A Poor Girl's Eaton Mess

A Poor Girl's Eaton Mess

 

Raspberries, biscuits and instant whip. Mmmm, lovely! And it is a lovely fun messy pudding for baby led weaning and it gets an extra bit of calcium into the little ones! Oh, and fruit with the raspberries that I picked up from Lidl last week for £1 a pack! This recipe makes 3 servings and costs around £2.

Raspberries

Raspberries are fantastic BLW finger food for summer and autumn. They contain loads of fibre, vitamin C, vitamin K and magnesium. They are a refreshing change to the usual strawberries and are often slightly cheaper! And at only 63 calories per 100g, they are perfect for mummy and daddy snacks too!

Ingredients

• 100g Raspberries
• 1 packet of light instant whip
• half a pint of whole milk
• 6 rich tea biscuits (2 for crushing, 4 for breaking)

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

1. Break up four biscuits and put them in the bottom of the bowls.
2. Wash the raspberries and place them on top of the biscuits.
3. Make up the instant whip with the milk in a separate bowl then pour evenly over the other bowls.
4. Place in the fridge for 10 minutes to set.
5. Put the remaining biscuits in a food bag and seal. First smash with a rolling pin then continue to roll over with the rolling pin and leave to one side.
6. Remove the bowls from the fridge and sprinkle the crushed biscuits over the top.

 

What Little Monster Thought...

 



At first he used his fingers and got in a right mess, despite liking it, he preferred to be spoon fed towards the end. Daddy wasn't keen but mummy and Tyler thought it was brilliant!

 

 

Links:

• www.facebook.com/feedingforthefuture
• www.lidl.co.uk

 

Black Peppered Chicken

 Black Peppered Chicken

 

with sweet corn and sweet potato wedges

 

 

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts
• freshly ground black pepper
• 9 tbsp. sweetcorn
• 1 large sweet potato
• drizzle of lemon juice

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees. Place the chicken breasts in the roasting tin, drizzle lemon juice over the chicken breasts and season with black pepper. Cover over with foil and place in the oven for around 40 - 50 minutes depending on weight (see packaging for details).
2. Peel the sweet potato and cut in half, half again and into 3's. Put in boiling water for 15 minutes.
3. Remove the sweet potato from the pot and drain. Place into a pan with hot oil and cook at 180 degrees for 15 minutes.
4. Boil the sweet corn for 3 minutes. Then serve all together.

What Little Monster Thought....


 Loved it very much! He did pull his face a bit at the chicken but he soon changed his mind and ate all of the chicken breast before the wedges and sweet corn! Mummy and Daddy loved it too! A sweet winter warmer. Relatively cheap to produce, around £5 with a left over chicken breast and the majority of a bag of sweet corn. The best Place I have found for frozen chicken is Aldi!  The sweet corn was £1 for a medium sized bag at Iceland and the sweet potato I picked up from Lidl for around 70p for a massive one. We didn't even eat all the wedges!

 

 

Next Time: A Poor Girl's Eaton Mess

 

Links:

• www.facebook.com/feedingforthefuture
• www.aldi.co.uk
• www.lidl.co.uk
• www.iceland.co.uk



Apple Burgers

Homemade Apple Burgers

 

I added cheese to Tyler's burgers!

 

This recipe came from Tyler being a little bit constipated so I needed to get some more fruit and vegetables into his system. And this is one of the many weird and wonderful recipes I came up with. Very simple too, and mum, dad and the rest of the family can enjoy them too. By the way, this makes 8 mini burgers, adjust the quantities as required.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• Half a medium size cox apple
• 200g Mince Beef
• A few slices of bread
• A few slices of dairylea plastic cheese

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty Bit

 

1. Grate the apple into a bowl using the smallest ridges of the grater.
2. Squish the mince beef into the apple until mixed well.
3. Form patties using a 3 inch pastry cutter.
4. Add oil to a frying pan and heat.
5. Add the patties to the pan once heated thoroughly.
6. Cook each side of the patties for 5 - 7 minutes each.
7. Using the same pastry cutter, cut out mini burger buns from the bread.
8. Serve burgers and add cheese.

 

 

 

 

What Little Monter Made of it....

 

 

Tyler loves beef at the minute, so it went down a treat. As you can see from the photo above he likes to separate things and investigate thoroughly before eating. Most was eaten but I might leave out the cheese next time as he didn't like the combination of texture, but I assume the cheese would still work well for older children as I loved it. A bit sweet but a perfect quick lunch from scratch that I know exactly what is in it!

 

 

 

We will just leave you to it then Ty?



Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkins

 

So, it's getting close to Halloween and there are loads of pumpkins on offer but what can you do apart from carve them? Make a soup for seasonal meal times!

Pumpkins provide 170% of your daily vitamin A needs and 15% of your vitamin C needs. Impressive per 100g really, especially as it only contains 26 calories.

Pumpkins are great for adding fibre, colour, texture, taste and variety to yours and your family's diet.

The recipe I am about to show you makes 4 servings or so and cost me around £3 as I bought a very small pumpkin.

 

 

 

Pumpkin Soup

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 250g Pumpkin Flesh
• 200g Peeled and chopped carrots
• 300ml Chicken/Vegetable Stock (chicken stock turns out better)
• 300ml Blue Top Milk
• 4 Twists of Freshly Ground Black Pepper

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Carve the pumpkin and chopped/peel the carrots first as this bit takes the longest. Remove the top and bottom of the pumpkin first and remove the excess 'stringy' flesh and seeds. Seeds can be dried as used later on as snacks. Remove the outer skin of the pumpkin and cut the flesh into thumb-size chunks.
2. Add the carrots, thumb size pumpkin chunks, stock, milk and pepper to a large pot. Bring to the boil and remain on the boil for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Reduce heat slightly and wait until the pumpkin and carrots are tender. This should take an extra 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Put in the food processor or blender until a smooth consistency is achieved.
4. Pour the soup out of the food processor and back in the pot to heat up, stirring well and serve!

 

 

It should go from this...

...to this....

...to this!

 

What Little Monster Made of it....

 

 

Well, first time with soup, didn't go as planned. The soup ended up the walls, over the toys, over me and the carpet ended up a new shade! But, He thoroughly enjoyed the bread dipped in the soup and was gobbled up quickly. We need soup practice!Very tasty and mummy and daddy really liked it too.

 

 

 

 

 



TTFN from Mummy's sleeping pumpkin!!!



Snacks for The Kiddies

Snacks

 

 We all know out little ones need snacks between meals to keep their energy up, but is healthy, quick and convenient and what do these snacks provide? Quick idea list for all you parents and please comment your snacks to help everyone else.

 

 

PS - do not snack on cameras. Parents are not amused.

 

 

Fruit

 

Figs - A great source of potassium, fibre, vitamin B6 and a small amount of magnesium. These are also low in calories for losing that post-baby weight. Figs are best stored in the fridge and to be brought back up to room temperature before eating as it brings out the flavour really well. Figs can be eaten whole or peeled. Tyler loves them. Also try adding to an apple crumble for extra flavour and something differently.

 

 

Apricots - Provide vitamin A, vitamin C, fibre and tryptophan. They are very sweet so will appeal well to those natural sweet taste buds of babies. However, the texture may be a bit off putting for older children, but keep trying as you never know when preferred tastes can change. Also, low in fat and only contain 16 calories per 35 grams of fresh apricots.

 

 

Bananas - Always popular with babies and children as they are soft and easy to eat with no preparation! Bonus for mummy and daddy too then! They are also relatively cheap and available all year round as they are imported. Bananas are high in vitamin B6, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. Super fruit alert! They also provide fibre to keep you regular but not as much as other fruits.

