Pumpkin Waffles by Weelicious

Ok, you all know how I feel about pumpkin. We love it in oatmeal and soup, Little K still loves it as a puree. Catherine at Weelicious posted a recipe for Pumpkin Waffles which of course I had to try. Delicious! They are indeed as good as they look in the photo. I served them for breakfast and K was hooked. She asked for them again at dinner and I used Catherine’s suggestion of making a sandwich. I sliced one waffle in two and made a sandwich using about a tablespoon of cream cheese and thinly sliced apples.These would also be fantastic as finger food or a snack for younger, self feeding babies (torn into small pieces, of course).

Great recipe, I’ll definitely be making a batch to freeze for quick, healthy meals.

Filed under: Finger Food, Freezer Friendly, Pumpkin, Snack, baby food, finger foods, Freezer Friendly, make ahead, Pumpkin, Recipes, Snack, waffle, Weelicious

Butternut Squash Puree

Butternut squash is a fantastic source of both vitamin A and C, and just one vegetable can go a long way. Widely available in October and November, butternut squash has a sweet, creamy flavor, and is enclosed in a tough skin. Stored correctly in a cool, dry place, butternut squash will keep for 2-3 months.

You can serve Butternut Squash puree alone, or mix it with apple puree, carrot puree, applesauce, mashed banana, pumpkin, sweet potato, rice or homemade rice cereal, chicken or peaches. Baby K loves her Butternut Squash Puree with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

For a toddler, I’ve had success with mini bagel “pizzas”, that is, halve a whole wheat bagel, spread about a tablespoon or two of butternut squash puree over bagel, sprinkle with a little parmesan or asiago cheese, and bake for about 10 minutes.

To make the puree:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees
• Wash butternut squash just before slicing
• Carefully cut the vegetable in half lengthwise
• Scoop out the seeds and fibrous strings
• Using a small knife, carefully peel the skin from each half
• Cube the remaining squash into about 2 inch cubes
• Place cubes on a foil lined pan, and drizzle a little olive oil over the squash
• You will probably have a pretty full pan, be sure to use a spatula and toss the cubes around making sure that all sides have a little EVOO
• Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, using the spatula to turn the cubes occasionally.
• Squash should be baked until tender.
• Allow the butternut squash cubes to cool
• Transfer to cubes to blender or food processor with about 1/2 cup of water
• Blend away, adding water if necessary.
• Pour into ice cube trays, cover and freeze immediately.

Photo credit to Rex_roof.

Filed under: Butternut Squash, Finger Food, food, Freezer Friendly, nutrition, Vegetables, baby, baby food, bake, Butternut Squash, fall, Freezer Friendly, homemade baby food, puree, seasonal, toddler, Vegetables, winter, winter squash

Blueberry Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Sounds a little bizarre, I know, but give these a try, no syrup needed!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tbs vegetable oil
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Combine cottage cheese, flour, blueberries, beaten eggs and oil in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Heat lightly sprayed skilled over medium heat.
3. Pour 1/3 cupfuls of batter in to the skilled. Carefully flipping when bubbles appear on the surface.

Filed under: Blueberry, Dairy, Finger Food, Fruit, baby, baby food, blue, blueberry, breakfast, cottage cheese, egg, Family, Finger Food, food, Fruit, pancake, recipe, toddler

Veggie Patties

Toddlers love finger food and being able to pull apart and inspect their food. These veggie patties are easy, quick and healthy and are a big hit when served with a little tomato sauce or sour cream for dipping. This recipe makes 6-7 small patties.

Ingredients

• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1 cup grated carrot
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup wheat flour
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tb dried parsely
• olive oil
• tomato sauce (optional)

Instructions

1. Using a mixing bowl, combine, zucchini, carrot, beaten eggs, onion, flour, cheese and parsely. Stir thoroughly.
2. Heat a small amount of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. 
3. Drop mixture into skilled by spoonfuls and cook for a few minutes on each side until golden.
4. Serve with tomato sauce for dipping.

Photo credit to John-Morgan.

Filed under: Cheese, Dairy, Finger Food, Parsley, Zucchini, baby food, carrot, cheese, dip, Finger Food, homemade baby food, onion, toddler, tomato sauce, Zucchini

Finger Food Ideas

Many older babies enjoy self feeding and as a bonus, self-feeding helps develop their pincer grasp and refines a baby’s manual dexterity. Here are some fun finger food ideas, but as always, be sure to check with your pediatrician before introducing new foods. Vegetables (steam, bake and cut into bite sized pieces)

• peas
• cherry tomatoes
• asparagus
• broccoli
• cauliflower
• baby carrots
• cut green beans (large seeds removed)
• sweet potato bites
• boiled potatoes
• garden burgers
• beets
• zuchinni
• squash
• Veggie Nuggets

Fruits (bake or steam most and but into bite sized pieces)

• baked apples
• melon (no need for cooking)
• quartered strawberries (12+ months)
• quartered kiwi
• bananas
• avacado
• halved blueberries
• halved rasperries (12+months)
• ripe peaches (no need for cooking)
• pears (no need for cooking)
• ripe plums (no need for cooking)
• apricots
• pineapple bites (12+ months)
• orange bites (12+months)
• ripe mangos
• nectarines
• grapes (skinned and quartered)

Dairy

• diced cheese
• Baked Cheesey Bites

Legumes

• garbanzo beans
• kidney beans
• black beans

Proteins

• hard boiled egg yolk
• scrambled egg yolk
• ground beef
• diced chicken
• diced turkey
• salmon (flaked)
• mahi mahi (flaked)
• diced tofu

Starches

• bite sized pancakes
• bite sized waffles
• whole grain toast bites
• rice
• Cheerios
• torn bagels
• biscotti
• broken rice cakes
• graham crackers
• any small pasta
• cous cous
• broken torilla chips

Watch for posts with meal ideas with the finger-food-loving baby in mind later this week!

