Great Ideas...Making Your Own Baby Food (from Mandy C from Tennessee)

Mandy Clay, a great friend of mine from work, is a new mother to Moxy...a precious little girl.  I must say Mandy is becoming a terrific mom...she just has a natural motherly instinct.   Moxy is so laid back and will give you the most serious look...but then she will smile and melt your heart.  Mandy has always been concerned that she give her baby every advantage (even while she was pregnant with her.)  She is breast feeding Moxy and pumps to be sure that there is never a time when her sweet pea goes without the nourishment that comes from breast feeding.

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There was never a doubt that when Moxy got old enough to start eating baby food...Mandy would make her own.  She knew that this would be much healthier and cost effective. She has sent several recipes and I am including them all.  I am sure you could vary them in any way that you would want to.


 
Tools:
Pot
Vegetable steamer
small mesh strainer
food processor
ice cube trays
freezer bags 

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*Carrots:
bag of frozen carrot
steam the carrots till tender. place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time

*Peas:
bag of frozen peas
steam the peas till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time.
push the peas through a fine mesh strainer (this can be omitted as they get
use to the textures, I stopped doing this after the 1st month on solids)

*Apples:
5 apples (Macintosh, Gala or Braeburn)
Wash & peal & core apples.
cut into chunks.
steam the apples till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time.

*Pears:
5 pears
Wash & peal & core pears.
cut into chunks.
steam the pears till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time.

Banana & Avocado
Both of these you don't have to cook, all you have to do is mush them
up. I find adding a little breast milk helps with the consistency

The above foods are great for introducing you baby to solids

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*Sweet Potatoes:
2 large sweet potatoes
Wash & peal sweet potatoes.
cut into chunks.
steam the sweet potatoes till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time


*Zucchini:
3 zucchini
Wash & peal zucchini.
cut into chunks.
steam the zucchini till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time (I now leave the skin on)

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*Squash:
bag of frozen squash
steam the squash till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time

*Spinach:
bag of fresh or frozen spinach
steam the spinach till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time

*Mango:
bag of frozen mango
steam the mango till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time

*Blueberry:
bag of frozen blueberries
steam the blueberries till tender.
place in a food processor (or blender).
process till smooth.
add the cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time

/The above foods are great 2nd stage for your baby

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As they get older don't be afraid to mix the food. Moxy LOVES spinach and sweet potatoes. Also the fruits mix well with her oatmeal or yogurt.

Storing food
Get a ice cube tray and fill each cube to the top with food (the ones with a (*) can be frozen), each cube is 2 table spoons. Put the tray in the freezer for 24 hours. Pop out the cubes and place in a labeled freezer bag (food and date). When starting food 1 cube is a serving then it moves up to 2 cubes.

These are some simple and basic recipes for baby food. I have more if you want them.

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