Oat, apple and prune purée

Remember how exciting it was when our little ones first started to eat solids? I loved this stage; it was like a whole new world had opened up. It made me feel even more responsible for my bub as it was solely up to me what was about to go into her mouth. For baby number one I was all over the organic fruit and veg and I was trying new recipes all the time. Sadly I will admit that this changed for baby number two. The odd packaged meal crept in and we could no longer afford organic. But this recipe here was a favourite for both my girls. I added prunes to this as it really helps with constipation. 

What were your favourite purees that you made? 

Preparation time

2 minutes

Cooking time

10 minutes

Age group

Baby (6-8 months)

Ingredients

2 royal gala apples, peeled, cored and diced

1 1/2 cups water

3 prunes (de-stoned)

1/3 cup oats

dash of cinnamon

Method

1. Bring apples and water to the boil. 

2. After 5 minutes add the prunes, oats and cinnamon and continue to boil for another 5 minutes or until the oats are completely cooked though.

3. Blend mixture until the puree is smooth. Makes 4 baby serves

Find out more about why apples are good for your baby. 

Apricot and lamb meatballs

Apricots in meatballs who would have thought? Here is a recipe that is perfect in more ways than one. These are super quick to make, you can freeze whatever you don’t use and they are oh so tasty. Everyone will LOVE these. I’m actually really surprised by these little morsels, as were the girls. As you know I seem to have little vegetarians, so each time they eat meat it makes me happy. As a couple (yep, only two but that’s good in the house) were consumed this gets our tick of approval.

Note: I think the fact that I let the girls eat some of the apricots whilst I was cooking helped keep their interest in trying the meatballs when they were cooked. 

Lamb and apricot balls

Makes

Around 24 meatballs

Prep time

15mins

Cooking time

15 mins

Ingredients

1 onion

50g dried apricots

1 tb olive oil

500g minced lamb

1 egg

salt and pepper ( optional)

3/4 cup fresh breadcrumbs 

¼ parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C

2. Place the onion and apricots in to the food processor and blitz until they are both finely chopped.

3. Heat 1tbs of oil and add the onions and apricots to a small pan and cook gently for 10-15 mins. Stir every couple of minutes so the mixture doesn’t stick and burn.

4. Put the minced lamb and egg into a bowl and mix. Then add the apricot and onion and mix again. If you wish to add salt and pepper, do this now. 

5. With clean wet hands roll the lamb mixture into small balls, and set them aside.

6. Mix the parmesan cheese in with the fresh breadcrumbs and sprinkle the mixture out onto a plate.

7. Roll each ball into the bread mixture until fully covered. 

8. Place meatballs into an oven dish lined with baking paper and bake for about 15 mins or until they are cooked through. 

This recipe has been modified from the Leon cookbook by Henry Dimblery & John Vincent. 

The quickest and easiest biscuits that you might ever make

I just whipped up what could possibly be the worlds easiest biscuits - Donna Hay’s coconut macaroons. These were a massive hit at playgroup. Here’s the recipe...

COCONUT MACAROONS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups coconut

1/2 cup caster sugar

2 egg whites

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180. 

2. Place coconut, caster sugar and egg whites into a bowl and combine. 

3. Roll 2 tsps of the mixture into balls and place onto a lined baking tray and flatten slightly. Cook for 10 mins or so or until golden. 

Donna says that this should make 28.  Mine made 15, but I like mine to be more of a biscuit size.

Every child is an artist

I’ve just been searching through pinterest and i came across this brilliant idea and had to share with you straight away. Don’t you just love it? I think it’s perfect. 

Here’s the link.

Up and downs with a little custard thrown in

I’ve just been through a day of massive ups and downs. My days started off with me taking the girls to one of their favourite pass times, which is playgroup. Sadly this was cut short due to the horrendous behaviour shown from my almost three year old. Oh lordy, where does this behaviour come from? I heard that toddlers can change over night but I never believed it, and never did I believe that it would happen to my little “angel”.  So after making the threat to go home a few times I had to see it though. This happened the minute I took my first sip of tea, of course it did. 

After this all happened, I brought the girls home for a sleep as I was blaming tiredness for such horrendous behaviour. I planned to turn the day around by playing the perfect housewife and cooked up a 3hr stew and the vegetable loaf, which proves to be a real fave in this house. I felt like I was back in control.

I then received the news that the Woolies website had been launched at lunchtime. This was truly exciting as I was asked to be a contributor a few months back but I haven’t been able to tell anyone. This is great news as it now allows/forces me to make a lot more recipes. I can’t wait. So my day was back on schedule that is until dinner. 

Remember that 3hr stew I slaved over? We’ll neither of the girls tried it. I then pulled out the trick of “ you’re not getting anything else till you eat some” to “ you’re not leaving the table until you’ve tried some” to begging shamelessly “ please, please try it” to finally “here have some vegetable loaf, at least it has three serves of vegetables in it”. 

Why on earth I am a contributor for Woolies I will never know. We’ll actually they were looking for a “normal” mum that likes to try out new recipes, and I do fit that bill, even if the little ones don’t like to eat it. So if you have any recipes that you would love to share, please send them here. 

Have a look at the new Woolies website that has been put together. There are loads of recipes, health advice, and giveaways on there for all ages.

Now here’s a recipe that I cooked the other night when I was loving my girls and my girls were loving me and my cooking!!! I wanted to make something that was quick and easy for an after dinner treat on the weekend. This was so good, it’s worth a try.

CUSTARD

SERVES

4

INGREDIENTS

2 eggs

3 tbs cornflour

3 cups milk

2tbs caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla

METHOD

1. Whisk eggs, cornflour and milk in saucepan until mixed together and smooth

2. Continue whisking until the custard starts to become think.

3. Remove from the stove and add in the sugar and vanilla. Serve hot or cold.