The big meal ideas thread! and a bit of an apology x

After posting about processed food the other day, I feel really bad that it seems to have made a few people think they are bad parents! I really had no intention to make anyone feel bad. I wasnt saying that I think anyone who does giv their kids processed food is bad! I just seem to hav my own issues and stresses, that are probably silly, about giving it to riley!
I only posted the original thread because I was worried that My pre occupation with salt content and additives was getting out of hand, and that in fact I was bein a worse mum for puttin my stresses onto Riley.

ANYWAYS a few people have asked for recipe idea for what they can cook for their little ones! So I thought if everybody could post one meal idea/recipe that they might cook for their little angels then it would help everyone out!


Mini Burgers with veg sticks.

Take minced beef.
add dried herbs,one egg yolk and a few breadcrumbs if you have any!

Mix the mince egg and extra ingredients in a bowl and then roll into small balls ( i do them about the size of a ping pong ball), then flatten the balls into burger shapes!

I cook them in a frying pan with a tiny splash of olive oil on a medium heat for about 10-15 mins!
I serve em with boiled carrot sticks,sometimes a few pasta swirls.
I sometimes use those frozen veg packs that you do in the microwave, they usually hace a few diff veg in them!

looking forward to hearin lots of new ideas for meals guys.
hugs
Nikki x x x x x x x x x

Bloody brilliant idea!

Sam has just had his first month of food and he loves it, his faves are butternut squash and pear mixed together and in the last few days we've intoduced little yoghurts and he can bearly contain himself with the 'mmmmmmm', so cute!

We are using Annabel Karmel, I think she's fab. Excellent book. Cos it's all new we haven't got any exciting recipes just yet so i'll be a bit selfish at the mo and just pinch all your ideas but I will be back when we find something good!

Rach and Sam x x x

Mini parcels

I love these, they're so yummy i eat them too but they're also perfect for a finger food, picnic lunch,etc and getting kids to help if they're older.

Take a 500g block of puff pastry if frozen defrost over night,
Flour the work surface first, then roll out to a large square about about 1cm thick. Score into squares then triangles so you have about 12-16 triangles.
Then put a little pile of any bits of different ingredients in the middle of the triangle:
Tuna & cheese, tomato, ribbons of courgettes and peppers , chopped cooked chicken, ham, corned beef or even sweet ones of chocolate & banana!
Fold the triangles in half and glaze the tops with beaten egg.
Press the edges together then bake in the oven at gas 7 for 12-15 mins.

Yummy!

Anne-Marie & Zac 17 months

Sugar free nana loaf

11oz / 300g (ish) very ripe nana - 2 large nanas
1 egg

2oz / 50g butter
6oz / 170g flour
1tsp baking powder
3oz / 85g walnuts
6oz / 170g raisins

1/2 tsp mixed spice

oven at 175c
grease a loaf tin with butter

flour into bowl with baking powder and spice, rub the butter into the flour.
chop the walnuts and raisins into small bits and add to the bowl (i use the food processor)
mix well
whisk the egg in a bowl and mash in the nana
fold the nana mixture into the dry mixture

put in tin and smooth
bake for around an hour - check after 50 mins

can use other stuff like prunes and apricots etc

Quick and probably silly question......

when you make up these meals can you make a job lot and freeze them? so you can put portions into freezer bags and defrost when needed?

otherwise you are making to order and I would prefer to make a batch of something to freeze.....

let me know what you all do....