 

 

Raisins - fibre, carbohydrates, sodium and a trace of protein as well as being rich in antioxidants. Raisins are so easy to throw in your child's diet, they even come in snack packs for lunch boxes. And they do count as one of your 5 a day. As well as using for snacks, you can use in puddings, porridge, biscuits, on bagels, practically anything. As you can tell, I am a fan of the raisin!

 

 

Pineapple - Pineapple is so high in vitamin C and magnesium. Also providing vitamin B6, fibre, vitamin B1 and folates. Super Fruit alert. I have always loved pineapple and it is the first thing Tyler used a fork with. Great as a snack or pudding. For a snack I just put some pineapple chunks in an air tight container with a little bit of the juice and Tyler just picks at it throughout the day. I also use pineapple in my chicken, rice and peas dish. Strange but tasty. A great fruit to get your kids into but keep the wet wipes handy as it gets sticky.

Pears - Tyler had difficulty with pears at the start and has only recently developed a taste for them (he's 14 months now, been trying pears since 7 months!). Initially at six months, some babies may need them cooked or peeled, my son still has them cut small but not cooked or chopped, I suppose it was just personal taste. Pears are high in vitamin C, Vitamin K and fibre. Not a super fruit but still very good for you and very sweet with a nice, different texture.

 

 Grapes - Juicy and available in three different colours, green, red and black. I like the black ones best and so does Ty. These little beauties are high in magnesium, vitamin K, vitamin C, fibre, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6. You may find with younger children or babies, cutting them in halves or quarters in easier for them, Tyler even had his peeled up until 10 months because he found the skin too tough on them. Soon got him out of that habit, juice everywhere!

Strawberries - summers finest English berry! These were the first fruits my son actually liked, along with blueberries, and I am very disappointed now the season has come to an end. Strawberries provide a hell of a lot of vitamin C, like completely off the scale. Fabulous. They also give you a lot of magnesium, fibre, folate, iodine, potassium and vitamin K. Hello super fruit! As snacks or puddings, these are winners, well for the summer anyway, because the imported ones are never as nice in my opinion. Oh well, till next year!

Blueberries - Hello another super fruit! High in fibre, Vitamin C, Vitamin K and magnesium. AND they are a grabbable size already and the skin is nicely soft for gummy ones or new toothy ones!

Blackberries - Late summer / early autumn fruit. Juicy and messy so get the stain remover ready!!! I recommend ace bleach sensitive, gets everything out and you can buy it from £land.... result. Very tasty, high in vitamin C, vitamin K and fibre.

Vegetables

Carrot Sticks - Yet another super food? Wow. Grabbable, good for teething, good for starter foods and good for dinner party entrees! Carrots are a natural source of many things including: vitamin A, Vitamin K, vitamin C, fibre, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B3, folate, vitamin B1, phosphorus, vitamin E and vitamin B2. Only 50 calories per 122g for you snack hungry dieters too. Appeals to your little one's sweet tooth too.

Celery - great for introducing youngsters into different textures. And it is crunchy and cool for those little teething monsters. Tyler loved it, aided dribble though so get the bibs out! Also provides many health benefits to baby and you including lots of fibre, folate, vitamin A, vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B2 and vitamin B5! Super duper. I like the teething idea best.

Dairy

Custard - smooth, sweet and can be bought ready made. Cheap and time saving and providing a shed load of calcium as well as vitamin D? Bonus points for custard! Keeping the calcium levels up during a breast to formula or formula to cows milk or which ever way you are doing things is important and this one was suggested to me by a health visitor and Tyler des loves it and satisfies his sweet tooth marvellously.

Rice Pudding - cheap and quick, can be ready made or home made, both as good! Both providing a great amount of calcium and vitamin D. Perfect for our growing monsters for their teeth and bones.

Fromage Frais - small, sweet, often fruity, cheap, quick and great blw mess! Much fun. Provide calcium, vitamin D and are often fortified with extra vitamins and minerals so are great for growth and development.

