After salivating over this lamb sausage, feta, and romesco pizza, I had a hankering for the ground meat myself. I was all set to go for kabob e kubideh until I spotted a recipe for the appetizer of my dreams — gyro jalapeno poppers, stuffed with red onion, oregano, and ground lamb. My stomach made the ultimate vote: Greek-style stuffed lamb poppers it was!

Prepping jalapenos for poppers can be a bit gnarly. By the fourth chile or so, I could feel the capsaicin gripping the back of my throat and olfactory system as I ripped out its seeds and veins. But the end result is so very worth it: it's a heartier, more captivating version of the addictive appetizer. Curious to see how it's made? Just keep reading.

Once the big question of when your baby should begin to eat solid foods is answered, the next decision is a fun one: What should you feed her?

Rice cereal is the classic first solid food, but many Circle of Moms members get creative as soon as their babies seem ready. Here are some of our members' best ideas for making first foods fun.

Making Your Own Baby Food

Don't be intimidated by the idea of making your own baby food. It's actually the simplest cooking you will ever do, and it allows you control over the amount of fat, sugar, and salt in your child's meals. Pre-made baby food is convenient, but it's more expensive than homemade choices, and there's less variety and more wasteful  packaging.

Many moms use a blender for pureeing cooked foods, but you really don't need fancy equipment as it's just as easy to mash them up with a fork, points out Circle of Moms member Melissa T. (For step-by-step instructions on making your own baby food, see 4 Simple Money-Saving Tips for Healthy, DIY Baby Food.) You can prepare these simple purees just for your baby and introduce new foods one at a time to monitor for allergic reactions, but if allergies are not an issue, an even easier approach is to blend or mash up whatever the rest of her family is eating. For her son, Angela A. purees pasta primavera or chicken with veggies — just about anything that's soft enough for him to chew.

Experimenting with New Flavors

Melissa T. points out that babies like variety as much as adults do. Try a range of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack foods so that your child is exposed to many flavors. Sara D., who started her baby on small, easily grasped and chewed foods like chunked avocado, sweet potato, and banana, eventually added steamed squash, pears, and apples — anything she would eat herself, but prepped for someone without many teeth. And when your baby has graduated to foods that require more chewing, consider scrambled eggs, steamed green beans, or even wheat toast.

My own son, now 3, loved fried rice as a baby, and I found it very easy to tailor it to his palate. I just cooked some rice, steamed some vegetables, and combined them in a saute pan with a little olive oil and onion to sweeten it, plus minced chicken, turkey, or scrambled egg for protein. I still make this for him now, and he adds a splash of soy sauce on his own.

The idea behind experimenting like this is that you're helping your baby get ready to join the rest of the family in eating fresh, healthy foods. As Circle of Moms member Vicki O. points out, if your baby is already eating a version of your family's regular meals, you won't have to force a second transition later to "grown-up" food.

Finally, it's important to remember that your baby might make a funny face when introduced to a new flavor. This doesn't necessarily mean she doesn't like it. Keep offering it; with repetition many babies warm to new tastes.

(For more tips on first foods, see Annabel Karmel's A Guide to First Foods: How to Relax and Enjoy the Mess.)

Image Source: Courtesy of J> Rishel via Flickr/Creative Commons

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

As a mother, I have been lucky enough to have 2 girls who LOVE to eat.  Unfortunately, I have many girlfriends who complain constantly about their kids not eating or trying new foods. This is a frustration shared by many parents, and I am here to help. Since having children, healthy, fun meals have become a priority in my life. This is why I began making BENTOS. I have had a blast making bento box meals for my girls.

I know many of you are thinking, "I don't have the time for that." Well, bento boxes can be simple to very detailed.... it all depends on how much time you have to spend on this lunch making project. Bento boxes can be as easy as cutting cheese and carrots into stars and hearts using small cookie cutters, or making a sandwiches look like a smile face with olive eyes and a carrot smile. Kids will dig this fun twist on foods, making them want to eat.

