Baby Food

J. started solids last month.  She doesn't particularly like any of the cereals as most of them end up on her bib.  Perhaps they're too bland for her "highly developed" palate?  She does however love mango, strawberries and sweet potatoes.  Go figure! 

These are a few "recipes" for baby food that both M. and J. found delicious enough to eat despite any picky phases they went through. 

SWEET POTATOES

2-3 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in pieces

1/4 tsp brown sugar

Place sweet potatoes in small saucepan.  Add enough water to cover.  Cook until potatoes are boiled and tender (about 7 minutes).  Remove from heat.  Place potatoes and liquid in a blender and add sugar.  Puree for several minutes until creamy and no lumps remain.  Add more cold water if needed to reach the right consistancy for your baby.  Freeze excess in ice cube trays.  Once frozen, place in airtight container in the freezer.  Remove as needed.  Stores well for at least 4 months. 

APPLESQUASH

2-3 Macintosh apples, peeled and diced

1 squash

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp brown sugar (optional)

Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds and place on a pan with flesh side up.  Add about an inch of water to the pan.  Place diced apples on the squash where the seeds were.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar.  Pour about 1/4-1/3 cup of water over the apples and cover the pan with tinfoil.  Bake at 400 for about 40 minutes until flesh is soft.  Scoop squash flesh and apples out of the shell and puree until smooth, adding more water if necessary.  Freeze excess as described above.

SWEET PEAS

1 cup fresh or frozen sweet peas

1/4 cup chicken or beef broth (homemade is best or a no sodium broth)

Cook peas in broth instead of water.  Pour both into blender and puree until smooth.  If desired, strain through large sieve to remove any skins from the peas.  Freeze excess as described above.

We were lucky to have gone pea-picking at the farm last week, which means J. gets fresh sugar-snap peas for now.  She doesn't seem to mind this.  What I love most about peas is that they also have iron in them, so for babies who aren't too crazy about cereal, this recipe delivers a healthy dose of iron.  :o)