Green Rice for St. Patrick's Day

A friend of mine recently asked me for my recipe for Green Rice that I make for Ben. It is from my Blender Baby Food recipe book that I've mentioned on here before. Abby and I like the recipe too and I think it's a great way to eat a lot of spinach without having a big salad, which is my normal way of getting spinach into my diet. It's also bright green and very appropriate for St. Patrick's Day, so I thought I'd share it with you all in case you are looking for something green to make for your kiddos today.

The recipe is from the "7 Months and Older" section...yes, babies can handle flavor! Onions, garlic, seasoning, whatever - after raising two babies on these recipes, I'm a firm believer that babies like good flavor in their food (unlike most store-bought baby food) and that you can help shape their palettes by serving them a variety of flavorful and fresh foods. It also makes it nice that many of these recipes are so delicious that I can double/triple the batch and serve it to the whole family.

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup sliced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups leafy greens (spinach, Swiss chard or kale)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp grated lemon zest
1 cup cooked rice, any variety

1. In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in greens until wilted, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt and lemon zest. Let cool slightly.
2. Transfer to blender and puree on high speed until smooth. Stir in rice until rice is coated with greens.
Variation for older kids: Puree 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts with the greens.

I use brown rice and I've only added the lemon zest once (the only time I had a lemon on hand), but prefer it without (maybe because that's the way we've had it the most?). I puree the rice as well for Ben since he still (!!!!) cannot handle any chunks without gagging and add water since he also cannot even handle a thick puree. Hopefully, before he is in high school he will be able to eat finger and table food. Oh, and the recipe doesn't make much since it is meant for baby portions, so double it if you think you might like it or keep it as is if you just want something fun and green for St. Patty's Day.

Are you planning on making any green or Irish foods today? If you don't want to cook, print out one of these free and fun St. Patrick's Day coloring pages for your kiddo(s)!