Interlude: Baby Food Recipes

Been meaning to post an update on Jordy's gastronomic adventures through middle earth, but haven't really found the time nor energy. Our days are mostly filled with going to the park and playing in various sandpits around the island, so by evening time, I'm usually too sun-addled to do more than sit on the couch and watch TV. And what a few weeks of TV it has been with American Idol reaching fever pitch. Now that it's over, and I'm still recovering from Adam not winning (HOW, tell me HOW was that possible?!), I'm wondering what to fill the empty desert lands of summer TV programming with.

Ah but I digress. This is meant to be an update on Jordy's culinary journey, and boy is it getting more and more exotic and fun. The last two weeks saw the introduction of more sophisticated fare like strawberries and golden kiwis, and just last week, his first muffin! Homemade corn and cheese muffins! He wasn't sure of it at first, I suspect because he wasn't that hungry when I let him try it, but now, he's a convert!

So at exactly 9.5 months of age, this is an updated list of what he's ingested thus far (sorry to bore non-mum readers out there, but this record is really for posterity and who knows, Jordy might just find it interesting one day):

Fruits
Pear
Apple
Banana
Peach
Apricot
Prune
Honeydew
Papaya
Mango
Watermelon
Kiwifruit (golden)
Strawberry
Orange
Grapes
Raisins

Vegetables
Sweet potato
Carrots
Parsnips
Peas
Broccoli
Spinach
Leeks
Potato
Cauliflower
Zucchini
Avocado
Pumpkin
Tomato
Onion
Garlic
Red lentils
Celery
Corn
Butternut squash
Red pepper

Meat
Fish (Ling, blue cod, threadfin, tuna, garoupa)
Chicken
Beef

Dairy
Cheese (Cheddar - Mild and Tasty, Edam, Philadelphia Cream Cheese)
Yogurt (plain and Greek style)
Butter (unsalted)
Milk (full-fat)

Carbs
Pasta (spaghetti, alphabet)
Rice (white and brown)
Oats
Barley
Rice cereal (white and brown)
Bread (Sunshine enriched softmeal bread, both toasted and untoasted)

Snacks
Crackers (various flavours, various brands, a mixture of cheap and cheerful and riculously expensive organic stuff that is gobbled up way too quickly)
Rusks and toothie pegs

Condiments and spices
Cinnamon
Peppercorns
Bayleaf
Thyme
Parsley
Sage
Basil
Oregano
Balsamic vinegar
Vanilla

Oh, and those muffins I was telling you about? Adapted from a recipe I found on the Baby Whisperer forum. My adapted version is reproduced below:

Corn & Cheese Muffins (Makes 12 regular or 24 mini muffins)

380g pack of corn kernels (washed and drained)
1 1/2 cups plain yoghurt (360 ml)
1/4 cup olive oil (50ml)
1 large egg
100g grated cheese (mild cheddar or edam)
2 cups self-raising flour (225g)
1/4 cup milk, if required (50 ml)


Preheat oven to 200 C or 190 C for fan ovens. Put rack just below middle of oven.

Pulse corn in blender if muffins are for younger baby (I did).

Mix yoghurt, oil & egg well together. Add in corn and cheese.

Put flour in a big bowl. Pour in the liquid mixture and begin to fold together. If you think the mixture looks too dry add the extra milk and fold JUST enough to combine. (Do not over-mix it - lumps are OK!)

Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray. Using two spoons divide the mixture evenly between the pans.

Bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until golden-brown and centres spring back when pressed. Let the muffins cool in the pans for 2-3 minutes before tipping out.

I then use what I need and freeze the rest for picnics in the week!

I'm going to try a variation of this recipe soon, changing the corn and cheese to banana and apple juice! Will post the results of the Jordy taste test once done!