Mini Pumpkin Pancakes (Eggless) | Breakfast Recipes | Infant & Toddler Food Ideas

Feeding a toddler is really a challenging task. OK, I agree I am stating the obvious here. Their mood for the food they like changes like the wind. An all-time idli / dosa lover, his recent addictions are pancakes. He has mastered the art of eating with forks with pancakes. I made this mini pancakes, painted with syrup and cut into bite sized pieces. He loves to pick it up with fork and eat all by himself. And without fuss, that is the important point. 
As in my earlier posts on feeding kids, I always try to incorporate fruit/veggie purees in his oatmeal and pancakes. His recent love are these pumpkin pancakes and I felt I should share this super simple recipe here in my space.

Ingredients:
Makes about 20 mini pancakes
All purpose flour - 3/4 cup
Whole wheat flour - 1/4 flour (you could use all AP flour)
Baking powder - 2 tsp
Sugar - 1 tbsp
Pumpkin Spice - 1/2 tsp (click here for home made pumpkin spice recipe)
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Milk, preferably whole - 1 cup (Substitute almond milk for a vegan version)
Pumpkin puree - 2/3 cup
Oil - 1 tbsp
Butter - 1 tbsp, melted (Use oil for vegan version)

Method:
Sieve the dry ingredients together. Whisk the milk, pumpkin puree, oil and butter well. Pour over the dry ingredients and whisk until no streaks of flour remain. A little lumps are OK. Heat a skillet/pan in medium heat and pour tbsp measures (or 1/4 cup measure for regular size) of the batter. When bubbles start appearing, flip and continue to cook the other side for a minute or two. Remove to a plate and serve topped with maple syrup. 

Garlic Pearl Onion Rice | Infant & Toddler Food Ideas | Indian Rice Recipes

Don't get scared by the name.. Garlic and onion rice. Aren't those major foods which demand a breath mint. Trust me when I say this rice has medicinal qualities. Garlic and Onions fried in ghee and mixed with hot rice relieves gas and indigestion. But you would not believe how super tasty this rice would be. My 20 mo just loves this for the flavour of crispy fried onions in ghee. This recipe here serves three people, just a couple of morsels per person should be taken.

Ingredients:
Serves - 3
Steaming Cooked Rice - 2 cups (1 cup-240 ml)
Pearl onions / Sambar onions - 12
Garlic - 10 
Fresh Ground Pepper - a big pinch
Salt - a big pinch
Ghee - 1 tbsp

Method:
Peel the pearl onions and garlic and chop very finely. Heat ghee in a tawa and fry the chopped onions and garlic until it starts to turn brown. Take care not to burn them. Remove from heat and mix in the salt and pepper. Now add the hot steaming rice and mix really well, taking care not to break the grains. Serve hot.
Notes: Pearl onions shall not be replaced by regular onions and don't skip ghee either.