Baby pasta (Pastina Stars with butter and milk)

 This recipe comes from "Italian Comfort Book" by Julia Della Croce.

Serves 4 kids or 2 adults

"Nothing is more emblematic of an Italian childhood than pastina (literally "little pasta") with butter and milk", - as Julia Della Croce is waxing lyrical about this dish. I did ask my husband (who is un Italiano vero, born and bred) if he remembers eating this dish as a child, and he replied that he never had it. Thus the myths are shattered. Anyway, I wanted to try this dish for my little man. I used the star pasta from Heinz and cooked just enough for one hungry toddler (I used much less pasta and milk and butter than the recipe below).

For best results, save some of the cooking water after draining and add it as needed after stirring in the butter and milk to keep the pastina moist and fluid.

150g little stars pastina or other tiny pastina shapes

3 tbsp unsalted butter

125 ml warm milk

and

3 tsp salt (now surely this is a mistake, first of all, I would not add any salt to the baby food, second, 3 tsp seems like a huge amount of salt for a small amount of pasta)

sugar (optional, I added half a tsp of sugar)

1. Bring water to the boil. Stir in the pastina and salt (if adding). Cook according to the packet instructions. Drain and transfer to the bowl.

2. While still piping hot, add butter to the pasta, burying it in the pasta to melt. Stir in warm milk and serve at once. Add a little more warm milk for a looser texture if desired.

Serve immediately to prevent the pastina from drying out and clumping (and again, my little note: wait until it is at a reasonable temperature, you don't want your baby to burn his tongue).

It might look not very appetizing to you, but keep in mind, it is a food for a little person.

Eddie loved it.

Here is the chef in training, eating his pasta with two spoons. Why is he dressed up as Santa in mid-November? I have been trying to take photos for the Christmas photo cards, but alas, he would not smile to me or sit still for a second. Eddie's Italian Nonna calls him biricchino (cheeky & cute), and the Russian babushka calls him "yula" (i.e. a whirligig).

All the colours of Ella's Kitchen Rainbow

From an "omnivore" Eddie is slowly turning into someone who appreciates the finer points of food. To my amazement he learnt now to say No to some foods I offer to him, showing his independent spirit and his own judgement.
Ella's Kitchen has been with us from the start of the weaning process, offering new tastes and flavours to our little man. All Smoothie Fruits continue to be his firm favourites.
And I appreciate the fact that those little snacks are 100% organic.

"Our 100% organic fruit snacks are perfect to pop in lunchboxes, or to enjoy as a fun snack on the go. Kids love to shake, squeeze and slurp our yummy flavours. And they're a great way for kids to enjoy at least 1 of the 5 lovely pieces of recommended fruit + veg each day.

Inside me you'll f

• NO added sugar, salt or water
• NO additives or thickeners
• NO E numbers or GM
• NO gluten, wheat, dairy or lactose
• NO lumps or bits and nothing artificial
• JUST squished organic fruit for kids
• Contains naturally occurring sugars"

We slurp it on the go. We master the technique of eating it without holding it, as the master Eddie showing it below, you need to lower yourself to the pouch which is standing on the table. Just keep your mouth wide open.

We love the Yellow One. We love the Orange One.

We love The Purple One.

And The Red One. And The Green One...

May we claim the official title of the no.1 fan of Ella's Kitchen smoothies?!

Now could we also suggest The Blue One (blueberry, blackberry and vanilla) and The Pink One (raspberry, strawberry and cream)?

Eddie's favourite Milk Shake-a-latte

An evening treat - a milkshake made with the Plum fromage frais - is always greeted with pleasure.
We have tried most of the branded baby fromage frais on the market, and Plum produces the best one. It is creamy, smooth and appeals to both babies and adults.
For two big glasses you will need a glass and one third of milk, a small tub of Plum fromage frais, a handful of blueberries, one small banana, a scoop of vanilla ice cream (Haagen Dazs is the best, but we also love the Cornish style ice cream). Put all the ingredients in the blender and whizz well. Serve at once.

Just look at our milky foamy moustache!

Go Orange (The Orange One review)

The Orange One arrived for Eddie,
Who grabbed a smoothie, forgot his teddy,
A yummy food - put to the test:
Ella's Kitchen is the best!

We are big fans of Ella's Kitchen range of baby foods. I just wish it existed when Sasha was a baby.

The new Orange smoothie is a welcome addition to a family of tasty smoothies.
Its contents are described by Ella's Kitchen as:
"100% oranges, mangoes, guava + bananas with a dash of lemon juice. Just an organic smoothie fruit snack, with nothing else added, not even water. It contains 1 of the 5 lovely pieces of fruit and veg recommended each day!"

The smile says it all: Yum! Yum!

I love my porridge, my porridge loves me

Eddie has a hearty appetite and loves his food. I started weaning him on solids, when he was five months old, and now that he is reaching a ripe old age of 1, he has tried many lovely foods. (And he still loves his Mummy milk. :))
Remembering unpleasant baby rice and constipation issues with our older son when he was a baby, I decided to avoid baby rice altogether and start with veg purees and baby porridge. We have tried all the major brands of baby porridge, and to my disappointment they tasted like shredded cardboard, absolutely unappetising (I won't name them but they are sold everywhere).
That is, until we found Plum.
Plum makes baby porridges and muesli in a variety of flavours.
Plum baby Four Grain Muesli is a combination of four healthy grains. It has a nice texture and a lovely delicate taste. Finally, a baby food that tastes good.
It has the following ingredients:
Organic oat flakes (76%) Organic banana flakes (8%) Organic whole rice flour (5%) Organic popped amaranth (4%) Organic strawberry flakes (4%) Organic quinoa flour (3%) Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
Another favourite is Plum Baby four grain super porridge in a combination of wholegrains. It is creamy, smooth and easy to prepare.
I usually use a mix of Plum muesli and porridge (50/50), prepared with hot milk.
As you can see, Eddie enjoys his porridge.