Sweet Potato & Chickpea Burgers

For the last couple of days I have been trying out new recipes as I feel like Joe’s meals are getting quite repetitive as of late.

One recipe I came across which I thought we would all love is Sweet Potato and Chickpea Burgers, but I changed the recipe to make them extra tasty!

These are not only perfect for BLW, served without the burger bun, but are a healthy alternative for older children and adults, plus they taste even better topped with guacamole on a toasted brioche bun.

Makes 6 Mini Burgers

Ingredients 

• 1 Medium Sweet Potato
• 110g Can Cooked Chickpeas (Drained)
• 8 TBSP Plain Flour
• 1 Large Egg
• 1 TSP Smoked Paprika
• 1 TSP Oregano
• Black Pepper

Directions

1. Peel the sweet potato and cut in half. Cut the one half into chunks and boil for 5 minutes. Drain and then mash. Grate the remaining half of the uncooked sweet potato.
2. Drain the chickpeas and mash with the back of a fork then add the mashed and grated sweet potato.
3. Add the egg, flour, spices and pepper and mix until all of the ingredients are combined. If the mixture is too sticky then add a little more flour.
4. Form the mixture into 6 patties, place on baking parchment, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
5. Add a little olive oil to a frying pan and cook each patty for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden.

These burgers are also perfect for freezing. Once cool, place a small piece of baking parchment between each patty and pop into an airtight container.

To reheat, leave to defrost for a couple of hours then warm in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

Let me know if you try out this recipe and don’t forget to tag us in any of your creations - @Joesfoodadventure.

BLW | Pinwheels

Before I started baby led weaning with Joe, I never knew what a pinwheel was! But they are now not only a favourite of Joe's but the whole family love them too.

I try to make a huge batch of various flavours so I can freeze them but guaranteed half of them have been eaten by me, my OH and Lily as soon as they come out of the oven!

There are so many different pinwheel fillings you can try, sweet and savoury, but I thought I would show you our two favourites, cheese and spinach and pizza! 

Makes 20 Pinwheels

Ingredients

• 1 Ready Rolled Puff Pastry Sheet
• Approx 100g Spinach
• 1-2 TBSP Pizza Sauce
• 1/4 Finely Chopped Pepper
• Handful of Grated Mozzarella

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan.

2. Boil the spinach for a couple of minutes then drain and squeeze out any water.

3. Roll out the ready rolled puff pastry sheet (I leave this on the greaseproof paper that is rolled around it so it doesn't stick to the surface) and cut in half.

4. Add your fillings!!

On the left I've added a layer of cooked spinach with a sprinkle of mozzarella on top, then on the right I've added a layer of pizza sauce, chopped peppers and also a sprinkle of mozzarella.

5. Gently roll the pastry into a log, place onto a tray and pop into the fridge for 30 minutes to chill.

6. Once pastry has chilled, remove from the fridge and cut each log into 10 equal slices.

Pop onto a lined baking tray (I can fit 16 onto a large baking tray then I pop the remaining 4 onto a smaller tray) and cook for 15-20 minutes or until golden.

If you manage not to eat all of the pinwheels as soon as you take them out of the oven, they can also be frozen once cooled and I usually defrost for a couple of hours at room temperature before warming in the oven for 5 minutes.

Some other fillings you could try are:

• Pesto
• Ham and Cheese
• Cheese and Tomato
• Leftover Bolognese
• Cheese and Onion
• Apple and Cinnamon
• Banana and Nutella

Enjoy!

BLW | Oaty Bites

This is another recipe that Joe has loved from the start of his BLW journey and lots of mamas have also asked for the recipe and made these for their little ones.
I have changed the recipe a little from my original by adding desiccated coconut and I have found this makes a huge difference!

