Sunday 17 March 2013

Rocking kids finger food! Carrot, apple and chicken bites

A proper "bit of this and bit of that" dinner
My mother in law is staying with us at the moment and it's so great to have another set of hands and eyes especially.  Now they're yelling "Granny, look at me!" every 2 minutes instead of "Muuuuuum, look at me!" - heaven I tell you!!)

Anyway, she has told me that I am creating FAR TOO MUCH work for myself when it comes to dinners - especially with the kids.  Most nights, I cook something for Miss L, something completely different for Miss H and Master J and then more often than not, Mr D and I eat something else!!  I guess she might have a tiny point, but most of the time I just can't be bothered with the stress and drama of an argument.  (Besides, with my new friend thermomix, cooking most things is super duper easy now).

Keeping in mind that my kitchen "is not a hotel" (direct quote from the MIL) I have been looking for things to cook that are suitable for all of us - varying from a 9 month old baby, an almost 4 year old (fusspot) and a 6 and a half year old, Mr D (and of course something diet friendly for mummy).  Not an easy task (well I think so anyway).

The other day I tried out these MOST delicious chicken bites (for the small people) and burgers for us grown ups - and everybody loved them - RESULT!!  So I thought I'd share the recipe.  My recipe is for the thermomix but it can be very easily adapted to any style of cooking.

Ingredients:

500g chicken mince 
1 red onion
1 tbs olive oil
1 large green apple 
2 large carrots (peeled)
1tbs vegetable/chicken stock concentrate (or some fresh herbs instead)
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
bread crumbs (for coating)


  • Roughly chop the apple and carrot and grate for 5 seconds on speed 6.  Remove it from the TM bowl (or grater) and using clean hands squeeze out some of the excess juices.  Then set aside in a separate bowl.
Too much exces juice can made the bites/burgers very soggy!
  • Chope the onion into quarters and add to the TM bowl.  Chop for 3-5 seconds on speed 7, add the olive oil and then saute for 3.5 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.
  • Add all remaining ingredients (except breadcrumbs)  and mix for 15 seconds on reverse speed 2.


  • Using your hands mould the chicken mix into small balls or patties (or big ones for the grown ups), roll into breadcrumbs* and lightly fry until golden brown and cooked through.

You could also roll these into balls and make chicken balls as an alternative


These bites/burgers were so yummy and they make awesome baby or toddle finger food as well as delicious burgers served up in a fresh bun with some healthy salad.  The other great advantage is that you can cook up a huge batch and freeze them.

Let me know if you have any rocking recipes that will suite the whole family??


*You can use shop bought breadcrumbs or make your own.  I made my own using a recipe from page 14 of the Thermomix Every Day Cookbook.

12 comments:

  1. This looks great. I've added it to Francesca's Festa of Favourites for March, for future reference!

    http://francescawriteshere.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/francescas-festa-of-favourites-march.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Thank you - thats fabulous!! Will be heading over there right now for a little squiz! xx

      Delete
  2. Oh these look delicious I will try them for my little ones. My 2 year old is so fussy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. They look so good! Might be good for our 15mo who is still getting the hang of having to chew and not just swallow foods whole!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great idea. I love my Thermie - so many gOod, whole food options. I am definitely all for making things simple - i use a lot of recipes from the women's weekly Toddler books - they give heaps of ideas with grown up meals and their associated toddler variation. Saves a lot of hassle :)
    Hello from #team IBOT

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love this! And even better you have given me the thermy recipe :) x

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yummmm! I have tried so far to stick to one meal a night. It can be hard coming up with different ideas, but I've been pleasantly surprised at what food our toddler actually does like, when I would never have suspected it!
    I'll have to try these chicken bites, anything you can freeze and save is great for us! X Karen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Dear, are you really visiting this wеb site οn а
    regular basis, if so then yоu will abѕolutеly
    taκe nice κnowleԁge.

    Fееl free to surf to my blog: link building Service

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't have a Thermomix but I do have a 3 yr old and a 7 month old so I may just hiuve this recipe a try!
    Visiting from the IBOT Linky...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I'm lucky that my 2 year old will eat what we eat. I am very aware that it might not last, but it is nice for now! But now that we have a 6 month old, there's a second mouth to consider all of a sudden...

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's a longstanding job at our house to work out meals that work for all of us. My husband is the fussiest person and strictly veggie but won't eat lots of veggies!! And then the kids and hubby are all skinny and need heaps of grub, and I don't!!

    If I put some effort into it I can make it all work... if I don't, I make so much work for myself.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was doing that for years and TOTALLY regret it, I have made super fussy kids, except for No.3 who has been eating what we eat for the past 6 months now. It took me 4 years but now it's eat what we eat or nothing - Try those 4 ingredient recipes for kids, it's awesome for whole family x

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment. I LOVE hearing from you all and will do my best to reply xxx