I have two weaknesses when it comes to food, chocolate and ice cream.  I often enjoy a bowl of ice cream of an evening, and up until recently I would serve myself ice cream and H natural yoghurt – sneaky but brilliant right 🙂 But at 2.5 years old, H is now totally on to me….

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These carrot and walnut muffins are really delicious, and with 2 cups of carrot they are also good for you.  I always like to have a batch of muffins in the freezer, they are super handy for lunch boxes or healthy snack on the run.   They aren’t overly sweet so if you like things…

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Teriyaki salmon is one of those dishes you assume is time-consuming and has a million ingredients but it is actually very simple.  It has only 4 ingredients: salmon, sugar, soy and mirin.  Simple but really delicious.  Serve with a salad and you have a super easy weeknight meal. I cook the salmon under the grill when making this dish….

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Baked ricotta is creamy, lemony, deliciousness.  What more can I say!  The little dude was a  huge fan.  He looooooves dips – or possibly the actual dipping itself, but either way he dipped away with gusto.  Serve as a dip at your next party or I love it served with roasted veggies and crusty bread for a…

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This Mexican black bean salad is super easy and super quick.  I’ve used canned beans for convenience.  They are the perfect fast food and I always have some in the cupboard ready for a quick side dish or lunch.   I started giving H beans and chickpeas early on and would simply mash them with…

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Chicken Domburi has always been a favourite of mine.  It all happens in the one pot (excluding cooking the rice), so its perfect for a quick week night meal.  You start by browning the chicken and then cooking the onions until soft.  Add your liquid and the eggs and its all ready once the eggs…

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I have been making these delicious bread rolls for years with a range of different fillings.  This kale pesto filling is really delicious as the lemony flavour is balanced beautifully by the sweet bread.  If you want a short cut, store-bought pesto would also work well.   I have rolled the pasty out quite thin,…

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This post has been a long time coming.  I usually have 3 or 4 recipes ready to go but I have had a number of flops recently and have become a little over it! First there was my lemony asparagus pasta that I make often but turned to mush on this occasion.  Then I attempted a…

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These strawberry and coconut muesli bars are a real winner.  They are super easy to make and always work out beautifully.  I have used strawberries because there seems to be an abundance of them in Australia at the moment, they are super cheap, super tasty and we can’t get enough of them.  You can substitute what’s in…

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Guacamole is the perfect toddler food.  No cooking required, it’s healthy, full of flavour and makes a great healthy snack that the whole family will love – and they can almost make it entire on their own! I chopped all the ingredients and put them into tiny bowls.  H mashed the avocado and assemble all the…

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Inspiration for recipes usually come to me when I am wandering through my local green grocer, something usually catches my eye.  Sweet mangos, a nice big bunch of the greenest kale or more recently a little guy yelling at the top of his lungs “peach, pe ach, peach, muuuum, peach…..”  This inspiration for this recipe however…

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The countdown is on and I’m super excited this year.  H and I were chatting about getting a photo with Santa the other day – or more accurately I was trying to convince him it was a good idea… Me: What are you going to ask Santa for? H: A drum and a flower Me: Who…

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These macadamia bonbons are super healthy, they contain macadamia nuts, chia seeds, tahini, coconut, vanilla and I have sweetened mine with maple.  If you want a sugar-free alternative use rice malt syrup.   I was pretty excited when my toffee idea came together.  I put brown rice syrup in a  small saucepan and heated it over…

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There is something so satisfying about making bread at home.  Kneading the dough, the smell of it baking in the oven and it is a fabulous activity for kids. H loves measuring the ingredients and getting his little fingers into the dough.  It’s also very calming for little ones if things are getting crazy…  What do you do…

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I have been making a version of this dish for years.  It is a perfect mid-week meal – easy to prepare, super tasty, it all happens in the one pot so there isn’t a lot of clean up, and it’s always a hit.   The spices are balanced beautifully with the sweetness of the currants…

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Pickled veggies may not appear to be the most toddler friendly of dishes but my little one certainly approved.  The pickling liquid isn’t too heavy on the vinegar so give it a try, you can always add a little extra sugar if you think it is still too vinegary. This is my favourite salad to serve…

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Quick roast lemon chicken is a great weeknight meal with minimum fuss.  By butterflying the chicken it cooks in half the time and allows you to add your veggies in from the start.   I love meals like this that all go in at once and allow you to clean up while the magic happens.  So easy and perfect…

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I have two weaknesses when it comes to food, chocolate and ice cream.  I often enjoy a bowl of ice cream of an evening, and up until recently I would serve myself ice cream and H natural yoghurt – sneaky but brilliant right 🙂 But at 2.5 years old, H is now totally on to me….

Read More »

These carrot and walnut muffins are really delicious, and with 2 cups of carrot they are also good for you.  I always like to have a batch of muffins in the freezer, they are super handy for lunch boxes or healthy snack on the run.   They aren’t overly sweet so if you like things…

Read More »

Teriyaki salmon is one of those dishes you assume is time-consuming and has a million ingredients but it is actually very simple.  It has only 4 ingredients: salmon, sugar, soy and mirin.  Simple but really delicious.  Serve with a salad and you have a super easy weeknight meal. I cook the salmon under the grill when making this dish….