Makes Approx. 12-14 Oaty Bites
Ingredients

• 200g Rolled Oats
• 25g Desiccated Coconut
• 1 Large Egg
• 1 Pouch (approx. 90g) Banana Puree - I use the Aldi Mamia one
• 190ml Full Fat Milk
• Handful of Strawberries
• Handful of Blueberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan
2. Combine the Rolled Oats and desiccated coconut together
3. Add the egg, banana puree and milk
4. Mix until all ingredients are combined
5. Roughly chop strawberries and blueberries, add these to the mixture and stir
6. Lightly grease a mini muffin tin - I use fry light coconut oil
7. Spoon in the mixture, making sure you you push the mixture down with the back of the spoon so it's all compact
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes depending on the size of your muffin tins

I can usually make 14 oaty bites so I usually cook them in two batches. It's best to use either a standard muffin tin or silicone, I did try making these in paper muffin cases but they didn't work out as well.

If your little one has a cows milk allergy, you can always substitute the milk for a different milk of your choice.

These little oaty bites are not only perfect for breakfast but for lunch and snack times too. I usually eat one with a cup of tea as soon as they are out of the oven!

The oaty bites should last for 3 days in an airtight container. I also freeze the oaty bites the same way as I freeze my pancakes with a piece of baking parchment in between each oaty bite, then placed into a container. They literally take 1-2 hours to defrost, then I pop them in the oven to warm up.

You can also add lots of different fruits to your oaty bites and can substitute the banana puree for 2 mashed bananas but you may need a drop more milk.

Let me know if you try out this recipe.

Enjoy!

Get Your Snuffle Babe, Snuffle-free!

I'm no stranger to Snufflebabe as I remember using their vapour rub back when Lily was younger, many, many, years ago! We have used the vapour rub with Joe to try and help with his congestion while he is teething which has worked a treat but Snufflebabe kindly sent us more of their amazing products to try out.

Joe has been teething for months and has only recently started to cut his two bottom teeth. During the night he gets really congested when he is teething and usually wakes us with his Pug-like grunting! I feel so sorry for him as there's nothing worse than being snotty, especially when you're so small and there's nothing you can do about it!
Joe also had his first cold this weekend so we got to put some of the other Snufflebabe products to the test.

Snufflebabe Nasal Drops

This has to be our favourite Snufflebabe product! It's suitable for use from newborn up and it is so easy to use. Just squeeze 1-2 drops of the gentle saline solution into each of your little ones nostrils - I find this easy to do when Joe is getting sleepy just before having his bottle.
These drops help to rinse out their little nostrils and make them feel more comfortable. You can either use the drops on their own or if your little one is really snotty, use the nasal aspirator afterwards.

Snufflebabe Nasal Aspirator

We didn't need to use the nasal aspirator after using the saline drops, but the first time we needed to use it was when Joe was really snotty with his cold over the weekend. At first I thought this would be totally gross when I read that you suck your little ones mucus out of their nostril (TMI I know) but it's a genius little invention!
Simply place the nozzle at the entrance to your little ones nostril and suck! Then the mucus collects into a sealed chamber!
I thought Joe would hate this but after his dinner he was really snotty and I managed to clear it all away within seconds, it didn't distract him or cause him any discomfort.

Snufflebabe Vapour Oil

The vapour oil is perfect for helping your little one breathe better during the night and is suitable from birth. So if your little one is under 3 months and you can't use the vapour rub this can help them out during the night as a room vapour.
You can either add a couple of drops to a bowl of warm water near the little ones cot, or during the colder months when the heating is on, add a couple drops to a damp cloth and place over the radiator.
When I first saw the doctor about Joe's congestion this is what he recommended as it's one of the best things to help congested babies.

Snufflebabe Nasal Spray

To me, the nasal spray is just the same as the nasal drops, it's just a matter of preference to which you prefer to use.
At first I thought the spray would be easier but as soon as I got the nozzle near Joe's nostril he would flinch then the spray would go everywhere but up his nose!
I think the spray will be easier when Joe is older, but for me the drops are way easier!

My favourite Snufflebabe products out of the above has to be the nasal drops and vapour oil. I also think the vapour rub is a must have product if your little one is over 3 months.

Snufflebabe is available from leading supermarkets, pharmacists and chemists.

What's your favourite Snufflebabe product?

