Here's a cool dad thing to do - cook some food for your kids! The following recipes will work for babies and toddlers form 6 months onwards.

Mince

1 small carrot, peeled and grated
1/2 kumara, peeled and grated
1 tsp of oil
100g lean beef or lamb mince
1/2 cup beef or vegetable stock
1 tbsp of tomato puree

Mircowave or boil carrot and kumara in a little water until soft. Heat oil in a frying pan, add mince and stir well breaking up with the back of a spoon as it cooks until it forms small pieces about the size of a pea. Add carrot, kumara and stock. Cover and simmer until the meat and vegetables are tender, about10 minutes.

Shepherds Pie

1 tbsp oil
500 g lean beef or lamb mince
420g jar pasta sauce
1 stalk celery finely chopped
6 button mushrooms sliced
1 carrot, peeled and finely chopped
1 courgette and or other seasonal green vegetables finely chopped
2 cups mashed potato or cooked pasta

Brown mince in the oil in a hot pan, breaking the mince up into small pieces with the back of a spoon. This is best done in two batches. Stir in pasta sauce and vegetables except the potato. Cover and gently simmer for 15 minutes. Spoon mixture into a pie dish and top with mashed potato. Bake at 180oC for about 15 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Meat Loaf

500g lean beef or lamb mince
420gcan of baked beans
2 1/4 cups soft breadcrumbs
1 egg
Pinch dried mixed herbs or use 1 tbsp chopped fresh herbs
4 tbsp tomato sauce

Using a food processor, combine all the ingredients. Spoon the mixture into a greased loaf tin. Bake at 160oC for 1 hour and let cool in a tin for 10-15 mins before turning out.

Source: NZ Beef & Lamb Marketing Bureau May 2007

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