Creamy Banana-Cado Baby Food

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

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

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/avocadobabyfoodrecipes.html

Baby Food: Vegetable Puree

Ingredients:
1 potato
1 parsnip
1 carrot or 1 turnip
4 to 5 tablespoons formula, breast milk or water

Peel vegetable and dice. Steam for about 10 minutes or until the vegetable is soft. Press through a sieve and mix with liquid. You can use a blender or food processor to puree the vegetables.

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/baby/vegetable-puree.html

Baby Food: Organic Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:
3 medium organic sweet potatoes

Bake potatoes until done or soft. Cut them open to cool. Put potatoes in the blender or food processor. Puree until smooth. Add water to get desired consistency. (Do not put hot food in the blender. It might explode.)

Fill sterilized ice cube trays with potato puree. Cover and freeze.

Makes about 2 and 1/2 cups of pureed baby food.

NOTE: 1 to 2 cubes (each cube is about 1 to 2 tablespoons) equals a serving. After cubes are frozen, pop out of trays and store in freezer bags or recycled baby food jars. When needed, just put into refrigerator to thaw the night before or set in a container of hot water. May warm in microwave or on stove top for a few seconds.

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/baby/organic-sweet-potatoes.html

Baby Food: Banana Bread Sticks

Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup mashed banana
1 3/4 cups flour (white, whole wheat, or a combination)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine ingredients and stir only until smooth. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour or until firmly set.

Cool, remove from pan, and cut into sticks. Spread sticks out on a cookie sheet and bake at 150 degrees F for 1 hour or longer until the sticks are hard and crunchy. Store in a tightly covered container.

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/baby/banana-bread-sticks.html

Baby Food: Cost Comparison!

As soon-to-be parents we are reseaching so many facets of our new little one's life. When it comes to feeding we plan on going as natural as possible. When we finally make it to food we definitely plan on making our own baby food. We'd also like to start our own little garden in the backyard to go organic. Not only is making your own baby food healthier (some jars of food can sit on the shelves for up to 3 years!!) but it is also cheaper. Check out this great cost comparison from Wholesomebabyfood.com

Baby Food: Creamy Banana-Cado Baby Food

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

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

Homemade Baby Food Tips and Hints - Do's

• Do use ice cube trays to freeze puréed foods. Each cube should be about one ounce. Once frozen, pop out the cubes, store in a sealed plastic bag, and use within two months.
• Do discard unfinished meals. Bacteria forms quickly.
• Do introduce new foods at the rate of one per week, so you can pinpoint any allergies.
• Do make sure your child has accepted most vegetables and fruits before trying any meats.
• Do steam or microwave vegetables and fruits to retain as much vitamins and minerals as possible, as opposed to boiling.
• Do use as thinners: water left from steaming, breast milk, formula, cow's milk, yogurt, broth, or apple juice.
• Do use as thickeners: wheat germ, whole-grain cereal, cottage cheese, farmer cheese, cooked egg yolks, yogurt, mashed white or sweet potato.

http://homecooking.about.com/od/specificfood/a/babyfooddos.htm

Baby Food: Rice Cereal

Wholesome Rice Cereal

2 oz brown rice powder
8 fl oz water
a little formula/breastmilk

To make the rice powder, grind brown rice in a blender or food processor. This is best achieved by grinding in small quantities - but to make the powder REALLY fine, we recommend trying a Coffee/Spice Grinder.

Bring the water to a boil.

Add the rice powder, stirring constantly with a wire whisk.

Simmer for about 10 minutes (don't forget to keep stirring, or the rice will stick).

Then stir in enough formula or breastmilk to give the consistency that's best for your baby.

Once baby has been introduced to fruit, you could always add a little of his favorite puree.

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/baby-cereal-recipe.html

Baby Food: Toddler Slushies

Toddler Slushies

For 18 months or older.

Ice
Fruit juice or juice concentrate

Crush ice in blender to make snow. Use an ice cream scoop to shape and pack "snowballs" and place in bowls or use paper cups for easy cleanup. Pour fruit juice or juice concentrate over snowballs.

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/baby/toddler-slushies.html

Baby Food: Apple Pie

For 6 months or older.

3 cooking apples
1 egg yolk (for babies 6 months to 10 months,
omit egg yolk and thicken with infant cereal)
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon water or apple juice
Small pinch of ground cinnamon

Peel, core and dice the apple into small pieces. Add to the lemon juice and water and cook over medium heat in a small saucepan for 20 minutes or until soft.

Mash or puree to desired consistency. Beat in the egg yolk (or infant cereal) and sugar until smooth. For babies age 6 months to 10 months, omit egg and add infant cereal by 1 tablespoon, until you get the desired consistency. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until set. Cool before serving.

Baby Food: Kiwi Mash

1 fresh kiwifruit
1/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup infant oatmeal or multi-grain cereal
1 teaspoon maple syrup (optional)

Dice or mash a kiwi with fork. Add cottage cheese, infant oatmeal or multi-grain cereal, and a little maple syrup (optional).

Variations:
Add some wheat germ for an extra nutrition.

Use banana or peaches.

Substitute yogurt for the cottage cheese.

Baby Food: Apple-Pear Dessert

Ingredients:
2 cooking apples
1 pear
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon water or apple juice
Dash of ground cinnamon

Directions:
Peel, remove core and dice the apples and pear into small pieces. Add the lemon juice and water (or apple juice) Simmer on low in a small saucepan until soft, about 20 minutes.

Mash or puree the fruit. Whisk in the egg yolk and sugar until smooth. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until set. Cool before serving.