babyworld recipes: 12 months

At 12 months and older it is possible to start adding a little seasoning to your baby's food, especially if you are cooking a meal for the family, but do only add very small amounts of what you usually would add and the rest can be added by individuals at the table.

• Salmon fish cakes followed by banana custard

Main course: Salmon fish cakes

Home-made fish cakes are always loved by all, as they are full of chunks of fish and lots of delicious mashed potato and then cased in crispy bread crumbs. Try making fish cakes with cod, halibut, tuna, or prawns. If you want to be organised, make double the quantity and then bag up the extra and freeze, they defrost and cook really well and it is a good instant but home-made meal.

(Makes 4)

Ingredients
250g salmon fillet
225g mashed potato
bunch parsley, chopped
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
30g plain flour
125g bread crumbs
sunflower oil for frying

Pre-heat the oven to 350F, 180C, gas mark 4.

Place the salmon in an oven-proof dish with a lid and bake for 10 minutes, remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Flake the salmon away from the skin and remove any bones.

Place the mashed potato in a bowl add the parsley, little seasoning and flaked salmon. Mix well.

Whisk one of the eggs, add to the potato and mix to bind the mixture together

Divide the mixture into 4 equal amounts, flour your hands and roll into balls and then flatten to make cakes. Divide one of the balls into 2 or 3 to make mini cakes for your baby.

Whisk the remaining egg and place in a small bowl, with flour in another and bread crumbs on a plate. Dip each cake into the flour, coating all over, then dip into the egg wash and finally into the bread crumbs, repeat until all the cakes are coated.

In a frying pan heat the sunflower oil, when hot add the fish cakes and cook over a medium heat until golden on each side, approximately 5 minutes. Serve with little pieces of broccoli (or we call them edible trees!)

Pudding: Banana custard

An all-time favourite that can quickly and easily be made, try serving with other fruits if banana is not liked.

Ingredients:
1 dessert spoon original custard powder
¼ pint milk
½ teaspoon sugar
1 small banana

Mix the custard powder with a little milk taken from the ¼ pint, to a smooth paste.

Heat the remaining milk to nearly boiling, pour onto the custard mix and stir well.

Return to the saucepan, add the sugar and bring to the boil over a gentle heat, stirring continuously.

Tried this recipe? For more inspiration look through our recipe selection.

Other recipes this month: