I often serve gougères (aka delicious french cheese pastries) as an appetiser at dinner parties – everyone loves them, H included – they are really good! Serve them as is or cut in half and fill with what ever takes your fancy. I have always found they work out best mixing by hand but you could give…

Read More »

I grew up eating my mums salmon patties and they are a family favourite.  They are so comforting and remind me of home.   They are so simple to make and are a great first finger food for little folks.  I have made these mini sized so they are easy for H to pick up.   The mixture…

Read More »

 You may have seen this recipe a million times on the internet, but I couldn’t resist putting it on the blog for anyone who hasn’t.  It is perfect for babies from 6 months old – and its delicious.   My favourite topping is mango and passionfruit but use whatever fruit is in season. It takes…

Read More »

I couldn’t resist buying these super cute minikin pumpkins.  I have stuffed them with pearl barley and mixed veggies and it did quite nicely for a healthy meat-free dinner. Slice into portions or scoop out the flesh along with the pearl barley and mash for your little one.

Super light and crispy kale chips make a delicious snack.  Kale is one of the healthiest vegetables around, and is particularly high in vitamin K, A, and C  My toddler loves them and I’m sure you little ones will too.  Just make sure they are nice and crisp.  That way they just melt in your mouth…

A delicious green smoothie that isn’t at all leafy tasting.  H just loves it – he finished the glass in a matter of minutes!

 This is a really tasty dish and it was a huge hit with H.  You could substitute the vegetables in the recipe for ones you already have in the fridge.  You could also prepare ahead of time and keep in the fridge until ready to steam and serve.

It has been quite some time since I’ve posted a true baby food recipe, so I thought I would post this old favourite.  It is a recipe that I grew up on and still love, although we always had it with sugar, and lots of it.   It is amazing how things change when you have…

Read More »

A delicious compote of peach, apples and spices.  It is lovely eaten on its own, or we like it on our porridge of a morning.   Freeze in ice cube trays and take portions out as you need them.  Compotes are a great why to introduce spices to your little one.

Beautiful Berry Coulis – sugar free Chicken with Apples and Thyme –  such as great combination Delicate white fish with fennel and grapes   I’m very excited to be sharing my very first guest post with you all, on a great blog called  Never the Same Spice Twice.  I have 3 new recipes suitable for babies…

Read More »

This is a delicate tasting puree and a great introduction to fish for your baby.  Any delicate tasting white fish will be fine in the recipe and combined with the witlof (Belgian endive) it is a lovely combination.

This is my idea of summer – A refreshing puree of lychee, pineapple & apricot.  Perfect for baby and the entire family.   No cooking which is always a bonus and could be served as a snack or with a dollop of natural yoghurt for breakfast. Baby will love it…

Now that Big H is 10 months old it won’t be long before he is eating dinner with the family (no separate kids meals for us!).  So as often as I can I like to give Big H what we are having for dinner – only puréed. It has been a challenge to avoid adding salt/sugar to…

Read More »

Making custard at home is a really great option.  You can be guaranteed that it is sugar-free and free of all other nasties – something I am very particular about when feeding my son. This is an easy custard recipe and baby will love it.  Stir though a little pureed fruit for a natural sweeter…

Read More »

Summer Fruit Puree with mango, banana, passionfruit and peach.  Simply added to a blender and pulsed til smooth.  No cooking required.  Baby will love it and so will you.   The Stone Fruit Puree with Cinnamon and Star Anise is simmered on the stove top until tender so the spices can infuse the mixture.  It is a…

Read More »

Everyone loves fries right?  My little guy certainly does.  I don’t make them often because H will go straight for them, and its often hard to get him to eat anything else, but when I do, I love to add herbs and spices.  

These sweet paprika fries make a tasty alternative and being oven roasted they are also better for you. Enjoy… 

Print Pin

• About 4 large potatoes
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt
• parsley to garnish (*optional)

• Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees C (420 degrees F). Peel and chop the potatoes into fries that are roughly the same size. Dry them a little using paper towel if they are wet. Toss the potatoes in the olive oil, paprika and salt
• Place on an oven tray in a singe layer so the potatoes aren’t touching and cook for about 30 minutes (the time really depends on the size of your fries so keep an eye on them). For best results toss them half way through cooking. Sprinkle with parsley if using and serve.

This sweet and sour plum recipe is truly delicious; serve with cream, ice-cream, yoghurt, or it would make a lovely addition to trifle, pavlova, on top of cake or with meringues

I thought I should also note that this isn’t something that I would make often for H.  It contains both sugar and red wine – not very toddler friendly foods!  The alcohol is however thoroughly cooked off.  It is a desert that would be great served at a dinner party, possibly with the meringues mentioned above, and would satisfy the adults and children alike

Print Pin

• 400 g sugar plums (or other type of plum), halved and pitted
• 100 g coconut sugar
• 50 ml red wine vinegar
• 100 ml red wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 each star anise and cinnamon quills
• 1 vanilla bean , split, seeds scraped (alternatively use vanilla bean paste)
• Zest of 1/2 lemon

• Combine sugar, vinegar, wine, water, spices, vanilla and zest in a pan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil, then simmer until reduced by half. Add plums; cover with a lid and cook over very low heat for about 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon transfer plums to a bowl. Return pan to medium heat and simmer for 5 or so minutes until the mixture is syrupy. Add syrup to plums, cover and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Chia seed pudding is one of the first recipes I posted on this blog.  H and I both love it, and I love the convenience of it when served for breakfast.  I always make it the night before and it is ready to go in the morning.  It is so easy to make and requires no cooking.

