Showing posts with label Baby Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baby Food. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Guest Blogging
Today I'm the Guest Blogger over at Naturally Nina! It's a great blog with lots of info on natrual parenting. Her series is called "Just One Thing" and features moms who are sharing that one special piece of information that they would love to tell people. I have written about my love of making our own baby food, the challenges getting started, and how easy it is now! Hop on over and check it out HERE
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Because Gerber is Gross...take 4
One day I may run out of new baby food recipes....but today is not that day! I made Hubby and I some quesadillas the other day, and gave Gray some of the chicken and pieces of tortilla. This child LOVES spicy food whenever we give her what we're eating when we go out. So I figured, instead of throwing leftovers in the fridge to lurk until we found them, I would make her something delicious to freeze!!
Baby Mexican Fiesta!!
Ingredients:
Diced chicken (any amount that you have on hand)
1 can or 1 cup of black beans
1 cup brown rice
salsa (more or less depending on your baby and their love of spice!)
Spices: I used cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and paprika
Note: if your baby doesn't like spice, or hasn't had spices yet, you can absolutely omit the spices and salsa)
Baby Mexican Fiesta!!
Ingredients:
Diced chicken (any amount that you have on hand)
1 can or 1 cup of black beans
1 cup brown rice
salsa (more or less depending on your baby and their love of spice!)
Spices: I used cumin, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and paprika
Note: if your baby doesn't like spice, or hasn't had spices yet, you can absolutely omit the spices and salsa)
Begin by cooking your chicken over medium heat in a fryin pan. Don't add the spices too early or it will get super hot! Once the meat starts to brown, THEN add the spices to coat the meat well.
Once chicken is cooked set aside. Cook your rice according to package directions. Once the rice is finished cooking, add the black beans to heat them up. Add to chicken. Add a little bit of salsa for flavor if you would like. I added about 3 tbs.
Place everything into a food processor, or use a hand-chopper to make the mixture a good consistency for your baby. Place in ice-cube trays and freeze!!
I served Gray's with whole wheat tortillas broken into little pieces. She loves it!!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Because Gerber Is Gross....take 3
In continuation of our "Because Gerber is Gross" series...I have a new recipe for you!! The best part about this one is you really WILL have to keep yourself from eating it all!
With the summer heat blasting us every day, I wanted to make something cool and fun for Gray to enjoy. I decided to make her a baby food that I'm calling "Tropical Smoothie." I whipped it up last night and even though I don't like bananas, I found myself shoveling spoonfuls into my mouth instead of into the ice-cube trays!
Here's what you need:
1 large pineapple
2 bananas
3 nectarines
1 small container of "baby" yogurt. I use Stoneyfield Organic in Vanilla.
With the summer heat blasting us every day, I wanted to make something cool and fun for Gray to enjoy. I decided to make her a baby food that I'm calling "Tropical Smoothie." I whipped it up last night and even though I don't like bananas, I found myself shoveling spoonfuls into my mouth instead of into the ice-cube trays!
Here's what you need:
1 large pineapple
2 bananas
3 nectarines
1 small container of "baby" yogurt. I use Stoneyfield Organic in Vanilla.
Tropical Fruit Smoothie
Start by peeling and slicing your pineapple. Dice it if you'll be using a food processor so it will fit.
I didn't use all of the pinapple....I saved a few slices for me and Hubby!
Peel your nectarines and place them in a large bowl with the pineapple. I use a "nut chopper" to dice up all of my fruit, but you can use anything, including a food processor to mash it up to the consistency that's right for your baby.
Once you have a nice consistency, slice up your banana and add it to the bowl. Give them a good mash to mix them in. Then add the yogurt and stir to mix.
Spoon into ice cube trays, freeze, and let your baby enjoy!
For the adult "smoothie" version, just throw the fruit and yogurt into the blender!! Yummmmmm
Friday, June 3, 2011
I Have a Button!!
