Cheese & Carrot Pretzels

Ingredients: 250g/9oz plain flour, 25g grated cheese, 1 grated carrot, 25g/1oz butter, diced, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 100ml/3 fluid oz whole milk.

Preheat oven to 200'C/400'F/ Gas Mark 6 .

Mix flour, cheese, carrot, butter and baking powder in a bowl with your fingers until well combined.  Add milk gradually mixing with a metal spoon until a dough forms.

Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead for a few minutes.

Roll dough out to form a rough rectangle about 25cm x 18cm (10" x 7").  Cut dough into 12 - 14 strips about half an inch wide and roll between your palms.  Tie into a pretzel shape.  Place on a baking sheet and cook for 10 - 12 minutes until a crusty layer forms on outside.

These keep well in an airtight container but are very moreish so probably won't last that long!  Ethan loves them and the funny shapes fascinate him.  You could substitute grated carrot for grated parsnip, courgette, apple or bung in some poppy or sesame seeds.  Enjoy! 

Homemade Breadsticks

Flour is a great source of calcium and iron.  It is also a source of B vitamins, protein and carbs. 

200g Strong White Bread Flour
1 tsp fast action yeast
half a tsp sugar
half a tsp salt
150ml warm water

Measure flour into mixing bowl, add remaining ingredients and mix until dough is soft, smooth and comes away from sides of bowl.  Turn dough on floured worktop and knead for about 2 minutes, adding more flour if need be.  Return to bowl.  Cover bowl with a damp tea towel, plate or clingfilm/gladwrap and leave at room temperature until doubled in size (around an hour).  Turn dough onto floured surface, knead for about 2 minutes and divide into approximately 30 small plum sized pieces.  Roll each one into a long thin stick using the palms of your hand.  Cut into smaller sticks if you like.  Place sticks on a baking sheet (silicone or greased or floured) and leave in a warm place for 20 minutes.  Bake in the oven at 200'C/400'F/Gas Mark 6 for 15-20 minutes until they start to brown.  I think a small child could probably make their breadsticks look more professional than mine but they taste pretty yummy and I like the fact they are all odd shapes and sizes.  If you store these in an airtight container (once cooled) they will keep for a week. 

These are more chewy than your average breadstick so you might want to break off a bit at a time to give baby to avoid them ending up with a big ball of dough in their mouth that they have to spit out!  Ethan loved them :) 

Ethan Bear's favourite ready made snacks

Breadsticks

Corn thins

Rice cakes

Tesco Dutch Crisp bakes

Got some Nairns Oatcakes for him to try tomorrow...hopefully another one to add to the list!

Organix baby rice cakes - apple and blueberry ones and sweetcorn snacks although Ethan Bear is just as happy with normal rice cakes so cheaper to just stick with them if I'm honest!