easy cheesy bun-pizzas

If you read some previous posts you might have noticed that sometimes I make a big batch of food and freeze, like for instance these meatballs.
So yesterday I needed some quick dinner for my baby. I could of course just boil some of these meatballs with some veggies or potato mash.
But I decided to make something new. I baked yummy and quick bun-pizzas, which my daughter definitely loved and was eating with pleasure.

It is very easy to make those and you can as well enjoy a couple of them along with your baby.
I would suggest to give these pizzas to babies 11-12 months and older but it all depends how well your baby chews food as I don't think you can blend it into puree.
Try them out.

Ingredients:

1 burger bun, cut lengthwise
2 tbsp pureed tomatoes (you can use tomato paste/sauce, but then omit oregano and salt)
a pinch of oregano
salt and pepper to taste
2 my baby yummy meatballs
30-35g grated cheese like mozzarella or Hajdu.

Preparation:

• Cook the meatballs in boiling water until soft.
• Preheat the oven to 220C.
• Place buns cut side up on a baking tray. If using purred tomatoes, mix oregano and salt in. Spread half of tomatoes puree/tomato sauce on each bun. Crumble one meatball per bun and top generously with grated cheese.
• Put in the oven and cook for 5-10 minutes until bun is slightly crispy and cheese melted and is golden.
• Take out and let it cool before serving to your darling.

If you don't like meatballs or prefer a different flavor. Try some roasted shredded chicken instead, but just keep in mind to cover well with cheese not to let chicken dry.

chicky chicken meatballs

When it comes to giving meat to babies different babies have different opinions.
I make beef and chicken meatballs for my baby. She loves them. However, I came up with this chicken and turkey meatball for those who hesitate to give beef for their babies or in my case just for a change.
They also are quite healthy as turkey is lean and some veggies are added in the recipe.
Sorry I just realized haven't taken  any pictures. Maybe I'll add them later.

I would say these meatballs are appropriate for babies 10-11 months and older.

You will need:

500g turkey breast
500g chicken breast
1 medium carrot, cut into medium chunks
3 small onions
1 capsicum, cut into 2 inch pieces
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Allright, it is very difficult to find pure chicken or turkey mince here so I mince it myself. While putting turkey and chicken through the mincer I also add carrot, onions and capsicum. This way I make sure everything is the same size, chopped and incorporated.
Once done with it add bread crumbs, salt ans pepper. Mix everything thoroughly. Form meatballs. Cook immediately or freeze for further use.

Bon appetit!

my baby yummy meatballs

Here we are again,
I posted some recipes earlier using these yummy meatballs however, I haven't shared the recipes of meatballs itself yet.
I actually made these meatballs in a different way before but then well I forgot the recipe and created a new one which came out even better. You can steam them for about 30 minutes and serve with some steamed veggies or potatoes, rice or other grains. You can boil a couple of them with some vegetables and blend to the desired consistency or maybe serve with some simple white cheesy sauce your baby likes.
I started giving these meatballs for my baby after she was 1 but I saw some recipes with meat for little ones who are 9 months old.
So here is the recipe.
You'll need:

• 500 g mince turkey breast (you can substitute with chicken breast, Turkey is considered to be the leanest meat and is good for you and your baby, but if you don't like the taste feel free to use chicken.)
• about 300 g mince beef (I wash the meat through the sieve  - make sure it is a separate sieve for meat only or if not then wash it very very very well after use maybe even a couple of times and with boiling water. I noticed that when I wash meat and get rid of the rest of blood that is left there, meat gets better taste and is more tender somehow and of course less waste and toxins that blood contain)
• 1 big onion, chopped
• 2,5 handfuls cooked red kidney beans
• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Making these meatballs is fast and easy, the only thing that takes time is cooking kidney beans. Soak them over night, change water while soaking if possible. After soaking, put the beans in a pot, cover them with fresh water, put on high heat and bring to boil. When the water starts boiling, change it again, bring to boil and then simmer for about 60-80 minutes. I add the salt in the end about 10 minutes before taking off the heat.

When the beans are cooled I blend them into paste. Since the beans usually turn out to be quite salty I don't add much salt in the meatball mix.

In large bowl mix together turkey, beef, onion, kidney bean paste. add salt and pepper to taste.

Make balls of the size of a mini cupcake, about 2 inches in size. I got 36 meatballs.

I place them on the lined baking sheet, cover loosely with tin foil and freeze. Once frozen I transfer in a zip lock bag, squeeze the air as much as possible and keep up to 1 month. (I usually finish them earlier).

TIP:

It's difficult to get mince turkey in shops, so I make it myself. Once I mince all the turkey I put onions that way I clean up the mincer from meat as well as mincing onions without having to irritate my eyes. :)

Try these meatballs and let me know what you think.

That's all for now...

take care there.

zucchini carrot meat mash

Here is another dish which fast to make. I served it over some cooked buckwheat porridge or it can as well be mashed potatoes or some rice.
(9 moths - onward)

This dish was created for a quick dinner as I didn't have a lot of time and my baby was getting hungrier and hungrier. Nevertheless she ate it all.

I took:
1/2 medium carrot, peeled and cut into small cubes
2 baby zucchinis, peeled and cut into small cubes
1 baby meatball
salt and pepper to taste (omit this if your baby is younger than a year)
about 2 tbsp creme

Preparation:
Put carrot, zucchini and a meatball in a small pot cover with water and bring to boil. Season and cook until all the ingredients are soft and can be easily mashed. Add water during cooking if necessary. Add creme right in the end, stir, bring to boil and let it thicken a bit.
Take off the heat, let it cool and blend to desired consistency. (I recommend to break the meatball to smaller piece before using a blender.)
It yielded 2 baby portions. I froze one for later.

As I already mentioned before you can serve it with some grains or potatoes.

VARIATIONS:
If you don't want any beef in the dish or feel your baby is too young for beef, you can use chicken meatballs or about a quarter of a chicken breast cut into cubes.
You can add some herbs like thyme or rosemary (for chicken). Just make sure you don't putt to much. A pinch is more than enough.  

Have a lovely meal.
For now...
take care there.