Cheese - is great as a small snack as it like the other dairy snacks provides vitamin D and calcium but in larger amounts can cause constipation which is very painful for our little ones. As Tyler used to suffer from constipation badly as a newborn, I am very careful with cheese. I advise trying babybells as they are very mild and soft when broken up. Tyler likes them but I do not give him cheese as a snack very often.

Other

Try rich tea biscuits, goodys fruit bars, boots organic carrot corn snacks and cocktail sausages.


Have fun mummies and daddies!

 

TTFN

 



Cheese & Onion Pie for the Family

Cheese, Onion & Potato Pie

 

The cheese melted instead of going crispy... I may have put too much on but I do love cheese.

 

 

This is so so so easy to make! As you can tell from the caption, mine didn't turn out as hoped but was still very enjoyable and Tyler's dad asked for second! This meal should take 45 minutes prep and cooking in all. It provides shed loads of calcium, vitamin D, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin C and fibre.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 8oz Grated Cheese
• 6 Medium White Potatoes
• Quarter of a Grated Onion

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Finely grate a quarter of an onion. Grating will stop the onion ruining the smooth texture and it releases the flavour so much better. Leave this to one side.
2. Peel the potatoes and cute them into quarters and boil for 30 minutes then drain and mash.
3. Grate the cheese and ass to the mash along with the onion and stir through thoroughly.
4. Pat the mash down firm into an oven proof dish and add slices of cheese to the top. It browns nicely (or should do) and gives the mushy main bit a crispy top. Add a slice of tomato for decoration if you wish. I didn't as I can't stand fresh tomatoes. Brown for 10-15 minutes. Allow to cool a little for that little mouth.
5. Serve with baked beans, sweet corn or carrots.

 

 

What Little Monster Thought of it....

 

 

Tyler and Mummy portions.

 





 



Tyler used his hands for this, much to my joy at cleaning him up afterwards. Ate most but did not seem keen, probably better for younger babies getting used to textures or older ones needing a filling meal after nursery or school. I love it and so does the other half, he wanted seconds the greedy bugger. Oh and Tyler is eating baked beans one by one at the minute so it did take forever.  

Toad in The Hole

Toad in the Hole

 

 

   Toad in the hole has always been one of my favourite dishes and proves to be a firm family favourite. Right, I have a confession, I cannot make homemade batter to save my life so I use Asda smart price batter mix and at only 7p a packet and you only have to add a beaten egg and 200ml cold water, it is a great time and money saver. Yes I am aware of added ingredients, but it won't hurt every now and again if you are short of time and money.

  

 

   This dish will provide, protein, carbohydrate, vitamin C and fibre amongst other things.

 

 

 

Tyler's Personal Portion

 

 

 

Ingredients

• Battermix (7p, Asda)
• 6 Sausages  (89p, 12 pack, Lidl)
• Oil (89p, Lidl)
• 1 can Baked Beans (17p, Aldi)

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees
2. Drizzle oil into a small roasting pan and place in the oven
3. Fry sausages until a light brown
4. Make up your batter mix, or your homemade batter if you have greater apt for these types of things
5. Remove the pan from the oven and pour in the batter mix.
6. Put the sausages in the pan too and space out evenly.
7. Start cooking the beans 5 minutes or so before the end of the oven cooking time
8. Cook for 20 - 30 minutes.
9. Take out and cut up and serve with baked beans

 

 

Mummy size portion, daddy wouldn't let me take a picture of his, he thinks it's unhealthy for me to be obsessed with photographing food. I majorly disagree.

 

 

 



What Little Monster Made of it

 

Well, well, well! I have never seen his plate clear so quick. Ate the batter first, sausage second and beans last. All by hand as we are having some fork issues at the moment. A nice strawberry rice pudding to follow and all was well. Not much else to say really, was eaten, seemed to be enjoyed, cheap and quick enough for success!

 

 

 

 

Wrap it up Pizzas

This week, after almost a full two weeks of barely any appetite, my little one is finally eating, and boy has he made a come back with his appetite! This recipe started off his eating again and as it was the first time I had ever done it, I was rather nervous.
Mind you, what is not to love about a cheap, fun, creative, alternative, quick meal that provides protein, a little vitamin c, vitamin d, calcium, fibre and carbohydrate?

