Fast Food

in All Posts

I photograph my meals on pretty placements, but please – do not let that fool you.  Most of my meals are, in fact, eaten in the baby cage. 

IMG_3535

And when I say baby cage, I am referring to the more politically-correct playpen.  But we do call it the baby cage. 

IMG_3547

(My friend Sara and I have swapped jumpers – I gave her my Rainforest Jumperoo and she loaned me her Baby Einstein jumper.  I’ve started doing ‘toy swaps’ with all my mom friends so our kids can play with more toys without spending more money.  Henry was totally over his Jumperoo and will tolerate the Baby Einstein one for about five minutes; I just think our days of using the jumper are behind us now that he can crawl.)  Anyway, we eat in the baby cage because now that he’s mobile; it’s the only way that I can safely trap him while I eat.  And if I try to eat outside of the baby cage while he’s in it, he loses his mind.  So I sit on the floor, put my drink and plate out of reach (on a dog crate right outside of the gate), and hand him a Baby Mum Mum to buy myself ten minutes.  Then I eat as fast as I can!  Before I had Henry, I used to wonder things like:  How do moms find time to go to the bathroom?  How do moms shower while watching the baby?  How do moms get enough peace to eat?  And now I know.  The answer:  any way possible!   Regardless, this was worth the baby cage dance:

IMG_3543

A reader gave me this idea.  It’s a twist on the Quiche Cornbread concept (and it’s endless variations, as seen here, here, here, and here) – there’s a layer of refried  beans in between the eggs and cornbread.  And it’s so tasty.

 

Refried Beans Quiche Cornbread

 

Ingredients (for 3 servings):

  • 1 and 1/4 cup dry cornbread mix, which should then be prepared according to package directions (i.e. with all the egg, water, milk, oil, etc.)
  • 3/4 can vegetarian refried beans
  • 1/4 cup sundried tomatoes
  • 1 handful raw spinach, shredded
  • Dash of olive oil
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/4 cup soy milk
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

 

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Prepare the cornbread mix according to package directions.  Make enough mix for 1 1/4 cup dry mix.   Pour into a greased cast iron dish and bake for 15 minutes at 350.
  • Remove cornbread from oven. Using a spoon, evenly spread refried beans on the top of the cornbread.
  • Combine spinach, tomatoes, eggs, soy milk, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.  Beat thoroughly.
  • Pour egg mix on top of beans and cornbread.
  • Put back in the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 350.  Increase temp to 400 degrees and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
  • Enjoy!

IMG_3535

Where do you eat most of your meals?  I hate to say this, but most of my remaining meals are eaten in front of the computer.  Sometimes, I gotta multitask!

{ 32 comments }

 

  • Claire @ Live and Love to Eat December 18, 2012, 12:02 pm

    That looks delicious – I need to eat more of meals at the table too, but I’m a multitasker as well!

  • Meg December 18, 2012, 12:21 pm

    I eat on the run and in strange places too! I always find myself having things to do rather than just eat and eat only…I know it’s a bad habit but I’m not alone 😉 I have to say, my fave place to eat is in the company of friends or fam! In your case, you’ve got your little one 🙂

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More December 18, 2012, 12:30 pm

    YUM! Looks good to me! And as much as I know they say you shouldn’t, I generally eat my meals in front of my computer. Dinner we almost always eat as a family, but otherwise I’m busy trying to multi-task and get the most of my day while I eat. But I do make sure to put my food down and take my time to avoid over eating. 🙂

  • Courtney December 18, 2012, 12:34 pm

    I usually eat most of my meals in front of the TV on my coffee table! Sad but true 😛

  • Erin December 18, 2012, 12:36 pm

    Sounds similar to me, eating on the floor with the baby. She is almost 6 month old and now suddenly she cries whenever she cant see me!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats December 18, 2012, 12:45 pm

    I am definitely making cornbread quiche when I go home, just a few more days!

  • lisa fine December 18, 2012, 12:47 pm

    If it’s during the week and I’m home, I eat in front of the computer too. But for dinner we almost always eat at the table, with the TV and computers turned off. It’s our quiet time, and I want to have that tradition for my family too (it’s how I grew up).

  • Julianna @ Julianna Bananna December 18, 2012, 12:54 pm

    the quiche looks so good! i love me some beans 🙂

  • Rebecac @ Blueberry Smiles December 18, 2012, 1:01 pm

    I eat mostmeals on the couch….we’re lacking a dining room or kitchen table at the moment. I’ve been making you cornbread quiche recipes for my fiance lately– he loves them. We’ll have to try a bean variety!

  • FitBritt@MyOwnBalance December 18, 2012, 1:21 pm

    At my desk. At work.