I started giving my little guy chia seed pudding when he was about 6 months old.  I originally discovered the recipe on ‘A Healthy Mum‘ – a food blog with healthy recipes and tips, and I have been making it ever since.  

I have used coconut milk in this version and combined it with berries for a healthy breakfast, snack or dessert. You can find the original recipe here.

Print Pin

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 4 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
• 1 cup berries (fresh or frozen); mashed with a fork
• Extra berries to serve
• Optional* a tablespoon of maple syrup to sweeten

• Add the milk to a mason jar or a container with a lid. Add the chia seeds and vanilla extract, secure the lid and shake straight away so the chia seeds don’t clump together. Add the mashed berries and shake again.
• Give it a few more shakes over the next 15 minutes, so the mixture thickens evenly. Leave in the fridge for a few hours or make the night before.

I also love the combination of coconut and mango – use whatever fruit is in season
Sweeten with maple syrup or honey from 12 months old

Homemade fresh tomato sauce is so handy to have on hand.  I make a large batch and freeze it for a lazy day.  I use it to add to pasta, as a pizza sauce, meatballs, a quick ragout, ratatouille, etc.   So next time you go to the farmers markets grab a few kilos and make it fresh, it’s…

Read More »

There isn’t a whole lot I like about winter, but juicy blood oranges are one of the few things that I can’t get enough of.  The colours are just gorgeous and I love love love orange salads.  

There is another one that I make regularly with rosewater, pistachios and goats cheese – but I’ll leave that for another post!  This citrus salad with fennel and walnuts on first glance may not look toddler friendly, but what kid doesn’t like oranges!  My little dude also loves fennel.  Possibly something to do with the about I ate when breastfeeding in the early days – apparently it helps with milk supply and let down.  So I ate a lot of it, and inadvertently, so did H.

The cumquats in the recipe may not be to everyone’s taste, so skip them if you can’t find them or don’t like them.  I grew up eating them and love the sourness.  My Nanna had a tree that produced the sweetest fruit.  I find the sweetness is in the skin and then flesh is quite sour, so its important to eat the entire fruit.

If you are worried about giving walnuts and your child, keep them to the side and pop some on your serving only.  

Enjoy xxx

Print Pin

• 2 blood oranges
• 1 orange
• handful of cumquats (optional); sliced
• 1 baby fennel
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• A couple of sprigs of chervil to garnish (or use the fennel fronds)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
• Salt and pepper

• Cut the top and bottom off the oranges. Run your knife down the sides to remove the remaining skin so there is no white left on the oranges. Slice the oranges.
• Using a mandolin to slice the fennel as fine as you can. Alternatively use a sharp knife to slice as fine as possible.
• Arrange the fennel on a plate and top with the oranges, cumquats, walnuts, and garnish with the chervil.
• For the dressing, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and combine. Drizzle over the salad. Serve, or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves 4 as a side. I prefer it served cold from the fridge, it allows everything to marinate and the fennel under the oranges to take on the other flavours.

 This really is a deliciously healthy snack, dessert or even breakfast.  Mango, Pineapple, Lime and Coconut Tapioca is also perfect to freeze.  I simply warmed the mixture a little and it was perfect.  So double the recipe if you like and freeze what you don’t use for another day – enjoy…

Print Pin

• 100 g tapioca pearls
• 60 ml coconut cream
• 2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1 lime
• 1 mango , diced
• 1/4 fresh pineapple , peeled, cored and diced

• Fill a saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add the tapioca pearls, stirring occasionally to make sure they don’t stick. Simmer until they are almost completely transparent with just a small speck of white in the middle (around 10 minutes). Drain and refresh under cold water; set aside
• Combine the coconut cream and maple syrup in a saucepan and heat through until combined; set aside to cool slightly
• Cut the peal from the lime and segment them by cutting as close to the membrane as possible on either side of each natural segment. Work your way around the lime until you have cut all the segments out. Roughly dice the segments
• Combine the lime, mango, pineapple, tapioca and the coconut mixture and stir to combine
• Spoon into individual bowls and serve

Suitable to freeze;Omit the maple syrup for younger babies. If you think it is a little tart, try adding a little mashed banana.

If left in the fridge it will set slightly. I warmed the mixture a little and it separated the mixture again

Adapted from Lotus Asian Flavours by Teage Ezard

I couldn’t resist buying these super cute minikin pumpkins.  I have stuffed them with pearl barley and mixed veggies and it did quite nicely for a healthy meat-free dinner. Slice into portions or scoop out the flesh along with the pearl barley and mash for your little one.

Red Lentil Chicken pureed in blender

Print Pin

• 100 grams of red lentils
• 1/2 chicken breast
• 1/4 cup leek
• 2 tomatos
• 1/2 cup chopped broccoli
• 1/2 cup chicken stock (salt reduced)
• 1 tbls olive oil

• In a saucepan cook the lentils as per the packet instructions (for 100grams add approx 3/4 cup of water and simmer until soft)
• Dice the vegetables and chicken
• Add olive oil and leek to a frying pan, cook until tender
• Add tomato and broccoli, stock & cooked lentils. Simmer until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
• Server as is or add to a blender and pulse till the desired consistency is reached.