Toddler Food Round 1 (also known as mini things my husband will gobble up)...

I have been trying to expand my little man's menu lately. At ten months he is eating a lot of the same things we are, but not everything. I like to make a few things each week just for him, which are easy to pull out for any meal (and can easily be brought to playgroup, the park, and all the other places we venture during the week).

The above mini pumpkin spice muffins are a staple in our house (for all of us). Click here for the recipe.

First up this week: Rice and Bean cakes

I found the recipe here, but tweaked it (see below).

Makes 18 - 24 mini cupcake size servings (I use a small cookie dough spoon to fill each cup)

• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 cup pinto or black beans
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (or any other cheese - I like parm too)
• 1 egg
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp salt

Prep and Cook

1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F and liberally grease a standard muffin tin.
2. In a medium mixing bowl combine the rice, corn, beans, cheese and green onions. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, chili powder, cumin and salt.
3. Add the egg mixture to the rice and stir well. 
4. Divide evenly between muffin tin and sprinkle with additional cheese (holds it together a little more)
5. Bake for 12–15 minutes or until the cheese is slightly golden.
6. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin.

Here are mine...

They went missing quickly, as my husband thought they were yummy too. Now our whole family enjoys them! 

Next on the list were Banana-Pumpkin "Pancakes"

Ingredients

• 1 very ripe banana, mashed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2  teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons pureed pumpkin

Instructions

1. Mash banana in a medium bowl and then mix in pumpkin.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg
3. Add eggs to banana and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Whisk in salt and cinnamon.
4. Preheat a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Spray griddle with cooking spray and use a tablespoon to drop batter onto griddle. Let set for a few minutes, and then flip with spatula. Cook for an additional minute or two on remaining side and remove to plate.

Makes about 8 - 10 baby pancakes (I use a small cookie scoop for each pancake). The whole family likes to eat these! You can easily triple the recipe and make regular sized pancakes.


Since, I was still cooped up with a sick baby... I kept cooking!

Mini Spinach and Feta muffins

This recipe is from another great mom, the only thing I changed was the type of feta (I use Mediterranean - it just gives them a little more flavor).  You can find the recipe here.

 The whole family loves these too! They are great for breakfast/brunch!