Puréed Baby Fruit (6 to 8 months)

• 1/3 to 1/2 cup cooked fruit chopped into small pieces
• 2 tsp water or fruit juice

In a small microwavable bowl cook on high for about one minute. Stir in water or fruit juice. Put in a food processor or blender for about one minute or until smooth. Serve or freeze in an ice cube tray.

Spiced Banana Sauce (12-18 months)

Ricotta Cream Sauce (12-18 months)

• 1 cup smooth 2% ricotta cheese
• 2 tbsp icing sugar
• 1 tsp grated orange zest
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• cut fresh fruit ready to dip

In a bowl, beat together ricotta cheese and sugar until smooth. Stir in the orange zest and vanilla. Put into a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to one week. Serve with fresh fruit.

Orange Yogurt Fruit Dip

• 1/2 of an 8 oz package of softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup peach yogurt
• 1/4 cup orange marmalade
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch ground ginger
• Assorted fresh fruit

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, yogourt, marmalade, vanilla and ginger until blended. Put into a container and store in refrigerator up to 2 days.

Soften before serving with fresh fruit

Puréed Baby Meat (8-12 months

• 1/2 cup cooked meat (chicken, beef, etc.) cut into small pieces
• 1/4 cup water or cooking liquid or milk

In a food processor or blender, combine meat and liquid. Process for one to two minutes or until smooth. Serve immediately or freeze in and ice cube tray for future use.

Carrot Cupcakes(12-18 months)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups finely shredded carrots
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the shredded carrots, oil and eggs; beat until combined.

Pour into 12 cup muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 min or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Frost with a cream cheese frosting of your choice.

Spinach Cottage Cheese Dip (12-18 months)

• 1 package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess liquid squeezed out
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 1 small clove of garlic minced
• 1 cup sour cream
• Dash of tabasco sauce
• 1/8 tsp salt

In a food processor, combine spinach, cottaqge cheese and garlic. Process until fairly smooth. Add sour cream, tabasco sauce and salt. Process to blend.

Refrigerate for several hours or overnight for the flavours to develop.

Apple Bread Pudding (12-18 months)

• 2 cups 2% milk
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups bread (cubes)
• 2 tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 large apple, peeled, cored and sliced into thin pieces.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs and vanilla. Stir in bread and let stand for 10 minutes.

Place butter in a 6 cup square baking dish and heat in oven until melted; swirl it around to cover the bottom of the dish. Pour in bread mixture and top with apples pushing the slices down into the bread mixture.

Bake for 40 minutes or until puffed and browed. Serve warm.

Baked Squash (12-18 months)

• 1 lb squash, peeled and sliced
• 1 large baking apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 in rings
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp margarine or butter
• 1 1/2 tsp all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange squash in prepared baking dish. Top with the apple rings. In a bowl combine brown sugar, margarine, flour and salt. Spread mixture evenly over squash and apples. Bake for 1 hour or until tender.

Quick Cheese Omelet(12-18 months)

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp whole milk
• 1 oz Cheddar cheese, cut into i-inch pieces.

In a small microwave-safe dish, whisk together egg and milk. Add cheese. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring at the halfway point to ensure that all of the egg is cooked. Cooking time will vary according to each microwave. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Baked Sweet Potato(12-18 months)

• 1 sweet potato, well scrubbed
• 1 tbsp butter or margarine
• 1 tbsp maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut sweet potato into 1/2 inch slices and place on a baking sheet. Dab a small amount of butter on each slice. Bake for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with maple syrup. Bake for another 10 minutes or until tender. Remove skin before serving.