Weaning Finger Foods

Finger Foods

With thanks to Annabel Karmel for the recipe content.

Baby-Biscotti-300x300Baby Biscotti

Suitable from 6 months, makes 20 biscotti

Ingredients

  • 50g butter, softened
  • 50g light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 150g plain flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp cinnamon powder

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees/ 350 degrees F/ Gas 4. Line a baking sheet with non-stick baking paper.
  2. Cream the butter and sugar together using an electric hand mixer or a wooden spoon, then add the egg, flour, baking powder and cinnamon to form a dough, then knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes, until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
  3. Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll out each half to 18 x 4 cm (7 x 1 ½ in) and 2cm (3/4 in) deep. Place them on the prepared baking sheet and put them in the oven for 25 minutes.
  4. The dough will now look like large sausages. Remove them from the oven and cut into slices 2cm (3/4 in) thick. Spread them out on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 20 minutes, turning over halfway through the cooking time.

 


The-Very-Hungry-Caterpillar-235x300The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Suitable from 12 months

Ingredients

For the sandwiches

  • 6 slices medium sliced brown bread
  • 6 slices medium sliced white bread
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese
  • 3 tablespoons mango chutney
  • 1/4 cucumber, thinly sliced
  • A little softened butter
  • 3 large slices Edam or Swiss cheese
  • 1 large tomato, thinly sliced

To decorate

  1. 1 medium tomato
  2. Cucumber
  3. 1 cooked pea
  4. Edam or Swiss cheese

Method

  1. Make the brown sandwiches. Spread one side of the bread with a little butter, top with Edam and sliced tomato. Sandwich together.
  2. Make the white sandwiches. Spread one side with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.
  3. Spread the other with mango chutney. Top with cucumber then sandwich together.
  4. Cut out three rounds from each sandwich using a 3cm round cutter.
  5. Arrange the sandwiches in an “s” shape to make the body of the caterpillar and arrange on a board. Make the face of the caterpillar by making eyes from slicing the pea in half and sticking onto the tomato with cream cheese to make the eyes. Make a mouth out of cheese and stick to the tomato.
  6. Make ears out of thin strips of cucumber and push into the top of the tomato. Slice chunks of cucumber and use to make the feet.

 


Chicken-Cheese-and-Tomato-on-Toast-300x300Chicken, Cheese and Tomato on Toast

Suitable from 12 months, makes 8 fingers

Ingredients

  • 2 slices wholemeal bread
  • A knob of butter
  • 50g cooked chicken, chopped
  • 20g cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 tbsp snipped fresh chives
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 1 tomato, de-seeded and diced

Method

  1. Pre-heat the grill.
  2. Toast the bread in a toaster then butter one side and place it on a baking tray. Mix the chicken, cheddar, chives, mayonnaise and tomato together and spread on top of the toast.
  3. Grill until bubbling. Remove the crusts, then slice each toast into four strips.

 


 

Carrot-Courgette-Sweetcorn-Fritters-300x300Carrot, Courgette and Sweetcorn Fritters

Suitable from 12 months, makes 8 – 10 fritters

Ingredients

  • 1 egg
  • 50g self-raising flour
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce
  • 100g courgette, grated
  • 50g carrot, grated
  • 4 spring onions, sliced
  • 2 tbsp canned sweetcorn, drained
  • 50g mature cheddar, grated
  • A little oil, for frying

Method

  1. Beat the egg in a mixing bowl then beat in the flour and milk until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and season.
  2. Heat the oil in a frying pan.
  3. Take spoonfuls of the mixture and fry them for 2 – 3 minutes each side until lightly golden, turning over halfway through.
  4. You may have to do this in batches, so keep the cooked fritters warm while you cook the rest.

 


Apricot-Raisin-and-Chocolate-Cookies-225x300Apricot, Raisin and Chocolate Cookies

Suitable from 12 months, makes 20 cookies

Ingredients

  • 100g butter, softened
  • 100g light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 150g porridge oats
  • 75g self-raising flour
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 50g dried apricots chopped
  • 50g raisins
  • 100g plain chocolate chips

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C Fan. Line 2 baking sheets with non-stick paper.
  2. Measure the butter and sugar into a bowl. Whisk until light and fluffy. Add the egg and whisk together. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
  3. Shape into 20 balls. Place onto the baking trays and push down to flatten out slightly.
  4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden but still soft in the middle.

 


 

Annabel-Karmel-284x300Read our interview with baby food expert, Annabel Karmel about how to cope with fussy eaters and how to ensure your baby eats well