Mash, Whip, or Blend It Up!

Food prices are going up everywhere and many of us are trying to find ways to save money at the grocery store.  We make homemade meals for ourselves to eat instead of going out; why not do the same for our babies?

 

Food prices are going up everywhere and many of us are trying to find ways to save money at the grocery store.  We make homemade meals for ourselves to eat instead of going out; why not do the same for our babies?

Canned baby food can be expensive and Organic might not always be an option for you.  Here are some wholesome homemade baby food recipe’s that you can whip up in no time right at home!

Avocado

Creamy Banana-Cado Baby Food: 4-6 months

Peel and de-pit a ripe organic avocado
Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
Peel and mash 1 organic banana

Place in a blender or food processor and puree until desired texture is achieved. Avocados and Bananas do not need to be cooked.

Mango

Creamy Mango Puree: 8-10months

Ingredients:
1 Ripe Organic Mango
Plain Organic or Vanilla Yogurt OR Organic Apple or Pear Juice or plain filtered water

Preparation Directions:

Peel, Deseed and Mash Mango until smooth.

Add Yogurt (or juice or water) until the proper consistency for your baby is achieved.

** If your infant is currently not eating yogurt and/or you do not wish to use any juice, simply peel, deseed and mash the mango the proper consistency for your Infant – with or without water.

Peas

Minty Peas and Rice: 8-10 months

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (try pacific natural organic!)
3/4 cup instant organic brown rice
1 1/2 cups frozen organic peas (6 ounces)
3/4 cup sliced organic scallions
1/4 cup chopped fresh organic mint
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Bring broth to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add rice and bring to a simmer; cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 4 minutes.
Stir in peas and return to a simmer over high heat. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the peas are hot and the rice has absorbed most of the liquid, about 6 minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in scallions, mint and pepper. Cover and let stand until the liquid is absorbed, 3 to 5 minutes.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Puree Baby Food Recipe: 6-8 months

1 organic sugar pumpkin
water
cinnamon, nutmeg (optional – sprinkle into the cooking water or when you puree/mash)

Pumpkin is best when baked though you may peel, cube and steam it. Bake a pumpkin exactly as you would bake a winter (Acorn, Butternut etc.) squash. Pumpkin is after all a squash.

1. Halve the pumpkin, de-seed
2. Place halves face down in a baking pan with approx 1-2 inches of water
3. Bake between 375-425 F for approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour
Skin should be “puckery” and/or wrinkled and pumpkin should feel soft when pressed
4, Scrape out the pumpkin “meat” and then mash or puree as needed for your baby.

Sweet Potato

Sweet Potato Pancakes: 8  months

2 tbsp organic, unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup cooked organic sweet potatoes, mashed
1 organic, free-range egg (or 2 egg yolks)
1/3 cup organic all-purpose flour (use graham flour for a nice taste.)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup organic milk (or more)

Mix sweet potatoes in a mixing bowl with egg. Stir in the flour and add the baking powder.
Add up to 1/3 cup of milk while stirring. Stir in 1 tbsp butter.
The mixture should have the consistency of thick, lumpy sauce like an “instant” pancake mix.
Place a non-stick or heavy iron skillet over medium heat on top of the stove and add 1/2 tsp butter.

Spoon batter into the skillet and cook until bubbles rise to the surface of the pancakes and break. Approx. 1 to 2 minutes.
Using a spatula, flip the pancakes and cook another 2 minutes.
Remove pancakes from the skillet and keep warm on a covered plate in the oven. Freezes Well.