Cod and Prawn Chowder for Babies on soft lumps and finger foods, Toddlers and Adults

They say necessity is the mother of invention.  My son normally goes to nursery three days a week but this week he's at home with me due to having a bout of hand, foot and mouth (no, not the disease cows get before you ask, it's a mild virus).  Now there is a double frustration here; there is no way he picked it up from anywhere else but nursery so that's annoying as obviously their exclusion policies don't work but secondly, he's not ill!  He has been a bit funny about food but that's it. 

Risi e Bisi for babies and toddlers (and adults)

I made this for my husband and son this lunchtime.  I'd been meaning to make a risotto for some time but you know, all that standing and stirring isn't really practical.  Risi e bisi is a good compromise, you get a lot of that risotto unctuousness but without all the stirring.  The finished texture is somewhat up to you.  Look at the instructions towards the end for variations.

Pea and Ham Soup for Toddlers and Adults

Pumpkin is a little off colour at the moment.  He has a cold and he's been a bit off his food.  I suspect his throat is hurting.  I've never given him soup at home and it's comforting, 'ill person' food so I thought I'd give it a go.

This makes a thick soup which is useful for toddlers still getting to grips with using a spoon.   I wouldn't give this to babies.  Ham is high in salt, and not something you should eat every day, however, it's also very tasty so I'm not giving it up anytime soon.

Chicken Nuggets for Babies and Toddlers with Parsnip Chips

I suddenly realised that meat recipes have been a bit thin on the ground of late.   It's not as if pumpkin doesn't eat meat; far from it, just perhaps I've been sticking to old favourites.

Anyway, after cooking some chicken breasts with soft cheese for my husband and I, I had a breast left so decided to prepare some chicken nuggets for the little one and me to have for lunch.  I'd never found a recipe for chicken nuggets for babies I liked the look of so I came up with one myself.

Egg Fried Rice for Toddlers

Well it could be for everyone really but I made this with my toddler in mind.  I'd never given my son prawns, probably having worked in food for so long and the fact he has eczema has made be cautious whenever I introduce a food which is on the list of 14 that the EU requires you to list on packaging.  (Do check local health care professionals advice as I know it varies on introducing potentially allergenic foods.)

If feeding to under 1's, skip the soy sauce, it is salty and also keep an eye on the salt content of the prawns.  Gut feel is the majority of salt in frozen prawns will come out from the ice glaze (yes, I did taste the water once defrosted and it was salty!  See the lengths I go to???)

If I've not put you off even with the terrible photography on this one...

Herby Salmon Pasta for Toddlers

I do like to feed my son oily fish.  Whether or not you agree with the thoughts that omega 3 have beneficial effects on intelligence, omega 3 does have proven health benefits throughout life.  I mean it's not every day but I try to give oily fish once a week.

Cheese and Onion Muffins for babies and toddlers

I only had one egg in the fridge and some yoghurt so came up with these.  Good for babies on finger foods, baby led weaners and toddlers.

Bircher Muesli for Babies

Ok, the first recipe in this was directly from the Good Food website so I will post a link; Bircher Muesli Recipe there you are!  I did find the recipe a bit on the small side and also I'd been eating something very similar for years without realising it was kind of a 'dish' so here are some variations too.

Bircher Muesli - suitable for babies or toddlers (from when they're able to cope with lumps)