The last time we spoke about The Little Monkey’s favourite food it was all about the interesting purées ….well, just when I thought I had it figured out… she goes and refuses the purées and wants finger food. So off I went exploring in my kitchen and surprisingly came up with dishes that we both like (great for MY snack time!). My Canadian readers (sorry international peeps!) the good folks at Hamilton Beach Canada has sent us a bunch of pressies so scroll down to find out how you can enter to win! The new colourful baby line is perfect for new parents!
Our current schedule is as follows (she’s a little over 9 months and has two two hour(ish) naps during the day). Also remember we started food early, at 4 months (you can read about it here)
9 a.m -breakfast : Yoghurt, fruit & cereal mixed together
10 a.m : nap
noon – breastmilk & snack
1 p.m – lunch
2:30 p.m – breast milk & nap
4 p.m – snack
6 p.m – dinner
7:00 p.m – breast milk & bedtime
And we’re finally sleeping through the night! Apparently we were the noisy ones waking her up! The moment we moved her into her own room she slept right through! Doh! That said she is still in the 5th percentile for weight, you win some you lose some I guess!
Recipes
Tofu cubes : This is one of the easiest snacks. Cube firm tofu, spread on baking sheet, drizzle olive oil, toss a speck of salt and layer with fresh fennel. Bake for about 20 mins at 350 degrees. Voila! This is how I love to eat tofu and apparently the Little Monkey does too! These are great for travel, we used them on our recent road trip.
Veggie Cookies : I needed a way to sneak in some veggies so this is what I came up with. Mix a cup of whole wheat flour, an egg, half a cup of puréed carrots (or any fruit or veggie really) and a handful of spinach. Pour dollops of the batter on a wax sheet and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees (or until they brown). She would wolf down four or five of these in a sitting!
Fruity Pancakes : These are made pretty traditionally, mix a cup of whole wheat flour, a pinch of baking soda, half a cup of puréed pears and half a cup of milk ( I used breast milk). Heat a pan and drop two tablespoons of butter. To this add dollops of the pancake batter and shape as desired. Fry them till they are golden. We’ve played with this recipe and let me tell you that any fruit works well. Bananas and pears are our favourite though!
Quinoa Balls : This does involve a couple steps, sorry about that! Hard work pays off though. Chop (not purée) steamed edamame and corn. Mix together a cup of cooked quinoa (using a rice cooker to make quinoa yields a perfect result each time for me!) and the chopped food. Toss in a handful of shredded cheese and four tablespoons of puréed carrots (keep it on the thicker side). Shape the mixture into tiny balls and bake in the oven for 15 minutes (or till the they look slightly crunchy). Warning : this is still a messy snack. The Little Monkey likes mashing these tiny nuggets and they do get everywhere!
Teething Biscuits : Did I mention that the Little Monkey still has no teeth? Loves to chew on everything though! This easy recipe is perfect for her. Mix a cup of cereal (yes the store bought variety) with a cup of whole wheat flour. Stir in a cup of “juice”. I used the water at the bottom of the steamer once I steamed beets. You can use any fruit or veggie water for this. Shape to desired size and thickness and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Warning : She tends to chew and drool on this more than eat them. My one year old nephew on the hand loves eating them.
And now for the moment you’ve been waiting for! The folks at Hamilton Beach Canada have generously sent me their new Bébé line to share with my lovely readers. These nifty gadgets make it way easier to prep the baby meals and they come in a fun yellow and blue hue! The Bébé Hand Blender is perfect for whipping up some soup and the Bébé Blender and Bébé Food Chopper is great for the fruits to be included in any finger food recipes above. I wish I had the Bébé Hot Pot when the Little Monkey was younger! Not only can you boil water and cook in it, but you can also sterilize teethers and warm milk bottles! Geezz. I would have been even more anal about sterilizing those soothers! Hah! I’ve decided to share these four items with four Canadians! All you have to do is enter through the rafflecopter below and you have till August 24th to do so. Good Luck! UPDATE : Those who have entered – please comment and let me know which item you would like if you win!
Disclaimer : I have received the prize pack from Hamilton Beach Canada for free, no other compensation was received and the opinions are my own.
Cheryl Grandy
August 1, 2012 at 6:21 pmThey all look extremely useful, but I’d like to win the Bebe Food Chopper.
Kathleen B.
August 1, 2012 at 11:03 pmI’d like to win the blender.
Auqakuh
August 1, 2012 at 11:33 pmI’d love the Food Chopper as well (I put this in the Rafflecopter form, too). Thanks! 🙂
Dilara
August 2, 2012 at 2:04 pmI’d love to win the food chopper!
Adriana Fitzgerald
August 2, 2012 at 4:37 pmHamilton Beach Bebe BLENDER
Avery
August 3, 2012 at 12:18 amhand blender 🙂
Xing
August 3, 2012 at 9:36 amI’d like to win the Bébé Hot Pot
Areta
August 3, 2012 at 9:39 amI would love to win the hand blender
Yashy Murphy (@YashYanthi)
August 3, 2012 at 10:43 amGood luck everyone! Thanks for dropping by!
julie bolduc
August 4, 2012 at 1:27 amId love to win the blender
angela m
August 7, 2012 at 6:06 pmI would love to win the blender
thanks
torviewtoronto
August 7, 2012 at 8:25 pmcute little one 🙂
Yashy
August 8, 2012 at 9:06 pmaww thanks!
Angela
August 8, 2012 at 6:39 pmLooks like a great line! Anything would be great for us as our little man is just starting solids.
Yvonne Chan
August 10, 2012 at 5:46 pmI’d love to win the blender!
Krystal @ Uh Oh Mom!
August 12, 2012 at 2:43 pmHamilton Beach Bebe FOOD CHOPPER
Krystal @ Uh Oh Mom!
August 12, 2012 at 2:46 pmor maybe the Hamilton Beach Bebe HOT POT
Colleen C
August 16, 2012 at 8:35 amI’d love the hot pot or the hand blender. Thanks for the chance!
Bree
August 21, 2012 at 1:16 pmHamilton Beach Bebe FOOD CHOPPER!
Lori L. - @Miss_Elles
August 21, 2012 at 5:47 pmThe hand blender looks like it would come in “handy” Doh! Thanks for the giveaway!
Shan H
August 22, 2012 at 4:30 amThey all look awesome, but I think I’d like to try the Hamilton Beach Bebe hand blender the most!
mel
August 22, 2012 at 11:34 amhand blender please x
Yashy
August 24, 2012 at 10:51 amcongrats! I hope you enjoy the blender!
Anonymous
September 5, 2012 at 1:27 amThanks this is perfect very excited 🙂
Jaruy
August 22, 2012 at 8:44 pmI would love to win the Hamilton Beach Bebe Hot Pot
laura andrews
August 23, 2012 at 11:11 amAll of these appliances would make my life easier! I love love the hot pot the best. My little guy will be starting to eat baby food in a month, so I’d love to win!