Baby - Roasted Sweet Peppers & Veg With Chicken

Made 2 new dish for Kimi today, Roasted Sweet Peppers & Veg with Chicken and Panfried Kiwi Pork With Couscous. Few months back I introduced steamed orange pepper to him but he didn't really take to it... So, I'm re-introducing again but this time, with the red ones and had it roasted with other sweet vegetables and chicken - it's yummy!

Silly me! Should have taken pix before pureeing!!

I used a small red bell pepper cos the taste can be quite sharp and bb may not like it. But so far, Kimi ok so pls start with a small one or use the orange peppers for a more subtle taste.

Recipe
Ingredients

- 4 Chicken fillets
- 1 small red bell pepper
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 sweet potato
- 2 sticks of aspragus
- 1 tomato
- 2 pcs of dried apricot
- 1 tablespoon of chopped yellow onion
- 1/2 tsp Cornflour
- Pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken or veg stock

Method
- Cut chicken fillet in small cubes and marinate with cornflour and pepper for 15 mins
- Brown chicken in dry non-stick (no oil) pan. Set aside.
- Cut the red pepper in quarters and remove the seeds and white part of it.
- Peel carrot, sweet potato and ends of asparagus and dice them all up.
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees
- Use an oven safe dish or tray and drizzle a little oil on it.
- Place all the veg in the dish and mix them thoroughly with the oil. Place pepper with skin up.
- Put in oven to roast till veg becomes soft and the pepper is blistered, charred and aromatic. Once ready, remove and set aside. Once cooled, remove the skin from tomatoes and peppers. They should slide off relatively easy.
- Heat a little oil and add the chopped onions, saute till soft.
- Add the browned chix, roasted veg and 1 cup of chicken or veg stock and saute lightly and let it simmer covered for 10 mins (low fire). If it dries up, add a little more stock.
- Remove. Either mash with fork or put in blender for suitable texture.
- Enjoy

Tip

*Roasting the peppers brings out the intensity and aroma of the peppers. It also makes removing the skin easier!

*Suitable for freezing

*Makes 20 baby cubes

Baby - Panfried Kiwi Pork With Couscous

Time to introduce some pork to Kimi. And since there's an abundance of Golden Kiwis and Kimi seems to enjoy this fruit, decided to put the 2 together. You can also use other fruits like apples, prunes, etc or whatever you have in your fridge.

Buy lean pork and mince it yourself so you know what meat went into it. Alternatively, get the butcher to mince it for you. But ask him to remove visible fats and sinews and wash the pork before mincing.

Recipe

Ingredients
- 200g lean pork (minced)
- 1 Golden Kiwi
- 2 spears of asparagus or 1 courgette/zuchinni/squash
- 1 tbsp chopped yellow onion
- 1/2 to 1 cup chicken or veg stock
- 1 tsp cornflour, dash of pepper/sesame oil/ikan bilis powder
- 2 dried apricot slivered (to balance the zesty kiwi)
- 100g couscous


Method
- Marinate minced pork with pepper, sesame oil, a sprinkle of ikan bilis powder and cornflour. Set aside.
- Brown mince in dry non-stick pan and set aside.
-Dice kiwi & asparagus (peel off the hard skin at base of asparagus spear)
-Prepare couscous according to package details * and set aside.
- Saute onions till soft and fragrant.
- Add asparagus and fry till soften a little then add pork, kiwi, apricot and stock and cover the pan. Letting it simmer for 10mins.
- Remove and blend to texture and add couscous to the puree.


Tips
* Suitable for freezing
* Makes 16 baby cubes
* Prepare according to pack details as different brand have different methods.
* Couscous is a good replacement for rice as it is soft, fluffy and small. Making it easy for baby to learn to chew and swallow. It is also full of fibre. But remember to add a little more water so that it can be slightly softer. I replace stock with water so it is more tasty.
* Do not add the kiwi too early or it may get too mushy and overcooking will bring out the sourness in the fruit.

