Tropical Chicken and Brown Rice

image courtesy zatarains

Age: 6m+

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (Brown/or Jasmine) Rice
2 cups water
1/4 cup papaya cubes
1/4 cup mango cubes
1 or 2 boneless chicken breasts
pinch of ginger and nutmeg if desired

1. Combine all of the above ingredients in a medium saucepan.
2. Cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes or until rice is soft, fragrant and a bit soupy.
3. Take out the chicken breast(s) and cut into small pieces, transfer back to saucepan
3. Add more water if needed and stir frequently to stop sticking to the pot and add more milk or water if necessary.
4. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until chicken is done

Once the mixture is fully cooked, allow to cool for 10 minutes and then transfer to a blender or food processor. Puree or chop as needed for your baby's age and texture requirements. This makes a great finger food meal for older babies and toddlers alike.

Apple Swirl Cake - GREAT Birthday Cake

image courtesy myrecipes.com

Age: 1 year (due to orange juice)

Ingredients:

2 cup apples
3 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cup sugar
1 cup vegetable oil (can substitute apple sauce)
4 eggs
1/4 cup orange juice
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups sifted flour
1 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt

Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces. Mix together with 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

In large bowl, combine sugar and cooking oil; beat. Add eggs, orange juice, and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Beat until smooth. Pour one third batter into greased and floured 12 cup bundt pan alternating with one half apple mixture. Repeat.

 
End with layer of batter on top. Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool in pan 10 to 15 minutes; turn out on wire rack or serving plate to complete cooling. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar if desired or lightly frost with cream cheese frosting.

Barley Cereal

image courtesy chennaigrocery

Age: 6m+

Ingredients:
1/4 cup ground barley
1 cup water

Bring water to a boil and add barley, whisking constantly for 10 minutes until fully cooked.

Add breast milk or formula to achieve desired consistency.

Oatmeal Cereal

image courtesy nutritiongyan

Age: 6m+

Ingredients:
1/4 cup ground Oats (NOT quick cooking or instant)
3/4 to 1 cup water

Bring liquid to a boil in a saucepan. Add the oatmeal powder and stir constantly for 10 minutes or until cooked.

Mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired and serve warm.

Creamed Peas

image courtesy thedailygreen

Age: 8m+

Ingredients:

4 cups peas, fresh or frozen
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste

Melt butter in a large sauce pan. Whisk in flour and allow to cook for 1 minute. Slowly add milk, whisking the whole time to prevent lumps. Add salt and pepper and other spices as you find appropriate. Cook until sauce begins to thicken. Add peas, stir and cook until peas are heated through (about 5-7 minutes). Serve warm alone or with rice.

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

photo courtesy readersdigest

Age: 8m+

Ingredients:
8 medium sized sweet potatoes
5 tablespoons - use butter
1/2 cup flour
2 tablespoons mayonaise
2 cups water & 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
quick shake of salt
cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger to your taste

In a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish, layer the potatoes.

In a saucepan, melt the butter; stir in flour until smooth.
Gradually add broth/water, mayonnaise, and spices. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly. Pour mixture over potatoes. Sprinkle with sugar & cinnamon. Cover and bake at 325 degrees F for 2 hours or until tender.

Sweet Potato Soup

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photo courtesy myrecipes

Age: 8m+

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cooked sweet potatoes
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups broth (chicken or vegetable broth)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup milk (use whole milk or use 8oz whole milk yogurt)

Mix the flour and butter to make a roux in a large saucepan. Heat the roux until you achieve a nicecarmel color.

Add the broth and brown sugar, bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Stir in the sweet potatoes and spices, bring to a simmer again, and cook for 5 minutes more. 

Next, puree the soup in batches and return to the saucepan. Add the milk, and reheat soup. Season with salt and pepper (optional), ladle into warm soup bowls and serve.

Note: You can substitute sweet potato puree for the whole sweet potatoes and skip the pureeing as shown above.

Rediculous Rice Pudding

image ©jenniferiserloh

Age: 6m+

Ingredients:
1 cup cooked rice (I would use brown)
1 cup warmed milk
2 drops pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon sugar (i would use a little less or none at all)

Combine all ingredients and cook very gently for 10 minutes or so until rice is heated through and it's thickened up a bit.