Read More »

I have a quick and healthy snack for you today.  Roasted edamame with thyme and pecorino.  Super quick and super delicious.  You simply toss the thawed edamame in oil and add your flavouring of choice.  I’ve used thyme and pecorino but use what ever you like.  

Some other combinations to try: parmesan and garlic, olive oil and sesame seeds, chilli power, lemon zest and paprika etc.

Roasted edamame is also a great addition to salads and a wonderful crunchy topping for soups.  

You can buy edamame still in the pods, which will require you to shell them.  Alternative buy the already shelled ones to speed things up.  

Print Pin Prep Time 2 minutes minutes Cook Time 15 minutes minutes Total Time 17 minutes minutes

• 1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame thawed
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 springs thyme
• 1 tbls pecorino cheese grated
• salt

• Pre-heat oven to 200C/400F.  Add edamame to a roasted tray, toss in the oil, thyme leaves, pecorino and salt.  
• Spread in an even layer and roast for 15 minutes or until golden.  Serve warm.

Be sure to take a picture if you make this roasted edamame with thyme and pecorino recipe, and upload to Instagram with the hashtag #littlebigh so I can check out your creation. xx

I’m pretty excited to be part of the I Quit Sugar follow friday this weekend – check out an interview I did with them here.  I’m also taking over their Instagram – its happening right now, so be sure to follow along… This hearty soup is featured on the I Quit Sugar website and is packed full of hearty vegetables, beans,…

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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…

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Frozen yoghurt is so easy to make – it only has 4 ingredients.  I’ve added banana to give it some sweetness and a little maple syrup, but that is totally optional.  It freezes quite hard so sit on the bench before serving to allow it to soften a little. Substitute the blackberries for whatever you have on…

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Frittatas are a really great option for lunch or a light dinner.  They are also a great way to use up leftovers or all of those extra veggies in your fridge that need to be used.  Basically all you need are eggs and then add any veggies that you like.  I love the combination of asparagus…

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We eat a lot of fruit in our house.  The little dude just loves it, so I always like to mix things up a little.  This fruit salad has a lovely orange vanilla glaze drizzled over the top, then I added a dollop of my homemade mascarpone and some toasted almonds.  It would make a…

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This recipe is adapted from Movida restaurant in Melbourne and it is so good!  It would make an impressive side dish, light lunch, or even main course.  The rich flavours are balanced beautifully by the sharpness of the quince and although it does take a little time to prepare, I promise it will be worth…

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   Tomatoes are easily H’s favourite food so I knew he would love this dish.  I have found that by adding Big H’s favourite foods to new dishes he is more likely to try new things, and get used to new flavours more easily.   This dish is easy to prepare and the coriander lime dressing is lovely…

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I have a huge basil plant that was in need of a major prune, and this is the result.  Homemade, deliciously raw, broccoli and basil pesto.  Pesto it is a great way to get children who don’t like the look of vegetable to get a good serve.  You can stir it through pasta, add a dollop to soups, spread…

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I just had to include the picture above.  Check out the lower left hand corner.  It’s a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex!  I noticed it when I was going through my photos – too cute!  These shots were the best of the bunch, as that spice in the dish was everywhere and he was using it as…

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This is a really easy dish to prepare and it has a wonderful flavour for not a whole lot of effort.  To speed things up you could use a pressure cooker…  

I have mentioned in previous posts that kids will to eat just about anything if you put it on a stick!

These lemony salt and pepper prawn skewers are no exception…  H loved them and I loved that they were easy, effortless and ready in 15 minutes.

The prawns are sprinkled with a lemony salt and pepper mixture and cooked on the BBQ for a few minutes.  You could add whatever herbs and spices you like.  If serving as finger food the dressing is optional but does add an extra hit of lemony goodness.  As a main serve alongside rice and roughly chopped mint.

Looking for more food on stick ideas? Try these…  Fruit skewers with coconut, Beef Skewers with sticky asian marinade, Frozen banana on a stick!

Print Pin Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 5 minutes minutes Total Time 15 minutes minutes

• 1/2 kg green king prawns, or as many as you like
• 1 tbsp sea salt flakes
• 1 tsp black pepper, freshly cracked, or to taste
• 1 lemon, zest only

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1/2 tsp sugar

• Soak skewers in water for 10 minutes minimum.  Peel and devein the prawns, leaving the tails intact.  Thread onto the skewers.
• Combine the salt, pepper and lemon zest in a small bowl and sprinkle over the prawns.  Brush a BBQ or grill plate with olive oil and cook the prawns over hight heat until cooked through.  A few minutes each side is perfect. 
• Serve immediately drizzled with the lemon sesame dressing if using.

• Combine all ingredients in a small jar and shake. 

If serving as a main course serve alongside rice and roughly chopped mint. As a starter simple enjoy as is, with or without the dressing.

