Baby's beef mince and kumara

NZ Beef and Lamb

Ingredients

•  300 to 450g lean beef mince
•  1 cup peeled, grated kumera
•  400g peeled, grated apple
•  1 cup water

Method

Put mince, apple and kumera into a saucepan. Add water and bring slowly to simmering. Cook gently for about 45 minutes, stirring often, until reduced and thick but still moist. Take out the amount required for your baby or toddler.

When you are catering for a family that includes a baby or toddler, it is sometimes useful to make meat dishes that are bland for the baby but can be 'revved' up at the end of cooking for the oldies.

Parent's Vindaloo Mince Potato-top Pie

Ingredients

•  2 to 3 tsp vindaloo curry paste
•  500 to 700g potatoes
•  Butter, milk
•  1 cup grated tasty cheese

Method

When you have taken out your baby's mince, add the curry paste to the remainder of the mince, stirring well. Peel and cut potatoes into even pieces then boil until just tender. Drain then mash well, adding a little butter and milk until soft and light but not too wet. Spread curried mince in a small pie dish. Cover with mashed potato. Sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake at 190ºC until bubbling hot and the potato is golden on top. Pie serves 2 to 4 adults depending on quantity of mince.

6-7 months

At first, purée to a smooth consistency, then over time serve as cooked.

8-9 months

Remove mince mixture before adding curry paste, serve with potato-top as for adults (see recipe above). Replace the grated apple with canned tomatoes in juice to add more flavour.