Cool before serving. Serve warm or cold.

Sweet Potatocakes

photo courtesy nurturebaby

Age: 8m+

Ingredients:
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup cooked sweet potatoes, mashed
1 egg (or 2 egg yolks)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (use graham flour for a nice taste.)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup milk (or more)

Mix sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl with the egg. In a separate bowl, sift the flour and add the baking powder, then add to sweet potato mix. Add up to 1/3 cup of milk while stirring then stir in 1 tbsp butter.

The mixture should have the consistency of thick, lumpy sauce like an "instant" pancake mix.

Place a non-stick or heavy iron skillet over medium heat on top of the stove and add 1/2 tsp butter.

Spoon batter into the skillet and cook until bubbles rise to the surface of the pancakes and break. Approx. 1 to 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the pancakes and cook another 2 minutes. Remove pancakes from the skillet and keep warm on a covered plate in the oven.

Note: These potato cakes freeze very well! Reheat in a toaster or microwave until warm.

Teething Biscuits

Age: 8m+

Ingredients:
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 to 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Beat eggs and add sugar, vanilla extract and flour. Mix well. Roll dough between two sheets of floured wax paper to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut desired shapes and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Let stand overnight for 10 to 12 hours.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 20 minutes.

Peach Yam Bake

Age: 8m+ (6m+ if made without the flour/wheat germ/spices)

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar (optional)
3 tbs. flour
2 Tsp Wheat Germ
1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 Tbs butter
4 cups mashed sweet potatoes
2 cups of fresh mashed peaches

Combine sugar, flour, wheat germ and spices. Cut in butter until you achieve a texture like bread crumbs. Arrange yams and peaches in 1-1/2 quart casserole; sprinkle with butter mixture. Bake at 350*F for 35 minutes. Puree (or mash) until you reach a desired consistency.

Baby's First Cereal

Brown Rice Cereal

1/4 Cup Brown Rice Powder (*see below*)
1 Cup Water

Bring water to a boil. Add the rice powder and stir constantly.

Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly.

Remove from heat and cool. Add breast milk or fruit to achieve desired taste and consistency.



Brown Rice Powder

1/4 cup Brown Rice
Food Processor, Coffee Grinder, etc...

Add Brown Rice to the food processor and grind until you reach desired consistency.

(powdery for first foods, small little granules for intermediate eaters and even whole rice for good eaters.)

Menu Ideas Part 3

Suppertime Specials:

Soft cook (roasted, broiled or stewed) meats (beef, chicken, turkey or fish) are ideal for healthy dinners. Avoid trying to grind tough or hard cooked meats.

Age: 10m+

Meat & Potatoes

Potatoes, cooked and mashed
Meat, cooked and diced

Puree all ingredients. Mix milk (age appropriate) into ground food for desired consistency.

Combination Dinner

Meat, cooked and diced
Vegetables, cooked and diced
Rice, cooked

Puree all ingredients. Mix stock or water into ground food for desired consistency.

Spaghetti Dinner

Lean Ground Beef, cooked and drained
Thin Spaghetti, cooked and drained
Tomato, peeled and diced

Puree all ingredients.

Menu Ideas Part 2

Lunch Ideas:

Age: 6m+

Soft, cooked vegetables, pastas and rice can be ground in any combination for a healthy, tasty lunch.

Carrots and Rice:
Brown Rice, cooked.
Carrots, peeled and cooked.
Butter, tiny bit, if desired. 

Puree all ingredients.

Pasta with Cheese:
Pasta, cooked and drained.
Mild Cheddar Cheese

Puree all ingredients, mixing breast milk or other milk into the ground food to achieve desired consistency.

Menu Ideas Part 1

Breakfast Treats:


Age: 6m+

Cereal with Fruit:
Cooked Cream of Rice, Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal.
Fresh or Canned Fruit, if using canned, drain liquid and make sure it is packed in water, not syrup.

Puree fruit until smooth and mix in cereal.

Blueberries and Yogurt:
Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
Plain Yogurt
Cooked Oatmeal, Cream of Rice or Cream of Wheat


Puree blueberries and mix into yogurt and cereal.

Fruit Cup:
Banana, diced.
Blueberries
Applesauce

Puree all ingredients. Mix breast milk (or other liquid) to achieve desired consistency.