Wrap it up Wraps

 

I used turkey and green beans.

 

Prep time: 10 minutes for washing and chopping veg.

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

 

• 1 white wrap, if your child is over 1 year of age, you can use wholemeal wraps
• 1 or 2 tbsp. of tomato puree
• 3oz mild grated cheese
• Whatever, meat and vegetables you want

 

The approximate cost of this should be around £1. Cheap ingredients and easy to make, perfect.

 

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

 

1. Prepare what ever meat or veg you are using, I used some chopped green beans and strips of Bernard Matthews Turkey.
2. Lay your wrap flat on a baking tray while pre-heating the oven to 180 degrees.
3. Smooth the tomato puree over the wrap with the back of a metal spoon leaving an inch clear around the edges. This is so it is easier to pick up after cooking and while eating.
4. Scatter the grated cheese over the pureed area.
5. Add the meat or vegetables. If using both add the meat first and they will more than likely take up a larger surface area.
6. Put in the oven for 10 minutes.
7. Take out and slice into triangles like an actual pizza!

 

 

Mummy and Tyler portions.

 

What The Little Monster Made of It

 

 

 

Well, he was not that interested at first but once I got him to taste it, he loved it and gobbled the first slice straight up, the second however, he threw at me and it landed cheese side down on my jeans, lovely. Grease stain was epic.

 

 

Mummy liked hers but a bit sweet for my liking, will be trying with pitta breads at some point next week to appeal to my more savoury tastes. The green beans added a nice crunch though.

 

 

I made Tyler's daddy a meat feast one and he gobbled it up too, these boys and cheese, I tell you, makes any meal easy. Daddy required a full wrap to himself though.

 

 

Coming up soon: banana custard, top tiny hand snacks, toad in the hole.





 





When the appetite goes...

   As a mum, I find it so worrying when Tyler goes off his food, and these past few weeks he has! The past two days he has had small meals and still only eaten half but it is better than nothing.
 
  The past TWO weeks or so, Tyler has eaten virtually nothing due to teething and a viral infection, amongst other reasons. And yes, his teeth are still playing up as his teeth still haven't cut at the sides or back and there is no end in sight. He is also restless, grumpy and no longer sleeping through. We are all very tired in the household that is run by Master Tyler.


   So, that's why my blog posts have been none existent or very scarce with not much detail or pictures for a while. I don't see them being any more frequent to be honest, not much improvement despite the viral infection being well and truly passed on to his mummy.


   The problem we had with the eating was that Tyler got grumpy quick while he had the infection, which meant he would not be in his high chair without getting restless, frustrated or down right hysterical. I tried sitting him on the sofa with sandwiches, but that still didn't work. What did get a little bit into his system? Snacks during his happy times playing. Few and far between was the play but he was happy when he was so it was then I offered him his juice and snacks.

   What is in a healthy snack that will provide him with some much needed energy? Here are the top snacks that actually tickled his taste buds and kept him going:

• dried apricots; fibre, vitamins, sugar (quick release energy)
• toast with jam; carbohydrate, sugar
• banana; potassium, fibre
• raisins; sugar, fibre
• babybells; calcium, fat

   Obviously I tried his regular meals as normal with failed attempts but the important thing I realised was to keep trying because if he ever did get his appetite back something filling and substantial would be there ready for when he was. This did pay off in the end, on occasions, we are still trying to get the appetite back properly.

   And I hear you ask, that is all very well and good for tackling a viral infection but what about teething? Ahah! Soft, cold and easy to eat are the keys to teething babies.

   What I make Tyler varies between omelette, ice cream, cold blueberries, cold strawberries, chili-less chilli con carne, soft flaky fish, sweet potato wedges, fromaige frais, bananas, carrot sticks (fridge) and baked beans would you believe!