Happy Friday Blog Followers!! I'm super excited that I now have a Button for the blog!!! It's on the right hand side of the page, so if you have your own blog, grab the code and spread the love around!!! If you need to know how to spread the love....ask and I'll try to help you out!
I'm taking a mental break from crafting tonight and will go home and make some baby food. Our freezer is getting a little low on fruits, so I've picked up some fruit to make "Strawberry-Banana Mash" and "Mango-Peach-Applesauce". There's something therapeutic about smashing fruit at the end of a long work day!!
I'm hoping tomorrow is pretty, because I want to take Gray swimming before I come in to work. I'll let you know how that goes! She's a water-baby though so I think she'll enjoy it! Have a great night and be sure to check out the new bags HERE!
I'm taking a mental break from crafting tonight and will go home and make some baby food. Our freezer is getting a little low on fruits, so I've picked up some fruit to make "Strawberry-Banana Mash" and "Mango-Peach-Applesauce". There's something therapeutic about smashing fruit at the end of a long work day!!
I'm hoping tomorrow is pretty, because I want to take Gray swimming before I come in to work. I'll let you know how that goes! She's a water-baby though so I think she'll enjoy it! Have a great night and be sure to check out the new bags HERE!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Because Gerber is Gross... part 2
When we went to the beach two weeks ago, for convenience we took a few containers of Gerber baby food to give Gray along with her table food. Convenient...yes. Delicious...absolutely not! Don't get me wrong, Gerber is a wonderful company and have tons of great products for babies, many of which we use...but the baby food just doesn't do it for me. We were running a little low on Gray's homemade entrees, so I decided to whip up a new recipe for her.
A few years ago, Hubby and I had a great meal in Rock Hill, SC, of pork tenderloin with an cinnamon apple glaze. It was fabulous!! I haven't made Gray anything with pork yet, so I decided that this would be a good option to try for her! I just wish I had made two batches, because it was delicious! That kid eats better than we do!
Here's how to make it:
Ingredients:
4 small porkchops (just make sure the bones are out before you put them in the chopper...duh!)
1 large apple, I used a gala apple
3 tbs of light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut your porkchops into small cubes. This will save you steps later and help them cook quicker. Dice your apple into small cubes. Place apples and pork into a casserole dish. Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over the top, and cover with foil.
Bake 30-40 minutes until pork is done and the juices are bubbly. Let cool for a few minutes, then place into a food chopper. Chop until it's the right consistency for your baby.You can add the pan juices if you need to. Place in ice cube trays and freeze! Voila!
A few years ago, Hubby and I had a great meal in Rock Hill, SC, of pork tenderloin with an cinnamon apple glaze. It was fabulous!! I haven't made Gray anything with pork yet, so I decided that this would be a good option to try for her! I just wish I had made two batches, because it was delicious! That kid eats better than we do!
Here's how to make it:
Ingredients:
4 small porkchops (just make sure the bones are out before you put them in the chopper...duh!)
1 large apple, I used a gala apple
3 tbs of light brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut your porkchops into small cubes. This will save you steps later and help them cook quicker. Dice your apple into small cubes. Place apples and pork into a casserole dish. Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar over the top, and cover with foil.
Bake 30-40 minutes until pork is done and the juices are bubbly. Let cool for a few minutes, then place into a food chopper. Chop until it's the right consistency for your baby.You can add the pan juices if you need to. Place in ice cube trays and freeze! Voila!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Two new recipes
Here are two new recipes that Grayson is currently in love with: Mango Applesauce and Berries with Oatmeal!
For Mangos with Applesauce:
5 apples (I use Macintosh or Gala)
1 mango
Pinch of cinnamon, if your baby likes spices
Dice apples and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the apples are tender. Cut off the heat. Dice your mango and place into the pot with the apples for a few minutes to soften. Drain fruit and mash with a potato masher, or puree to the consistency your baby likes. Place in ice cube trays to freeze and serve when needed.
