Competition corner

The Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition

Barbara Labarre from the United States was the winner of March's Homemade Baby Food Recipes Competition with her nice 'n easy Pumpkin Medley recipe - congratulations Barbara!

The winning recipe - plus other recipes for

• Milled Grilled Veggies
• Vegetarian Baby Food
• Coconut Rice
• Peachy Piñanas

Do you have an original baby food recipe you'd like to share with other Mums?

Then send it in using this simple form - you could be April's winner of a $20 voucher from Amazon!


Baby of the Month

Thank you SO much for all the wonderful entries last month for our Baby of the Month competition.

You can visit this month's winner and see more of our favourite entries on our Baby of the Month page. You'll also find the entry form and details you need to submit YOUR baby's photograph!


Baby Food Photographs

The winner of the Baby Food photographs contest we held in March was Heather held from Michigan, USA. She sent us a wonderful photo to accompany our Butternut Squash Ravioli recipe, which we will be using on an upcoming page! Thank you, Heather - and congratulations!

Join Our Group on Facebook

If you're a Facebook user, then come and check out our Homemade Baby Food Recipes Group.

We will be regularly updating all group members with what's happening on our site - and it's a great way to connect with other parents going through the ups and downs of introducing solid foods.

Join now!

Easy and Nutritious Meal Ideas for the Whole Family

Well, struggle no more... this month's guest writer is Ellen from www.healthy-quick-meals.com. She has a simple and tasty recipe for you to try - and don't forget to visit her site for loads more ideas that your family will love!

Did you know that most cooks in North America decide what to have for supper at or after 5 p.m.? No wonder so many of us rely on overprocessed convenience foods! The good news is that it can be just as quick to cook a real meal as to heat a frozen dinner – it just requires a bit of planning, and a supply of quick and easy recipes.

I like to plan my family’s suppers a week at a time. I sit down and make a quick plan for the week, making sure that it includes a good balance of the foods we all like. I include a couple of meatless main dishes, a chicken entree, a pork or beef meal and a pasta dish. I tailor each day’s meals to that day’s activities: if we are going to be having a particularly busy day, I schedule an especially quick and easy meal for that day. Then I make a list of the ingredients I’ll need and head for the grocery store. I stick to the list, unless there is a good sale on the staples that we use regularly – then I stock up on those.

It is such a good feeling, knowing what we’ll have for supper for the next seven days – and knowing that I have all the supplies I’ll need.

Here is one of my family’s favorite quick meals. I can have this in the oven in less than 10 minutes! I like to serve this with rice and frozen corn.

6 thick pork chops
1/2 cup/125 mL chopped onion
1/2 cup/125 mL maple syrup or honey
2 Tbsp/30 mL cider vinegar
2 Tbsp/30 mL Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp/5 mL chili powder
1/2 tsp/2 mL salt
1/4 tsp/1 mL pepper

Preheat oven to 350F/175C.
Place the pork chops in a baking pan or baking dish.
Combine the remaining ingredients. Pour over pork chops.
Bake for about an hour, until no longer pink inside.

For many more quick and easy recipes, visit www.healthy-quick-meals.com

Safety Recalls

Here's a round up of recalls and warnings posted to our blog since our last newsletter. If you (or someone you know) has any of the items listed below, then please click on the link to visit our blog for more information.

Please feel free to forward this newsletter on to anyone else who you believe may be affected by these recalls.

Whole Foods Market Pancake and Waffle Mix (US)

Two types of Mexican Cheese (US)

Morrison's Vegetable Soup (UK)

Organic Brown Eggs (US)

Baby Necessities Pacifiers (US)

Fisher Price 3-In-1 High Chairs (US)

Mothers' Choice Riviera Hi-Lo Highchair (Australia)

Peg Perego Skate Pram/Stroller (Australia)

Evenflo Exersaucer (Australia)

Babymoove Bebedelice Blenders (Australia)

Pooh Bear Pacifiers (Australia)

Featured Product - Customizable Stationery for Mom and Baby

If you think that VistaPrint only make business cards, then think again! VistaPrint actually offers a much wider range of products, including items for Moms, Moms-to-be... and even for our little ones, too!

As we all know, baby's first year simply flies by - but you can make those milestones extra special with VistaPrint's beautifully designed birth announcements, party invitations and baptism & christening announcements. Many of the products have an 'Upload Your Image' option, where you can truly personalize your stationery by adding your favorite photographs of your little bundle of joy!

We also like VistaPrint's personal business cards, which are an ideal way to share your contact details and your little one's health information with babysitters and other caregivers. Again, you have the opportunity to upload your own images - including your own logo.

How about creating Baby's First Stationery? Try customizing notecards with your little one's name... they'd be just perfect for thank you notes and more!

With heaps more products - including T-shirts, pens, keychains and photo magnets - there are lots of wonderful gift ideas to choose from. What's more, there are some great freebies on offer, too!

VistaPrint certainly makes creating and ordering customized stationery from home as simple as can be - not to mention convenient! And, of course, it's reassuring to know that your items will be of a high quality, backed by their satisfaction guarantee!

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Featured Website - You Can Make Baby Clothes, Toys and More!

Youcanmakethis.com, recent recipient of the iParenting Award for Outstanding Website, is packed with downloadable patterns and instructions. The patterns are user friendly and the instructions are very easy to follow - so even the most inexperienced crafter can begin making clothes, accessories, toys, jewelry and LOADS more in no time at all!

A great way to save money!

The instructional e books are very modestly priced. Written by 'everyday' women, they contain step-by-step guidelines and photographs that anyone can follow with ease.

With most of us feeling the pinch in our pockets at the moment, the option of being able to make the things we usually buy becomes very attractive indeed! Plus, there's the sense of pride associated with making things for the home and family... and the 'wow' factor of producing unique items that will have others asking "Where did you get that?"

Fabulous freebies

Sign up for the You Can Make This newsletter and you'll receive free patterns and instructions - and, as you look around the site, you'll find plenty more free offers too!

So what are you waiting for? Visit Youcanmakethis.com now and start getting crafty!

Recipe of the month - Super Sweet Potato Bites

If you're struggling to come up with exciting finger food ideas for your self-feeding baby, then this month's recipe is for you!

With its light, nutritious pastry and mooshy, squooshy filling, these Sweet Potato Bites have a great texture for baby and a delicious flavour that Mummy and Daddy will enjoy, too!

To make the pastry you will need...

6 oz (1 1/2 cups) whole wheat/wholemeal flour
4 oz (1/2 cup) butter
1 egg
water

Rub the butter into the flour until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
Beat the egg with a little water, then stir it into the flour/butter.
Form the mixture into a ball - if it's too dry, add a little more water.
Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 mins.

Whilst the pastry is chilling, prepare the filling.

For the filling, you will need...

oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into chunks
2 oz (1/4 cup) frozen peas
1 good pinch of each of the following: ground ginger, turmeric, cumin, ground coriander

Pre-heat the oven to 375 deg F (180 deg C).
Boil or steam the sweet potato until tender. Allow to cool, then cut into small cubes.
Fry the onion in a little oil until it is soft, then add the spices and stir well.
Add the cubed sweet potato, the peas and a little water.
Continue to cook for 5 mins, then remove from the pan and cool.
Divide the pastry into 6 pieces and roll each one into a circle.
Divide the sweet potato mixture into 6 portions and place each portion on to one pastry circle.
Fold over (so the pastry now resembles a semi-circle) and seal by pinching the edges together - adding a little water will help them to stick.
Cut a slit into the top of each semi-circle to allow the steam to escape, then brush with milk.
Bake in the oven for 20-30 mins, until golden.