Is there anything you cannot freeze

Thanks
Natalie

Natalie

I make a big batch, usually get 7 or 8 dinners out of a big batch, 4 or 5 from a smaller batch but once you make somethings a couple of times you get the hang of it and can adjust the quantity.

i pop mine into containers and put in the freezer, ive got a large chest freezer as well as the fridge freezer so i have plenty of room to do that but its really up to you how you want to freeze them,

Great thread

i've got tonnes so i might come back and update every few days if that's ok cause i know it's hard to find inspiration sometimes......... cadene eats with her hands atm so i'm always trying to make things she can hold and eat.......
here's one to start as we were talking about fish fingers:
homemade fish fingers
cod fillet
cornflakes
egg
parmesan

just cut the cod into 'fingers'
blend the cornflakes and parmesan down to a 'dust'
dip the fingers in the whisked egg then coat in the cornflakes
bake in the oven on a non stick tray for about 15-20 minutes at 180 degrees celcius
serve with potato wedges, new potatoes, veg sticks etc

oh and bubbles if your daughter likes plain things like pasta etc........ make a big pan of homemade sauce and freeze it in small freezer bag portions...... just fry up some onions and garlic...... cook some veg e.g carrots, aubergines, broccoli................. add the veg and some chopped tomatoes or passatta (sieved tomatoes) add some herbs fresh or dried e.g basil, oregano, bay leaf....... leave it to simmer down for half an hour and then blend or sieve if she doesnt like lumps....... it'll take you an hour but if you do enough you can make a good few dinners' worth xxx
danica and cadene xx

Meant to say

you can also use salmon or any white fish as cod can be quite dear.... even birds eye dont use it anymore lol xxx

Sweet potato with orange

This one is sooo quick and simple and my little one loves it.

Scrub a sweet potato (actually not sure why I scrub it as skin goes in the bin - habit I guess), wrap in foil and bake in the oven (200 degrees - soz not sure what gas mark that is) until soft - about 40 minutes.

40 mins whilst its cooking is plenty of time to put on a load of washing, wash and sterlise the bottles, organise the household finances and all of the other things we Moms do in record time, ha ha! Joking apart, I tend to bung a couple in when I've got the oven on for something else.

When soft, scoop out the flesh and place in babas feeding bowl or containers for freezing. Squeeze some fresh orange (a half or quarter should do it) and drizzle a teaspoon over the sweet potato.

No need to blend or mash as its already lovely and soft. You can also add some tuna or .a chopped up chicken

In the words of that blessed MeerKat - simples!

Just read that again and it should have said....

a BIT of chopped up chicken. Not sure if the little ones could manage a WHOLE chopped up chicken - tee hee hee. Although mine would probably eat a drumstick like a grown up if I gave it to him!

Lentil & sweet potato mush

one i made up myself

1 sweet potato
1 onion
carrots
brocolli
lentils
baby veg stock cube

Put the above in a pot and cook until the lentils swell up (i think you will probably need just over a third of a small packet of lentils but it all depends on how thick you want it) and serve. Will take about an hour to cook but you can have it thin like a soup or thick like mush.

You can either serve with or without cheese, Sean usually has his without.

Again, you can make this with any veg

Fish pie

I made some yesterday so here goes

4 medium potaotes
1 leek
1 onion
some brocolli

Cook the above in a pot until the potoaoes are soft then mash with some milk and a bit of butter. Mix in a tin of tuna and a tin of salmon (i should have used real salmon) and mix together.

Either serve as it is or grate some cheese through it or make up a cheese sauce and pour over. I would say for younger babies then the cheese sauce makes it a bit smother so better when weaning.

You can also use different fish in it or use different veg, possibly spring onions instead of onions.

This is quick and easy and i managed to get about 7 portions from it.

Sweet potato and vegetable frittata (makes enough for a grown up portion and a baby sized one)

This is what Riley and I have just had for our tea!

1 sweet potato (diced)
handfull of frozen peas
1/2 an onion (diced)
2-3 eggs
splash of milk
matchbox sized cube of Strong cheddar cheese (grated)

Boil up the sweet potatoes,onion and other veg!
drain and add them to a deep frying pan with a tiny spot of oil
warm through and start to brown the vegegables
whisk up the eggs with a splash of milk
add to the veg and cook untill the top begins to set,(on a medium gas/heat)
Place under the grill with the grated cheese on topand cook through untill the top browns

remove from the grill, and cut into slices, it should be quite firm so maybe cut into strips for finger feeders!
We had it with salad for me, and Riley had a little slice of bread with his!

