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Baby-led weaning recipes: 6 MTHS

Breakfasts|Savouries|Desserts

DESSERTS

Mini Cheesecakes

4 oz dried apricots (preferably unsulphured)
1 tsp vanilla essence
8 oz cream cheese
toasted wheat germ (available from health food stores)

1. First, soak the apricots in warm water until softened.
2. Place the apricots in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
3. Add the vanilla and cream cheese to the processor and blend until smooth.
4. Place the wheat germ into a small bowl and drop the cream cheese mixture on to it, a teaspoon at a time.
5. Roll the cream cheese in the wheat germ, forming it into little balls.
6. Chill until firm.
7. Your cheesecake treats are ready to serve!

Frozen Banana Bites

1 ripe banana
natural yogurt
toasted wheat germ (available in health food stores)

1. Peel the banana and cut it into thick 'fingers'.
2. Dip each banana finger into the yogurt and make sure it is well coated.
3. Then, roll each finger in wheat germ until thoroughly covered.
4. Finally, freeze the fingers on sheets of greaseproof paper and serve when firm.

Fresh fruit lollies ( great for teething!)

4 fl oz grape juice
1 envelope gelatine (unflavoured)
8 oz vanilla yogurt (or use natural yogurt and add a little vanilla essence)
1 tsp cinnamon
4 oz fresh blueberries
1 medium ripe banana, sliced

Heat the grape juice gently in a small pan
Stir in the gelatine, continue to stir until it is all dissolved
Pour the gelatine mixture into a food processor and add the yogurt, blueberries and banana.
Process unitl smoooth, the pour the mixture into lolly moulds and freeze.

If your little one is unable to hold a lolly, simply break it up with a spoon and serve in a bowl!

Baked apple cubes

1 sweet apple (such as Golden delicious, Fuji, Gala or Pink Lady)
pinch of gorund cinnamon or nutmeg

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degreesF, 180 deg C
2. Wash th eapple and core it, using either an apple corer or melon baller
3. Wrap it in aluminium foil. Seal tightly.
4. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until tender
5. Cool to a safe handling temperature, remove the skin and cut into dice

Dust with cinnamon or nutmeg and serve.

This recipe works equally well using a ripe, juicy pear!

Fast fruit salad with Yogurt dip

1/2 avocado
1/2 ripe banana
1 slice watermelon or any other ripe melon
natural yogurt
drop vanilla essence

1. Peel and pit the fruits as necessary and cut into dice
2. Mix yogurt with vanilla essence
3. Serve the chilled, diced fruit (none of which require cooking) in a bowl with the yogurt as a dip.

Baby-led weaning recipes for 6 mths :Breakfasts|Savouries|Desserts

Baby-led weaning recipes for 8 mths: Breakfasts|Savouries|Desserts

About the author

Christine Albury has four children (from 3 to 13) and has cooked for them all, so over the years she's amassed heaps of recipes! Christine says"I'm committed to cooking with fresh and healthy ingredients and also to encouraging a sophisticated palate from an early age. I don't subscribe to the theory that baby food has to be bland - and, judging from readers' responses to my site (www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com) - many other parents feel the same! Instead, I suggest that parents experiment with herbs and aromatic spices (not salt) to create meals that are nutritious AND tasty! "

Where to next?

Baby-led weaning - what's it all about and how to do it.
Have any recipe suggestions of your own? Share your culinary experiences on our Feeding discussion board.