Another fun option I love  are Muffin Tin Meals. I don't know about you, but I love to sample a ton of food at my meals, and so do my kiddos. Muffin tin meals are perfect for just that. It is also a great way to serve up any small leftovers you might have.....a way to get rid of those last 4 chips in the bottom of the bag, that last pickle sitting in the jar, the one piece of cheese calling your name, etc...  There are a ton of different muffin tins out there for you to try out. Regular muffin tins, mini tins, silicone tins. The muffin tins in the picture were purchased at Target in the dollar section... SCORE! Just fill each muffin cup with a taste of different foods. And remember, food is fun!

Image Source: Family Fresh Meals

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

Whether you're running errands or taking a road trip, you often need to feed your kids a snack in the car. Sadly for the family car, many foods are prone to being crumbled, mushed, dripped and spilled when put in the hands and mouths of little munchers. To help keep your kids happy and your car clean, we've rounded up 10 healthy and non-messy snacks for the car suggested by Circle of Moms members.

1. Cereal

Easy to munch on and clean up, non-crumbly cereals are a classic on-the-go kid snack. As Circle of Moms member Dawn shares: Multigrain Cherrios [are] best and little or no mess!"

2. Dried Fruit

Many moms say that dried fruit is a great car snack for kids. As  Darlene B. shares: “My son's new favorite is raisins. They don't make too big a mess and eating right from the box keeps him busy.”  Jessi B. offers similar praise: “I often mix up a small bowl of dried fruit (cranberries, bananas, raisins, etc)...My daughter absolutely loves them in the car!”

3. Granola Bars

“We also sometimes have granola bars in the car because they are easy and not too messy,” shares Courtney J. A Circle of Moms Twitter follower (@Boriqua 2005) agrees, sharing that her favorite non-messy snack for kids to eat in the car is a “Granola bar, hands down! :)” Look for chewy varieties (instead of crunchy ones) to minimize crumbs.

4. Cheese

Cubed or string cheese is another good car snack for kids. As Heather explains: "When we go on car rides, string cheese is nice because it's not messy."

5. Sliced Fresh Fruits and Veggies

"For my little lady fruit and veggies are the best snacks," relays Gwyneth W., one of many moms who bring sliced fruits and vegetables in the car. "They are easy to pack and travel with. I always keep small snack packs of berries (blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry), apple slices or grapes with small water bottles any time I leave the house. My daughter also likes to snack on broccoli or cucumber slices."

6. Mini Sandwiches or Roll-ups

"My mother does deli meat and cheese roll-ups for my little sisters," shares Jill in the Circle of Moms Recipe Swap community. "They love it and [have] started doing it on their own since they have gotten older."

7. Pre-packaged Snacks

Easy to grab when you're running late, small 100-calorie packages of snacks like pretzels, Goldfish, Ritz Bitz and Fig Newtons also earn praise from Circle of Moms members as great car snacks. As Courtney J. relays: "My boys like Fig Newtons, you can buy them in individual packages and they are made with 100% whole grain and 100% real fruit so they are good for them too!"

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Image Source: karen2754 via Flickr/Creative Commons

With nuts banned from more and more schools and day cares, many moms say it's getting mighty hard to come up with healthy lunchbox snacks that kids will eat and enjoy. But ever resourceful, Circle of Moms members have shared some great nut-free snack ideas. Here, we've rounded up eight of the best.

1. Nut-Free “Ants on a Log”

For a great peanut-free alternative to the standard ants on a log snack, Emily H. suggests swapping in cream cheese for peanut butter: “My boys love celery stocks with flavored cream cheese stuffed inside, and a few diced black olives sprinkled on top. Both my kids have nut allergies, so this is our version of ants on a log! They love it and it's so good for them too!"

2. Cheese Snacks

From string cheese to slices and cubes, many kids can't get enough of cheese snacks! As Sharon G. shares: "Various cheese snacks are almost always popular. I [can't] keep enough string cheese or baby bell cheese around."

3. Homemade Muffins or Breads

Home-baked goods can be a tasty and nutritious nut-free snack for kids (just be sure to check that all the ingredients you use are nut free). Katy B. relays: "I make my own specialty breads — banana or zucchini — to hide some more nutrients in." And as Sharon B. notes, it's easy if you "make a batch on the weekend and freeze them for use during the week."

4. Fruit Kabobs

We love this nut-free snack idea from Emily H. — and so do her kids! As she reports, "Fruit kabobs with a cinnamon yogurt dip is among their favorites. The like to spear the fruit, and for the dip, I use plain yogurt with a a drizzle of honey and cinnamon."

