Healthy Turkey Melts for the Whole Family

This is a yummy and healthy sandwich the whole family can enjoy. I added chopped baby spinach and grated carrots to add calcium, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium and folate. My little guy and I had this for lunch yesterday, and he loved it! This is for little one's 10+ months who are eating finger foods.

Here's what you need
2 slices stone ground whole wheat bread
1 slice light cheese (I used provolone but you can use whatever cheese you like)
2 slices low sodium turkey deli meat
1-2 organic mini carrots grated
1/4 cup chopped organic baby spinach
cooking spray

Spray a skillet with cooking spray and place over medium high heat (or use a panini press or foreman grill if you have one). Put all ingredients on bread and place sandwich in the skillet or on panini press. Flip Sandwich and cook for a few more minutes. Remove from pan and place on a plate. Cut off crusts, and then cut sandwich into small pieces for your little one. Make sure it's not too hot. Serve and enjoy!

Tricolor Pasta with Veggies and Turkey

This is a really easy and healthy meal for your little one. It's full of Vitamins A, C, and K, calcium, iron, protein, and whole grains. This takes about 15 minutes from beginning to end! You can puree this for little one's 7+ months, or serve as finger food to older babies.

Here's what you need: (This makes a big batch so you can store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days)
2 cups tricolor veggie spiral pasta
3/4 cup frozen organic gardeners blend (peas, carrots, green beans, corn mixed together)
1/2 cup organic cherry tomatoes quartered
2 slices reduced sodium turkey deli meat cut up into bite size pieces
1 tblsp Herbs de Provence
2 tblsp grated Parmesan cheese
1-2 tsp olive oil

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add pasta and frozen vegetables. Cook until al dente (approx 8-10 minutes). Drain pasta and vegetables and run under cold water. Place in a mixing bowl. Add quartered cherry tomatoes, turkey and olive oil. Toss and then sprinkle with Herbs de Provence and Parmesan Cheese. Toss to coat.  Yields about 1/2 - 3/4 cup per serving. Serve (or puree with a little water) and enjoy!

Mini Meatloaf for the Whole Family

 My mom used to make mini meatloaf for us when we were kids. It's a great way to quickly make meatloaf for the whole family.  I changed a few things from the original meatloaf recipe to make it appropriate for my little guy. I also added minced carrots and chopped kale to the meatloaf mix to add vitamins A and C, betacarotene, calcium, and iron. This can be pureed with a little water for little one's 8+ months, or served as a finger food. 

Here's what you need:

1 lb ground turkey (or ground beef)

1/3 cup tomato paste

1/3 to 1/2 cup chopped kale

1 large organic carrot peeled and minced or grated

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1 tsp onion powder

1 garlic clove minced

pinch ground pepper

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 egg lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Spoon meatloaf mix into each cup of a cupcake tray. Put tray in oven and cook for 35-40 minutes. Serving size for your little one is 2 mini meatloaf. Enjoy!  FYI You can freeze these for up to 2 months

Turkey Avocado Cherry Tomato and Pea Scramble

This is a yummy scramble for the whole family. It's jam packed with protein, iron, vitamin A and C. I made this one morning for my little guy, and then the following Saturday my husband asked if I could make that scramble I made for baby J the other day for him too! This is for babies 9+ months and for Mommies and Daddies of all ages.

Here's what you'll need:
4-6 eggs (if you're making it for the whole family) beaten
2 slices low sodium turkey deli meat (pull apart into smaller pieces)
Handful of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup organic cherry tomatoes quartered
1/3 cup cooked organic peas (I used frozen and just steamed in microwave first)
1 organic avocado diced
1 tblsp herbs de Provence
olive oil

Add 2 tblsp olive oil to a large deep skillet and heat over med-high heat. Add eggs to skillet. Then add shredded turkey, avocado, peas, tomatoes and cheese and mix together. Add herbs de Provence and mix until scrambled. Serve and enjoy!

Finger Food: Turkey with Butternut Squash, Avocado and Smashed Peas

This is what my son had for lunch yesterday. It's full of vitamins A and C, iron, protein, and other essential minerals for your little one. I also managed to sneak a few veggies into the turkey meat, just like with the turkey meatballs. This is for little ones 9+ months.

