Quick, healthy and warming meals are essential at this time of year, so here are some ideas if you’re keen to expand, improve, or change up your winter cooking repertoire!
Macaroni Cheese:
Nothing beats good old mac and cheese when it’s cold outside - this is proper comfort food, and a dish that even weaning babies and those practising Baby Led Weaning can enjoy. Add 250g cooked macaroni to a traditional roux with handfuls of grated cheddar (aim for the same weight in cheese as pasta), or mix in lumps of raclette cheese for a more Savoyard twist. Stir in shredded kale, peas or broccoli florets to add some necessary greens to the dish, and add lardons or pancetta for a tasty extra treat. Batch cook and freeze in portions. Top with parmesan. Delicious!
Baked Apples:
Core however many apples your require, and score a horizontal line around each apple’s middle. Squeeze lemon juice over the apples to stop them browning up, and pop them in a baking dish. Mix up sultanas, dried cranberries, muscovado sugar and cinnamon before pushing a little of the mix into each apple’s hollowed out core. Dot some butter over the top and sprinkle extra sugar on top. Bake for 25 minutes and serve.
Apple and Parsnip Soup:
Boil and simmer two parsnips and two cooking apples until soft, and whizz up with a hand blender and a dash of milk. You can make this chunkier for weaning babies or thinner for a traditional soup. Make this without seasoning so it’s baby friendly, and let children and adults add their own pepper if they want it.
Banana and Raisin Muffins:
You can whip these up in minutes for a healthy snack or pudding – or even breakfast for those with a bit of a sweet tooth. The good news is that these are delicious without any added sugar! Mix 225g of self raising flour with one egg, 250ml milk and a glug of olive oil. Mash in two ripe bananas and a good handdul of raisins and a pinch of cinnamon. Divide into a muffin tray and bake for 20 mins. This recipe makes 12 muffins and is idea for weaning babies, energetic toddlers, and nannies in need of a sweet treat! Swap out the banana and raisins for blueberries, blackberries, chocolate chips – whatever you fancy!
Wishing you all happy, healthy mealtimes this Winter! We love it when our nannies share their tips with us so do visit our Facebook page and share your best winter recipes with us.