7 Month Update

How is my baby boy 7 months old already?
This is the first monthly update I have done since starting my blog but I thought it would be good to share new things Joe has learnt, how he's getting on with BLW and any other things we have experienced over the last month.

Since about 5 1/2 months old Joe has been able to sit up, but we had to surround him with every pillow in the house as after a while he would lose his balance. Over the last month he has got much stronger and can sit up without falling backwards or to the side, but he does like to throw himself forward so he can get onto his front.
He kept getting himself into a crawling position for a couple of weeks but just kept getting himself angry, until a couple of days before he turned 7 months he suddenly started crawling! We couldn't believe it.
Literally within a couple of days he was crawling everywhere and now he can't sit still for 5 minutes as he's constantly on a mission to crawl under the table or to find the remote to start recording random programmes on the TV!

Now Joe is crawling, I'm so thankful for nap times as it's now the only chance I get to have 5 minutes, to get some cleaning done or to batch cook lots of his meals. Until Joe was 6 months old he never had a nap routine as I just used to let him nap when he wanted (as this worked for us) but I noticed that as he got older and more mobile he needed more of a nap routine.
At the moment he only has 2 naps per day. One of a morning about 11am which is usually for 1-2 hours and one of an afternoon about 3.30-4pm for half hour.

Over the last month Joe's personality has started to emerge! He is becoming so cheeky at times and he knows he's being cheeky as he will look at you then do something he shouldn't. Like crawling to grab something that isn't his, he will look over and start crawling really fast to try and get to what he shouldn't before you pick him up and stop him. He also knows now he can throw things when in his highchair, pram or carseat. All of a sudden he will pop his little hand over the side and drop his toy or dummy, knowing exactly what he is doing and that Mommy/Daddy will have to keep picking it up.

By the time Joe was 7 months he still didn't have any teeth, but two days after (I'm writing this post a week late) a tiny tooth has started to pop through! I'm so relieved he finally has a tooth after what seems like a lifetime's worth of teething!

BLW

We started baby led weaning when Joe was 6 months old and he took to it straight away. BLW was new to me as it was all puree food when my daughter was younger and I can't believe how much and the different variety of foods Joe can actually eat!
I also started our BLW Instagram Page to show the foods that Joe eats and to help other mamas with BLW meal inspo.

I think I've covered everything for this months update and I know that time will go so quick and I will be writing his 8 month update before I know it! I wish time would slow down just a little!!

Please also remember that every baby develops in their own time, it's exciting when your little one is developing certain skills super early but don't be worried if they are a little later at picking up certain skills, as they will do it in their own time. This also comes from a mama who's daughter never crawled and didn't walk until she was 18 months old!

BLW | Egg-Free Banana & Blueberry Pancakes

These Banana and Blueberry pancakes are one of the first foods I gave Joe when we started BLW just over a month ago. I remember the first day he tried them, his eyes lit up and I couldn't believe how well he ate them considering he was only 6 months old, with no teeth!
I always batch cook these pancakes and freeze them. They are super convenient as you only need to take them out of the freezer an hour or two before and heat them up in the oven for 5-10 minutes!
Convenience is everything when it comes to baby led weaning!

Makes Approx. 16 Mini Pancakes
Ingredients

• 125g Self Raising Flour
• 250ml Full Fat Milk
• 1 Pouch (approx. 90g) Banana Puree - I use the Aldi Mamia one
• 1-2 Handfuls of Blueberries

Directions

1. Combine the self raising flour, milk and banana puree in a bowl - If you don't have any banana puree you can use 1-2 mashed bananas but you may need to add a little more milk until you get a batter consistency.
2. Add 1-2 handfuls of chopped blueberries.
3. Heat your frying pan & add a little oil (I use fry light coconut oil.)
4. Spoon a tablespoon of the batter into a frying pan to make a mini pancake - I can usually make 4 pancakes at a time.
5. Fry on a low heat for a couple of minutes until golden, flip and cook on the other side.
6. Then serve!

