I’ve mentioned before that weaning MM onto solid food has been entirely baby-led with no puréeing or spoon feeding on our part.
It has been fantastic not to have to spend time steaming and mushing vegetables and I’ve used this extra time to bake for him. We’ve built up a few favourites that I know he will always eat, even if he’s have an off day food-wise. They tend to be small items that can be used out of the freezer and are great for going out, or if we are not eating with him, or if we’re having something he doesn’t like.
I mentioned my home-made rusks earlier in the week and this prompted Young Mummy from Young & Younger to ask for the recipe. It occurred to me that there may be others who would appreciate some ideas of good finger foods for their babies and toddlers. So in a short series I would like to present Finger Food Fridays!
These ideas are by no means exclusively for babies that have followed the baby-led style of weaning, they are great for everyone (and that includes parents!)
Rusks
from Finger Food by Jennie Maizels
Finger Food Friday-Rusks
225g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
50g unsalted butter
25g caster sugar (optional – I put about half the amount of sugar.)
50g yoghurt
65ml milk
1/2 egg beaten
Preheat oven to 180 degrees/Gas mark 4
Cream together the butter and sugar if using.
Gradually sift in flour/bicarb/cream of tartar
Using the hands or an electric mixer work the mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Combine the yoghurt, milk and egg and then add to the flour mixture, stirring until a dough is formed. Knead the dough a little with your hands.
either – take a walnut sized piece of dough and roll into a finger shape (which is what the recipe suggests and possibly the best option for younger babies)
or – Roll out mixture and use a small round cutter to cut out into small scone type things (which is what I do and then I split them in two for MM – this is probably just for my own aesthetic purposes but I like to think he prefers them and this is a nice way to do them for older babies and toddlers.)
Place them on a greased baking tray (should make about 20) and bake for 15-20 mins. You can then either take them out at this point, in which case they are soft in the middle,like scones or reduce the temp on the oven to 120 degrees/Gas mark 1/2 and leave them for another 15/20 mins to dry out.
Store in an airtight container for up to a week. I usually freeze half and then to defrost bung in the oven in foil for about 10/15 mins – 160 degrees/Gas mark 3.
Wow they look fantastic. I think I will be trying these out. Thanks.Also I have tagged you over at my blog for the 7 things meme. Hope that is ok? xx
Fantastic. I usually give Piran rusks for breakfast but now he is finally eating a little more I was concerned about the sugar content. It will be so lovely to make these for him.More finger food recipes gratefully received, I am plodding on with the BLW but sometimes I am a little lacking in inspiration.One question, do you freeze the mixture cooked or uncooked?
Oooo… these look yummy, and sound so easy to make. I think we'll be giving these a try… Thanks 🙂
Can't wait to make these this weekend. Bet they won't look as nice as yours, though! x
Susan- thanks for the tag. Will check out your list and try to think of some interesting facts. Could take some time:)rebamc- good to 'see' you. They are very easy although trying to split half a beaten egg in half is tedious. I usually just guess and add extra flour if needed.YM They will look great. I expect you to tweet a piccie for us to see. Kelly – being able to control the sugar is reassuring. You can leave it out altogether but intend to put a bit in. You freeze them cooked and then just warm in oven. They cool quite quickly but they do keep for a good few days in a Tupperware. Keep going with the babyled. I'm still trying to write a blog about it. Can't seem to get across what I want to. Watch this space.
I'm going to try these too.thanks for sharing the recipe.
Made these this morning. Didn't have time to roll out the dough and fashioned them by hand so mine look like space weevils – but appearances are apparently not important and G-Dog gives them the big thumbs up! Thanks for sharing x
I made these the other day. Mine looked a bit like hedgehogs though, not nice & round like yours! You can tell I'm a novice at this baking lark!