Finger Foods (6 months+)

[Freya'sMum]

Finger Foods, as the name suggests, are those foods intended to be eaten with the hands rather than using cutlery.  Finger Foods form the basis of the Baby Led Weaning approach to weaning and are introduced alongside purees for the Traditional Weaning approach.
Babies can begin to self-feed with finger foods from 6 months if they are showing interest and readiness, there is no hurry to move on to solids regardless of which weaning method you choose.

If you have any questions please post to the main board rather than here so that readers can access the recipes and tips without a lot of chit-chat to wade through.

Please continue to share your wonderful ideas, recipes and tips for Finger Foods here.
Thank you 

(with thanks to Alison for originating this thread)


To start us off...

...steamed/boiled veg such as carrot, parsnip, broccoli, cauliflower, potato, fine beans and babycorn are all good as first foods as they are stick shaped and are still quite firm so can be held in the fist and the end bit gnawed on with or without teeth - these can also be cooked in bulk and frozen, very convenient to reheat quickly in the microwave!

...raw pear, cucumber, mini-ricecakes also serve this purpose

...chunks of banana, avocado and other naturally soft fruits, bread (whichever kind you wish to introduce - wheat can be avoided if necessary), pasta spirals (again, you can buy wheat-free pasta, Tesco's is best in the UK) and steamed/boiled veg (as above) plus others such as yam are all good when the fist-release reflex has developed and food can be mushed into the mouth, again teeth not a necessity

...raw carrot, celery, apple and sweet pepper (red and yellow) are good alternative teething foods to rusks

Over to the rest of you...

Ax

[Cornish smiler]

Hi, got a recipe here for potato cakes.  I think it's good "early BLW" food, as it's very handleable, but soft enough to bite and manipulate easily for the novice baby.

Potatoes - fluffy mashable kind
butter - unsalted, ideally
flour - I use plain, but can't see SR doing any harm

Peel, chop and boil potatoes until cooked enough to mash. Drain, and mash with a knob of butter until most of the lumps are out - don't overmash. (Add extra ingredients at this point - see below for suggestions). Add flour little by little until the dough just stops feeling sticky, but is still light and fluffy.  Place on a floured board, and pat into a circle about 1 1/2 cm thick.  They can be cut into wedges or you can go all posh and used a scone cutter.  Put a very small amount of butter in a hot frying pan, let it lightly cover the pan, and then fry on both sides until golden brown - it's very quick.

Suggestions for additions - a good Lancashire cheese and they can also be made with spinach and herbs.  They'd make a good fishcake as well, I reckon, and bits of other veg would also work.

[spd]

starting off, we did big chunks, like a quarter of a frozen whole wheat bagel, lightly toasted bread, or a piece of rice cake. we'd give organic O's, and once he could pick those up, we started giving small pieces of other things. i'll bake a sweet potato and cut it into chunks, or roast potatoes or other veggies with olive oil (now we're adding spices). now that he's eating more things, i've made potato pancakes and lentil croquettes (using only the egg yolks not the whites--i use the whites for the grownup ones) and DS digs them. we roast artichokes for us and cut the bottoms into small pieces, and DS loves them. we roll bananas in wheat germ, which makes them not slippery, and DS chows them down. also corkscrew pasta or shells, tossed in olive oil, and sometimes i'll puree or finely chop veggies to toss with it. i roast green beans with sweet peppers, mushrooms, garlic, pepper, and olive oil-chop into small pieces, and he'll eat that too. mostly i try to cook things we like and adapt a portion for DS.

[Cornish smiler]

Again, I can't claim for this to be my own recipe, but here's a recipe for some lovely broccoli and cheese muffins which I made on Saturday.  They went down a treat and I'm sure they'd be good for picnic type food:-

Broccoli & Cheese Muffins__Makes 12 regular or 24 mini muffins
200g broccoli (1 small - med head)
1 1/2 cups plain yoghurt  (360 ml)
1/4 cup oil (olive or corn or your choice) (50ml)
1 large egg
50g cheese (I use a bit more than 50g – prob nearly double the qty)
2 cups self-raising flour  (225g)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup skimmed milk if required. (50 ml)

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

Cook broccoli (boiled or steamed until tender).

Mix yoghurt, oil & egg well together. Add broccoli and roughly crumble in cheese. Put mixture in food processor and pulse in short bursts until no large pieces of broccoli left. Try not to puree the broccoli but just chop it finely. (I do it all by hand. I chop the broccoli finely on a chopping board and mix everything by hand, Works equally well!)