   It is a tough time for any mum or dad not knowing what to do for the best apart from teething gel, teething rings, calpol and cuddles. Just remember that it is not forever and it will pass. Rise above the frustration, let the cleaning slide and just be on cuddle duty, you might even enjoy the closeness you can provide your little one.


I hope to get back to blogging son, I miss writing creative recipes very much.

Bolognaise

Bolognaise

 

 

Quick, healthy, filling, warming, cheap! You can use bolognaise with normal pasta or spaghetti. I reckon this will cost no more than £3 to feed the whole family. Alter the amounts of the ingredients to suit you.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• Pasata
• Chopped Carrots
• Chopped tomatoes
• Peas
• Lean Mince Beef
• Half a Chopped Onion

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Prep the veg first.
2. Fry the mince with no oil or fat.
3. Add the veg to the frying pan.
4. Add the pasata.

 

 

Done :)

 

Tyler has always loved this dish, especially with pasta twirls because the bolognaise sticks to the twirls so easy, and makes a great tea that is easy to pick up. However, as you have probably noticed a lack of photos and a lack of a review from little monster. He has been teething, had a viral infection, a tummy bug then he was teething again. So food has not been high on his list of priorities unfortunately. Will detail this 'traumatic' experience in my following blog. 

Meat & Two Veg The Healthy Way

Turkey Dinner

 

If you know me, you will know that I am big on eating white meats as they are leaner and offer great health benefits! Turkey is 70% white meat and 30% dark meat, so what's not to love?

This meal offers a filling and warming evening meal without spending the whole morning roasting meat. This meal has only 15 minutes prep time and 30 minutes cooking time. So that's the time issue solved, and the warming issue? What is not to love about potatoes, meat and two veggies? Traditional and it fills you up with goodness.

The meal will provide protein, carbohydrate, fibre, good fats, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, folates and vitamin K.

Wow. I did not realise how good this meal actually was for you until I started researching what each ingredient provides.

 

Key Fact: Most of the vitamin C in potatoes is in or close to the skin. So, when  peeling, avoid excessive de-skinning. Basically don't take chunks out of the potatoes at the same time.

 

 

Benefits of Eating Turkey

 

 

• High in protein
• Low in Fat
• Good source of iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin B6
• Can lower cholesterol if eaten regularly
• Contains the amino acid 'Tryptophan' which produces serotonin and this strengthens the immune system

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 3 Turkey Breast Steaks (£1.29 on offer, Lidl)
• 5 tbsp. Peas (£1, Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Carrots (£1, Iceland)
• 3 Medium White Potatoes (£3 bag, Iceland)
• Chicken Gravy Granules (£1, £land)

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

 

1. Peel and chop potatoes into quarters and leave on the boil for half an hour.
2. Prepare your turkey steaks by removing excess fat and pre-heat the grill to full power.
3. After the potatoes have been boiling for 15 minutes, put the turkey under the grill and leave there for 15 minutes and turn half way through.
4. Boil the peas and carrots.
5. Use the vegetable water left from the peas and carrots after cooking, add gravy granules as the packet tells you. This will add more goodness to the meal as some key vitamins get lost during the boiling process.
6. Serve when everything is ready.

 

 

What Little Monster Thought

 

   He loved it so much, really got his appetite going again. Even consumed a whole custard pot. He ate the turkey that had been cut up first, he does love meat but soon moved onto his potatoes and veg. He seemed to enjoy the gravy too.

   Mummy and daddy really enjoyed this meal, no idea how I pulled it off as I had a slight bit of concussion from where that little monkey smashed a vase over my head! But all went down well and mummy and daddy had raspberry steamed pudding afterwards, really should have cut Tyler in on this but he got his custard out the kitchen for me so, I let him have custard instead.

 

 

Coming up Soon..... homemade banana custard, spaghetti bolognaise and more, keep up to date by liking the facebook page www.facebook.com/feedingforthefuture or simply add your e-mail address to the subscribe box above.