I make a large batch, leave to cool, pop a piece of baking parchment in between each pancake then place them into a container and freeze. These should last in the freezer for up to 1 month and I literally take 2 out either the night before and leave in the fridge to defrost, or 1-2 hours before at room temperature then warm in the oven before serving for 5-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Sleepyhead Grand... Is it worth the hype?

Sleepyhead Grand Plus - Chevron

When Joe was nearly 5 months old and started to roll over we moved him from his swinging crib to his big boy cot. For the first couple of days he was fine and slept like a log, but then he suddenly started waking every hour of a night time!

Since approx. 3 months old Joe started sleeping for 10-12 hours of an evening without a feed. Every now and then he would wake for the odd feed during the night, so for him to start waking every hour was completely out of character!
At first I thought he was teething, then I thought it was the sleep regression phase, but then nearly two weeks passed, I was running on empty, sleep deprived, the OH was going to work unable to focus after not getting any sleep and I finally put it down to that he wasn't comfy and snug in his big boy cot!

Being in his swinging crib, it was more compact & he had less room to move around but then being in his cot he had so much room to roll around and because there was so much space I felt like he didn't feel secure and comfortable.
I then started looking at Sleepyhead reviews to see if anyone else had purchased the Sleepyhead due to the same issues, and they had! It took me a week (plus I had to convince the OH) to get the Sleepyhead Grand as the £220 price tag was a huge price to pay if it didn't work!

We opted for the Sleepyhead Grand as Joe is quite a big baby and the Deluxe wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes. The Grand is for babies from 8-9 months up to 36 months but Joe fitted in here fine.
The Grand is the same size as Joe's mattress and fits inside his cot perfect. The first night he slept in there... HE SLEPT ALL NIGHT!! I couldn't believe it and thought maybe it was a one off, but night after night he went straight back into his old sleeping pattern sleeping 10-12 hours per night!!

What I noticed with the Sleepyhead is because it's so snug with the bumpers around the outside, Joe could roll onto his side but during his sleep he didn't roll onto his front as much anymore, and I think this is one of the reasons he went back to sleeping all night.
Not only is the Sleepyhead good for during the night, but it's perfect for nap times, tummy time and I found it perfect for him to sit up and play in to help support him before he could fully sit unaided.

Don't be put off by the price of the Sleepyhead if you are considering buying one. After scouring their website before purchasing I realised how much work actually goes into making them, plus they comply with the British standard on air-permeability and the product has been carefully engineered to achieve maximum breathability - and you can't put a price on your babies safety.

I also read quite a lot of reviews that the covers shrink after washing them. I have washed the cover on 30° and have had no shrinkage. You can also buy spare covers for your Sleepyhead which is one thing I think I need to invest in so I always have a spare cover clean just in case!

I recommend the Sleepyhead to everyone that is having any sleep issues as it has really helped us and is totally worth the hype and the money.

I purchased Joe's Sleepyhead from JoJo Maman Bébé, but you can also purchase from John Lewis and other online retailers.

Have you purchased the Sleepyhead Deluxe or Grand for your little ones?

BLW | Easy Pizza Dough

Who doesn't love pizza? 

I have been making pizza dough like this for years after finding the recipe on the internet and thought this would also be a great pizza dough for baby led weaning as it contains very little salt and is super easy to make.

It is always advised to give babies full fat yoghurt as they need the calories and fat, but to make the pizza more healthy for yourself you can use low fat Greek yoghurt instead.

1 Mini BLW Pizza

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. Self Raising Flour
• 1 tbsp. Plain Greek Yoghurt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 220°C/200°C fan.
2. Mix the flour and yoghurt together - you may need to add a little more yoghurt if the dough is too dry or a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.
3. Sprinkle the surface with flour and knead the dough for a couple of minutes.
4. Roll the dough out with a rolling pin (or you could roll dough out then use a cookie cutter to cut the pizza into different shapes.)
5. Add pizza dough to a lined baking sheet.
6. Then add your toppings!! 
7. Cook in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
8. Leave to cool then serve! 

These pizzas are not only great for BLW but for the whole family too!

Enjoy.