Easy Peasy Vegetable and Lentil Curry

I wanted to introduce new flavours to my daughter so created this very simple and healthy curry . Lentils are a great source of cheap protein and are good for thickening the sauce.

Suitable around 10mths plus

It made 8 portions for my baby but obviously little appetites vary so this is just a guide.

Ingredients

300g mixed vegetables diced (butternut squash, courgette, broccoli or cauliflower)
1 onion chopped
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
50g red lentils
1/2 tsp Garam Masala
1 tbsp vegetable / sunflower oil

Method

1.Gently fry the onions for around 8 minutes until golden brown.
2. While the onions are cooking, cook the lentils according to the pack instructions.
3. Add the vegetables and the tin of chopped tomatoes to the onions. I tend to swirl water in the empty tin of tomatoes and add a few tbsp to the mixture if it looks too dry. Cook for around 10 minutes with the lid on to cook the vegetables.
4. When the lentils are cooked add these to the vegetable mixture along with the Garam Masala and stir well. Cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve with rice

Pea Tip:
Add some fresh chilli and an extra teaspoon of Garam Masala to make this a  meal for adults- just remember to take out the baby portions first!

Berry Bites

I wanted to create a muffin recipe which contained no added sugar. These mini muffins use tinned prunes to provide sweetness and are combined with mixed berries to provide flavour. I give these to my daughter for afternoon tea and they are a great baby snack to take out and about.

You can buy mini silicon muffin cases or you could use larger cases and just cut the muffins up to be small enough for little fingers.

Makes 36 mini muffins (you obviously could halve the mixture to make less)

Suitable 9 months plus


Ingredients

200g tinned prunes in apple juice (chopped and drained, reserving the juice)
1 egg
300ml whole milk
250g self-raising wholemeal flour (you could substitute for white self raising flour or use half and half)
125ml vegetable oil
150g berries (I used frozen summer fruits or you could use fresh or frozen blueberries)
1 tbsp apple juice from the prunes

Oven 180c (fan assisted)

1. Mix together the egg and milk.
2. Fold in the flour
3. Mix in the vegetable oil and apple juice
4. Fold in the prunes and berries
5. Spoon the mixture into the mini muffin cases

Cook for 15 minutes.
The muffins are ready when the top springs back.
The muffins can be frozen for up to a month.

Pea Tip: Not keen on berries. How about adding grated apple and a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Baby Banana Flapjacks

These quick and easy to make flapjacks are nutritious. Great for breakfast or a baby snack.
Porridge oats provide a slow energy release and bananas are a good source of potassium which is important for a healthy heart.

Makes 10-12 baby sized portions
Roughly suitable 7mths plus

Ingredients
1 medium ripe banana
150g porridge oats
300ml whole milk

Method:

Heat the oven to 180c (fan assisted)

Stir the oats with the milk.
Mash the banana and add to the oat mixture.
Pour into a small rectangular dish

Cook for 25-30 minutes until brown on top.
Leave to cool and cut into small fingers or squares.

Store in an airtight container. I keep mine in the fridge for up to 2 days. They also freeze well for up to a month so you can take out and defrost the quantity you want as and when you need.

Variations:
Try adding a grated apple or a few chopped unsulphered apricots to the basic banana recipe.

Pea tip:
To save on washing up just mix everything together in the cooking dish.