How I will cook after giving birth hadn’t crossed my mind. I am more overwhelmed with other concerns. Of course, first and foremost, I want the baby to be healthy.
But I also tend to focus on how the pregnancy is affecting me. Much more than I would like to admit. The actual birth part is scariest of all. I’ve never been a patient at a hospital, so I have no idea what to expect. But I do know that a lot of pain – and possibly epidurals, forceps, and other scary medical interventions – are part of the process.
So right now, I am focused on surviving the labor with the help of as few drugs and equipment and as little yelling at my loved ones as possible.
But, as author Debbie Koenig points out in her new cookbook Parents Need to Eat Too, if new parents don’t plan ahead, they may be looking at months of hastily eating spaghetti and tomato sauce or Clif bars with a baby in their arms. For those who find happiness in food, this is a joyless fate indeed.
That’s why, when I heard that Koenig is sponsoring a blog tour for her book, I immediately signed up.
The premise behind Parents Need to Eat Too, due out on February 21st, is that new parents can make quick, healthy, satisfying meals. We just need a well-stocked pantry, the appropriate kitchen equipment, and little patches of time for cooking and prepping. (This applies to time-strapped food lovers too. Molly Wizenberg, one of my favorite food writers, wrote a testimonial saying that the recipes are also perfect for anyone who wants to get the most out of the little time he or she has in the kitchen.)
I know what you’re thinking. I don’t have a baby yet, so how do I know if these recipes can be made under the time constraints of a newborn?
I don’t, of course. But here’s what I like about the book. First, I was surprised and excited to learn that nearly every recipe for an adult meal in this book can also be turned into baby food.
Really. When I say nearly every meal, I mean it. From protein-heavy comfort dinners like mini meatloaves with mashed potatoes and carrots to spicy vegetarian dishes like aloo dal gobi made with potatoes, split peas, and cauliflower, these dishes can be pureed or cut into small chunks for infants who are eating solid foods.
I can also tell you that the three dishes I prepared – a main meal, a snack, and a dessert – were incredibly, effortlessly easy. They required few equipment – and thus, less dishes! – and they came together with around half an hour of active time. I can easily see throwing them together while the baby is napping or at the end of a long work day when you just want to eat fast.
Although the main meals sound delicious, I thought it was appropriate to start with a dessert that Koenig said she craved while she was pregnant: chocolate Amazon cake.
Chocolate Amazon Cake
This intense chocolate cake is vegan, contains only five tablespoons of vegetable oil, and requires a mere two mixing bowls, a spoon, and a cake pan to make. With an ingredient list made up of staples like flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla, salt, and vinegar, there’s a good chance you can throw this cake together without a trip to the grocery store.
To keep the cake relatively healthy, I ate my slices with a generous dusting of powdered sugar. For a more decadent treat, I would slather it with a rich, dark chocolate ganache icing.
Now the part you’ve been waiting for: the giveaway!
The recipe for chocolate Amazon cake is available in Debbie’s book and you could win a copy. Simply leave a comment below. You can write about anything – your experience of cooking after you had a baby, your favorite time-strapped meal, your thoughts on chocolate cake. Whatever moves you.
The giveaway ends next Tuesday, February 21st, at 4:00 p.m. EST, when I’ll pick a random winner.
Between now and then, check back on Friday and Tuesday for more dishes from Parents Need to Eat Too. Thanks so much for playing!
As part of the Parents Need to Eat Too blog tour, I was given a preview copy of the book. However, I was not required to post a positive review or make particular recipes. I could write about anything I wanted, and I have done so. You can purchase the book here. Those who order before February 21st receive a free digital starter kit, which includes additional recipes, a food-focused timeline for the third trimester, and more.
It’s been a few years since I had to cook for myself and babies, but my best memory is that my husband did most of the cooking while I recuperated (two C-sections) and that everything we ate we fed to our babies. I think I bought two jars of baby food ever! Sounds like a great book, Jen! (Please exclude me from the giveaway — I think a new parent or one with young kids would be better off receiving this book! BUT I’d love the cake recipe
How neat! I’d love to keep this cookbook for whenever my time comes to use it. Plus, I just like any cookbook that features easy recipes! I am tired of ones with huge ingredient lists. Thanks for the giveaway!!!
This cookbook sounds like a life saver! I have an almost 3 year old son and a baby on the way!
I’m currently trying to make as much of my baby’s food as possible, which leaves my husband and me eating frozen pizza and canned soup far too many weeknights. So little time! I think I need this book.
The good news is, five years after having my baby, I am a better and more passionate cook than ever. There is hope at the end of the tunnel! And I follow Debbie’s blog religiously.
I am always looking for fast meals. I don’t get home until 6:30 on weeknights and that means we have to have kid time, dinner time, bath time, and story time all wrapped up by 8! It’s usually a bit of a whirlwind. Meals good for kids that are quick would be awesome!
Thanks for chiming in, everyone! Just wanted to reiterate that although this cookbook is geared towards busy parents, I think the recipes would work for anyone who wants more ideas for healthy, quicky meals. So don’t let the fact that you don’t have any kids discourage you from entering the giveaway. Hey, I don’t have any either. And to everyone who has played along so far, thanks for your support.
This sounds great! I love the idea of the book and perfect for new parents! Congratulations! I don’t think I told you that…I’m just thrilled for you! (I also have a neighbor who is about to become a new mommy – if I win/she wins!)
@Ann: Thanks so much, for the kind words and for playing along. Enjoy the weekend!
I’ve been seeing this book in a few places. Would love to read it. I’m always looking for great recipes.
@Leah: Thanks for the playing! I really like the three recipes I’ve tried so far.
Can I please amend my earlier comment and be included for the giveaway? (The recipes sound TOO good!). Thank you
@Julia: No problem!
Oh, this book was written for me & my husband. We both love to cook, but it seems that we’ve all but stopped cooking since our two-year-old was born. I’ve been trying to cook more the last few weeks, but it seems like all our old favorites from our childless-foodie days take entirely too long to prepare after coming home from work and can’t be made one-handed. I’m also looking for ways to feed our daughter what we eat. Two-year-olds tend to turn their noses up at Filet Mignon with caramalized onions and gorgonzola cheese; or at least my two-year-old does. Even though I did all the “right” things with exposing her to a variety of homemade purees and even chunkier foods, she’s become much more picky in her eating habits as she’s gotten older.
@Laura: I have a couple of friends who have said the same thing about their kids. They were exposed to lots of foods when they were young, but they still got more picky as they entered the toddler years. You should try Debbie’s Chana Masala recipe. I linked to it on a recent post. The meal comes together very quickly, and you could cut back on the spices for your daughter.
Thanks! I’ll have to work that into our meal plam next week!