Of Herbs,Spices, Apricots and Substitutes

A few mummies have been asking me how to flavour our babies' food since salt and sugar are preferably avoided till 1 yr old.

I've come up with a list of food flavours you can use when cooking for your babies.

In fact, even for my home cooking, I do not use msg. I add a little sugar to simulate the msg effect which works well.

Hence, I've come up with this idea of using dried apricots to flavour Kimi's food and it works well!. Plus apricots, fresh or dried contain beta-carotene and significant levels of iron, great for a growing baby!

And if you want a little salty taste to the food, you can blend or add some celery to the food. But, pls be careful cos some babies may not like the strong smell of celery. So trial and error. You can also use dried kelp powder. This is a great natual flavouring for foods as it provides good iodine minus the bad sodium. Other flavouring techniques are using vegetable or chicken stock as well as herbs and spices.

Try different ways to see which appeals most to your baby!



Flavouring/Substitution List

• Vegetable stock
• Chicken stock
• Salt - Celery, ikan bilis powder, mushroom powder, powdered kelp
• Msg - sugar, dried apricots, red dates, apple/pear puree
• Basil, Parsley, cinnamon, cilantro (chinese parsley), etc
• Spices too when they are bigger and can stomach stronger, sharper tastes!

Kimi, The Flasher!

Kimi, our flashee and I don't mean the body parts kind... the cards kind mind you, is really into flashing now.

I started flashing cards to Kimi was he was about 6-7 weeks old and continued at it till he was about 3 months. Then, things got a tad difficult as he was starting to refuse milk. Flash cards went into the cupboards.

Just last week, I thought, I'd better revive this and out came the cards and I started again. To my amazement, he could actually pick out the cards I asked as well as recognise both English and Chinese text!

I tell you the brains of a baby is so amazing, they just absord and absorb. Here'a video I'd taken today of Kimi enjoying his flash card session.

How To Be A Domestic Cheapo

I shall start the month of October with some money saving tips!

Ever since I was introduced to Angel Wipes, I've not turned back. But, I still buy my Avent as I simply love the feel and smell of it. Personally, I prefer wipes that come with a plastic opening cover. This helps to keep the wipes fresh and 'wet'. I noticed that those with the resealable sticker tend to lose its moisture half way through.

Anyway, this is my cheapo but effective solution to get the best of both worlds - Angel Wipes with plastic cover. Here goes :-

1) Remove the sticky label from a new pack of wipes, can be any brand lah.

2) Clean off the remnants hot glue from the plastic cover - can be any wipes' plastic cover.

3) Stick double side tape all over the edge

4) Peel off and tidy up the double side tape so it is neat and covers all the edges

5)Open up the cover and paste (pressing firmly) over the opening of the wipes

6) Wahhh-laaa !!! As good as new and easy to use. Can recycle the cover again and again till the double side tape is not sticky. Then repeat step 3 & 4 again!

Cool Weather Clothes

As we are making another trip to Taipei for Wubai's concert in Decemeber, I asked hb to get some warm clothes for Kimi so that he will be warm & snuggly!

Also bought some sleepsuits as I needed to change the whole set now as he has outgrown most of it. In fact, every few months, I will be scouring for sleepsuits to make up a set of 10 to go around.

Here's our latest buys :

September Reflections - Routine

Dictionary.com defines ROUTINE as :-

" a customary or regular course of procedure; commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity; regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative, or rote procedure".

With such a definition, it's no wonder most SAHMs or caregivers avoid it like a plague. But, I tell you, routine is one of the best invention in the world of child, er, I mean infant care. Guess it can also apply to big kids? Read : hubby?

When Kimi was turning 1 month old, my sis constantly reminded me of getting Kimi into a routine. And I agree with her. Cos, even before Kimi came into the picture, everything about me was about routine too. At least in the house and dog department.

My routines :-

• Enzo gets his monthly tick repellent applied and fed his heart guard every 1st week of the month.


