WIC Inspired Recipe
Lemon Alfredo Bowties with Tuna & Peas
1 lb whole wheat pasta
1 cup frozen peas
2 cans tuna
Juice from ½ lemon
(Add lemon zest to bring out more lemon flavor)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 ½ cups whole milk
½ stick butter
1 ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
(Mozzarella works great too – Just be sure not to use pre-shredded cheese!)
¼ cup flour
Season with pepper, onion powder, & oregano to your taste
Boil pasta with 1 tablespoon of salt for 10-12 minutes, or suggested cook time on package.
Drain & set aside. In the same pot, heat olive oil at medium high heat and add minced garlic. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until golden. Add tuna and break up into smaller pieces. Add lemon zest and lemon juice, cook for 3 minutes, then add butter and half of the shredded cheese. Slowly add in milk and flour, while stirring well. Turn the heat down to medium and bring to a simmer while stirring often. Add in peas, and the other half of the shredded cheese. Cook for about 5 more minutes, stirring often, then turn off the heat. Slowly mix in the pasta.
Top with more shredded cheese if you like!
Enjoy!
Mom Hacks Using WIC Foods
Moms and moms-to-be all need savvy, time-saving hacks to save time, be healthy and to maintain sanity.
Infant and toddler moms don’t usually have a lot of spare time. Moms often feel a lot of stress to take care of tiny humans. That’s why we have come up with some great mom hacks to help save time while offering a little piece-of-mind.
Stress for expecting mothers can also be high. What can you eat? What should you not eat? It can be overwhelming. Not to mention, you are creating a human in your belly. That is very tiring.
PREGNANCY HACKS
Now is the perfect time to practice carrying a prepared bag (think diaper bag for moms). Except this bag will be filled with healthy snacks/water for mom. Here are a few ideas for your mom bag: water bottle, dry WIC-approved cereal – which is packed with iron and fiber. Other ideas for your “snack” bag: fresh fruit like bananas or peanut butter on whole wheat bread. Get more information about WIC foods and pregnancy here.
TIME SAVING COOKING HACKS FOR MOMS
Every mom loves a good kitchen shortcut. Here are a few ideas you can use in the kitchen to help you save time or maintain your sanity.
- First up: homemade teething rings. When toddlers start to teeth, it can be painful for your baby and hard on mom. No parent likes a little one to cry in pain. Make homemade teething ring popsicles. The cold pop is perfect for sore gums. Here is a recipe you can use:
BERRY YOGURT POPSICLES
1 ½ bananas (mom can eat the other half)
16 ounces of yogurt (any flavor)
4 ounces of blueberries
Blend all ingredients in a blender until it is very smooth. Place yogurt mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 6 hours. Keep in the freezer for the next time your child needs a treat.
2. Make pre-made snacks for hungry toddlers. Moms know that one of your main roles as a parent is to give your child healthy foods. It can often feel like a full-time job. For kiddos starting to eat table food, make sure you have easy foods you can grab for a snack or meal when your baby wants to eat. A few great examples are avocados and bananas that can be smashed for smaller children. Pre-cook boiled eggs to have on head in the fridge. These are great for children starting to eat real foods and older kids looking for a snack. Here are a few more ideas for snacks using WIC foods.
CRAFTY PROJECTS
Having a little fun can also be a great way to take a break and cut the stress. We have gathered a few hacks using containers from WIC foods. Use empty and cleaned milk and egg cartons for fun crafty projects. So are baby food jars. Here are a few ideas:
- Turn your egg carton into a fun container for kid paint. Each egg holder can be for a different color. Your egg container could also be used to create a homemade sensory tray. Fill the egg carton with items with different textures that you can find around the house: a small ball of yarn, a block, a small piece of fabric. Just make sure the items are age-appropriate and are not a choking hazard for your little one.
- For older kids, use the lids from your milk jugs to make checkers pieces. Just color the lid black or red. Save enough to make your own checkers pieces. Make a checkerboard out of cardboard or a piece of paper you have around the house.
Of course your imagination is the limit for using containers to help entertain your kids. Sometimes kids enjoy making toys out of the simplest items around your house.
The best mom hack of all is to get all your WIC foods in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market location. Since you won’t have to go searching down long aisles to get all your WIC foods, you will save time and your sanity. Find a location near you.
Do you have mom hacks you would like to share? Drop them in the comments below. Use hashtag #GSNmomhacks
Looking for more blog articles about these topics? Check these out:
Celebrate New Year’s Day Blacked-Eye Peas, Cabbage
Cheers to 2023!
Fill Your Bowl With Symbols Of A Year-To-Come Filled With Luck, Money
It’s almost 2023! Bringing in a New Year has a set of customs and traditions. The ball drops at Midnight. Some watch fireworks light up the sky. Some may attend parties and others may cuddle up for a movie or book at home.
New Year’s Day traditions center around food! Many people celebrate New Year’s Day with Blacked Eyed Peas, which symbolizes a year filled with good luck. Others may eat something green, like Cabbage or Greens, to symbolize a year filled with money.
This recipe combines ‘luck’ and ‘money’ into one simple, delicious Near Year’s Day meal or side you and your family will love. Cheers to a year filled with luck and money!
BLACK-EYED PEAS
3 cups of black eyed peas (you can use canned, frozen, or dry!)
