4 Easy-Peasy BLW Recipes from Natalie Peall

Struggling with the mealtime juggle? We know it can be a challenge to summon up the energy and brainpower to deliver new and exciting recipes to keep our little ones' taste buds tantalised. That's why we're giving you an edited selection of four super-scrummy, easy-peasy weaning recipes from our family fave, Natalie Peall.

You'll find heaps more like this in Natalie's Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy book (handily available with a selection of our bestselling bundles). Happy cooking!

Cheese & Potato Pasties

Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Yields: 8

Ingredients
250g potatoes, peeled and diced into very small cubes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion sliced
1/2 leek, sliced
4 ready-rolled puff pastry sheets
2 cups (250g) grated mild cheddar cheese
1 medium egg, whisked
Flour (for rolling)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 220°C and grease or line a baking tray with baking paper
2. Half fill a saucepan of water and bring it to the boil
3. Add the potatoes to the boiling water and cook for 7 minutes before draining - set aside to cool 
4. In a frying pan, heat the oil over a medium heat and fry the onion and leek for 4 minutes until soft - set aside to cool
5. Unroll the pastry sheets and use a saucer or small plate to be your guide as you cut out 8 circles
6. Once the potato, onion and leek are cooled, add them to a bowl, along with the cheese - stir well to combine
7. Brush the edge of each pastry circle with the whisked egg wash
8. Place the cheese and potato mixture in the middle of each pastry circle and bring the edges together to enclose the filling and form a semi-circle. Crimp the edges, where they meet, with your fingers to secure
9. Brush the pasties with the remaining whisked egg
10. Bake your pasties in the oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown
11. Serve once cooled. Please make sure that you check the centre before serving as this can retain heat even if the pastry on the outside feels cool

Baked Pineapple Pieces

Prep Time: 3 mins
Cook Time: 15 mins
Yields: 2

Ingredients
1 cup (175g) chopped pineapple
1 knob unsalted butter
¼ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C
2. Scatter all of the ingredients into an ovenproof dish - mix well 
3. Place the dish into the oven and bake for 15 minutes 
4. Serve once cooled, but still warm

Super Simple Tomato Pasta

Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 35 mins
Yields: 4 

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
600ml passata
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 
400g dried pasta 

Method

1. In a large pan, heat the oil over a medium heat and then fry the onion and garlic until soft (approximately 10 minutes)
2. Once the onion has softened, add the passata and balsamic vinegar to the pan - allow to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently
3. After 5 minutes, turn the heat down and cook the pasta according to the packet instructions
4. Once cooked, drain the pasta and stir it into tomato sauce 
5. Serve once cooled

Additional Info

To make this dish even healthier you can add a variety of vegetables, for example: mushrooms, aubergines and courgettes work particularly well.

Cashew and Butternut Squash Mini Loaves

Prep time: 25 mins
Cook time: 25 mins
Yields: 12

Ingredients
1 cup (125g) wholemeal plain flour
3/4 cup (67g) oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 medium eggs, whisked
1/2 cup (62g) smooth cashew butter (for example Meridian, which is 100% nuts)
1/4 cup (62ml) maple syrup or fruit puree
1 cup (250g) butternut squash puree
4 tablespoons sultanas

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease or line a 12-hole mini-loaf tray with cases
2. In a bowl, mix together the flour, oats and baking powder
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the eggs, cashew butter, maple syrup and puree
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients - stir gently to combine, but do not over-mix
5. Gently fold the sultanas through the mixture
6. Divide the mixture evenly between the mini-loaf tins
7. Bake your mini loaves in the oven for 20-25 minutes
8. Serve once cooled

Enjoy more mealtime inspiration in Natalie's Baby-Led Weaning Made Easy book. There's over 120 mouthwatering, illustrated recipes, perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Available in selected money-saving complete weaning bundles with up to 50% off! Browse bundles here.