If your toddler's list of favorite foods doesn't include ground sausage, omit the meat from this recipe. Substitute with diced tomatoes or another type of legume, such as Great Northern or kidney beans.

• Cook the sausage in a medium saucepan, browning until it's completely cooked.

• Drain the fat from the sausage, then add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the beans, carrot, and spices.

• Simmer for 1½–2 hours.

Hot Variation

If your child has a penchant for spice, try using spicy sausage instead of its more benign cousin. For other family members who like their food spicier, you can add a little Tabasco to their bowl before serving. Don't assume that your toddler won't like spicy food — many toddlers actually prefer highly flavored foods by this age.