a half now, and I had that fear of feeding my baby-girl any tropical fruits. I just didn't know, should I or shouldn’t I? Well I found out that most of them are totally safe and nutritious and do not invite any reactions with most babies. My daughter loves all the tropical fruits, especially Papaya. Usually she enjoys it just cut up in pieces. I was surprised that papaya started beating the banana as her most loved fruit!

Generally it is safe to feed tropical fruits at about 8months. Just watch for any reactions to them and as explained before, introduce the types one by one, separating them by a few days.

Papaya is rich in vitamins C, A, E, folate (natural folic acid) and potassium. It is also a good source of fiber.

Here some more tropical fruits nutrition information:

Passion fruit: I gave it to my daughter at 8 months. Just scoop it out and feed with a spoon, or mix into smoothies and purees. Passion fruit is a good source of vitamins C and B. Great source of fiber and Iron too. This fruit has a fantastic aroma, I'm sure your kids will enjoy it.

Pineapple: It's like all citrus fruits, so postpone it till your baby's first birthday. Cut into small pieces or use in smoothies or meats recipes. It's a great source of vitamin C, B1, B6, copper and fiber. It has good anti-inflammatory effects.

Mango: If your baby is younger than 8 months, you may want to steam it gently. Otherwise this fruit is great as it is or mixed with other fruit purees and smoothies. Mango is great source of vitamins C and A.

Star fruit: This fruit is a great source of Potassium, Vitamins C and A. It’s also a good source of fiber and Calcium. You can use it in smoothies, or just cut up to pieces in fruit salads. Offer this fruit at 8 months or so.

Durian: Here in Asia it’s a most beloved fruit, they called "King of fruits". Even though it has a strong and peculiar smell, Some people and most Asians enjoy them so much. I'm not brave enough, but I heard people say it tastes heavenly. Here, little kids enjoys this fruit too. This fruit is a good source of fiber, thiamin, Vitamins B6 and C.

Jack fruit: It's pretty much like Durian, but is far less smelly. I found this fruit tasty, and it is said to have healing qualities. For example it is prescribed by those-in-the-know twice a day for about four days to help treat Urinary Tract Infections. Boiling the root of jack fruit and drinking the tea is a very well known treatment here for controlling Asthma. Also it helps with reducing fever and diarrhea. Besides that it is full of Vitamin C and potassium. Just like Durian, kids enjoy this fruit from an early age.

Kiwi fruit: Researches showed that Kiwi can cause allergic reaction. If your kid is allergic to peanut butter, milk or eggs, then there is a risk to have allergic reactions to Kiwi. Otherwise Kiwi can be introduced at 8 to 10 months. Kiwi fruit is reach in fiber, vitamin C, potassium and folate.

Lychee: Very tasty, sweet and juicy :o) It's Ok to introduce them at 10 months. This fruit is high in vitamin C and Copper. It nice to eat raw as it is, or if you offering this fruit for the first time, you may wish to steam it gently.

Mangosteen: It's purple in color with "seeds" inside it. The flesh is white. The fruit is incredible! It's rich in Vitamins B1, B2, and B6, calcium, potassium and iron. It also packed with antioxidants. Consumption of this juice improves your health overall, decreases pain, improves your immune system and has anti-inflammatory powers. It will be fun for your baby to try something new. You can introduce it at 8 months, as it is, or extract juice out of it.

Persimmon: My all time favorite. :o) We cultivate them in my home country too. Make sure it is ripe, otherwise they are not tasty and quite tangy. There are two types: one is mushy when ripe, other is just like an apple, firm when ripe. Persimmon is packed with vitamin C and contains potassium, iron and calcium. The good age for introduction is 10 months.

Kiddy Fish Pasta Recipe

1 White Fish fillet cut in small pieces or 1 small can of chunky tuna.
1 cup hot Whole Milk
1 tablespoon flour.
1 teaspoon of butter.
1/4 cup cauliflower.
1/4 cup mushrooms.
Pinch of Oregano
1 tablespoon fresh cream (optional).
Sea salt (optional)

In the sauce pan, melt the butter on the medium heat. Add flour, and stir for few seconds. Pour in hot milk and continue stirring to avoid lumps. Keep stirring till bubbles appears. Mix in fish and veggies and cook for few minutes till all done.