Recipe Ideas

I would just give him whatever you and your DH have.  With Andrew we don't even bother mashing it (we do BLW so he's never had purees etc).  If you're doing mashed food take whatever you're eating and cut it up/mash it for him first.  If you and DH eat later than Jackson you can always give him leftovers from last nights dinner.  Just don't forget to take Jackson's portion out before you season it.

There are some great recipes on the NZ Beef & Lamb website which you and your DH might enjoy too http://www.recipes.co.nz/babies-toddlers and there's also a recipe book put out by Alison and Simon Holst called Baby Food and Beyond which may be helpful.

I agree with giving him your food. He's over 1 so totally "allowed" it. When I first started giving Tom our food I would blitz it a little in the blender so you could try that.

Both our boys are eating our meals....or maybe we are eating theirs . Spag bol is a HUGE hit with Tom as are meatballs. James loves fish fingers, nachoes and practically anything except pasta (Tom LURVES pasta...so a wee prob there).

YAY for him eating!!!!

One meal we do is a huge vege soup (thick) so basically

handful of italian parsley
few garlic cloves
onion
celery (couple of sticks)
carrot (one or two)
leek (if on hand) - cut all of these up small and fry off in a good slosh of olive oil

Then add chopped kumara, potatoes, pumpkin - just whatever really, as many as you want, add to pot, top up with chicken/vege stock - crank up the heat and let it boil away

(this takes me probably 15mins to prepare - then I leave it for a good 45mins. I usually start it about 4pm, it really is easy I promise )

Then add some silverbeet and a good handful of risoni pasta/or rice, let that cook away - add more hot water if you need to. A few minutes before serving add a can of cannellini beans.. ladle into bowls and drizzle over some more olive oil (good stuff if it's on hand)

I can basically get dinner for the 3 of us plus 5-6 portions to put in the freezer for DD - for those nights where I haven't prepared anything else and we're home late and/or in a hurry. We BLWed DD but this is a handy freezer meal - We don't generally eat dinner with DD as DH gets home too late so she eats seperately - this takes less than 5mins from the freezer to cooked. And so super easy and yummy to make.

I do salt/pepper it too - all other meals for DD I don't but this I do, I figure a little every now and again is ok

Fish pie is always good, just fish, celery and onion in a cheese sauce with mashed potato on top, yum!