Corn chowder for babies
A sweet, creamy chowder of sweetcorn, potato, leek and red pepper simmered in milk, then blended and sieved until silky. It suits babies of 8–18 months, and older children enjoy it unsieved. Serve warm.

Cashew and potato cake
Bolo polana takes its name from the old Polana district of Maputo and is a celebration cake in Mozambique, made for birthdays and Christmas, built on two of the country's great crops: cashew nuts and potatoes. Ground cashews and mashed potato make it dense, fragrant and very moist, with orange zest to lift it. It shows the Portuguese baking tradition meeting local ingredients. Chef's tip: grind the cashews in short pulses with a spoon of the sugar; ground alone, they turn to cashew butter.
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A sweet, creamy chowder of sweetcorn, potato, leek and red pepper simmered in milk, then blended and sieved until silky. It suits babies of 8–18 months, and older children enjoy it unsieved. Serve warm.
A soft, golden hash of butter beans, chickpeas, French beans, carrot and potato, mashed together and pan-fried until crisp on both sides. It's a filling, protein-rich meal for babies and toddlers, moistened with a little home-made vegetable stock. Remember to soak the butter beans and chickpeas the night before.
Rounds of bread spread with cream cheese, soaked in egg custard and baked gently in a water bath until just set. Soft and mild, it suits babies of 8–18 months and makes a good light lunch for toddlers too. Serve warm.
Soft tomatoes and carrot blended with cheddar, ground almonds and milk, then baked in teacups under a golden cheese topping. A gentle, savoury dish for babies of 8–18 months, with plenty of flavour. Serve it just warm, on its own or with soft toast fingers.
A gentle, salt-free vegetable stock for cooking baby food, for babies of 8–18 months. Root vegetables, ginger and a few herbs simmer slowly for two hours, giving a light, sweet stock. Use it for the purees, hash and pasta in this section, and freeze small portions in an ice-cube tray for quick meals.
A jewel-bright juice of strawberries, peaches, red grapes, kiwi, pomegranate and passion fruit. Sweet, tangy and full of fruit, it's a treat for children and grown-ups alike. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Fresh watermelon juice blended with banana, plain yogurt, a little honey and ice into a light, pink smoothie. Sweet, cooling and creamy. Serve chilled.
A smooth, naturally sweet puree of gently stewed apple and pear, one of the first foods for babies of 4–8 months. The fruit cooks in a little unsweetened apple juice, so nothing else is needed. Serve it lukewarm; any leftover keeps covered in the fridge for a day, or freezes well in small pots.
A vivid pink smoothie of sweet apples and cooked beetroot blended with plain yogurt. Earthy, fruity and creamy at the same time. Serve chilled, garnished with diced apple and fresh mint.
A creamy, fizzy pineapple drink: pineapple juice, coconut milk and vanilla ice cream blended with fresh pineapple, then topped up with sparkling water. It tastes like a light, alcohol-free piña colada. Serve straight away, with straws.
A thick golden smoothie of ripe mango and banana blended with plain yogurt: like a mango lassi with extra fruit. Naturally sweet and filling, it makes a good breakfast on the go. Serve chilled.
A tropical cooler of fresh mango and black passion fruit juice, lifted with ginger juice, lemon and a splash of ginger soda. A pinch of salt balances the sweetness. Serve chilled, garnished with diced apple and fresh mint.
A light, creamy fool of fresh mango puree, sharpened with lime, folded through whipped cream and yogurt so it's prettily rippled. Served in tall glasses, it's somewhere between a drink and a pudding. Chill for an hour or two and decorate with fresh mango slices just before serving.
Passion fruit juice liquidised with banana and apple into a smooth, creamy drink, with a touch of salt to brighten it. Sweet, tangy and filling. Serve chilled, garnished with diced apple.
Sweet potato baked whole until soft and caramelised, then mashed with milk and a pinch of ground coriander. Naturally sweet and smooth, it's a favourite first food for babies of 4–8 months. One sweet potato makes more than a baby can eat, so freeze the rest in small portions.
A smooth, naturally sweet puree of three root vegetables: choose from carrots, potatoes, sweet potato and pumpkin. Changing the mix is an easy way to give babies of 4–8 months new flavours. Serve lukewarm.
A thick, frosty milkshake of frozen banana and vanilla ice cream with a good kick of instant coffee. Freezing the banana slices makes it extra cold and creamy without ice. Use less coffee for a milder shake.
A bright green, savoury puree of potato, mushrooms and fresh spinach cooked in home-made baby stock. Thick and smooth, it's a good way to get iron-rich greens into babies of 8–18 months. Serve warm; spare portions freeze well.
A thick, indulgent shake of chocolate ice cream, milk and chocolate syrup, topped with grated chocolate. It's ready in minutes and loved by children. Serve at once, while it's frosty.
A big jug of fresh fruit punch made from mango, passion fruit, pineapple and orange juices, with a splash of tree tomato juice. Cumin, aniseed, salt and a little ginger soda give it a lively sweet-salty-spicy taste. Serve chilled, garnished with chopped apple and mint: perfect for parties.
Steamed carrots and cauliflower pureed and stirred into creamy baby rice for a smooth, mild meal for babies of 4–8 months. Steaming keeps the vegetables' colour and goodness. Serve lukewarm.
Finely ground oats cooked in milk and water until smooth and creamy, with a little sieved banana for natural sweetness. A warm, filling breakfast for babies of 4–8 months. Grind a batch of oats in advance and keep it in a jar.
Lentils simmered with fresh tomatoes and tomato juice, then pureed and sieved into a smooth, tangy first dal for babies of 4–8 months. Use any lentils: split red lentils cook fastest. Serve warm.
A refreshing green juice of cucumber, green apple, celery, spinach and bottle gourd (dudhi), lifted with parsley, basil and mint. It's light, clean-tasting and best drunk first thing in the morning, as soon as it's made. Taste a small piece of the bottle gourd first: if it tastes bitter, don't use it.
A thick, velvety smoothie of ripe avocado blended with skimmed milk, low-fat yogurt and ice, with kelp powder and a pinch of nutmeg. Creamy and filling, almost a meal in a glass. Serve chilled.
A smooth, savoury first meal of rice with carrot, new potatoes and spinach, pureed with baby milk for babies of 4–8 months. Use plain, unsalted cooked rice. Make it a little thicker as your baby gets used to texture.
A colourful, hearty salad of red kidney beans, butter beans, soya beans and sweet corn on a bed of baby spinach, topped with crumbled feta and a sweet, garlicky lemon and honey dressing. It is filling enough for a light lunch and perfect for parties and picnics. Serve it cold with crusty bread, and chill the platter beforehand so the salad stays crisp.
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