 

Happy eating and don't forget I love to see the pictures and hear feedback. Apologies for no pictures this time but we sat down to eat straight away and I was starving as I hadn't had an appetite all day. 



The Many Wonders Of Bagels

The Day of The Bagel

 

I love bagels! As does Tyler, more the pitty, means less for mummy :(

Anyway, I fully believe bagels can be used as a breakfast and a sandwich alternative for dinner times! I buy a different type of bagel depending on which shopping week it is. Cinnamon and raisin, sesame seed topped or just a lovely plain bagel. I have found bagels are easier for Tyler to eat if toasted under the grill, if I don't, he finds them a bit chewy and gets bored quickly.

 

 

Breakfast: Cinnamon & Raisin Bagel

 

 

   Yes, cinnamon and raisin bagels are lovely just toasted with a bit of butter,  but don't forget we need to get those tiny mouths interested in fruit. So after slicing a bagel in half, (Tyler had half and I had the other), I toasted the bagels outside up first then the other. Then just simply butter the insides and add a couple of raisins to the tops.

 

 

   Tyler loved his (and mummy did too) and promptly picked and ate the raisins off the bagel first! As this was the first time I had tried them with him I was surprised but delighted at the same time as they are an easy and healthy lunchbox snack when he's at school.

 

ps. no photo of consumption as Tyler had breakfast in bed with daddy and as daddy was only wearing his pj bottoms, he felt a wee bit self-conscious!

 

Result: SUCCESS!

 

 

Lunch: Sesame Seed Bagel with Pink Salmon & Green Beans

 

 

 

   Sesame seeds are great for our diets as they provide a bit of roughage for our digestive systems. I will not explain in finer detail what that means, I'm sure your imaginations can work out some sort of image. No, no image. Don't imagine.

   Anyway, getting carried away with me little self there! I used canned pink salmon on this occasion, with chopped raw green beans (perfectly safe to eat, just wash thoroughly). Oh, and spread cheese on the bagel to help things go down a little more smoothly.

   This idea you get calcium, protein, fibre, vitamins and maybe omega-3? Unsure about the last one to be honest but fish is good for you anyway, and is leaner than red meats. Also, low in fat (if you use the light spread cheese for mummy and daddy's bagel, use full fat for babies).

 

   As with the last bagel idea, I sliced the bagels in half and toasted the outsides first, then the insides. Spread a thin layer of spread cheese on then drained the salmon and place evenly around the bagel. Next, chop the green beans, I removed the ends of mine because they were quite stringy for some reason! Scatter then green beans on top of the salmon and you have a healthy and delicious lunch!

 

 

 

   Ty ty was rather wary of the sesame seeds once he had put the  bagel into his mouth. He took it straight back out for inspection, as normal - but it still makes me laugh! After picking a few seeds off and realised they were so tiny they wouldn't make a difference, he continued eating and polished the lot off! He did eat the salmon and green beans first, but he likes to take apart his food.

 

Result: SUCCESS!

 

 

 

 

Breakfast/Lunch: Cheese, Sausage & Tomato Bagel

 

 

 

   It is like a cooked breakfast on a bagel, what's not to love? It is also substantial enough for a lunch! Brill! Oh, and did I mention what this little beauty provides? No? Well, Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin D, Fibre, Protein and good fats from the cheese! Lovely jubbly.

 

NOTE: unfortunately when I came to do this recipe, I had ran out of tomatoes and sausages! So it is an egg bagel... Tyler still loved it.

 

   I used a plain bagel for this one,  and as with the other two, halved and toasted in the same way. I did this before cooking the sausage and heating the tomatoes. So, yes, I fried the sausages while heating tinned tomatoes on the hob. You can use, fresh tomato if you prefer obviously. Oh by the way, Lidl do some great sausages that are around 78% meat which is brilliant, and only £1.89 a pack. Well worth the money compared to cheaper sausages that can contain as little as 5% meat. I diverted again, ah, anyway! I use the slices of dairy lea cheese and place on the bagel while it is still warm so it melts slightly.