I forgot to take a pic before, so here's the after shot :)

Here's what you'll need:
1/4 lb ground turkey meat
1 tblsp minced organic garbanzo beans (I use canned organic garbanzos. Rinse thoroughly)
1 tbslp minced organic broccoli florets
1/2 organic avocado diced
1 tblsp cooked organic peas smashed (I used frozen peas. Steam in microwave for 2-3 minutes and then smash)
1/4 cup diced organic butternut squash

Saute turkey, minced garbanzos, and minced broccoli with olive oil in a small skillet. Steam diced butternut squash in a microwave safe bowl for 5-8 minutes. Make sure the squash is very soft. It should almost mash when you pick it up. Dice avocado, smash cooked peas, and then put all ingredients right on high chair tray. Make sure it is not too hot for your little one. Serve and enjoy!

Turkey Meatballs for Baby

I've been experimenting with different ways to make baby meatballs, and came up with this the other day. It's a great way to get meat and veggies all in one bite.  I served them with Trader Joe's mini ravioli. This is for babies 9+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1 lb ground turkey
1/4 cup minced organic broccoli
1/4 cup minced organic garbanzo beans
1 egg
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups salt free organic marinara sauce (Trader Joe's makes a good one)
olive oil

Put turkey, broccoli, garbanzos, egg, parmesan cheese and bread crumbs in a medium size bowl and mix together with your hand until well blended, and then make into little meatballs. Pour marinara sauce into a medium size pot. Cover and heat over medium to low heat. Heat 2-3 tblsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the meatballs around the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides. When they are browned transfer them to the sauce pot, cover, and cook the meatballs through in the sauce stirring occasionally. This usually takes about 10 more minutes. This makes a big batch of meatballs so you can store them in the freezer for 2 months.

Turkey Sweet Potato Cauliflower and Pea Puree for Baby

This is one of my little guy's favorite purees. It's full of protein, iron, fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. It's super nutritious and delicious for your little one. This is for babies 7+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1 oz cooked ground turkey pureed (Saute with olive oil and then puree with filtered water)
1 oz cooked sweet potato pureed (poke holes with fork all over potato and place on a damp paper towel and cook in microwave for 5-8 minutes. Scoop out flesh and puree or mash)
1 oz cooked cauliflower puree (steam in microwave safe steamer for 10 or so minutes then puree with filtered water)
1 oz cooked pea puree (steam in microwave for 5-10 minutes and then puree with filtered water)
pinch parsley

mix together serve and enjoy!

Finger Food: Herbed Turkey with Red Bell Peppers and Whole Wheat Pasta for Baby

I made this for my little guy for dinner tonight. You can serve this as a finger food like I did, or puree all ingredients together. Bell peppers are my little guy's new food this week. Bell peppers are a great source of vitamin C. You can puree sweet red, yellow, or green bell peppers, or dice into tiny pieces. Make sure you serve  or puree them raw as they lose vitamins when cooked. Also make sure NOT to give your little one hot peppers. This recipe is for babies 10+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1/3 cup sauteed ground turkey (I saute with olive oil)
1/4 red bell pepper finely diced
1 1/2 tblsp whole wheat pasta (I used macaroni and cut into small pieces)
pinch dried oregano
pinch dried basil

In a small pot bring water to boil. Add pasta, and cook according to package. Drain and set aside. Put sauteed ground turkey in a small bowl and add oregano and basil. Toss to coat. Add pasta and diced red bell pepper and mix. Serve right on high chair tray. *If you are pureeing this recipe follow same mixing directions and then puree with a little filtered water. Serve and enjoy!

Turkey Spinach Butternut Squash Puree with a side of Plum Tomatoes

I've been trying to find different ways to cut down the bitter taste of spinach for my little one. I usually mix spinach with other veggies and then pear to improve the flavor, but tonight I tried it with turkey and butternut squash. And to my delight my son loved it. This is for babies 9+ months

Here's what you need:
1 oz cooked pureed spinach (you can steam then puree, or saute with olive oil then puree)
1 oz cooked pureed chopped tukey (saute and then puree with filtered water)
2 oz cooked pureed butternut squash (steam then puree with filtered water)
pinch of grated parmesan cheese

Mix together, serve, and enjoy :)

Plum tomato finger food:
 I also decided to cut up a few small plum tomatoes into quarters and give them to my little one after he finished the puree. You can also use quartered cherry or grape tomatoes. Just make sure you cut them into bite size pieces.

What are your favorite finger foods?

