Grilled Cheese and Shredded Meat or Veggie*
1. Prepare grilled cheese sandwich as you would for an adult
2. Puree, chop or shred meat chunks into tiny “bits” or crumbles and puree or chop veggies
3. Place meat between the cheese layers
4. Grill the sandwich and cut into little pieces; serve when cooled.
Twins' Rice Balls
(Inspired by our twins who took to mashing and rolling their rice meals!)
1. Cook rice as usual
2. Puree rice until it achieves an almost paste-like consistency (or just until the grains are small if your baby can handle more texture)
3. Add veggie of your choice and puree a bit more
4. Add a meat of your choice and puree a bit more
5. Mixture should be a bit pasty but not so thick that it cannot be easily eaten by baby
6. Shape into little balls and serve either heated or as is. You may also serve this on the tray or plate and offer a utensil. This mixture is great for those practicing with spoons; the food will cling!
Having trouble transitioning to more textures? Read our Transition to Texture & Table Food article!
J&J's Baby Meat Balls*
1. Place 1 part lean ground beef/turkey or chicken into a mixing bowl
2. Add 2 parts baby cereal and 1/2 part wheat germ. Use Spices that you find appropriate (you may use bread crumbs if you choose)
3. Add pureed veggies and/or fruit to moisten the mixture
4. Mix together as you would when making “adult" meatballs.
5. Bake in an oven at 400 degrees until brown and cooked thoroughly – Cover with tinfoil, be sure not to burn the meatballs as they will become tough on the outside and baby may not be able to eat them.
(*Ground turkey, rice cereal, wheat germ, pureed sweet potato, dash of cinnamon for example)
Pasta Rings*
1. Cook ditalini (small round rings of pasta, easy to pick up for 10 months and older) pasta according to package directions
2. Drain pasta
3. Place pasta in a bowl and toss with:
butter and grated cheeses
cubed cooked veggies
cubed cooked meats or
whatever your imagination and baby’s age/taste desires.
4. Serve in bowl or on baby tray.
Baby "Cereal" Pancakes
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup baby barley cereal (or other baby cereal)
1 cup formula (or another liquid such as milk)
1/2 cup mashed banana (or fruit of your choice)
1 tbsp melted margarine or butter (unsalted type)
3 egg yolks
1/2 cup baby oatmeal
apple juice (about 1/2 cup) Use water if you prefer
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, dash of vanilla or other flavourings if you wish!
Mix all ingredients together and add enough juice to make pancake consistency. Cook on cook top in frying pan as with "regular" pancakes!
Mac-n-Cheese with Pastina
1. Cook pastina according to package directions for the “cereal”
2. As pastina is cooking, add cubes of Colby and American Cheese (cheddars and other stronger cheeses may be used according to baby’s age/taste preferences)
3. Melt cheeses and stir thoroughly while cooking
4. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of whole milk when cheeses are melted and stir thoroughly
5. As baby gets older and eats more table foods, you can also add meats and veggies as well – these additional chunkier foods will enable easier pick-up for tiny fingers
6. Serve warm
French Fried Turnips & Nuggets
4 medium turnips
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1 tsp chopped rosemary
Salt and pepper (omit salt for baby!)
Preheat oven to 450. Cut turnips into 1/2” sticks and toss in a bowl with
olive oil, parmesan, rosemary, and salt and pepper to taste.
Spread turnips out on an oiled sheet pan, and bake until golden, about 20 minutes
Serve with meatballs or other protein source like tofu cubes (plain or lightly sautéed). Makes a great snack too!
Broccoli & Cheddar Cheese Nuggets
1 16-oz Package frozen broccoli, cooked, drained, and chopped
1 cup Seasoned bread crumbs (you could try using baby cereal if you want, we know it works well with "baby meatballs")
1 ½ cups Shredded cheddar cheese (please use real cheese and not a "processed cheese food" product. Try tomato & basil cheddar!)
3 Large eggs -
Most pediatricians say it's ok to use whole egg in a baked good when baby is over 8-9 months old without allergies. We would recommend that you substitute 5 egg yolks for the whole eggs if serving this to those under 1 yr. Ask YOUR pediatrician!
