cooking for the whole family things that are suitable for baby

Mazcabs

I'm not the greatest cook either but some that I found easy are the 'feed your family for a fiver' cards in Sainsburys by Jamie Oliver especially the pasta below

Fry off some courgettes, mushrooms and bacon while you cook some pasta. When all ready add some creme fraiche to the pasta with a bit of grated cheese, then add the courgettes, mushrooms and bacon, mix it all up and then add a bit more grated cheese on top. It only takes as long to do as the pasta needs to cook. We substitute tinned chopped tomatoes for Creme fraiche sometimes as well

We used to blitz LO's portion and he loved it... as he got bigger we gradually left the lumps a bit bigger.

Baked jackets with cheese and beans are also a winner in our house.

pixiegirl

I dont have any children myself but am a fully qualified nursery nurse with 8 years experience.

I was the main carer for my god daughter when her mum was in iraq and her dad who is also in the forces worked long hours. I used the Annibel karmel book with babys dad like a bible! and would highly recommend it aswell. The spag Bol in there is yummy!! lol

hope you get on well! But im sure you'll love the book when you get it!!

x x xPixie x x x

nic2075

Hi Boots do stock cubes for babies and some heinz sauces, these are great for soups or for a quick meal. I have 2 toddlers both are good eaters (most of the time) I also swear by the Annabel Karmel book and website, really tasty recipes for all the family. One our family faves are Bang Bang chicken - chicken breasts flattened out with a mallet, then coated in a mix of breadcumbs (not the orange ones )and parmesan, then pan fried and served with veg and home made chips (potato wedges drizzled in olive oil cooked in the oven), other faves are a simple macaroni made with pasta, cheese and creme fraiche, this is so simple and we all love it, especially my OH.

Another great one for when babes are small is when you make stew, add in big chunks of butternut squash, the baby can have this smooshed up maybe with a little bit of meat, but it makes the stew taste fantastic and makes it go further.

alison6692

Hiya x

I have really struggled with cooking for my LO - I am a microwave meal queen and never cook.

I have been cooking for her - I try and cook things that I will eat too.

This recipe was really easy to make and she loves it Cheese and Lentil Bake

Other things I have cooked for her
Pink Mash - beetroot, potatoe and sweet potatoe.
Chedder Mash - Cheese, Parsnip and Potatoe.

Then I do a veggie mix and add the tinned fish.

I am vegetarian and although I am not bringing up my little girl to be veggie I have real difficulty cooking meat so I have been using tinned fish mixed in with the veggies I have made in a cook-a-thon.
I did a google search and I read that it was fine to feed her tinned fish ( I buy the stuff in spring water as I figure thats the healthiest choice).

We all eat at different times in my house so I don't cook for all of us - I just have big cookathons and freeze stuff up - which means I still eat rubbish! Ooops.

HTH

Alison x

PS - Annabelle Karmel does her own stock you can buy.

PPS - My friend was given a tip by her HV - ( which I think is genius) and that she used to have big cooks with all her friends then they used to share what they had cooked so that they a good variety to take home. Brilliant.

nadnad

just another person to say yep the anabel karmel book is great and really easy to follow! good luck with all the cooking!

McKneff

hayleyc recommends the baby led weaning site. This is great, my two year old grand daughter has been on this since the recommended 6 months and she has never had a mushed up or liquidised meal in her little life. and she will eat anything that is put in front of her.

jopsey

please don't under estimate the use of easy food eg. poached egg,beans or cheese on toast all good easy food,
but Just be carefull and don't do what I did only fed DS on home made food
then when he became 3 he got invited to a soft play birthday party with his friend's ,I really didn't know where to put my face when he was served up with the standard cardboard chicken nuggets and chips and decided to shout in his loudest voice " mum this is disgusting,it full of junk !!"

And I have to bribe him to go Macdonads !!
Best of luck

alison6692

Ooh just wondering - Does anyone know about the fish fingers on the OP? As a quick fix are shop bought fish fingers okay as a finger food?

Thanks

Alison x

hayleyc_2

I don't see why fish fingers wouldn't be ok, as long as they're not too salty. We've given them to Elliot before but he just chucked them on the floor in disgust!