Basic recipes please!

[k2331]

Hi,

For medical reasons my son is a bit behind with feeding. He is now tolerating the stage 3 (10m+) jars so catching up (he is almost 1). Due to the difficulties I have relied on ready made food for after the purée stage but now that he seems fine with these I would like to make my own! He is fine with pasta dishes I make but I'm afraid that's as far as my culinary skills go! The ready made meals he likes include casseroles, paella, hot pot, chilli, Thai noodles...

I wouldn't say I was awful at cooking, I just have no idea what to do! Does anyone have any basic recipes they can give me for the above meals or similar?

Thank you x

Rice noodles are easy to make and to digest :) they come in nests, so you just heat some stock in a pan (i make my own chicken broth but you can make it from a stock cube and water), add noodles and cook for 5 minutes or so. Add bits of meat and vegetables (the humble frozen pea features regularly in mine) and some soy sauce.

Jacket potatoes too - pricek all over with a fork and put in the oven until done (45 minutes to an hour). Drain a tin of tuna, mix with mayo and serve with some salad (which can be as simple as a handful of bagged leaves).

Cheese on toast- toast bread in a toaster, grate cheese, put toast on baking tray, sprinkle on cheese generously and grill until bubbly and slightly browning.

Have a look at the Annabel Karmel recipes she has recipes for all those plus lots more.

Arch just realised you wanted recipes for the things you have listed.

Hot pot

Fry mince with a chopped onion until browned. Add cubed carrots and a handful of frozen peas. Make up some gravy granules (add water according to instructions) and mix in. Add some thyme or mixed herbs (optional). Transfer to an ovenproof dish. Thinly slice enough potatoes to cover the top of the mince. Drizzle a little oil on and salt and pepper. Cook uncovered in a medium heat for 30-45 minutes - if the potatoes on top are going brown(burnt) very quickly then remove, cover with foil or a lid and put back in the oven.

Paella - easiest way is you can buy dried paella kits that are seasoned rice you cook according to the instructions, and can add frozen prawns, chorizo and veg (peas again) to it.

Jack monroe's recipes are very easy. You might particularly like tin can cook

beef casseroles are very easy

Fry a packet of braising steak with a chopped onion until browned. Transfer to a big pan with a lid, add whatever veg you like (potato, swede, leek and carrots go well), a teaspoon of mustard (optional) and liquid - choose from Beef stock (from a stock cube), red wine or beer (the alcohol will cook off). If using wine or beer add a beef stock cube too. If you have tomato puree or sauce, woucestershire sauce stick a tablespoon of any or all of those in. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for a minimum of 3 hours, stirring occasionally and topping up liquid with more stock if it needs it.

About 30 minutes before your want to eat it add some frozen peas and mix a tablespoon of cornflour with a little cold water, and stir that in. It will thicken the gravy. Repeat if it's not thick enough, or you could carefully drain some of the liquid snd mix with gravy granules before adding back in again.

Cheats paella www.coop.co.uk/recipes/cheats-paella

The River Cottage cookbook for toddlers and babies is good - lots of ideas of how to make food for adults and babies.

And I've just checked - if you look on Amazon you can see a few of the pages including a pea risotto which might be good for you and your son.

Wow thank you so much @PermaStress and @UniversalTruth !!!