D209: Eco goop

I've been splurging on the little fruit puree pouches from the supermarket.  They are, admittedly very quick and handy for Bub.  Although they instruct you to put it in a bowl, or spoon it, Bub loves sucking it straight from the spout.  A pouch of goop has been a very handy thing on the run.

Home made goop - Apple & pear with raspberry, mango or banana

Still, the pouches the fruit goop comes in aren't recyclable and they aren't reusable because you can't see how clean they are.  So I've bought these so I can make my own.  I suppose we shall see how well they fare after a few uses.

D208: Simple & complicated

Well, its not terribly creative but it is made.

Bub now has a small stash of chicken and leek risotto in the freezer.  Luckily she seemed quite happy with it for the next day's lunch.  It is exactly what it sounds like:

One finely diced leek, softened with a bit of oil in a saucepan, about 200g of chicken mince added and cooked, about two handfuls of arborio rice heated through and then about 2¹/₄ cups of water, added a half cup at a time, and stirred through until the rice is tender.  I added some thyme, rosemary and a smidge of dill and salt.

Two trays went in together - the tall ones are from the top rack :)

These are the spicy pumpkin muffins I've made before. 

I had a little extra pumpkin so decided to increase the recipe in proportion and, although it was only an extra fifth of stuff, I added a second egg.  

I know egg binds and acts as an emulsifier, and I've definitely had brownies that have had a yucky egg flavour, but otherwise I wasn't too sure what it would do.  Nothing disastrous, it would seem.  This time...

D134: Risotto for Bambino

Today I experimented with an idea I've had for a while - chicken & corn risotto for Bub.

Here is the prototype recipe I did tonight:

1 can of creamed carm (310g)

1 small can of corn kernels (optional)

300g minced chicken

1/2 cup arborio rice

1. With a bit of oil in a medium saucepan, fry the chicken and break it up as much as possible.

2. Add the corn and rice.  Stir until all the rice is wet.

3. Add the creamed corn and combine. Stir until it's reduced a little.

4. Add about a quarter cup of water and stir. Continue adding water and stirring until the rice is cooked. 

5. Blend or process to a consistency your baby prefers (or not).

Variations

Use chicken stock instead of water

Add chopped omelette* or peas at the end

Begin by frying an onion

I've found chicken stock to be quite salty and a very strong flavour for Bub.  Although I bought salt reduced stock for this meal, I decided to skip it and go conservatively for a new dish.

Another variation I'm considering is to fry the rice a bit first, add at least half a cup or so of water and then corn, and then the chicken.  Cooking the minced chicken in water would break it up more finely, I think, and make it less chewy for Bub.  The creamed corn would go in as the second batch of water.

I don't yet know whether Bub will take to this one, so cannot report any success.  She likes chicken by itself but hasn't had corn before.  We'll see after a week or so I suppose.

In other news, I've completed the parts of the Baby gift I'm knitting and have begun the decorating.  I'm choosing to decorate it while it's flat, rather than once assembled, as I think it'll be a bit easier that way. Especially if I make mistakes or make changes.

*If I were to add egg it would make it a very fowl dish indeed - the chicken, its food and its egg!  I should call it Chicken Coup Goop.

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Next day update:  Bub says nnnnope. But, you know, I've got about 20 tbp of this so don't worry Bub THERE'S TIME.

Fortnight later update:  A few days ago Bub ate two cubes of this - about 3 tbp!  I've been giving it to her for lunch and, at half way through the batch, I've eaten most of it myself.  However, these last few days have been a success and she's getting some good food into her!  Hurrah!

D132: Tip of the Day - Cutting Mandarins for Babies

Mandarin pieces need to be halved for babies, both to prevent choking and to remove pips.

Chop first! It's hard to see here but I've already removed the pips from this one.  

I'd let Bub have a go at pulling them out by herself if only she didn't play Chubby Bunnies* with all her favourite foods.

In other news, we're up to the neckline in our knitted baby gift.  Hopefully I'll finish the front tonight.  :D

*Remember the Chubby Bunnies party game? Stuff a marshmallow in your mouth and say "Chubby Bunnies". Repeat. Whoever can still say Chubby Bunnies with the most marshmallows in their mouth wins.  I'll be putting my money on Bub.