• I change my sheets every Fri


• Wash the floor rags, dish-cloths every Tue & Fri


• Send my curtains for dry cleaning every June & Dec. Now it has been changed to light curtains and I wash them every 1st week of the month.


• Etc, etc (I'd better stop before I drive you crazy)

Why do I do this? Cos I have a lousy memory and having such a routine, it makes remembering to do your chores effortless.

Zoom back to CURRENT position. I cannot tell you how a routine makes for better handling of a child. Remove it, and I don't know what to do! I started to get Kimi into a routine when he was about 2 months old. And although he doesn't nap much in the afternoon, I still think that routines are FAB!

I do agree though that it can be mundane, exsperating and stressful at times (when u have to rush to compete with the clock). It is much easier to get things done. I mean, how could you go about in a day, just bumping around, not knowing what to expect next? Baby will be stressed too as he can't foretell what to expect.

And I tell you, babies LURVE routines, they thrive on it! Babies as young as they are, love to know what is coming up next.

Each night when I put Kimi to bed, I will cuddle him close and tell him I love him and kiss him on his forehead and wherever I would like to plant my kisses on.. mostly face. He's so used to it that just the other day, as usual, after his milk, he was so sleepy and I thought he had dozed off. Coincidentally, the tv in the background was showing something very interesting and I was watching earnestly when I suddenly looked down and saw Kimi staring at me, eyes wide.

Haa!! Guess what? I'd forgotten his daily sleep routine of a cuddle, sweet whispers and kisses. I chuckled and quickly went about it. He slept quite immediately after my kisses! Amazing isn't it? Just a simple routine. My poor baby waiting for it and this mummy was watching tv. Think he was staring at me for at least 10 mins??

With such motivations, do you now love routines? Start some and you shall see how good rountines can do to your life! Let's re-look at the definition of routine NOW ...

" a customary or regular course of procedure; commonplace tasks, chores, or duties as must be done regularly or at specified intervals; typical or everyday activity; regular, unvarying, habitual, unimaginative, or rote procedure".

So, you see.. just like how a glass is half full versus it being half empty, routines are but a perception of our minds. When we look at it positively, routines are regular duties we do out of habit instead of being unimaginative boring chores!!

Kimi enjoying his play time in the playpen

Ascending the Coveted Seat

After we bought the cot for Kimi, I never did put him on the potty. Was thinking to sit him in it once a day for a short time to get him used to it so that one day I can sit him in to poop. But think I worry or plan too much sometimes.

Suddenly, today I jus felt an impulse to try and let Kimi have a go on the potty again. Yesterday I tried sitting him in, he was ok with it but didn't poop. In fact, he didn't poop at all yesterday - guess sometimes we miss a day ourselves.

VERDICT : Successful ascension with bountiful harvests!!!

Baby - Chicken Spaghetti

Since I had some chicken fillet left, I made more food for Kimi. You can substitute the chicken for minced beef as it is a bolognese recipe too. I minced my own chicken using chicken fillet as I do not know what sort or which part of the chicken they may use and also it contains alot of chicken fat.

It's easy to mince - jus pop cleaned chicken breast or fillet into the blender and away you go!

Kimi enjoyed this chicken pasta, try it when you have some time!

Recipe

Ingredients

• 200 - 300g chicken fillet, minced
• 1 carrot chopped in blender (skinned)
• 4 ripe tomatoes (Skinned, de-seeded and chopped in blender@)
• 2 dried apricots (chopped)
• 1 Tbsp chopped onion
• 1 tsp cornflour
• Dash of pepper
• Dash of ikan bilis powder (optional)
• 1 cup of chicken stock
• 1 tsp butter or oil

