Pasta with Lentils, Tomatoes and Avocado

We had left over lentils from dinner the other night, so I've been trying them out in finger food meals this week. I made this for my little guy yesterday, and he really enjoyed it. It's full of whole grain, iron, protein, fiber and vitamins A and C. You can puree this or serve it as finger food. This is for babies 9+ months.

Here's what you need:
1/4 cup cooked lentils
1/4 cup cooked whole wheat pasta
3-4 quartered organic cherry tomatoes
1/4 avocado diced ( you could always add more)
1-2 tblsp shredded parmesan cheese

Put 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup lentils in a small covered pot and gently boil for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside. Cook pasta according to package. Drain, cut into bite size pieces, and add to lentils. Add quartered cherry tomatoes and diced avocado to pasta and lentils and mix together. Sprinkle cheese on top and serve as finger food or puree with a little filtered water then serve. Enjoy!

Whole Grain Wild Rice with Green Lentils for Baby

This is a yummy meal that you can puree for babies from 7-10 months, and serve to baby as is from 10+ months. It's full of fiber, whole grains, protein and other essential vitamins and minerals for your little one. This also makes an excellent side dish for Mommy and Daddy too!

Here's what you'll need:
1/4 cup cooked green lentils
1/4 to a 1/3 cup cooked whole grain wild rice
1/2 tsp fresh finely chopped mint
Grated parmesan (optional)

Put 1 cup water and 1/4 cup lentils in a small covered pot and boil gently for 20 minutes. Check on them every so often to make sure they are not burning or sticking to pot. Cook wild rice according to package. Drain lentils and add them to cooked rice. Add mint and sprinkle with grated parmesan. Mix until well blended (or puree with a little water) and serve. Enjoy!

Spinach, Green Beans, Eggplant and Red Lentil Puree

I made a new discovery in my never ending quest to come up with yummy purees that improve the taste of spinach and eggplant. I've been experimenting with different mixtures, and this is what I made for my son tonight. It's super nutritious and delish. It's full of protein, iron, calcium, and vitamin A. This is for babies 9+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1 oz pureed cooked spinach (steam or sauté with olive oil then puree)
1 oz pureed cooked eggplant (peel and cut up eggplant into tiny pieces. Cook in microwave with a little water for 5 or so minutes then puree)
1 oz pureed cooked red lentils
1 oz pureed cooked green beans (steam then puree with filtered water)
Pinch ground nutmeg
Pinch grated Parmesan

Mix together, serve, and enjoy!

When cooking lentils use 2-3 cups water for every 1 cup lentil. Boil gently for 15-20 minutes, then puree.

Dhal for Baby

This is a great meal to give your little one starting around 7 months. It's full of iron and vitamin A. I gave this to my little guy last week and he really loved it. I thought it was pretty tasty too!

1 oz red lentil puree
2 oz cooked carrot puree
1 oz cooked potato puree (or mash if your little one is 9+ months)
1/4 teaspoon corriander
pinch cinnamon

I punch a bunch of holes with a fork all over the potato and place it on a damp paper towel in the microwave and microwave for 5-8 minutes, and then peel and puree or mash.

Mix together, serve and enjoy!

*Reminder* to cook lentils add 3 cups of water to every 1 cup of lentils and boil gently for 20 minutes. Puree with water left in pot.

This is considered 2 servings if your baby is 7-9 months, and 1 serving if your baby is 9+ months.

Green Lentil Broccoli Puree

I made this tonight for my little one, and my husband and I both commented on how good it smelled, and how delicious it was after we actually tasted it. I'm going to make this in a non puree form for us one night, but I have to think of some other yummy things to add to it for Mommy and Daddy. I'll post it when I come up with it, but for now here's the baby version:

2 oz broccoli puree (steamed and then pureed)
2 oz green lentil puree
1 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese