Balsamic Vinaigrette and Marinade

This is my go-to dressing for salads, sandwiches or marinading chicken.  It's super simple and amazing on a Caprese salad (tomatoes, mozzarella and basil).  We also do our version of this as a sandwich, just tomato, fresh slices of mozzarella on ciabatta rolls.  A little mayo, spoon the vinaigrette over the mayo and assemble your sandwich...it's to die for!  Use it as a marinade for grilled chicken - I would double or triple this recipe if you use it for that so you have enough.  There are just so many uses and possibilities!  As I make new and different things with this, I'll continue to share and post recipes.  Enjoy!

4 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt (use Kosher or freshly cracked sea salt)

Combine all the ingredients and whisk together!  Serve over your favorite salad or use as marinade for chicken.

Risotto for Baby

As promised, this is a recipe that calls for Baby's stock, and it's definitely been a hit at our house. So very gourmet for your little one! Jules adored this Risotto cold because it clumped up and she could feed herself. I added asparagus puree and it was a fantastic mix-in... add any veggie your baby loves!

Makes about 2 cups

1/2 cup Arborio Rice

1 cup Baby's Stock

1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil or unsalted butter

2 tsp fresh herbs (your baby's preference - tarragon, dill, oregano, etc!)

Put rice, stock, and oil in a heavy bottom saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring once, until liquid has been absorbed and rice is thick and creamy, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in herbs and cover for 10 minutes. Fluff rice with fork, stir in puree and serve lukewarm or cooled.

Baby's Stock

This is such a great recipe to make for your little one because you can use it alone or as an ingredient in so many other baby recipes (to follow!). The veggies can really be your choice, just be sure that at least 2 out of the 3 you pick, you've already introduced to your baby. Mix it up, you can add leek, or squash and even add some tasty herbs like basil or chives. Your baby may even like this in a bottle as a substitute for water, and get all the nutrients from the veggies at the same time!

Makes about 2 cups

6 spears of asparagus

1/2 sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks (1 cup)

1 zucchini (1 cup)

Put 4 cups of cold water in a medium pot. Add asparagus, sweet potato and zucchini and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cover pot. Simmer until vegetables are very soft and cooking liquid is light flavored and colored, about 1 hour.

Strain the broth, reserving veggies. Save them and puree for another tasty dinner! Serve stock lukewarm or cooled in a bottle or sippy cup or use in other recipes.