Method

• Marinate minced chicken with pepper, cornflour and ikan bilis powder
• Brown chicken in a non-stick pan till frangrant. Use spatula to push and stir chicken continuously so it doesn't stick together and form 1 large meat patty. Set aside
• Using a non-stick pot, add butter and onions and fry till soft
• Add minced carrot and fry till fragrant, about 5 mins
• Add tomatoes and continue to fry till frangrant
• Add browned minced chicken and apricots
• Add chicken stock and let it simmer for 15 mins, adding additional stock if pasta sauce gets too dry.
• In a separate pot, boil water. When it is bubbling, add spaghetti. You can also use pasta shapes or very thin pasta like angel hair, etc. Break into small pieces and boil till soft
• There is no need to cook this pasta to 'al dente' as it is safe for baby to eat slightly softer pasta. You can also use a scissors to cut pasta to finer/smaller pieces once it is cooked
• Once pasta and sauce is ready, mix the 2 together and serve
• ENJOY
• Depending on age of baby, puree or mash/chop for appropriate texture.
• For me, I puree slightly the sauce but used scissors to cut the pasta to smaller size as I want Kimi to use for chewing actions. Then, I mixed both together.
• Recipe is suitable for freezing

Makes : 9 baby cubes

** You can also use other meat like fish ot make it an all veg sauce by adding some celery or button mushroom, broccoli, cauliflower or peas, etc

@ - To skin tomatoes, make a cross at bottom of tomatoe and pop them in a bowl of hot water for 5 mins. Transfer tomatoes to a bowl of cold water. The skin will curl up, making it easier to peel off

Baby - Chicken Stew

This is also a dish which both hb and myself enjoys. Something I can throw everything in the slow cooker and 'forget' about it till you smell the aromatic whiffs! Wanted to recreate this so that it is suitable for Kimi. It is a nutritious, yummy yet easy to make dish.

Hope you and baby will enjoy it too!

Recipe
Ingredients

• 200 to 300g of Chicken fillet (remove visible fats &/or 'veins')
• 1 potatoe
• 1 carrot
• 1 - 2 sticks celery
• 1 clove of garlic, minced or chopped
• 1 tbsp of chopped onion (large orange type)
• 1 tsp of corn flour
• 2 dried apricots (chopped - adds a delightful sweetness to the dish*)
• Dash of pepper
• Dash of mixed herbs (optional)
• 1 tsp butter
• Dash of ikan bilis powder (optional)
• 1 - 2 bowls of chicken or vegetable stock

Method

• Put slower cooker on high
• Add butter, garlic and onions and let it 'fry' till slightly soft, about 5 mins
• In the meanwhile, cut chicken, carrots, celery & potatoe into small cubes
• Marinate chicken with pepper, cornflour and ikan bilis
• When garlic & onions are soft, add chicken, veg, apricots and mixed herbs
• Then add in the stock till it covers the ingredients well
• Reduce heat to Auto and let it simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until chicken is soft
• Remove, cool and serve
• Depending on age of baby, you may wish to either mash/chop or puree in blender for appropriate texture
• ENJOY!
• This recipe is suitable for freezing

Makes about 10 - 12 baby cubes

* When using Dried Apricots, try to get those from organic stores as some drying methods mah contain sulphur. So, it's better to err on the safe side and get organic, sulphur free ones.

Baby - French Toasts

Something I thought up so that Kimi can eat & learn to feed himself with these tiny morsels!

It's a super easy, delicious and fast to do brekkie! I used a sugar decorating mould to cut out the tiny morsels in hearts and flowers. Sorry, picture badly taken as was in hurry!

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 egg yolk (discard white or keep n make a healthy omelette for yourself)
• 30 ml breast or formula milk
• 1 thumb size slice of Cheddar cheese, broken into smaller pieces
• 1 slice of bread

Method

• Heat non-stick pan and add a little butter or oil
• Beat yolk and milk lightly
• Add in the broken up pieces of cheese
• Soak bread (with crumbs) in mixture till the bread has soak up everything
• Fry lightly till golden brown
• Remove and use serviette to absorb oil
• Use small cutter to make little shapes/morsels
• Serve immediately

** Do leave the crumbs on as it is easier when using the cutter to make little shapes

** Do not use too much cheese for cooking as the hardened parts can be a choking hazard. Alternatively, omit cheese and serve in on top of the cooked toast.

