Baby shells with carrots, onions and golden raisins

An easy and quick but tasty dinner which is perfect to make on a busy night.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons of small shells
• 2 tablespoons of sliced onion
• 1 tablespoon of sunflower oil
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1 tablespoon golden raisins

Cook the small shells in boiling water with the carrots for 12 minutes and set aside. In a saucepan brown the onions with the sunflower oil for 2 minutes. Mix together with the golden raisins.

Dhal of coral lentils cooked in coconut milk and bulghur with coriander

Margaux's first Indian Meal!
I loved the idea of giving Margaux the opportunity to try new spices while making it all within the proportions that are right for a 12 months old baby.

This is a recipe from Jenny Carenco, "Mon livre de recettes pour Bébé"

Babies 12 months and up
This makes 5 dinners which you can freeze

Ingredients:

• 3dl/10 oz of coral lentils
• 5 tomatoes
• 4 carrots
• 25cl/8.5 oz coconut milk
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• 1 teaspoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 200g/7oz bulgur
• 5 leaves of fresh coriander, minced

- Wash the carotts and tomatoes. Peel the carrots and dice them. Cut the tomatoes in cubes.
- In a saucepan, cover the lentils with water and bring to a boil. Cook at medium heat for 10 mns then drain.
- Put the bulgur in saucepan with 14oz water, bring to a boil and let cook for 10mns at medium heat (the water will have been absorbed).
- In a pan, heat the sunflower oil and garlic, cook for a minute then add the carrots and tomatoes. Add the spices and tomato paste then mix in well.
- Add the coconut milk and let cook for 10 mns. you can mix with a blender if your abby prefers a thinner texture.
- Add the lentils
- Serve with the bulgur topped with fresh coriander leaves, thinly sliced

Tennis anyone?

Racchette Pasta with Zucchini and Parmesan

This fun shaped pasta will sure please your little one for dinner!

Good for: Baby's dinner, 9 months and up

Ingredients:

• 2 oz racchette pasta
• 3.5 oz zucchini
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Slice, dice and steam your zucchini. Cook the racchette according to package's instructions. Mix in zucchini, olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

In 15 mins, here you have a dinner sure to please your baby and easy to make on busy weeknights.

Fall Dinner: Risotto with butternut squash

Fall is upon us and butternut squash feels just right. I made this for Margaux who was a big fan: looks like another Annabel Karmel's favorite!

From Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Baby Purees
Who is it for?: Babies 9-12 months
Ideal for: a Fall dinner
Makes 4 portions
Suitable for freezing

Risotto with butternut squash

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 cup basmati rice
2 cups boiling water
1/2 medium butternut squash (6 oz) peeled and chopped
2 medium tomatoes (8 oz), peeled, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Sauté the onion in half the butter until softened. Stir in the rice until well coated. Pour in the boiling water, cover the pan, and cook for 8 minutes over high heat. Stir in the butternut squash, reduce the heat, and cook, covered, for about 12 minutes or until the water has been absorbed.
Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter in a small saucepan, add the tomatoes, and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cheese until melted, then stir the tomato and cheese mixture into the cooked rice.

Orzo for dinner

I've been reading a lot from French books that the first 6-12 months are crucial for a baby's palate: this is the time during which you have to introduce as much as possible (without giving any risky foods obviously) in order to have a baby who loves diverse, healthy food and not a picky eater who eats nothing outside of starch and junk food (which I could not deal with). I've been searching what Margaux has not tried yet, which is actually a challenge as she has had about everything possible. Then I found two things: orzo and oatmeal.
She's very active and at 10 months is taking lots of steps, everywhere she can hold on to. She is also very tall and wears 2 years old size in clothing (despite quite a bit of room in the midsection!). The combination of being very active and tall means she needs food which is a bit more filling. Orzo was a great idea for that and she loved this dinner. It's definitely going to be a staple of her evenings.

This is a recipe from a book offered to me by Margaux's godmother when we just arrived in Mahattan, having moved from Paris and I was introducing more solids to Margaux. I must say, she seems very pleased with the recipes I've tried from it. It is also very quick to make without much kitchen mess. A breeze!

Pasta Risotto from Annabel Karmel's " Top 100 Baby Purees".

Who is it for?: Babies 9-12 months
Ideal for: a healthy dinner which holds baby through the night
Makes 4 portions
Suitable for freezing

Ingredients:
1/2 cup orzo
1 small carrot, peeled and diced
1 small zucchini, diced
1/2 cup chopped broccoli florets
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup grated Cheddar cheese

Directions:
Put the pasta in a saucepan together with the carrot, cover generously with boiling water, and cook for 5 minutes. Add the zucchini and broccoli and continue to cook for about 7 minutes. Melt the butter in a saucepan, stir in drained pasta and vegetables, and toss with the butter and Cheddar until the cheese has melted.

If you make more, it really is perfect for the whole family, which saves you precious time to unwind. What's not to love?