Tips From the Moon

I haven't had the chance to try out these recipes yet, but they are definitely on my to-do list! I'm not one to make a totally separate meal for my toddler, so I love the recipes that I can make for everyone. Here's a few that I thought sounded good! These recipes are all from

Annabel Karmel's The Fussy Eaters' Recipe Book.

Annabel's Secret Tomato Sauce
1 T. olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
1/2 leek, carefully washed and finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 medium carrot, chopped
1/2 medium zucchini, chopped
one 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes
2/3 cup vegetable broth
3 T. tomato paste
1 t. superfine sugar
1 T. torn fresh basil leaves (optional)
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Heat the oil in a pan and saute the onion and leek for approximately 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the bell pepper, carrot, and zucchini, and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, and sugar, and stir for approximately 1 minute. Simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Stir in the basil leaves, if using. Transfer to a blender and blitz the sauce to a puree. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Orzo Salad
1/3 cup orzo
2 T. peas, cooked from frozen
1/4 cup drained canned corn
1/2 cup cubed cooked chicken
Dressing
1 T. mayonnaise
1 T. sour cream or Greek-style yogurt
1 t. water
1/2 t. white wine vinegar
1 1/2 t. snipped fresh chives

Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain and mix with the peas, corn, and cooked chicken.
Whisk together all the ingredients for the dressing and toss with the salad.

Mummy's Ramen Noodles
2 1/2 ounces Chinese-style dried thin egg noodles (lo mein) or use bean thread (cellophane) noodles
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 1/2 t. soy sauce
1/3 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup drained canned corn or frozen corn
1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken
1/2 t. cornstarch
1 scallion, thinly sliced

Cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. Put the broth, soy sauce, peas, corn, and chicken in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
In a small cup, mix the cornstarch with 1 teaspoon cold water and add to the contents of the pan, then cook, stirring, for another minute or until the liquid thickens slightly. Add the noodles and scallion and reheat briefly, stirring. Transfer to a bowl or small cup to serve.

A Few Tips and Recipes (age 6-9 Months)

Introducing your baby to solid food can be a frustrating experience. With each bite, more food seems to come out of their mouth than stays in it. One good thing about homemade baby food is the flavor, babies actually like to eat it, so eating time is a bit more enjoyable.

This introductory time, 6-9 months, is also a great time to introduce lots of new flavors as babies tend to be more open to change (everything for them is new). The more flavors they are introduced to, the better chance you have of them not being picky eaters in the future.

I started basic...First Purees

Carrots

Apples

Squash

Sweet potatoes

Peas

After a couple of weeks I introduced more fruits and vegetables...

Potatoes

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Berries

Bananas (not suitable for freezing)

Mango

Avocado (not suitable for freezing)

I steam all of the fruits and veggies that require cooking. Here is a general cooking guide.

Apples-8 min.

Pears- 3-4 min.

Carrots, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Butternut Squash,

and Pumpkin- 15-20 min.

Tip: Add some leftover cooking water to the steamed fruits and veggies

to thin them out while blending.

Just add it slowly until you have reached your desired consistency.

And don't blend potatoes in a blender or food processor as the mixture will become

starchy, use a food mill instead.

I usually spend one morning, once a month making baby food. Once I start, it is easy to whip up a nice array of food. Even though my baby is now 9 months old, I still like to freeze simple, first purees and then mix them when I warm them up. Carrots are a great combo with Peas because the sweetness of the Carrots balances out the strong flavor of the Peas. Apples and Pears go great together as do Green Beans, Corn and Carrots, and Broccoli and Potatoes. When babies get older, you can also make up and freeze a great cheese sauce which goes GREAT with veggies!

Here are some of my baby's favorites...

Apple and Pear Puree

Ingredients

2 eating apples (I use Gala)

2 ripe pears

4 tbsp pure unsweetened apple juice or water

Generous pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)

Put the fruit into a saucepan together with apple juice or water and pinch of cinnamon (if using), cover and cook over a low heat until tender (about 6 to 8 minutes). Blend the fruit to a smooth puree.

Suitable for freezing




Vegetables and Lentils

Ingredients

2 T butter

1 1/2 cups leeks, finely sliced

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1/3 cup red lentils ( or any color you have)

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped

2 cups sweet potato, peeled and chopped

1 bay leaf

2 cups vegetable stock or water

Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the leeks for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the celery and carrot and saute for 5 minutes. Add the lentils, saute for one minute, then add the sweet potato and bay leaf and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until the vegetables and lentils are tender. Remove the bay leaf and blend to a puree.

Suitable for freezing
MAKES 6 PORTIONS

The BEST Oatmeal!!

Ingredients

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup quick oats

6 ready to eat dried apricots, chopped

1 large ripe pear, peeled, cored and cut into pieces

Put the milk, quick oats and chopped apricots in a small saucepan, bring to the boil and then simmer, stirring occasionally for 3 minutes. Puree together with the chopped pear in a hand blender. (You can also add the pear to the oatmeal mixture during the last few minutes of cooking if you want a thinner texture).

Suitable for freezing

MAKES 4 PORTIONS

all pictures and recipes courtesy of annabelkarmel.com