Baby Bites Cheese and Vegetable Fingers

These are a lovely way of using up leftover mash and are a great finger food. You can add whichever leftover vegetables you have to hand too.

Serving them with a dipping sauce makes them seem a bit more fun - and this one is homemade and has no additives or any nasties in there either.

The below makes enough for six fingers - 2 are sufficient for my little girl who is 12 months but 1 would be enough for smaller appetites. They keep in the fridge for a couple of days too, but I wouldn't freeze as potato doesn't tend to defrost too well. 

Also these are popular amongst older children too, way past the weaning stage.

Here's how:

• 2 tablespoons of leftover mash potato
• 1 tablespoon sweetcorn
• 1 tablespoon frozen peas
• 1/2 carrot
• 1 large spring onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
• 30g Cheddar or another hard cheese
• Black pepper
• 1 slice granary bread
• 1 egg
• Tomato Dipping Sauce

Firstly pre-heat the oven to 180.

Now peel and chop the carrot into very small cubes and place into a saucepan of water with the peas. Pour over some boiled water and cook for five minutes to soften.

Place the mash into a bowl and give a stir with a wooden spoon.

Chop the spring onion and parsley very finely and add to the potato with the sweetcorn and give a good stir.

Drain the carrot and peas and return to the pan to absorb any moisture. Then add to the mash mixture and again stir well.

Grate in the cheese and give one final stir.

Blitz the bread with a blender to make the breadcrumbs, then place onto a plate or bowl.

In a separate bowl crack the egg and give a quick whisk.

Now get about 1 tablespoon of mixture in your hands and shape into a finger - kind of like a sausage shape, and then place onto a clean plate. Repeat till all the mixture has been used. 

Now pat each one until it is a little rectangular shape, then dip into the egg and turn over, then dip into the breadcrumbs then return it to the plate and do the same to each finger.

Now drizzle a little vegetable oil into a pan and place on a medium heat. Once warmed add the fingers you are cooking, and allow to cook for two to three minutes or until the breadcrumbs have turned nicely golden brown. Then turn over and repeat for the other side. 

Once golden brown on each side, place the cheesy vegetable fingers onto an oven tray or dish and place into the oven to heat through for ten minutes.

Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes until cool enough for baby to handle. Serve alongside some tomato dipping sauce.