For Berries with Oatmeal:
3 Apples ( I used Gala)
1 package of blueberries
1 package of rasberries
(you can use any other berries you like, but these were in season.)
Rolled Oats
Dice apples and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover and bring to a boil. In a separate saucepan, add blueberries and rasberries with a small amount of water. Cook on medium heat until berries burst. Once apples are tender, drain and add to the berry mixture. Mash or puree the mixture until smooth. It will likely be soupy, so add the oats until it thickens up to the consistency that is right for your baby. Freeze in ice cube trays for later! I know it's called "Berries with Oatmeal" but I wanted to make a large batch and didn't want it to get too tart, so the apples are mostly for volume and to tone down the flavors a bit!
For Mangos with Applesauce:
5 apples (I use Macintosh or Gala)
1 mango
Pinch of cinnamon, if your baby likes spices
Dice apples and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook until the apples are tender. Cut off the heat. Dice your mango and place into the pot with the apples for a few minutes to soften. Drain fruit and mash with a potato masher, or puree to the consistency your baby likes. Place in ice cube trays to freeze and serve when needed.
For Berries with Oatmeal:
3 Apples ( I used Gala)
1 package of blueberries
1 package of rasberries
(you can use any other berries you like, but these were in season.)
Rolled Oats
Dice apples and place in a saucepan with enough water to cover and bring to a boil. In a separate saucepan, add blueberries and rasberries with a small amount of water. Cook on medium heat until berries burst. Once apples are tender, drain and add to the berry mixture. Mash or puree the mixture until smooth. It will likely be soupy, so add the oats until it thickens up to the consistency that is right for your baby. Freeze in ice cube trays for later! I know it's called "Berries with Oatmeal" but I wanted to make a large batch and didn't want it to get too tart, so the apples are mostly for volume and to tone down the flavors a bit!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Babies Love Italian
We made an impromptu trip to the Olive Garden a few nights ago. I thought we were going home, so we didn't pack Grayson any food. I decided she would just be getting what I ate and she loved it! She ate the inside out of a breadstick ( I didn't want her to have garlic breath), and I mashed up some of my pasta. I decided that she needed a new meal option at home instead of the same old beef and chicken, so I made her some pasta with meat sauce.
Pasta with Meat Sauce- Baby Style
Ingredients:
1lb ground beef (or chicken, turkey, whatever meat you like)
3 tomatoes diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced ( I used green for color)
1 cup whole grain pasta
Cook pasta until tender, strain and set aside. Using your hands mix ground beef in enough water to cover, mashing it until it's broken into very fine pieces. Boil this until beef is cooked. In a sautee pan, cook vegetables until tender. Add veggies to the pasta and mash with a potato masher or a fork, really anything to break it into small pieces. Add in ground beef. Let cool then spoon into ice cube trays. Freeze for storage until your little one gets a craving for some pasta!!
Pasta with Meat Sauce- Baby Style
Ingredients:
1lb ground beef (or chicken, turkey, whatever meat you like)
3 tomatoes diced
1 small onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, diced ( I used green for color)
1 cup whole grain pasta
Cook pasta until tender, strain and set aside. Using your hands mix ground beef in enough water to cover, mashing it until it's broken into very fine pieces. Boil this until beef is cooked. In a sautee pan, cook vegetables until tender. Add veggies to the pasta and mash with a potato masher or a fork, really anything to break it into small pieces. Add in ground beef. Let cool then spoon into ice cube trays. Freeze for storage until your little one gets a craving for some pasta!!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Baby Beef Stew
Another favorite.....