Put flour & salt in a big bowl and mix together with a fork. 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. (The key is not to over-mix it - it should look pretty lumpy and unappetizing!)
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.

A yummy adult version or for older kids is to use a creamy blue cheese instead of cheddar.

[Cornish smiler]

Another one I snaffled which Sam adored today:-

Creamy Pasta

1 onion
garlic
1 courgette
Fromage Frais
Pesto
Pasta

Finely chop the onion & soften it in some oil with the garlic. Meanwhile grate the courgette & squeeze all of the water out of it. Add the courgettes to the pan and let the whole thing mush down. Stir in some fromage frais (how much depends on how loose you want the mush to be) and some pesto (to baby's taste - I started with a teaspoon and am gradually increasing quantities).  Serve with pasta.

[Aly Mac]

Baked Pasta dish.

Sorry no quantities - I just kind of threw it together.

Cooked roast chicken, cut up
quantity of white sauce (butter, flour & milk - add pepper if you like)
veges of your liking, cut up (or use the frozen mixed packet to make it really easy)
grated cheese
pasta spirals (whatever is easy for your lo to pick up)

combine all ingredients except cheese (unless you like it really cheesy), place in a casserole dish, sprinkle cheese on top and bake about 20mins until cheese has melted.

once it cools, the white sauce is no longer runny.  I had intended to feed this to lilly but realised that it was easy for her to pick up.  She loves it.

Great for the whole family (prob need some salt for adults)

Variations: use tin soup (any flavour really - make sure low in salt) instead of white sauce to make it even easier.

[Aly Mac]

Here's another that I just made and L is tucking into as I type. One for the whole family. I just shaped hers into lengths instead of balls and I didn't have soup, so used tin tomatoes and omitted the extra tomatoes (this is the way I cook - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't).  I figured the soup maybe a little salty.

Porcupine Meatballs

Ingredients (serves 4)
750g extra-trim beef mince
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup raw long-grain white rice
1 lemon, rind finely grated
1/2 cup basil leaves, finely chopped
500g can tomato condensed soup
1 1/2 cups water
3 tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup small basil leaves, extra, and crusty bread, to serve

Method
Combine mince, onion, rice, lemon rind, basil, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls. Place onto a tray lined with plastic wrap. Cover. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Combine soup, water and tomatoes in a 6cm-deep frying pan. Bring slowly to the boil over medium heat. Drop meatballs into simmering tomato mixture. Reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until meatballs are cooked through. Spoon into bowls. Top with basil. Serve with bread.


*** I also added grated carott and zuccini for extra veges.

[Cornish smiler]

Home Made Pizza

For this use 4 parts flour to 1 part butter so I generally use the following

8 oz self raising flour
2 oz butter (unsalted if possible)
milk
toppings

It's very simple (my kind of recipe!)

Put the flour in a bowl and chop the butter into pieces and rub it in (as if making pastry).  When it resembles breadcrumbs and the butter is all mixed in, slowly mix in some milk to make a dough.  Put this onto a greased baking tray and pat it into whatever shape you want.  Then add your toppings.  I normally spread sundried tomato paste on the dough then I top with chopped ham, chopped tomato, grated cheese - you get the general idea.  You really can use whatever you want.  Then pop into an oven on 200 degrees and cook for 20 mins or so but keep an eye on it.

This goes down a treat and is loved by all.  DH said he never wants a shop bought pizza again so I've made a rod for my own back here!!!!

[Wink's Marmy]

Hi! I made an Indian dish that DD loved. I am not giving dairy yet, so this is great for a dairy-less meal

1 cup brown rice, uncooked
1 cup lentils
about 4 cups water
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
3 bay leaves (I use 5 or 6 dried bay leaves instead)
2 tsp. mild curry spice
1 tbs. salt

1. soak lentils in water overnight
2. saute onions in oil till soft
3. Combine cooked onions (along with the oil they are in) with all other ingredients. Bring to boil and simmer for 45-50 min.

Serve with pita bread and salad and plain yogurt (didn't give yogurt to DD).
It makes a mushy sort of texture, but mushy enough for DD to pick up clumps. It made a huge mess, but she loved it and smelled of curry till her bath!

[bcmom]

Here is a yummy muffin recipe my lo likes:

1 c oatmeal (I used rolled oats)
1 c applesauce
1/2 of a banana mashed (egg replacement)
2 tbsps + 1 tsp veg oil
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c apple juice
1/2 c flour
1/4 c baby cereal
1/4 c sugar

Preheat oven to 375.  Grease mini muffins pans with spray.  Combine oatmeal, applesauce, juice, banana and oil.  Combine dry ingred and make a well.  Add liquids and mix until well combined.  Do not over mix.
Bake for approx 10-12 min altho check often for doneness.