  Once the sausage and tomatoes are cooked, add them on top of the bagel and serve to that little monster. This tastes amazing by the way!

 

 

 

   Tyler loved this one. But I can't help but think he wouldn't have enjoyed it even more if I had the sausages, tomatoes and cheese! Dosey mummy didn't do the shopping right and now there is no more money in the shopping pot until Friday! Let me know how you lot get on.

 

Result: SUCCESS

 

Idea? Maybe try bacon medallions.

 





Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie

 

I know you all probably have cottage pie mastered to a fine art now you are a fully fledged family, but here's how I did it if there is anything you would like to take from it.

Also provides carbs, fibre, protein and key vitamins. Oh, and only cost me about £2 to make for me, Nick & Tyler!

 

 

Pre-oven. And already looks fab!

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

• Half a Pack of Lean Mince Beef (Lidl)
• 4 Medium-Size White Potatoes (Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Baby Carrots (Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Petite Pois (Iceland)
• Half a Diced Onion (Lidl)
• 1 tbsp. Butter
• 1 tsp Beef Gravy Granules
• 5 tbsp. Beef Gravy Granules

 

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Peel and chop potatoes into 8 pieces each, the smaller the better. This will allow them to cook faster as the starch is broken down easier in the centres.
3. Boil the potatoes and leave them for approximately 15 minutes.
4. Brown the mince and as just colour is just about to change, add the onion and 1 tsp of beef gravy granules.
5. Add the carrots and peas at this point too. (I used frozen veg as I had no plans of reheating)
6. Cook the mince, regularly turning and stirring, for a further 5 - 10 minutes.
7. Put the mince and veg in a Pyrex (or similar) dish. Make up the gravy with the 5 tbsp. of granules and add boiling water, make it quite thick. Then coat the mince with the gravy.
8. Drain the potatoes, add the butter and mash.
9. Spread the mash over the mince then run the prongs of a fork over the top of the mash and when it goes in the oven it will crisp up and add to the texture,
10. Place in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.
11. Serve.

 

 

 

Side View

 

 

Tyler's personal portion.

 

 

What Little Monster Thought

 

Well this dish was a success all round. Daddy said the only problem was, was that there wasn't enough. He does have a big appetite though! Tyler loved using his hands and getting messy. I did encourage him to use his spoon but it didn't go to well when he flung it at mummy! But, he ate the lot. And as he has been teething, I am more than happy with that result!

 

 

 

Mummy, Tyler and Daddy Portions!



 

 





Marmalade Veg Rolls

Marmalade Veg Rolls

 

 

Who doesn't love fresh chopped veggies rolled in ham, one not so guilty pleasure, and adding marmalade makes the veg all the better (and sweeter)! You can pretty much use any veg you or your baby likes, even use it to try out your little one with new foods as the marmalade makes it very pleasing to the pallet and half the battle of getting kids to eat new foods is getting used to the texture.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 2 slices of Ham
• 1 tbsp. marmalade
• 25g chopped red pepper
• 25g chopped aubergine
• 25g chopped courgette

 

 

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

 

1. Chop & weigh the veggies.
2. Fry in a little drizzle of oil for approx. 5 minutes.
3. Add the marmalade to the frying pan and stir in well.
4. Lay the pieces of ham out flat and place lines of chopped veg down the centre of the ham and roll up. Put the left over veg over the top of the ham rolls otherwise the can look quite boring.

 

 

 

 



What Little Monster Thought

 

 

He was very cautious at first. I think that was because he isn't used to having whole slices of ham, I usually slice it thin for sandwiches or omelettes. But afterwards he got into it, but ate most of the veg first before resorting to that pink thing. Messy though, his hands were so sticky afterwards and the carpet was so bad I had to get the carpet cleaner out, he was having a throwy day on this particular day.

What would I change? I would just use pittas to case the vegetables for Tyler because the pinkness of his ham confused him.

 

 

Let me know how you all get on and what you change :) But I strongly suggest putting the marmalade in the veg. So sweet :)