5. Yogurt

Many Circle of Mom members recommend yogurt cups or GoGurts, which can be kept cool in your child's lunchbox using Angel B.'s smart tip: “Freeze your box of GoGurts and they will still be cold at lunch. They are also good frozen!"

6. Nut-free Trail Mix

Trailmix can still be crunchyand delicious without nuts. Try mixing raisins, cranberries, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, nut-free chocolate chips, and a nut-free cereal or granola. 

7. Vegetables with Hummus

Healthy hummus makes a perfect dunking dip for sliced veggies like carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers and broccoli. If your kids don’t like the chickpea spread, experiment with varieties (think lemon, garlic, roasted red pepper) or whip up Sherry D.'s easy white bean hummus recipe for a different flavor altogether.

8. Dried or Dehydrated Fruit

From raisins and dried apricots to banana chips, dried fruit comes highly recommended by many moms as a great nut-free lunchbox snack.

What's your child's favorite nut-free snack?

Image Source: iStockphoto

I just returned from the islands of Hawaii, where the proliferation of just-caught seafood is enjoyed in a bevy of raw fish preparations, from ceviche to poke. Although it's available stateside, I've longed for the chance to enjoy glistening cubes of crudo for a reasonable price at just about every meal.

For a little taste of what I've been missing, I created these soy-glazed rice crackers topped with luscious ruby jewels of tuna tartare. Unlike the standard caper-and-lemon tartare mix, this version is Asian-inspired, but lacks the traditional soy sauce that characterizes a Hawaiian poke. That's where the Japanese rice cracker base, which gives the fish a textural contrast, comes in! Want the fast, easy, healthy recipe for your next party? Then read more.

During the holidays, stock your fridge with puff pastries for quick appetizers that can be thrown together in a pinch. The flaky, easy-to-thaw, simple-to-slice dough is irresistible, whether it's stuffed with something sweet like ginger and holiday spice or savory like sliced prosciutto. Wow guests with minimal work by serving two types of puff pastry spirals — one sweet, filled with diced green apples and dusted with pecans and powdered sugar; the other savory and infused with the Roman flavors of sharp parmesan cheese and black pepper. Everyone will be raving at both the beginning and the end of the meal. Want the recipes? Then click to read more.

Let's get munching! When lil ones are teething, they'll eat anything. While generations of moms have turned to Zwieback biscuits to satiate their wee ones, some moms try to avoid the mess-making crackers. During a recent visit to Whole Foods, I came across Baby Mum-Mums (about $3.50 per box) and decided to give it a try. The lightly sweetened crispy rice rusks are perfectly shaped to fit in lil hands and are designed to quickly dissolve in a wee one's mouth. With a teething tot on my hands, I put the snacks to the test.

Who is this product designed for? Baby Mum-Mums are meant to be given to babies who are just starting solid foods.

Is it practical? Yes. Each box comes with 12 individually wrapped packs of two crackers – perfect for families on the go.

What sets it apart? The organic treats are made from Japonica rice, sugar, skim milk powder, and salt making them preservative, gluten, wheat, egg, and peanut-free. Their quick dissolve formula makes them easy for lil tykes to eat, and less messy than other teething biscuits.

What could be better? I almost wish the crackers wouldn't dissolve as quickly as they do because my son goes through so many!

Would you buy it? Yes! While the biscuits are designed for lil ones, I found the slight trace of sweetness to be a welcome change from traditional toasts. Best of all, I don't have to worry about hard chunks falling off of the treat and becoming a choking hazard.

What did baby think? He can't put them down! My lil one loves the autonomy he has for feeding himself the biscuits, and they appear to be soothing his sore gums as he waits for his first tooth!

Still on the hunt for a finger food that'll complete your Super Bowl Sunday? Consider serving the sliders and wings with a cheesy, toasty Southern snack that'll please just about anyone. Seriously, it's melted pimento cheese, crunchy baguette, and crispy bits of bacon — how can you go wrong?

I love the worry-free factor of these bites. The pimento cheese can be made several days ahead, and the recipe can be halved and still turns out great. I don't have a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, so I hand-mixed the pimento cheese. Win over any Super Bowl fan when you read more.