This is one of our favourite recipes – it’s easy to make with the kids, great for lunch boxes, taking to parties and it freezes well too :). My Fun Mum (Miss M’s Granty) came down for a visit and picnic lunch so it was a good excuse to whip up some slice to have served with salad…this is also her Pop’s favourite recipe too- Miss M loved putting it into a container for Granty to take home for her Pop.
Firstly I sauté the bacon and onion and allow it to cool. It’s a great idea to get everything you need out and semi prepared before you ask for your mini chef to help out…Miss M likes to have a go at everything and gets upset if I prepare everything myself, I do most of the grating myself then leave some for her to do too ;).
There are some great learning opportunities along the way too – counting the eggs, talking about where they come from, where the Zucchini comes from and it’s also a great opportunity to let your little one get their hands ‘dirty’ with some sensory exploration – Miss M loved squeezing the excess moisture from the Zucchini.
I was pleasantly surprised to find not one piece of egg shell after Miss M cracked them -she is getting very good at cracking eggs now.
Granty was needed to help get the first bit of mixing done but then Miss M was on her own…
I thought I might be fun to serve Miss M’s in the shape of Mickey Mouse… but she ended up wanting our square ones instead – go figure lol!
Good practice at holding her knife & fork – wrong hands but Miss Independent likes to try things her way ;).
This is the recipe we loosely follow…
Zucchini Bites like no other!
(Adapted from the Philadelphia Cookbook)
2 Medium Zucchini, grated
1 Medium Carrot, grated
I onion, finely diced
5 diced short cut bacon rashers (fat & rind removed)
250g Philadelphia spreadable cream cheese (softened)
1 cup SR Flour
½ cup Tasty Cheese
½ cup oil
6 eggs, lightly beaten
Salt & Pepper, to taste.
- Sauté bacon and onion until soft and set aside to cool.
- Drain/squeeze excess moisture from Zucchini and carrot then mix all ingredients together.
- Spoon mixture into greased and lined 22cm x 30cm slice pan (or similar). Bake in a moderate oven 170c for 30mins or until slightly brown and firm to touch.
- Allow to cool then slice into squares.
Note: You can use Ham and raw onion if you like. We have also substituted the onion with cooked Leek and it was super yummy!
Enjoy & let me know what you think!
Looks yummy. Pinning and trying asap. xoxo P
Hi Pauline,
Let me know how you go. Jenni and I both make this and often use it in the kids lunch boxes too.
Louise x
I want to try these for kid lunches. Will they freeze well?
These freeze really well! I always seal them in a zip-lock bag and then wrap in foil to prevent freezer burn. They last 3 months frozen…not that mine last more than two weeks because they area always eaten so fast! Lou x
What fun ideas for the children! I’m going to try your zucchini bites in the jars! What a great way to eat well and have fun at the same time.