Pesto Turkey for Baby

I LOVE pesto, and have been trying to come up with a pesto dish that's suitable for my little guy (ie. No pine nuts, salt, pepper, etc...). Finally it came to me! I substituted garbanzo beans for pine nuts. Garbanzos have almost the same texture as pine nuts when pureed, and have the same earthy, nutty flavor. I was so excited to finally try this out on my little guy tonight, and I have to say, he loved it! This recipe is for babies 8+ months.

Pesto Sauce

Pesto "Sauce"
2 oz pureed garbanzo beans
1 teaspoon chopped basil leaves
2 pinches Parmesan cheese

Mix together and set aside.

2 oz pureed cooked ground turkey
1 oz cooked pureed broccoli

Mix turkey and broccoli together. Add pesto sauce stir until blended well. Enjoy!

Baked Potato with Turkey Casserole for Baby

I absolutely love baked potatoes. I was recently thinking Of this restaurant I ate at in England called Hole in the Wall that served an entire meal inside a potato. I remember having chicken casserole served in a baked potato. It was odd, yet totally delicious,so I tried to mimic that in a baby puree or finger food. Anyway, that was a roundabout way of introducing this new recipe, but those who know me know that I can go off on tangents before really getting to the point!

This recipe is for babies 8+ months.

2 oz baked potato (mashed for finger food, or pureed)
2 oz cooked pureed broccoli (I steam and cut into bite size soft pieces or puree)
1 oz sautéed ground turkey (minced or pureed with filtered water)
1 tsp grated cheddar
Pinch of garlic
Pinch of oregano

Poke holes all over potato and place on a damp paper towel and put in microwave for 5-8 minutes. You can also bake in oven, but it takes much longer. When potato is done cut in half and scoop out potato and mash or puree. Use half of what you mash or puree for this recipe, freeze or refrigerate other half. If serving as finger food put mashed potato in a bowl and add soft bite size pieces of broccoli, and minced turkey. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese,
garlic, and oregano. Mix together and serve right on high chair tray. If pureeing, mix potato, broccoli, and turkey puree in a small bowl. Add cheese, garlic,and oregano and serve.

Enjoy!

How to Puree: Apples and Turkey

Yesterday I was able to quickly make 2 purees while my little one was napping.  I was able to puree both simultaneously, so this took about 20 minutes form start to finish! Here's a step-by-step look at how I puree:

I use my Krupps Mini Chopper or my Magic Bullet to Puree

Add 2tbsp olive oil

Saute ground turkey

Add filtered water to turkey

Spoon puree into Mumi&Bubi trays

Finished Purees

Put cover on Mumi&Bubi tray

Place in freezer overnight

Finger Food: Turkey with diced Avocado

I made this for my little guy today, and he seemed to really like it. It's a pretty messy meal, but I think that made it more fun for him.

I bought 1lb of organic ground turkey. I sauteed all of it with olive oil, and pureed about 3/4 lb. I put the other 1/4 lb in a covered bowl in the fridge to have handy for finger food meals.

1/3 - 1/2 cup cooked ground turkey cut into bite size pieces
1/2 avocado diced into bite size pieces

You could also add cut up cheddar cheese and smashed peas to this if you like.

Put right on high chair tray and enjoy!

Pasta with Butternut Squash Chicken and Sage

This is one of my go to meals for me and my husband (I will post that recipe next). I decided to change it a little to make it appropriate for our little guy.

This can be served as finger food or as a puree.

1/4 cup whole wheat spiral pasta
2-3 oz cooked butternut squash
1 oz chicken or turkey
1 teaspoon sage
Pinch of cinnamon
Grated Parmesan

In a small pot bring water to boil, then add pasta. Sauté chicken or turkey with a little olive oil in a pan, and then cut into bite size pieces, or puree. Steam butternut squash, and then cut into soft tiny pieces, or puree. When pasta is done, drain, and then cut into bite size pieces, or puree. Put pasta, chicken, and butternut squash into a bowl. Add sage, cinnamon, and parmesan and mix together. Serve as finger food, or puree ingredients together and enjoy!

Baja Turkey with Veggies

This is one of my little guy's favorite things to eat for dinner, and it's jam packed with protein, iron, calcium, and lots of vitamins for your baby:

1 oz pureed cooked ground turkey (I saute in a pan with olive oil and then puree with filtered water)
1 oz mashed avocado
1 oz cooked pureed peas (I steam and then puree with filtered water)
1 oz cauliflower (steam then puree)
1/2 teaspoon grated cheddar cheese
pinch of oregano

mix together, serve and enjoy!