Ingredients:
1 lb beef tips, or stew beef
2-3 small potatoes
1 small onion
1 cup brown rice
*You can also add some diced carrots and sweet peas, or any other veggie that your baby likes
Cook rice according to package directions and set aside. Brown beef in a skillet and add chopped onion. Cook until onion is translucent. Add enough water to cover the beef and add potatoes, diced small. Boil until the beef is done and the potatoes are soft. Add beef/onion/potato mixture to a food processor and pulse until it reaches a good consistency for your baby. Add the rice and enough of the "beef water" to make a slightly soupy consistency. freeze in ice-cube trays and store to serve when your baby wants some beef stew!!
Ingredients:
1 lb beef tips, or stew beef
2-3 small potatoes
1 small onion
1 cup brown rice
*You can also add some diced carrots and sweet peas, or any other veggie that your baby likes
Cook rice according to package directions and set aside. Brown beef in a skillet and add chopped onion. Cook until onion is translucent. Add enough water to cover the beef and add potatoes, diced small. Boil until the beef is done and the potatoes are soft. Add beef/onion/potato mixture to a food processor and pulse until it reaches a good consistency for your baby. Add the rice and enough of the "beef water" to make a slightly soupy consistency. freeze in ice-cube trays and store to serve when your baby wants some beef stew!!
Baby Potato Soup
This is one of Grayson's absolute favorites!!
Ingredients:
5-6 potatoes. I used Yukon Gold, but you can use whatever kind you like. Use fewer if you have big potatoes!
1 Shallot or small onion
Fresh breast milk or formula (I haven't made it with formula, but it would work just the same.)
Cheese if your baby is ready for it
Chop the shallot and potatoes into small pieces and boil them in some water until very soft. Strain them and put them into a bowl to cool a little then mash with a potato masher (if you're not southern and don't know what a "masher" is, then I guess a fork would work too). If you need it smoother, use a food processor. Add breastmilk or formula until it is a soupy consistency. You can add cheese if you like now, or once you thaw it back out. I freeze them in ice cube trays and store in plastic bags to take out of the freezer when she's ready to eat. If your baby has tried other foods that you would like to add to the "soup", have at it!!
Ingredients:
5-6 potatoes. I used Yukon Gold, but you can use whatever kind you like. Use fewer if you have big potatoes!
1 Shallot or small onion
Fresh breast milk or formula (I haven't made it with formula, but it would work just the same.)
Cheese if your baby is ready for it
Chop the shallot and potatoes into small pieces and boil them in some water until very soft. Strain them and put them into a bowl to cool a little then mash with a potato masher (if you're not southern and don't know what a "masher" is, then I guess a fork would work too). If you need it smoother, use a food processor. Add breastmilk or formula until it is a soupy consistency. You can add cheese if you like now, or once you thaw it back out. I freeze them in ice cube trays and store in plastic bags to take out of the freezer when she's ready to eat. If your baby has tried other foods that you would like to add to the "soup", have at it!!
Because Gerber is gross....
Now don't get me wrong...There's nothing wrong with Gerber baby food. I know it's nutritious and is very convenient. However, I've tasted the stuff, and it was pretty gross. I make Grayson's baby food from scratch, using organic ingredients when I can.
We took a family vacation to the beach a few weeks ago and took Gerber foods so we wouldn't have to mess with the frozen baby food and a cooler. It was great just being able to throw her food in a bag and go, but I should have NEVER licked the spoon to clean it off. There was no flavor...no texture! Yuck!
We have a freezer full of baby food now, and I love coming up with fun recipes for her to try. Matt says I cook better for her than for us....and he's probably right. I will be sharing some of these recipes so you can make them for your little one, or for yourself...it's up to you!
We took a family vacation to the beach a few weeks ago and took Gerber foods so we wouldn't have to mess with the frozen baby food and a cooler. It was great just being able to throw her food in a bag and go, but I should have NEVER licked the spoon to clean it off. There was no flavor...no texture! Yuck!
We have a freezer full of baby food now, and I love coming up with fun recipes for her to try. Matt says I cook better for her than for us....and he's probably right. I will be sharing some of these recipes so you can make them for your little one, or for yourself...it's up to you!
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