Baby Food Recipies

So I never really thought of myself as the baby food making kind of mom. I always kind of figured I would do the jars or pouches. While I was pregnant I did a lot of reading. I mean a LOT of reading and saw that the trend of mom's making their baby's food is back on the rise. I was still skeptical, but once I looked into it I realized that it makes far more sense to make Cutes' meals myself. To start with it is more economical. A jar baby food is anywhere from .55 cents to $1.25, and the pouches start at $1.10. I can get a pound of green beans for a little over a dollar and that makes 8-10oz of food, TWICE as much as a pouch. The next factor in my baby food decision was taste. I have tasted baby food as an adult. It's gross and barely tastes like the food it is made with. I hold baby food responsible for my dislike of peas. It is also bland, bland, BLAND! We do not eat bland food. If you are breast feeding baby is not used to bland either. Those nachos with extra jalapenos you ate, baby ate too. Now it's true that babies taste buds are more sensitive, but to me that is all the more reason to add flavor to their food. Make eating an experience.They are not always going to be eating separately from you. I do not want to have to make dinner for me and Papasuarusrex AND kid food for Cutes once she is a toddler. I want her to eat what we eat as part of the family. It's best she gets used to our cooking and flavor profiles now, that way we don't have to re-introduce foods to her. The last thing that convinced me I would be making baby food was this, the Infantino Fresh Squeeze Station. It came out while I was pregnant, and I thought, and still do, that it was the coolest thing. It made the food I make easily portable.
     Now I know what you are thinking. "But making baby food is so much work!!!" No it's not. First, babies don't eat large portions. Second, you can always just puree what ever vegetable you are having. And third, 2-3 hours in the kitchen can yield a months worth of baby food, leaving more money for diapers. Below are my recipes for Cutes Patoots favorites. Check back as I will add more recipes as time and her palate progress.

Apple Sauce

4 Gala apples (really any apple will work. I picked these for price, taste, and texture)
1tsp Cinnamon
6-10 Drops real vanilla extract
Just enough water to cover

1) Core and peel your apples. Then chop them into about 1" pieces. Place them in a medium sauce pan with the other ingredients.
2) Boil on HIGH for about 15 minutes, or until they start to break apart. Remove from heat.
3) Strain the bulk of the cooking liquid into a cup and set aside. Place cooked apples into a a bowl and mash with either a baby masher, potato masher, or use a food processor. If it seems to thick add a small amount of the cooking liquid.
4) Feed to baby and listen as they articulate about apples!

Makes about 24 oz

Curried Mangos
 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
1-1 1/2 tsp Indian curry powder

1-1 1/2 cup water (Just enough to mostly cover the mangoes

1) Place mangoes water, and 1 tsp of curry powder in a sauce pan (start with 1 tsp of curry. You can add more later if you want to.) and bring to a boil. Continue to boil them on high for 10 minutes, or until mushy,
2) Remove from heat and strain all of the liquid into a separate container. Set the liquid aside.
3) Use the Preppy Puree or a stick blender to puree the mangoes. Add a small amount of the cooking liquid, if desired to thin out your puree. (Mangoes have stringy fibers that take a little longer to break down than you might think.) If you want a little more curry flavor you may add it at this point.
4) Once cooled, it's time mango munching time!

Makes about 16oz depending on the mangoes sizes.

Garlic Ginger Green Beans

1lb Fresh green beans, washed and cut
1/2-1 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 tsp Ginger powder
1/4 tsp Lemon pepper

1) Steam washed and cut green beans until bright green and tender, but not mushy. (They will continue to cook from their own heat. They will turn a brownish green if they are over cooked.)
2) Add the garlic, ginger and lemon pepper
3) Use the Preppy Puree or a stick blender to make them the consistency you desire for your little one. (I like a rougher puree, but it can be made smoother. Add a little bit of the steaming water if you want it runny.)
4) Put into the refrigerator to cool and stop the residual heat from cooking the beans any further.
5) Once cooled, it's time to watch your baby go ga-ga for green beans! Store

Makes about 8oz.

Sweet Potato Mash
1 medium Sweet Potato, peeled and chopped
1/2tsp Cinnamon
Pinch of Brown Sugar (optional)
2tbls mashed Banana
1/4c Pear or Apple Juice

1) Pre-heat oven to 425F. Place diced sweet potato on a piece of foil large enough to make a pouch. Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar (brown sugar is completely optional, I know many moms don't like to add sugar to foods. I only added what pinched between three fingers) over the sweet potato and toss to coat. Fold the long ends together to seal the top and then do the same to the ends leaving enough space for steam. Make sure not to puncture the foil. Place your packet on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until they easily mash.
2) Pull the sweet potato out of the oven and let cool. (Be careful opening the pouch as steam will escape.) Place into a bowl and mash with either a baby food masher or a fork. (I find a potato masher leaves it to chunky when working with smaller amounts.)
3) Add the banana and half of the juice. (this step can be done before mashing the potato. You can even save yourself some trouble by just breaking the piece of banana off and mashing it with the potato if you like.) Check the consistency. If it is still too think add the rest of the juice.
4) Put in the refrigerator to cool, before serving and packaging up.
5) Watch your sweetness swoon over sweet potato!


Makes about 12 oz, but amounts vary greatly depending on your definition of a medium potato. The juice and banana have to be adjusted to accordingly. You should taste the banana but it shouldn't over power the sweet potato.