    When I’m home-in front of the TV. We obviously value togetherness time in my house! 😉

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action December 18, 2012, 1:23 pm

    Looks delicious!

  • Emily December 18, 2012, 1:27 pm

    Where is the playpen (baby cage) from? I think I need one!

  • Sarah December 18, 2012, 1:35 pm

    I put my boys in the high chair at the table and have them sit with me while we eat. Giving them a toy or some finger food can get them used to the habit of eating together and contains them so we can eat. It gets everybody at eye level to chat while you eat too.

  • Kendra @ My Full-Thyme Life December 18, 2012, 1:45 pm

    Oh my! That lunch looks so yummy and the type of meal to leave you satisfied but not too full. Thanks for sharing!

  • Whitney December 18, 2012, 1:47 pm

    On the couch infront of the TV! Not ideal it’s so comfy! 🙂

  • Jess December 18, 2012, 2:18 pm

    At work, lunch is pretty much always at my desk. At home, we eat every meal at the kitchen table. Ella sits in her HandySitt with us. When she was about Henry’s age we had her in her high chair right next to the table.

    Do you have a high chair for Henry? That was the best place to keep Ella when I was trying to prepare and/or eat a meal. It’s also the safest place to feed a baby, especially doing BLQ. Watch Henry very carefully with those Baby Mum Mums, they can be a bit of a choking hazard. I know several people who had to take them away until their babies got their first four teeth because they choked on large pieces that broke off.

  • Hope December 18, 2012, 2:39 pm

    I need to make this version of the corn bread quiche!!!

  • Elisabeth December 18, 2012, 2:45 pm

    I pretty much always eat on the couch in front of the tv. I just don’t care to eat at the table unless it’s some sort of get-together.

  • Sam @ Better With Sprinkles December 18, 2012, 2:45 pm

    Most of my meals are eaten at the computer or in front of the TV…not the best habit, but hwat can you do?

  • Shelby December 18, 2012, 2:48 pm

    I tend to multi-task when eating alone. Breakfast is in the car on my way to work and lunch is always ate at my desk while working. But dinner is different, my husband and I sit down in the dining room with the TV off and just enjoy 30 minutes together. I love it and will certainly miss that when the twins arrive… I’m sure I’ll be eating while using the bathroom and checking emails by that time I’ll be multi-tasking so much 😉

  • Dolly December 18, 2012, 2:55 pm

    Do you have a high chair for Henry? It’s a good way to keep a moblie baby in place for a few moments. Even if they are not eating in it, you can set his toys on the tray and let him play while you eat or prepare food quickly.

  • Vicki December 18, 2012, 3:05 pm

    My boyfriend and I eat breakfast and dinner at the kitchen table on an almost daily basis. I work from home full time, so when it’s lunch time I get the heck out of the office and eat at the kitchen table again 🙂

  • Amanda December 18, 2012, 3:13 pm

    What cornbread mix do you use…I’m always looking for a good one

    • Caitlin December 18, 2012, 4:57 pm

      Bob red mill GF

  • Alex @ Healthy Life Happy Wife December 18, 2012, 3:17 pm

    Haha – Usually my meals are eaten in front of the TV which I know is a no-no but unfortunately in our little NYC apartment – it is the only place we have for a table! Not ideal…but it works 🙂

  • Amber K December 18, 2012, 6:41 pm

    I know it’s “bad”, but I always eat while on my computer or while the TV is on. It actually helps me slow down and concentrate more on my food even though that sounds crazy.

  • Cindy December 18, 2012, 8:06 pm

    I thought my son was over the jumper after he’s started crawling he lost interest for prob 2 months, but then when he started pulling up, he got interested in it again and would go in for maybe 5-10 min a turn from 8-10 months, so don’t loose all hope in it yet!

  • Micky December 18, 2012, 10:06 pm

    I eat lunch at my desk every day and dinner in my bed watching the TV every night. That sounds kind of pathetic typing it out.

  • Megan @ MegGoesNomNom December 18, 2012, 10:31 pm

    Cornbread and refried beans are two of my faves – I must try this.

  • Emily December 19, 2012, 7:51 am

    At the dining table discussing issues which sounds much more angelic than it actually is because let me just say we are not the Brady bunch, we all argue 😛

  • Courtney December 19, 2012, 9:39 am

    We don’t even call our baby gate the baby cage – we call it the pig pen. Mean parents, aren’t we?!

    We eat at the dining room table, but in shifts. For breakfast and lunch, I feed my daughter, then she watches me eat while in her high chair. She goes to bed around 7:30 and we eat dinner after she’s asleep.

Previous post:

Next post:

Healthy Tipping Point