Chicken and Mushroom Orzo Pasta

Serves 1 parent and 1 baby

Ingredients

75g Orzo (or other pasta if your baby prefers the larger pieces)
1 chicken breast
4 or five medium sized mushrooms
1 tbsp creme fraiche
1 tsp basil pesto
Garlic pepper to taste

Method
Cut the chicken into pieces (of a size preferred by your child) and cook in a frying pan
Once cooked, remove the chicken and add the mushrooms, fry gently until cooked
In a separate pan cook the orzo (or other pasta), when cooked drain and return to the pan
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
The temperature my be about right for your baby right now, but you can heat a little for yourself if required

Pea and Mushroom Risotto

Serves parent and child

Ingredients

1 small onion, finely chopped
1tbsp oil suitable for frying (sunflower or rapeseed - not olive oil)
1 clove garlic
150g mushrooms, sliced
1 cup frozen peas
 500ml low salt vegetable stock
150g arborio rice
25g parmesan
a little butter


Method

Fry the onions until they start to become clear, add garlic
Add the mushrooms and continue to gently fry
In a separate pan heat the vegetable stock
Add the rice to the onions and mushrooms and stir well to coat all the rice in oil, add a little more oil if necessary
Add some of the stock to cover the rice, and then add the peas. Cook gently.
Stir continuously until all the stock is absorbed, then add little more stock, and do the same again.
Keep going with this until the rice is cooked and the food takes on a creamy appearance.
Turn off the heat and add the butter and parmesan and mix well.


Note
Although the constant stirring may make you think risotto is not a dish to cook when looking after a baby it actually works well. Just turn off the ring if you have to leave for a while and you'll find that when you come back the rice has absorbed a little more stock. I actually find the slower it's cooked the better it tastes!