Tomato Risotto Bites

Fletcher's first birthday party is on Saturday and I am determined to have food that he can eat. Yes I know he is just one guest,but come on... it's HIS party!! As the birthday boy he should be able to eat whatever is on the table.

And so, tonight I began baking!

First on the list... my Berry Yummy Mini Cakes which are super yummy and now safely stored in the freezer away from the hungry hands of my husband!

Next came a new idea of mine.... Tomato Risotto Bites.Oh my, I am in love!! Risotto Bites are gluten, wheat, dairy, soy and nut free - AND they taste good, are simple to make and even easier to serve and eat!

Ingredients
2 cups aborio rice
3 cups water
1.5 tbs nuttalex (or other dairy substitute)
200g tomato chutney
3 eggs, lightly beaten

Method
1. Preheat your oven to 220 degrees and grease very thoroughly 2x 24 mini muffin trays
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over a medium heat.
3. Add rice, and stir to coat it with the butter.
4. Pour in the water, cover the saucepan and allow to simmer for approximately 10min, or until all the water has been absorbed.
5. Stir in chutney and eggs.
6. Spoon into trays.
7. Cook for 15min.
8. Allow to cool in pan for 5min before carefully scooping bites onto a wire rack to cool.
9 Serve hot or cold.

Tomorrow night -birthday cake!

Berry Yummy Mini Cakes

A good friend of mine at work is a caeliac and when she brings something for a staff morning tea it's always yummy! This recipe is an adaptation of her Berry & Almond Cake.

I've made some modifications to make it baby & toddler friendly.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups frozen berries, thawed
6 eggs
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 1/2 cups almond meal
a good shake of chia seeds


Method:
1. Preheat oven to 160 degree.
2. Grease 2x mini muffin trays with olive oil spray.
3. Beat eggs and sugar on high for 10 - 12min until thick and glossy.
4. Gently mix in berries and almond/chia mix alternately.
5. Use a dessert spoon to fill trays (they don't rise, so don't be afraid to fill them!)
6. Bake for 20min, until golden and firm to touch
7. Allow to cool for 10min in pan then scoop out with a teaspoon and place on a wire rack to cool.

Tropical Porridge Fingers

Porridge Fingers are one of the best breakfast recipes for a baby or toddler. The original recipe came from the Baby Led Weaning Cookbook, but me being the creative soul that I am, didn't stick to the recipe for very long!

No need to use cutlery to eat this yummy breakfast!!

Fletcher's favourite is the Tropical Porridge Fingers, and I now make it for him once a week!

Ingredients:
3 tbs rolled oats (not the quick cooking kind)
4 tbs rice milk*
a good shake of chia seeds
1 tsp coconut
1 tsp sultanas

*(I tried using Almond milk - epic fail! 
Zymil works for those who can have dairy)

Method:
1. Combine the rolled oats and the milk in a microwave proof bowl. Allow the oats time to soak in some of the milk, approx 1min.
2. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
3. Cook in the microwave on high for 2min.
4. Immediately remove from the bowl by using a spoon to softly unstick it from the sides.
5. Cut into "fingers" for a baby just starting out, or cut in half for a more experienced bub.
6. Allow to cool, and then serve to your bubba... and watch them devour it!!

NOTE
~ For a non-tropical version, omit the coconut & sultanas.

Other flavours that work....
~ Frozen blueberries
~ Mashed banana (although personally.. yuck!)
~ Goji berries

An Introduction

I was born to a wonderful Mother.

Looking back on my childhood I have absolutely no memories of feeling like I was deprived, or missing out, because of my allergies. I had a low threshold for sugars (Mum had to monitor the natural sugar content in foods) and I was lactose intolerant at a time when there no alternatives (except soy - which made me projectile vomit [20 years later we discovered I was anaphylactic to soy... no wonder my body wouldn't tolerate it!]). But never, not once do I remember not fitting in, struggling to find things to eat or crying over the injustice of my allergy. It was just who I was.

This is what I want for my son Fletcher. Just because he was diagnosed with an intolerance and suspected allergy to both lactose and the protein in cows milk at the age of 6 weeks... and then 4 months later had a suspected allergic reaction to pear... doesn't mean he should miss out on things throughout his life.

Now, FJ doesn't have the worst children's allergies I've ever heard of. I know of a number of children who are very, very limited in what they can eat, and I feel for their parents, because there is a long and difficult road ahead to find things that are nutritious, tasty and easy to cook. And that's where I hope I can help, even if it's only in a small way.

I am in no way an expert, nor a nutritionist. I am not a chef and I am definitely not the healthiest person I know. However I am is a Mother with a passion and a drive to help... and a love of baking.

This journey I am on is one for my son. I love him with all my heart and soul, and I will try anything if it there's a chance he'll benefit in some way. This journey will also see a change in the eating habits of my husband and I. I still have my allergies, and a few intolerances... I also have about 50kg to lose. Chances are by making the foods in our house "friendly" we'll all benefit from my hard work and exploration!

And I hope your household can too!