Winter Baby Recipes from Boots

Whether you’re thinking about weaning your baby or you’ve already introduced solids to your baby’s diet, preparing separate meals for your child and the rest of your family can become tiresome. Why not make life a little easier at dinnertime and introduce baby to healthy, nutritious grown-up food with the help of Mandy Haywood, Boots Baby Food Expert.


Boots has also introduced an exclusive range of Organic Stock Cubes, in beef, chicken and vegetable flavours, to help you create great flavours baby will love. They contain no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives and are free from egg, milk products, soya and gluten as well as having a controlled salt level suitable for baby.


Here, Mandy offers a series of simple Christmas recipes suitable for the whole family, as well as tips and advice on how to prepare them for your baby.




Mandy’s Tips for Feeding Baby


These recipes can be used for the whole family, just ensure you remove baby’s portion(s) prior to adding any salt or strong spices.


The quantities are given as guidelines, increase or decrease the amounts as required.


These recipes can be blended to any texture, by liquidising, blending or mashing, depending on the age and development stage of your child. To add more texture serve with pasta, rice or soft vegetables such as cauliflower or broccoli.


Ensure the size of the blended food piece size is suitable for your baby and always check the temperature of the food before feeding. These recipes make approximately two or more servings depending on baby’s stage of weaning and appetite.


If freezing, use suitable dishes/containers, such as Boots Freezer Pots (from £2.99), cool quickly, then freeze. The handy containers are available in various sizes and are microwave safe.


Thaw and reheat carefully, ensuring that the meal is properly cooked through.


Always make sure there is a responsible adult present when your baby is feeding in case of choking.


RECIPES


Mushroom & Lentil Winter Warmer


Ingredients:


50g mushrooms - sliced
½ tsp olive oil
¼ onion – chopped
50g lentils (cooked as per instructions, rinsed and drained)
227g canned, chopped tomatoes
125 ml stock made from Boots Baby Organic Vegetable / Chicken Stock Cubes (£1.49 for a six pack)




Method:


Heat oil in a saucepan
Sauté onion for three minutes
Add the lentils, stir then add the tomatoes and stock
Boil for about 10 minutes
Stir in the mushrooms
Cover and simmer for 15 minutes
Blend to desired consistency


Makes two servings


Baby Christmas Dinner


Ingredients:
150g minced turkey
½ tsp olive oil
¼ onion – diced
1 small carrot – diced
1 small potato – peeled & diced
½ stick celery – thinly sliced
¼ small swede – peeled & diced
1 tbsp frozen peas
250ml stock made from Boots Baby Organic Chicken Stock Cubes (£1.49 for a six pack)


Method:


Brown the turkey. Drain off any liquid and put to one side
Sauté onion in oil
Add carrot, potato, celery and swede, sweat for about 10 minutes
Add stock and peas
Simmer until vegetables are tender
Blend to desired texture


Makes approximately two – three servings


Cottage Pie


Ingredients:


150g minced beef
½ tsp olive oil
¼ onion – diced
1 small carrot – peeled and diced
227g can chopped tomatoes
125ml stock made from Boots Baby Organic Beef Stock Cubes (£1.49 for a six pack)
1 large potato – boiled and mashed with milk


Method:


Brown beef and onion in olive oil for about six minutes
Add carrot, tomatoes and stock
Simmer for about 20 minutes
Blend to required texture
Place in dish or ramekins, top with mashed potato
If desired, brown in oven


Makes approximately two – three servings


Why not try using carrot and parsnip or sweet potato as the mash? Or maybe add a little grated cheese. You can substitute beef with minced turkey or half the beef with lentils.