Peek-A-Boo?? Not!

It was late evening and I was getting ready to bathe Kimi and put him to bed. I was in the toilet when I heard 'bom bom'. I rushed out and saw my dear son, standing in his cot, playing with my wardrobe doors! Opening and shutting them with delight!

What I would have LIKED Kimi to be thinking when he did that :-
"Mummy must be behind these wardrobe doors, let's see if I can find her! Peek-a-Boo!!!

The TRUTH :
Kimi just have itchy hands - period. Must touch everything, anything and whatever thing! Wakakka!!

Baby Strong Legs

Kimi is getting more mobile and boisterous now. Sometime back, we removed 1 layer of the mattress in his playpen as he had started to pull himself to a sit position and he was getting more 'mobile'.

Then, we discovered he kept getting under the rainforest mobile. Being a doting papa, hb suggested putting back the mattress so there is no gap between the mattress and the mobile.

And guess wat? The little bugger immediately pulled himself to a stand position and was ready to lift his legs over the edge of the play pen!!! Thank God I was not in the toilet yet and stopped him immediately. He did it again and I managed to capture on film. I had to stop halfway as I was afraid he would succeed in lifting his legs over - there's no telling with this little chap!

Living Up To My Name, Kimi

Kimi Chat :

Grandma says that when I grow up, I will drive very well. That's cos when I was still in my mummy's tum tum, mummy is always driving here and there.

By the looks of it, I think she may be right with the 'tai-jiao' (pre-natal learning) as I simply love getting behind these wheels or any for that matter.

Look how easy and comfy I look? I certainly live up to my name, Kimi. Will I be Singapore's future F1 driver?

Future F1 Driver

Steady right?

Easy Peasy even with 1 hand!

A Thorn Among the Roses

As the men of both my sister's & my household were away, we girls decided to take a sneak to the zoo today. Yes, yet again for me & Kimi. I think the zoo will be my next hangout for the next couple of years.

The Hb has also asked that I bring Kimi for a 'walk walk' often when he's away - he says it's good for Kimi to be exposed to the outdoors more than just only shopping centres - yes, I do agree (to an extent - it's hard work leh hon, on my own with bb in tow for a trip to the zoo! But I'll try, as always.)

Anyway, it's the start of week long school hols so it's good excuse to bring the girls out. We dragged mom along - great babysitter for Kimi since both enjoy each other's company so much! Keke!!

We started early reaching the zoo before 9am. We had a quickie brekkie and headed in. The girls had an itinerary on their own and told me what animals they wanted to see. That made it easier for me though.

After 6 hours, we covered most of the attractions. And guess what? All of us forgot our cameras so I only managed to snap a pix of Claire posing with a snake. Well, next time.

(Above - Look how much Claire has grown! Such a big girl now!)

But all of us, esp the girls and even Kimi had loads of fun. We left the zoo at 3+, all exhausted, sweaty & hungry!

The girls were game for another trip before school opened. I'm game but not sure about Jen & mom!

AsparaGOOD??

Asparagus - This is one of my favourite veg, in fact I love most veg especially those that are dark green.

Decide to introduce this fab veg to Kimi so bought a bunch and set out to puree these lovely spears for him.

Hmm, the steamed & pureed taste is good for me but I am quite apprehensive... got a feeling Kimi may not like it as it has a slight bitter aftertaste. I hope he will learn to appreciate this veg as it is packful with nutrients, good for a growing baby. In fact, it's good for everyone!

Of course, asparagus will taste different if I stir-fried with scallops! But, darling, not yet ok? When you are ready, mummy will make it more tasty for you, I promise! But for now, you just have to make do with asparagus prepared this way. Will throw in some pear to make it better!!














(left to right) - 1) All washed & ready for steaming, 2) Steamed & yummy asparagus


(left) - Looks like pea ya?













Find out more by asparagus here :-
http://www.asparagus.org/maab/nutrition.html