It was absolutely gorgeous and theres enough left over for me to have it cold with salad later!

hugs
Nikki B x x x x x x x x

Heya thought id join in lol - shepherds/cottage pie

Ingredients
500g minced beef or lamb (can use oil to cook mince if thats what you do, but I never use oil for meat i just cook it in its own fat), 1 Onion, 1 clove garlic, 1 carrot, 5 mushrooms, Handful parsley (all chopped up into lil teeny bits), tin plum tomatoes, 750g potatoes, Large knob of butter, 3tbsp milk, Small chunk cheddar, grated.

Then fry meat until lightly browned, drain/set to one side. Add the Onion, Garlic and Carrot to the pan and fry until soft, add the mushrooms and fry for another 5 mins (I use a tiny tbsp of oil for the veggies) Add the parsley and tomatoes and about 150ish ml of water, put the mince back into the pan and simmer for about 20 mins.

Boil potatoes for 15/20 until cooked, then mash them up with butter and milk or just butter..Spoon into ramekin/pot, add the potato on top and sprinkle on the cheese, cook in oven for 20/25 mins on about 160c

Acey has this with veggies...

Can reduce the amount of ingredients too if you want cos this does 4 but its freezable so i freeze it (the mince mix)

Tc, Lu & Acey & Faryn Bump xx

What a good idea

for a thread. I too use the microwaveable veg packs, theyre probably even better than boiled veg as the nutrients can be leached into the boiling water. I sometimes microwave a few then freeze freezer bags of veg to use with freshly cooked pasta and rice as and when then just add a sauce and chopped cooked meat for a balanced meal.
I always try and make a meal consist of carbs, protein, veg and sauce. Though i sometimes give Zac finger sandwiches for his tea then just make sure the whole meal is balanced with a fruit yogurt for pudding, whereas if he's had a meal of veggies he can have a biscuit after.
My meal idea is tuna & potato cakes:

Use boiled potatoes or microwaveable pouches of potatoes then mash till soft with milk and butter.
Add lemon juice, tuna & sweetcorn and/or peas.
Mix together then make lots of little balls and grill until cooked through. Perfect for little fingers!

xx

Great idea

What a brilliant idea - I need some inspiration as we will be moving past the pureed fruit and veg stage soon.....

I will await all the recipe ideas and try some out!

Thanks
Natalie

Hello!

I was one of the ladies that felt like a bad mum but I don't blame you! I knew that wasn't your intention so need to apologise hunny! It's my own fault for not getting off my bum and making an effort for her!!
I do feel bad cause I give Daisy processed foods but I understand that you wasn't making me out to be a bad mum! We all feed our little ones how we want and how we feel best and I do wish I could cook better so I could feed Daisy more of a variety and with less salt. But it is so so hard when she won't eat anything apart from bad things!!

Anyway I think this is a great idea and now Daisy is home from hospital and seeing this child physciatrist I will most definatly be trying some of these yummy recipies!
Thankyou and I look forward to hearing new ideas I can use!

Love and hugs from
Kirsti, Daisy (3) and 28+2 Yellow Bump.xxxxx

Mini bugers with hidden veg

great plan!
i have a few but no time to post them now but had to say i made mini burgers for us the other day - except egg free.

100g mince
2 tbs finely grated cheese
2tbs finely grated carrot
2tbs small oats
2tbs red onion chopped as small as poss
garlic chopped very small

mix together, make into oblong shapes (easier for small hands)
fry in rapseed oil (or other)

serve with pitta bread and salad


could i also suggest we title our posts with the recipe name?

hugs
elizabeth & siri
xxx

Ha ha elizabeth

i like the typo in your title...mini bugers! oh dear...small things eh?

Rach and Sam x x x