8 Months Old Solid Food (Cheesy Salmon + Butternut Squash + Leeks)

Salmon. Those who are closest to me know that the only fish Dina will eat is salmon. Up to this day, when my parents do their grocery shopping, if they decide to buy salmon, my dad would always say, "Ni salmon untuk budak ek ot" ('budak ek ot' is a name my dad likes to call me cos when I was a baby, I whined and cried a lot). 

OK lah, it's not entirely true lah. I do eat sardine, cod, mackarel, pomfret, garoupa, snapper, and other kinds of fish in the sea. It's just that I prefer salmon over all others. Cos it is the only fish (according to my taste bud) that does not have that 'fishy' smell and taste. You know what I mean? 

So when Zabi Aydan turned 8 months old, I decided to let him have his first taste of mommy's favourite fish in the world. Here's the recipe, in case you wanna try too:

Ingredients

1 piece Norwegian salmon fillet

1 stick leek

1 small quarter butternut squash

1 quarter Holland onion

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp grated mild cheddar cheese

1/2 cup water

Method

1. Wash, cut and slice all the ingredients into tiny pieces.

2. Heat extra virgin olive oil in pan, add the Holland onion, saute until fragrant. Then add the leek, saute until fragrant.

3. Add butternut squash, cook for 3 to 5 minutes, when almost soft, add the salmon. Cook for about 5 minutes.

4. When salmon is almost cooked, add water and lastly add the cheddar cheese. Stir well. Let cool, and blend to desired consistency. Easy peasy.

I like to serve this with baby pasta, rice, millet and quinoa or on its own. I can't really tell whether Zabi Aydan loves salmon like I do simply cos he is in that "I don't really wanna eat mommy" phase. But from the looks of it, I'm thinking no. He's more of a chicken guy, just like his daddy. Haha.

8 Months Old Solid Food (Chicken + Spinach + Carrot + Celery)

Hello there. It's been a while since I last shared with you baby food recipes isn't it? Truth is, I'm kinda losing the drive to cook for Zabi Aydan these days. You know how he's refusing to eat most of the time. Drives me crazy, I won't lie. But that doesn't mean I have to give up altogether right? So don't worry, I still cook for the lil' cheeks. If the cheeks refuses to eat it, his food will end up in mommy's tummy, no problem. *That explains why my tummy and waistline is shrinking now*

So I've introduced Popeye's favourite food to Zabi Aydan when he turned 8 months. Remember, fresh spinach is high in nitrates. In little babies under 8 months old, nitrates can deplete iron stores causing anemia. 

Benefits of Spinach

It's literally overflowing with nutrients, minerals and antioxidants with significant levels of iron, calcium and lutein to name but three. This green leafy vegetable is an excellent food source of both vitamin A and vitamin K. Vitamin A plays an important role in eye health, embryonic development and immune function. Vitamin K is important for maintaining bone health, and well as general well-being.

Popeye's favourite also provides a healthy dose of vitamin C, vitamin B2, and vitamin B6, making it one of nature's best all round nutrient providers. Spinach also contains chlorophyll (responsible for the vegetable's green colour), a substance that gives the cells of your body a tremendous boost of oxygen. Spinach is also a very good source of fibre.

Research has shown that spinach can also, in some cases, help prevent or improve both inflammatory problems, and certain forms of cancer. The phytonutrients contained within the vegetable can help reduce inflammation in the body, and slow down the adverse cell division caused by cancer.

Source: Women Republic

Ingredients

1 packet organic spinach
1 cup Sakura chicken (white meat + dark meat)
1 carrot
1 celery stick
1/2 Holland onion
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup of water
A dash of black pepper

Method

1. Cut chicken into small cubes, slice Holland onion, carrot and celery.

2. Remove spinach leaves from the stalk.

3. Heat extra virgin olive oil in pan, add the Holland onion, fry until fragrant, then add the chicken, make sure that chicken is almost cooked when you add the carrot and celery. Cook for about 2 minutes.

4. Lastly add the spinach and water. Cook until spinach is wilted and let simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes, lastly add the black pepper (not too much if you have yet to introduce to your baby), cook for another 2 minutes, turn off heat, leave aside to cool, then blend!

 

p/s: As usual, this recipe is fantastic with cheese, sometimes before I mix this with Zabi Aydan's rice or millet or quinoa or whatever, I would usually sprinkle some grated mild cheddar to go with it. Without cheese he'd eat happily 2 or 3 spoonfuls, with cheese sometimes the whole bowl! *Not literally lah*

Happy cooking mommies!

Zabi Aydan @ Taman Rimba Kiara TTDI

Once upon a Sunday, one little boy's mother and father decided that they should let their son get in touch with nature. They live in a modern day boxed typed house with no piece of land whatsoever and they were getting bored with the same old common area and swimming pool and whatever's left of the so-called park at their house. 

The father asked the mother, "Where shall we bring our son to play with leaves and such?" The mother happily replied, "Let's go to Taman Rimba Kiara TTDI! I've never been there and from the googled pictures I've seen I'm thinking we should go!"

So off the father, mother, and son went to TTDI, making a pit stop at Tutti Frutti before heading to the so-called community park. As soon as they reached the entrance, the mother was appalled. Apparently there was a construction going on so the parking area was filled with cement, debris, garbage, wooden planks, concrete, and other stuff. It was messy. Then the father drove further inside. They saw colourful fuschia + lime green + purple tents with tables and chairs everywhere... Aaaaahhh, an Indian wedding. 

The mother, determined to seek a peaceful spot at the park asked the father to drive further inside, and finally they found a spot, so the father parked their car, laid down the picnic mat, and the happy family sat while enjoying the late afternoon 'breeze' (nonsense! in Malaysia there is no such thing unless you're at the beach), while the baby boy explored the grass, picking up dried leaves and sticks. Then suddenly the boy started crawling excitedly towards an object hidden beneath the grass and fallen leaves... to the mother's dismay, it was none other than.... you guess it!

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AN EMPTY BOX OF CIGARETTES!!!

No big surprise. The father said, "Alaaaa, biasalah tu" and carried the boy to another area. But the mother was already in a foul mood and she said, "Come on, let's go home!" and she muttered some other unpleasant things to herself while her husband picked up the picnic mat and picked up the little boy and went to the car. Oh, but the little boy, regardless of the cigarette fiasco, had a jolly good time, wishing his parents would bring him out and let him play outdoors more often.