1 can of diced tomatoes
½ head of cabbage, diced
½ onion, diced
1 lg carrot, diced
1 jalapeno, seeds removed & finely diced
4 cups of chicken broth
Salt, Pepper, Paprika, Oregano
Note: You can also use any of these leftovers you may have in you fridge to step it up a notch:
Corn, bacon, ham, or a ham bone
Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on high heat, season to taste.
Pick up all your WIC foods in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market location.
2 Great Recipes Using WIC Foods
Potato Soup, 3 Bean Chili Recipes To Comfort Your Family This Winter
This winter, soups are the perfect way to cozy up. We have two amazing recipes using WIC foods that will help warm your whole family on the coldest of days. These two recipes use popular WIC foods such as beans, vegetables and cheese to help make a filling family meal that you can enjoy for days to come.
BAKED POTATO SOUP
5 large russet potatoes, diced
1 teaspoon salt
5 slices thick cut bacon
1 large onion, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoon butter
¼ cup flour
3 cups Chicken broth
2 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
½ teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cheese – Colby jack, cheddar, or mozzarella work best
1/8 cup green onion chives, finely diced
Helpful Tips:
Avoid using bagged shredded cheese, as it contains cellulose which prevents the cheese from melting smoothly.
Plain Greek Yogurt can be used instead of sour cream.
Instructions:
Submerge diced potatoes in a pot of water. Add salt and boil for about 20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain the potatoes and set aside.
Cut the bacon into squares and cook low and slow until crisp.
Add the onions and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and butter and cook for 2 more minutes.
Slowly stir in flour while mixing and cook for 1 – 2 minutes.
Add the chicken broth, then the milk. Bring to a boil while stirring often, then reduce to a simmer. Mash the potatoes then add them to the pot. Mix in the sour cream, salt and pepper.
Remove from heat.
Gradually sprinkle in the shredded cheese. Stir until combined. Add the green onion chives and any extra cheese or sour cream you want. The soup will continue to thicken as it stands.
Serve & enjoy!
The temperatures are dropping. What’s more comforting than a nice warm soup or chili? Gather up WIC-approved beans and other WIC ingredients for this hearty and healthy recipe. It’s the perfect time to cozy up to a bowl of this 3 Bean Chili.
3 BEAN CHILI
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
3 celery stalks, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, diced
1 can of diced tomatoes with chilies
1 can of kidney beans, drained
1 can of black beans
2 cans of pinto beans, drained
1 tablespoon of butter or oil
Optional for topping:
Green onions
Cheese and/or sour cream
Turn the slow cooker on high heat. Finely dice about 2 cloves of garlic, 1 onion, 3 celery stalks, 1 large carrot, and 2 jalapenos then add to the slow cooker. Add 1 tablespoon of butter or oil & stir. Drain the liquid out of 1 can of kidney beans and 2 cans of pinto beans, then add to the slow cooker. Then add 1 can of black beans (don’t drain the liquid out of this one).
Stir & cover. Cook for 4 hours, stirring occasionally. Serve with shredded cheese & green onion on top, and this pairs great with cornbread too! Enjoy!
Pick up all your WIC-approved beans and other WIC foods in one easy stop at any Lone Star Family Market store. There are 7 locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos.
Check out our blog for more recipes using WIC-approved beans and other WIC foods.
WIC Inspired Recipes – Corn Chowder
Everyone seems to be talking about corn these days. With the viral song about corn, it seems most of us can appreciate the vegetable for it’s sweetness and versatility. Corn just seems to go with everything! This hearty corn chowder recipe is sure to keep your family warm this fall and winter. It’s so tasty and comforting, you may find yourselves going back for a second serving! Bonus, this recipe is filled with WIC-approved vegetables.
WIC-INSPIRED VEGETABLE RECIPE
CORN CHOWDER
2 tablespoons butter
4 slices of bacon (optional)
1 onion
2 celery stalks
1 bell pepper
1 jalapeno
1 large carrot
3 medium potatoes
6 ears of corn
5 cups milk
1 bay leaf
Salt & Pepper
Smoked Paprika
Green onion
Peel potatoes and dice along with onion, celery, carrot, bell pepper, and jalapeno. Shuck the husks off the corn and slice corn kernels off of the cobs, then save the cobs for later. (You can also use canned or frozen corn to skip this step! But you’ll want to add the corn in with the rest of the veggies to get more corn flavor) Slice some green onion & shred some cheese to top off each bowl of corn chowder if you like!
Place butter and bacon into a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot. Heat on medium high heat until the bacon renders its fat, about 5 minutes.
Cook the vegetables (except the corn and potatoes):
Add the chopped onions, celery, bell pepper, jalapeno, and carrot, and lower the heat to medium and cook until vegetables are well softened, about 10 minutes.
Break the corn cobs in half (after you’ve stripped off the corn) and add the cobs to the pot. Add the milk and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium. Cover the pot and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 20 minutes, discard the cobs and the bay leaf. Add the potatoes, corn, salt, pepper, and paprika to the pot. Increase the heat to return the soup to a simmer, then lower the heat to maintain the simmer and cook for another 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Stir often to prevent milk from curdling. Add more salt, pepper, and paprika to taste, and add a little shredded cheese and sliced green onion on top of each bowl when serving. Enjoy!
Visit Lone Star Family Market get get all your WIC foods in one easy stop. There are 7 locations in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos. Find more recipes using WIC foods on our blog.