If you make my lemony salt and pepper skewers, be sure to take a picture and upload to Instagram with the hashtag #littlebigh so I can check out your creation. xx

It may be getting cold here in Firenze but the city is more beautiful than ever. The Christmas lights are up all over the city, there are idyllic Christmas markets with mulled wine and delicious treats, and Harry said to me yesterday that he loves Florence. This made me so happy! Harry and I have…

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Green smoothies are to H what lollies are to a lot of kids – he absolutely loves them. Guaranteed if we walk past a juice bar, he will drag me kicking and screaming until he gets one – he loves to choose the ingredients and it has become his little treat after daycare a couple of times a…

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Inspiration for recipes usually come to me when I am wandering through my local green grocer, something usually catches my eye.  Sweet mangos, a nice big bunch of the greenest kale or more recently a little guy yelling at the top of his lungs “peach, pe ach, peach, muuuum, peach…..”  This inspiration for this recipe however…

Read More »

I have been making these delicious bread rolls for years with a range of different fillings.  This kale pesto filling is really delicious as the lemony flavour is balanced beautifully by the sweet bread.  If you want a short cut, store-bought pesto would also work well.   I have rolled the pasty out quite thin,…

Read More »

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!

Forget boring and tasteless rice cereal as babies first food.  Offer real food instead!  Avocado and banana make wonderful first foods.  (Try individually to check for any allergies, then mash together for a wonderful tasting puree)

Bananas’ high enzyme content (namely, amylase) means that they can digest themselves and thus, there’s less work for your baby’s digestive system to do. Ripe brown-spotted bananas are best – they taste the sweetest and are easiest to digest.  Avocado is a great source of monounsaturated fats and contains the enzyme lipase, which pre-digests the avocado’s fat as it ripens – great for your babies developing digestive system.  K Erlich, M.D, K Genzlinger.  Super Nutrition for Babies. (Fair Winds Press, 2012), 61.

Print Pin

• 1 Organic Banana (ripe spotted is best)
• 1 Organic Avocado (not too hard, not to squishy is best)

• Add equal parts banana and avocado to a bowl and mash with a fork until the desired consistency is reached. Add cooled boiled water, milk or formula to thin mixture if required.
• The obtain a very smooth mixture – use a spoon to push mixture through a sieve.

For older babies and children, spread mixture on toast or a sandwich

These corn fritters are perfect as a starter to a main meal or they make a great light lunch or breakfast, just top with a poached egg and you have yourself a quick but healthy meal in a flash. You could also make them mini sized and serve them as finger food at your next party, topped…

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 This is a really easy panna cotta to make, with much less sugar than normal – perfect for the little ones.  You could top it with any fruit you like or simply enjoy as is

It doesn’t get much simpler than this – Banana dipped in lemon juice and tossed in coconut.  A nice easy snack for the little ones – it also makes it easy for them to grip.

H playing with his jelly!  As much as I would love to say he gobbled it all up and absolutely loved it – I can’t.  He was very suspicions and mostly just poked it to watch it wobble!  It really is very delicious, which is why I’m posting it.  So for all those jelly loving…

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 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…

 This is a really easy panna cotta to make, with much less sugar than normal – perfect for the little ones.  You could top it with any fruit you like or simply enjoy as is

Print Pin

• 1/3 cup (80ml) hot water
• 3 teaspoons gelatine powder
• 1/2 cup cream
• 3 cups full cream milk
• 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

• Place water in a small bowl and sprinkle over gelatine powder. Set aside for 5 minutes or until the gelatine has been absorbed. Place the cream, sugar, vanilla bean paste in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir to dissolve the sugar. Bring to the boil and add the gelatine; stir to combine. Remove from the heat and strain into a large bowl. Stir through the milk and divide mixture between 6 deep-fluted tart tins. Refrigerate for about 4 hours or preferably over night.
• Turn out onto plates and serve

Makes 6 Adapted from Donna Hay – donnahay.com.au

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…

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I have a huge basil plant that was in need of a major prune, and this is the result.  Homemade, deliciously raw, broccoli and basil pesto.  Pesto it is a great way to get children who don’t like the look of vegetable to get a good serve.  You can stir it through pasta, add a dollop to soups, spread…

Read More »

I just had to include the picture above.  Check out the lower left hand corner.  It’s a baby Tyrannosaurus Rex!  I noticed it when I was going through my photos – too cute!  These shots were the best of the bunch, as that spice in the dish was everywhere and he was using it as…

Read More »

This is a really easy dish to prepare and it has a wonderful flavour for not a whole lot of effort.  To speed things up you could use a pressure cooker…  

These corn fritters are perfect as a starter to a main meal or they make a great light lunch or breakfast, just top with a poached egg and you have yourself a quick but healthy meal in a flash. You could also make them mini sized and serve them as finger food at your next party, topped…

Read More »

 This is a really easy panna cotta to make, with much less sugar than normal – perfect for the little ones.  You could top it with any fruit you like or simply enjoy as is

 This is a subtle tasting smoothie with blueberries and rock melon – perfect for younger babies.  (Suitable for babies from 6 months of age, if you have introduced all the components individually)

It doesn’t get much simpler than this – Banana dipped in lemon juice and tossed in coconut.  A nice easy snack for the little ones – it also makes it easy for them to grip.