Heat oven to 375
1. Lightly coat a baking sheet with olive oil and set aside.
2. Combine all remaining ingredients and mix well.
*Add seasonings if you like - garlic powder, pepper, extra basil & oregano for example
3. Shape mixture into nuggets or fun shapes such as squares or squigglies etc..and place on baking tray. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, turn nuggets over after 15 minutes. Serve warm
Suitable for those who have had the ingredients and for those who can handle texture and mash foods with their gums. Great for Moms & Dad too
Scrambled Tofu with Mushroom and Green Pepper
We suggest this yummy dish for those babies over 10 months old!
You may substitute veggies such as sweet potato dices and carrots, to make this suitable for those babies between 8-10 months old. This is a versatile recipe!
INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil
1 cup (250 mL) chopped sweet green pepper
1/2 cup (125 mL) sliced fresh mushrooms
1 small red onion, diced
1 package (175 g) Pete’s Tofu ToGo Thai Tango (Use plain tofu for babies!!!)
2 tbsp (25 mL) soy sauce (Use plain water with a pinch of powdered ginger for babies)
1 small tomato, diced
DIRECTIONS:
In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat and sautee onion for 3 minutes, stirring often.
Add green pepper and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes more.
Squeeze sauce (or ginger water for babies) over tofu into bowl.
Mash it with a fork or crumble with your fingers.
Add to skillet with sauce/ginger water. Add soy sauce if making for adults.
Cover over medium heat, stirring often until tofu is heated through, about 2 minutes.
Add tomato. Cook for 1 more minute. Serve warm
Courtesy of Sunrise-Soya. Visit their website for more great and unique recipes that may be made suitable for babies as well as Toddlers.
Nana's Creamed Peas & Nuggets
Ingredients:**
4 cups peas, fresh, frozen or canned as a last resort
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste (Salt is optional! try garlic powder instead!)
pieces of chicken, fish, pork or beef
Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Whisk in flour and allow to cook for 1 minute. (you are making a rue!)
Slowly add milk, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps.
Add (salt) and pepper and other spices as you find appropriate.
Cook until sauce begins to thicken.
Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Whisk in flour and allow to cook for 1 minute. (you are making a rue!)
Slowly add milk, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps.
Add (salt) and pepper and other spices as you find appropriate.
Cook until sauce begins to thicken.
Add peas, stir and cook until peas are heated through (about 5-7 minutes)
Add meat
Serve warm alone or over multi-grain toast or brown rice. (squish peas down if needed)
**Other veggies may be added if you desire, however - ensure that ratio of veggies equals 4 cups!** Suitable for those 10 months + or those who are able to handle milk in cooked foods!
Pasta & Garden Vegetable Combo
1. Combine fresh or frozen green beans and peas, summer and/or zucchini
squash and thinly sliced pieces of potato, and small pieces of chopped carrots.
2. Add enough water to just cover the vegetables.
3. Cook until tender, reserving water.
4. Puree vegetables with cooked pasta in blender or food processor, using the "chop" option
5. Add water from the vegetables until mixture is of the desired
consistency.
Cheese Sauce for Mac-n-Cheese
Make a roux! The roux is the basis for many cheese sauces and gravies! Use equal parts butter and flour - milk as needed to achieve the saucy texture you desire - cheese as needed but not too much to make the sauce thick
In medium saucepan, melt butter and stir in flour to make a thinnish paste. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly, then whisk in milk a little at a time to make a white sauce. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese or keep pot on low heat and stir constantly until cheese is melted and a cheesy sauce is attained. Add pasta.
When we make it for the family, we use the following:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 to 1 1/2 cups milk
4 to 8 ounces of cheese (Cheddar, Jack and Colby together are very good!)
Cheese Sauce for Mac n Cheese is really an experimental thing!
Instead of pureeing - chop or cut foods into small bits and give as a Snack. Use whatever fruit, veggie and/or meat combo you please. Make sure that baby has had each ingredient individually first serving up your Snack or Meal creations!
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