Enjoy!

[Aly Mac]

Here's another one I made up, so sorry no quantaties 

Little vege frittata's

Any grateable veges really, I used this combo:

- zuccini
- carrot
- sweet potato

just remember if you use potato, that you might want to microwave them a little first as they take longer to cook than sweet potato.

I added some chopped cooked chicken, a little grated cheese and one egg.

Mix all together in a bowl.  Spoon small amount into a non stick frypan and slow cook on both sides.  Cool and serve.  I spread with some hommus on them for lunch for her.

Variations:
- tuna or salmon

They should keep ok in the fridge for a couple of days.

[Cornish smiler]

Got a lovely recipe here for Tofu Burgers.  We're not vegetarian, just fancied trying tofu and will definitely be having it again.  Sam woofed his down as did the rest of us!!!

120g tofu
1.5 tbsp light soy sauce (I used reduced salt soy sauce as the salt content was lower)
1 small carrot, grated
1 small garlic clove, crushed
1 slice bread, made into breadcrumbs
1 spring onion, finely chopped
1 egg, beaten
oil, for brushing

Mash the tofu, mix in the soy sauce and leave to marinate for 10 minutes.

Squeeze out any excess liquid, place the tofu in a big bowl and combine with all the other ingredients.

Shape into burgers, then place in the fridge to cool for about 20 minutes.

Lightly brush the burgers with oil and grill under a moderate heat for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently (I did them for more like 15 mins but our grill isn't great! - just do them until you think they're ready).

This recipe makes 8 small burgers, but I did 4 big ones and 1 small which is probably why they took longer to grill.  It does say that any finely chopped vegetable can be used in place of the carrot so you can use whatever you have in really.  I served them with roasted aubergines and potatoes.

[lib]

Aly
 you are putting me to shame!  What fantastic recipe ideas you have!  I am going to try some out this weekend I think.  My Lily is a BLW baby - so I am sure she is going to love these.

One for the pot - here is my home made lasagne, which Lily loves:

this makes a big lasagne for all the family - I normally take a couple of portions out of it for DD, freeze one for later use, and serve to the whole family that evening

for the sauce:
1 onion
1 red pepper
1 celery stick
1 carrot
1 courgette
1 clove garlic
parsley
margoram

cut all into small pieces and fry till soft in olive oil.
add 1 can tomatoes
teaspoon sun dried tom paste
half a bottle of bolognaise sauce

simmer

fry lean steak mince in separate pan till brown, drain the fat off.  Then add to the sauce and cook for 15 mins.

for the white sauce
big knob of butter
plain flour - approx 2 tablespoons
whole milk
cheddar cheese

melt the butter in the pan, add the flour and cook the flour for a while till smells a bit toasty.  then start adding the milk very gradually  - keeping it smooth - till a slightly runny consistency (sorry about the lack of quantities but I always just go by texture).  Add grated cheddar to taste.  Let it simmer for a few mins.

Now - use a square oven proof dish - do layer of meat sauce, then layer of lasagne sheets (the ones you don't need to precook), then cheese sauce, then lasagne sheets, then meat etc etc till all used up.  I then top with more cheddar cheese.  Parmesan can also be used.

pop in oven for 35 mins at 180.

Enjoy!!

Lib

[VickyB20]

One I tried yesterday...

Eggy mushrooms:- Chop up a couple of nice big field mushrooms and fry in unsalted butter for a few minutes.  Add the yoke of an egg.  It cooks and kind of sticks to the mushrooms.  My boys loved it and liked the texture of the mushrooms, I think.  Really quick and easy too.

And another one that has been a great hit...

Cheese Straws:- Add small chunks of unsalted butter to some plain (or wholemeal) flour and mix it up until it resembles breadcrumbs.  Add a whisked egg and some grated cheese and mix it up to a dough.  Roll out and cut into strips.  Bake in the oven at 200'C for 10-12 minutes until golden then dry on a rack.  Can be kept in the fridge for a few days.  I'm going to experiment with adding veggies to this one.

Vicky
x

[Freya'sMum]

Roasting would work just as well as steaming or boiling or even microwaving the veg sticks, just slice them into finger sized sticks first, drizzle in olive oil and pop on a baking sheet, Gas Mark 5/190 degC for 20-30 mins or so - you could parboil first and roast for a shorter time I guess!

Ax