Today I'm thinking ahead to Christmas dinner and sharing three super simple and very delicious baby friendly side dish recipes that the whole family can enjoy this Christmas.
Christmas is fast approaching, and if you're anything like me you may be panicking somewhat with too much to think about and a ridiculous amount to get done before the big day! If you have a baby or toddler in the house, there's often the added complication of thinking about what they are going to eat and how you can keep their diet healthy through the festive season. Don't worry though, that's one problem I have some solutions to, and with the help of Organix, I'm here to take those problems right off your plate!
This year I have been on a #NoJunkJourney with Organix. I've been trying to think more about the foods that I'm feeding to my children and how I can make it as ‘real’ and healthy as possible. In the run to Christmas, Organix have produced their free Little Book of Christmas Dinner which is full of tips to help you manage the food preparation in the run up to Christmas so that everyone in the family, big or small, can enjoy all the tastes of Christmas! You'll find loads of advice for a no-stress Christmas dinner there, and as I mentioned above, I'm also sharing below three great recipes which compliment the guide nicely.
When it comes to Christmas dinner, I believe in keeping things as simple as possible. Cooking a full roast is complicated enough without having to think about a separate meal for the smallest member of the family, so there's an obvious solution - make sure that they can eat what you are eating. My youngest son hit weaning age exactly as his first Christmas rolled around and I remember feeling the stress of starting our weaning journey at the busiest time of the year! Christmas dinner lends itself beautifully to weaning though - there are usually plenty of options suitable for little ones on the table, and the simple side dish recipes I've shared below are a good place to start.
As well as their great tips to make Christmas dinner easier, there's also a gorgeous Christmas selection box available from Organix. It's full of yummy Goodies treats that your children will love and they all come with the famous 'No Junk' promise - always organic with NO unnecessary ingredients. It would make a lovely gift for any little one and the tasty snacks are great for tucking in stockings too!
Back to the subject of Christmas dinner and my first recipe is a simple child friendly carrot and swede mash. The mild, sweet flavours make this a great recipe for bumping up their vegetable intake, and it doubles up perfectly as a puree for babies. The colourful mash would look lovely on your Christmas table and it's a simple no-fuss recipe to help keep life as easy as possible! This mash has some nice texture to it, so it's perfect for little ones who are ready for a little more texture (7 months+)
Smashed Carrot & Swede
Ingredients:
- 500g swede
- 500g carrots
- 1 Tbs butter
- salt & pepper
- parsley (optional)
Method:
Prepare the vegetables; peel and roughly chop the swede and carrots.
Place the carrot and swede chunks in a pan of water. Bring to the boil then cook for 10-15 minutes until tender.
Once cooked, drain well, then tip back into the pan.
Add the butter and roughly crush together with a potato masher. You won't be able to get a smooth mash - there should still be some texture to it.
Season to taste with salt and pepper (skip the salt if serving to a baby under one, or remove their portion first).
Tip into a serving dish and garnish with a little chopped parsley if wanted.
My second recipe is for whole roasted baby carrots and parsnips. These make great finger food for older babies or toddlers or those following the baby led weaning method. They are super quick and easy to prepare (no peeling required!) and roasting them makes them beautifully sweet and tender. A drizzle of maple syrup brings out the sweet flavour too, so they are sure to be a hit with the whole family!
Maple Roasted Baby Parsnips & Carrots
Ingredients:
- 300g baby parsnips
- 300g baby carrots
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp fresh or dried rosemary
- 1-2 tsp maple syrup
- salt (optional)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6/390°F).
Lightly scrub the baby parsnips and carrots under cold running water to wash them. Drain then pat them dry with a clean tea-towel or kitchen paper.
If the parsnips are significantly thicker than the carrots, slice them in half, then place the carrots and parsnips in a roasting tin, spread out in a single layer.
Drizzle over the olive oil, then shake to coat.
Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and cooked through. If serving to a younger baby, remove their portion at this point.
Sprinkle over the rosemary, drizzle over the maple syrup and season with a little salt to taste. Give them a good shake to coat in the maple syrup, then tip out into a serving dish and serve immediately.
My third recipe is honestly one of the most simple recipes you can imagine. I saw a friend make sweet potato mash using this method and it was such a revelation, I'll never make it any other way now. It produces a lovely smooth mash that is suitable even for little ones who are just starting their weaning journey (6 months+). The great thing about this method is that you can tuck the sweet potatoes into the oven around all the other stuff that needs to be in there when cooking a roast and just let them get on with it until you need them - a brilliant way to make life easier for yourself!
Baked Sweet Potato Mash
Ingredients:
- 3 or 4 large sweet potatoes
- 1 Tbs butter
- salt & pepper
- parsley (optional)
Method:
Preheat the oven to 200°C (Gas mark 6/390°F).
Prick each potato all over with a fork.
Place the potatoes in the oven and bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until cooked through and soft.
Once cooked, remove the potatoes from the oven and leave to cool for a minute or two.
As soon as they are cool enough to handle, slice in half and scoop the flesh from the skins, discarding the skins once done.
Add the butter to the sweet potato flesh and mash with a fork.
Season to taste with salt and pepper (skip the salt if serving to a baby under one, or remove their portion first) and mash a little more to mix it in.
Tip into a serving dish and garnish with a little chopped parsley if wanted.
I hope that you've found these recipes and the Organix Little Book of Christmas Dinner helpful for your Christmas planning! Do you have any tips for feeding little ones at Christmas?
Grace
Disclosure: This blog post was commissioned by Organix as a part of a series of posts for the No Junk Journey campaign. I was sent some products to try and was compensated for my time, however all opinions expressed in this post are my own.
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