Filed under: Apples, Avocado, Baked Bites, Banana, Beef, Blueberry, Broccoli, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cheese, Chicken, Dairy, Finger Food, Fruit, Grains, Green Beans, Legumes, Mangoes, Pasta, Peaches, Pear, Peas, Potato, Proteins, Snack, Teether, Turkey, Vegetables, Yellow Potato, apple, Avocado, baby food, banana, carrot, carrots, cheese, chicken, Finger Food, Fruit, homemade, pasta, potato, Proteins, steam, Sweet Potato, Teether, turkey, vegetable

Veggie Nuggets

10 month old Baby K is far more interested in finger foods right now than she is any food involving a spoon. As far as the veggies, you can use any combination of broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.

Ingredients

• 8oz mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots)
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 6 oz grated Cheddar cheese (also try with Parmesan for a different flavor)
• 2 1/2 tbs water
• 2 1/2 tbs olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp oregano

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees
2. Steam the veggie mixture, then drain and finely chop
3. Combine with the remaining ingredients (breadcrumbs, seasonings, water, oil, baking powder) and mix well
4. Shape the mixture into nuggets or smaller bites and place on a lightly greased baking tray
5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes (depending on size of nuggets), turning halfway through the cooking time

Filed under: Baked Bites, Finger Food, garlic, nutrition

One food I’ll never leave the store without…

Bananas.

Mashed, frozen, sliced, diced to bites, in a medley – you get the point.

Banana Mash

1. Mash with the back side of a fork
2. If needed, combine with juice, water or baby’s milk

Combo Ideas

• Apple puree
• Blueberry puree
• Oatmeal cereal
• Sweet potato
• Apricot puree
• Mango puree
• Strawberry puree
• yogurt

Flavor Ideas

• Ginger
• Lemon zest

Sliced Bananas (Freezer Friendly)

1. Peel jacket from banana and slice
2. Freeze slices for quick snack or to mash for a meal

Banana Bites

1. Peel jacket from banana and slice
2. Dice banana slices into quarters
3. Sprinkle with Cheerio dust or toast dust to make it easier for baby to pick up (optional)

You can also freeze a banana whole in its peel. The peel will turn brown but the fruit will not. Do you have a favorite banana recipe or tip? Let me know!

Filed under: Banana, Best Of, Finger Food, food, Freezer Friendly, Fruit, Ginger, Oatmeal, Sweet Potato, Uncategorized, baby, banana, infant, yogurt

Baked Cheesey Bites

As with many of the foods I make, I love the variety that many of them provide. Try substituting different types of cheeses for the Cheddar, such as Parmesan, or Monterey Jack.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz (1/2 pound) shredded mild Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 5 tbs softened butter
• 1 tbs parsley or chives (optional)

Instructions:

1. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl, mix well
2. Cover dough tightly and refrigerate for one hour
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
4. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness
5. Use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes, or for younger babies, slice through dough with a knife to make bite-sized finger foods (about the size of Cheerios)
6. Place bites on parchment paper covered baking sheet
7. Bake for about 18-20 minutes, depending on size of bites. Bites should be golden brown
8. Allow to cool, and store in an airtight container

Filed under: Baked Bites, Finger Food, Uncategorized, baby, Baked Bites, cheese, finger foods, homemade, infant, parenting, recipe, Teether, teething, toddler

Baby’s First Thanksgiving Meal

Thanksgiving from a jar? Not with these easy and nutritious meal plans. Enjoy!

Turkey with Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 slice of cooked turkey
• 1/4 cup cranberry sauce (recipes)

Instructions

1. Combine slice of turkey and cranberry sauce
2. Puree in blender, food mill or food processor
3. May need to add a little water to reach desired consistency
4. Warm and serve

Serve with one of the following

• Cinnamon Pureed Pumpkin
• Carrot and Parsnip Puree
• Baked Sweet Potato Bites
• Avocado Pear Puree

Filed under: Avocado, baby, Baked Bites, Carrots, Cinnamon, Finger Food, food, Fruit, Herbs and Spices, Holiday Menu, Medley, nutrition, Parsnips, Pear, Proteins, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Vegetables, Avocado, baby, carrot, cranberry, Finger Food, food, homemade, infant, nutrition, organic, parenting, parenting blog, parsnip, pear, Pumpkin, puree, recipe, superfoods, Sweet Potato, thanksgiving, toddler, turkey

Sweet Potato Bites

Sweet potatoes are one of nature’s superfoods, delivering beta carotene and Vitamins C and B6. Commonly one of baby’s first foods, sweet potato chips, bites, fingers or fries continue to please into the self-feeding stages.

Ingredients:

• 1 sweet potato
• Water
• Cinnamon, cloves or nutmeg (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash and peel sweet potato
3. Cut into fingers (fries) or chips of desired size
4. Boil bites in about 2 cups of water for 10 minutes
5. Drain and transfer bites to baking pan
6. Sprinkle with spice or spice mixture
7. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until slightly crispy
8. Cool, then serve or refrigerate in an airtight container

Filed under: Baked Bites, Finger Food, Sweet Potato, Vegetables, baby, bake, Baked Bites, boil, chips, cinnamon, cloves, Finger Food, fries, infant, nutmeg, parenting, parenting blog, recipe, self feed, spice, Sweet Potato, Teether, teething, toddler