FertilityZone

Hi

I thought I’d share some of my (well baby bubble’s) favourite finger foods in case anyone wanted to try them. If anyone else has ones that go down well, please post them too.

(Because of the nature of these recipes and their ingredients they are only suitable for 6m+)


Savoury dropped scones
4oz SR Flour
1 egg
4 tbsp milk

Mix flour and egg, gradually add milk to make a thick batter. Add whatever savoury ingredients you want eg spinach and cheese, sweetcorn, mixed veg. Fry in hot well oiled pan for 3 mins each side or until browned on each side. (I tend to make them quite small about the size of baby bubble’s fist).


Basic Potato Cakes
Potatoes - fluffy mashable kind
butter - unsalted, ideally
Plain flour

Peel, chop and boil potatoes until cooked enough to mash. Drain, and mash with a knob of butter until most of the lumps are out - don't overmash. (Add extra ingredients at this point - see below for suggestions). Add flour little by little until the dough just stops feeling sticky, but is still light and fluffy. Place on a floured board, and pat into a circle about 1 1/2 cm thick. Put a very small amount of butter in a hot frying pan, let it lightly cover the pan, and then fry on both sides until golden brown.

Suggestions for additions:
Cheese
Spinach and herbs
Salmon/tuna (to make fishcakes, also nice with a blob of Dijon mustard)
Any veggies (I tend to throw in a couple of handfuls of mixed frozen veg (Sainsburys do an organic version).

Schnitzels (makes about 8)
3oz pork escalope
2oz breadcrumbs
4oz plain flour
1 egg beaten

Cut pork into bitesize chunks, Put breadcrumbs, flour and egg in separate bowls. Dip each pieceof pork into the flour, then the egg and then the breadcrumbs. Fry in a hot oiled plan for about 3 mins on each side until golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper before serving.


Healthy Banana Cake
4 oz self raising wholemeal flour
half tsp mixed spice
2 oz butter
3 oz raisins
8 oz banana
1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 180 / gm 4.

Mix flour and spice, rub in butter and stir in raisins. In a separate bowl, mash the banana and egg. Stir into the flour mixture and put into a well-greased tin (fills a small loaf tin. Turn oven down to GM 3 / 160 C and cook on the middle shelf for 1 hour or until cooked.


“Turkey Twizzlers”
Mix a handful of minced turkey with some uncooked apple and pear ( I mash the pear till it's quite smooth but the apple chopped really finely), half a teaspoon of cinnamon and roll the mixture into easy to handle sausage shapes

I use a George Forman to cook these for about 20 minutes until very well browned – or you could oven bake or grill. They can be eaten hot or cold.

Veggie muffins
1 medium onion (grated)
4oz courgette (grated)
4 oz sweet potato (grated)
4 oz cheese (grated)
2 1/2 to 3 oz fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs
1 tbsp plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp water

Preheat the oven to 350 deg F ( 180 deg C). Soften the vegetables by simmering in a little water for 2-3 minutes (or quick steam in the microwave) then drain and pat dry. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. Spoon the mixture into a greased mini muffin tin or mini muffin cases. Place in the oven and bake for around 20-25mins until golden.

These freeze well and are also good cold for ‘on the move’ food. You can add whatever veggies you have in – I’ve used red pepper, spinach, broccoli, carrots.


Meatballs

1lb beef or lamb mince
handful of breadcrumbs
1 small red onion finely chopped
1 tbsp tomator puree
1 garlic clove
1 tsp dried mixed herbs

Mix all the ingredients by hand or in a food processor. Roll into balls a bit bigger than a walnut (freeze any suplus at this point). Grill in a preheated grill for about 10-15mins, turning half way.

Other finger foods that go down well here and are easy include eggy bread, pasta with pesto and mushrooms, pasta with creme fraiche and spinach or butternut squash and cauliflower cheese.

Enjoy
The pizzas sound good. I was a bit annoyed yesterday though to find the organic passata I'd bought had added salt!

I've copied the recipes that were on the 'pumpkin muffin' thread so they are all together.

Torisen's Pumpkin Ginger and Sesame (savoury) muffins

12oz whole wheat flour
3tbs softened butter/marg
1-2 tbs sesame seeds (if possible slightly crushed)
soya/other milk
3 tsp baking powder
1 desert spoon grated ginger
1tbs sugar/honey (not honey if they are under 12 months)
8-10oz steamed mashed butternut/pumpkin

preheat oven 200degreesc/400degreesf/gas 6
combine flour,baking powder and ginger in bowl
rub in spread to resemble fine breadcrumbs
stir in sesame seeds and sugar (if using honey add this to mashed butternut/pumpkin)
add butternut/pumpkin and enough milk to make dropping consistency
spoon into 10 muffin cases and bake for 15 mins
if freezing beware not too over cook as nice to warm up again once defrosted.
best eaten fresh though

keeps and freezes well, I used to keep 1/2 and freeze rest. Makes good snack that baby can manage themselves in buggy ....

Mayo's sweet potato/spinach pancakes

175g plain flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp bicarb soda
284ml buttermilk
1 medium egg
25g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
100g spinach, wilted and excess water squeezed out
olive oil for frying

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder + bicarb in a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg + melted butter then blend in spinach (hand blender or processor). Mix into the dry ingredients until just combined - if too thick add a dash of water.
Heat oil in frying pan, drop spoonfuls of batter into pan, wait for bubbles to appear on surface (aprox 2 mins) then flip over for another 2 mins.

or swap spinach for 200g peeled, boiled/baked, mashed sweet potato.

Yep, chips are good.

We do your breakfast pancakes loads and throw anything into them and make them in a savoury meal. Yesterday it was spinach and cheese

Eggy bread is always a good standby here. We also have quite a lot of (bottom of the fridge) soup - eaten at the moment with huge chunks of bread and a fork The veggie muffins up there ^ are also great and you can freeze them and defrost in the microwave if you're in a hurry. Sandwiches. Pasta with anything you can throw in. Lower salt and sugar baked beans with cheese. Veggie sushi. And, in a very sad way, I love my slow cooker and we have loads of stews and casseroles which she eats with her fingers/fork/spoon/ears.

Ooh, they look yummy, going to give them a go this weekend Jen.

We had this tonight which worked well as finger/fork food, but I suspect could also be mushed for those who wanted to spoon feed.


Smoky Beef Stew.

1kg/2lb stewing beef cut into chunks
2 chopped onions
2x400g cans chopped tomatoes
2 tsp each sweet parika, ground cumin and milk chilli powder
2 tbsp red or white wine vinegar
400g can butter beans, rinsed and drained.

Mix beef, onions, tomatoes, spices & venegar in casserole dish. Cover and bake for 2 1/2 hrs at 160c/140c fan/gas 3. Stir in beans and bake for further 30 mins (with lid on or off depending on desired consistency).

I actually cooked mine in the slow cooker and then did some home made potato wedges and green veg with it.

Yep eggy bread with a splash of vanilla is really really yummy. Definately worth a try. DD is usually just happy with cereal and fruit for breakfast but if she's still hungry we'll have toast or crumpets or muffins or pancakes - all of which are good finger foods. You could also try some fruits as well - pieces of pineapple, bananas, grapes?

No, I know another child who has a 'wet cereal' issue too!

Which has made me think of another suggestion Duffy which covers both the finger food and breakfast thing - mini shredded wheat or shreddies are great with a bit of milk and then just let them get on with it.