Baby Food Recipes - STAGE 1

So... yes, we had a baby... and Mr. Meatball is getting big! I decided that this time around I would be making his baby food; which I have found to be quite fun to watch him enjoy new flavors and textures. I wanted to avoid the baby food that may have been sitting on a shelf in a warehouse (and possibly be older than he is) or on a hot truck during transportation or that may contain other ingredients that weren't "natural" to a new digestive system. So I embarked on making baby food... I got to say folks... it is super easy. Essentially from start to finish it is: wash, steam, smush/puree, package, freeze, thaw, feed. The only variation I did to any of these recipes is I used breast milk instead of water to thin out anything that was too thick.




Here are some of the baby food recipes that I have used and been happy with.

Banana
Peaches
Pears
Avocado

Green Beans
Carrots
Peas
Squash
Sweet Potatoes

Chicken
Beef
Turkey

So part of this adventure is also about be self-sustaining, healthier and closer to food and source. Baby Food… I love canning and preserving so why wouldn’t I make baby food from scratch?! It is so easy…

Apples / Applesauce

I prefer Gala, Braeburn, Fuji, Michigan or MacIntosh. Just my personal preference.

Vitamins & Minerals: A, C, Folate, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium

Directions

Step 1: Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks

Step 2: Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples and boil/steam until tender; be sure to check on the water level and stir

Step 3: Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency. If your masher will not achieve a puree type of consistency, then follow steps below:

Step 4: Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples

Step 5: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.

Step 6: Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree – add cereal (if desired) to thicken. Ask your pediatrician about adding some cinnamon for new tastes.

If your baby is constipated, you might also use the juice that is left over from the cooking to mix into cereals, or with water in a bottle or sippy cup.

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Avocado (yes, avocado is a fruit.)

When you are hangry and you take that first bite... Ahhh
I think Mr. Meatball is a fan of Avocados

Vitamins & Minerals: A, C, Niacin, Folate, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium

You will need 1 ripe avocado

Directions

Step 1: Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado – do not cook

Step 2: Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork

There should be no need to use a machine as just like bananas, avocados have a very soft consistency and texture. Avocados do not need to be cooked.

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Apple ‘Cado (4)6-8months+

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
• 1/4 cup applesauce

Directions

Step 1: Mash the avocado half.

Step 2: Mix mashed avocado with applesauce (homemade or natural) and serve.

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Bananas

Mr. Meatball puts EVERYTHING in mouth;
gets banana, eats none, but is very happy. 
Go Figure

Vitamins & Minerals: A, C, Folate, Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium

You will need 1 ripe banana

Directions

Step 1: Peel ripe banana – do not cook

Step 2: Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree

You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork – heat in microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness

Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Bananas and banana puree may be frozen. Using a bit of lemon juice will help to prevent the browning of a banana (and most other fruits) when freezing it. It is the citric acid or the ascorbic acid that aids in the preservation of fruits. The exposure to oxygen and the enzymes in a banana (and most other fruits) are what cause it to go from green to yellow, and then brown to black, as it ripens. A blackish or brownish banana is not necessarily rotten or bad.

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Banana Applesauce Mush

Ingredients:

• 2 apples (gala, braeburn or mac)
• 1 ripe banana

Directions

Step 1: Peel, core and cut apples into slices/chunks.

Step 2: Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples

Step 3: Boil until tender; be sure to check on the water level.

Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency or you can puree in a blender or food processor.

Step 4: Peel a ripe banana and mash in a bowl with a fork (heating in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds will soften the banana up if needed).

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Banana ‘Cado

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a peeled and pitted avocado
• 1 small ripe banana

Directions

Step 1: Mash the avocado half and mash the banana

Step 2: Mix mashed avocado with banana & serve

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Pears:

Vitamins & Minerals: A, C, Folate, Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium

You will need 2 ripe pears

Directions

Step 1: Steam gently until tender if baby is between 4-6 months old otherwise peel & mash – removing the seed portion

Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion.

Or

Cut the pears in half (no need to peel unless your little one has issues with digestion) and cut out the seed/core portion then dice the pear halves. Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion.

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in a shallow pot with a steamer basket insert.

Add the pears to the steamer basket in the pot and then steam until soft and tender.

You may also add the pear dices to wee bit of boiling water and steam them this way if you do not have a steamer basket. Using a scant amount of water ensures that you are not boiling them.

Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth. You may be able to just use a fork too.

Use the leftover cooking water if needed but Pears tend to

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Apples & Pears

Ingredients:

• 1 apple – cored & peeled
• 1 pear – cored & peeled

Directions

Step 1: Dice apple & pear and simmer together until tender. Mash or puree as needed.

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Green Beans (OR Peas) (4) 6 months+

Vitamins & Minnerals: A, C, K, Niacin, Folate, Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium

Step 1: If using Fresh Beans, snap the ends off the beans and wash the beans. If using Fresh Peas, open the pods and scrape out the peas from the pod. If using frozen of either Peas or Green Beans, cook according to package directions.

Step 2: Place fresh beans into a steamer basket in a pan with a just enough water to slightly show through in the basket.

Step 3: Steam until very tender; be sure to check on the water level.

Step 4: Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the beans.

Step 5: Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. It is best to use the setting that makes the finest liquid purees – green bean and pea skins are rather difficult to completely puree.

***Using a blender rather than a food processor or stick mixer might be better as well. ***

6. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency

7. You may wish to push the green beans (or peas) through a sieve or mesh strainer to get rid of any remaining skins.

Mr. Meatball and his messy face and fingers.