with the carrots, as they will take about five minutes longer than the rest. Then add the noodles and cook to your liking. This mixture can be puréed smooth for babies or left chunkier for older children. As your little ones continue to grow, you can add bolder

Home Cooking by Rachel Allen (Collins, £25) is packed with comforting treats for each mealtime as well as a section on fabulous baby purées for younger family members. It offers a host of children’s favourites that will inspire your own little chef

The Moomins Cook Book by Tove Jansson and Sami Malila (SelfMadeHero, £12.99) is a beautifully illustrated introduction to Finnish cuisine.PancakesMakes 14 pancakesIngredients80g (3oz) wheat flour20g (3/4oz) barley flour 500ml (18fl oz) milk1/2 tsp

for one hour). Knock back and knead for one minute, then roll out to fill a large baking sheet, or divide into four to make individual pizzas.To make the tomato sauce, gently cook the onion in the olive oil over a low heat until soft and transparent. Add

. Sieve the icing sugar over the meringue and fold in by hand only. Using a 1cm nozzle, pipe 8x7cm balls of meringue onto a piece of silicone paper. Hollow the middle using a wet teaspoon. Sprinkle icing sugar on top and cook for two hours and 45 min in a

Cook It Together by Annabel Karmel (Dorling Kindersley, £7.99) features ten of children’s favourite foods, from sweetcorn to strawberries, showing how the ingredients are grown and what you can make with them. For a taster, try the delicious Chicken

for 45 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. To test if the loaf is cooked, insert a metal skewer into the middle of the loaf; if it comes out clean, then your courgette and carrot loaf is ready. If not, bake a little longer.Remove the loaf

the garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil and chopped oregano. Pour over the skewers and toss well. Marinate for at least two hours, or overnight. Cook the skewers on a hot, lightly oiled barbecue grill for four minutes on each side, basting occasionally

Makes 24 cookies Don’t use an electric mixer – it will make the cookies tough. IngredientsNon-stick cooking spray100g (4oz) wholewheat flour100g (4oz) old-fashioned oats1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cinnamon150g (6oz) of firmly-packed light

Makes 24 mini doughnutsIngredientsNon-stick cooking spray200g (7oz) light or dark brown sugar100g (4oz) pumpkin purée100g (4oz) sweet potato purée110ml (4fl oz) skimmed milk1 large egg white1 tbsp of low-fat margarine spread, melted1 tsp pure