Yummy Baby Beef, Vegetables, and Pasta

My son loves his solids, which is great as sometimes babies can be picky eaters.  Plum and Ella's Kitchen are his favourite baby food brands on the market.  I do continue to buy these store brands however, I also love to cook him meals at home.  

Now that he is getting older, I am slowly venturing off to more stage 2 type of meals.  He still loves his fruit and veggie purees, but more texture is what he craves (as he is constantly grabbing for what is on my plate!).  This beef, vegetable, and pasta dish is very simple and fairly quick to make and also very tasty. (I admit, I took a couple of generous bites and I enjoyed it) 

The baby pasta is from Heinz and has no added salt or sugar.  The overall dish incorporates meat and veggies, both important for your growing little bunny, plus allows your little one to explore other textures and flavours that they normally would not have with stage 1 purees.    

Makes: 10 baby servings- 50 ml (roughly 2 oz) 

Ingredients

250 grams (1/2 pound) of lean ground beef

1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (corn, peas, carrots, green beans)

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 cup tomato passata (low sodium or no salt version)

1 sprig fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme

2 tablespoon hot water

5 tablespoon uncooked baby pasta 

Apple puree* (optional)

Directions

1. Cook baby pasta according to directions on the bag. 

2. Spray large frying pan with cooking spray.  Put pan on medium to medium high heat.

3. Brown meat in pan.  Add chopped garlic & thyme.  Fry for another 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add frozen mixed vegetables to pan.  Stir and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.

5. Once vegetables are cooked through, stir in tomato passata.

6.  Allow beef, vegetables, and tomato sauce mixture to simmer through for additional 10-15 min on low heat.

7.  Puree beef & vegetable mixture with 2 tablespoon of hot water in food processor.  (you can also use a hand blender)

8.  Stir in pasta.

9.  Serve to your beautiful & hungry baby and freeze the rest. (last up to 4 weeks)

*For younger babies, you can also stir in a couple tablespoons of apple puree to provide a smoother consistency.