Last month Anni Daulter sent me a copy of her new cook book Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers. I’ve been preoccupied these past weeks, but every chance I get I pick it up just to soak in its loveliness.
Well written and full of stunning photos of both beautiful babies and sumptuous food, this book is a treat worth keeping around. Anni does a great job of inspiring and encouraging without overwhelming–perfect energy for this busy mom of three.
This mindfulness-based cookbook takes you through purees for baby (root veggies, tree fruits and raw first meals), beginner solids (baby Eva’s “sweet and savory” green lentil, sweet potato, and broccoli blend), more adventurous dishes for toddlers (mackenzie’s superstar sweet potato cakes with sour cream) and of course-dessert (india’s baby cupcakes)!
So far we have made rigel’s rockin’ fruity veggie pops and natalia’s old-fashioned whole wheat pancakes with warm blueberry agave syrup. I loved putting greens in the kid’s popsicles (I added extra). The pancakes are a great homemade recipe to keep around and a great way to use the abundance of blueberries this time of year. Kid tested and mom approved ;)
Recipes I’m sure to try:
griffin’s stir-fry chicken pot stickers
cameron’s california-fresh quinoa primavera
adrian’s lavender cupcakes with lavender swiss meringue butter cream (yum!)
While the recipes focus on whole, healthy foods for growing children my favorite part of this cookbook is its intentionality. Consciousness-based cooking is the theme the weaves this book together.
Throughout the warm collection of recipes she offers mama mantras:
With every bite, I wish to nourish your growing body and gentle spirit and to give you the best nutritional start I can.”
Preparing foods with you, even when it gets messy; deepens our relationship.
With deep breaths, I am pouring good intentions into my family’s food.
My joy is the secret ingredient that makes this meal complete.
It’s no secret around here that I believe consciousness, or intentionality, to be more important than any dogma, parenting style or specific diet. I whole-heartedly believe that when we take the time to live with a sense of self-awareness we are lead to the best situations, people and foods for ourselves and our little ones.
This is what makes this cookbook stand out of the dozens I have collected. It asks (and reminds) me to not just collect ingredients, but to do so with mindfulness and for this I am deeply appreciative.
A “mindful tip” from Anni:
Nothing inspires me more than thinking about how much I love my children and how much I want to provide them with the best possible life… I visualize my love for my family coming through my hands as I prepare each sacred meal….This is a mediation of sorts, a way of extending your love for your family that will leave you feeling good inside even as you create delicious, healthy foods.
I will admit that these last few years I have lost my inspiration for cooking. Cooking has become more of a chore as my family and responsibilities have grown. As a result, my creativity in the kitchen has diminished. Receiving an abundance of delicious food from my community during my babymoon has had me reflecting on how I can feel inspired in the kitchen once again. Spending time with this book and Anni’s warm energy has encouraged me to center and return to what I know: mindfulness. I am reminded that every act is a service to my children and this is precisely the space and mind frame I wish to cultivate as I feed my family.
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Got to admit, i skipped over the review part but read with interest your last section of this post. I am trying to embrace this once again, the enjoyment of cooking as a creative gift I give my family. There is no better time of the year to do that than now, with all this farm abundance. Also, because of that abundance I am especially mindful and appreciative for our food and farmers.
Cooking is a huge part of my life work right now but I am distracted by many other things I want to do with my time, including typing this right now, that draw me away from giving more of myself to it (cooking that is).
I here your struggle and desire for to find inspiration once again. I’m right there.
thank you SO much for this hillary!
since i went back to work i have completely lost my passion for cooking (it was on the wane before that but the long hours away form home put me over the top).
eating has become just this thing that we have to “do” three times a day. and way too much of it has been done in our car. bleh.
i try flipping through cookbooks and i still feel nothin’ (other than overwhelmed and exhausted) but when i read this post…specifically the mama mantras…i could find myself softening a bit and starting to remember all the things i used to love about cooking and sharing meals with my family.
thank you my friend!!! lovely review!
~erin
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