Homemade Baby Food

 Homemade baby food will last for 7 days in the refrigerator or 4 to 6 weeks in the freezer (freeze puree in ice cube trays for easy portions and quicker thawing time). 

Pear, Blueberry & Raisin Blend
Babies of all ages love sweet pears and blueberries, but if you try this recipe for babies younger than 8 months, omit the raisins - they can pose a choking hazard.


Ingredients
2 large Bartlett pears (or Anjou or other green pear) 
1 tablespoon raisins
1/2 cup fresh blueberries


Directions 
Peel and core pears. Cut into 1-inch cubes. 
Steam pears and raisins together for 10-minutes, or until pears are soft. Reserve liquid from steamer. 
Combine pears, raisins and blueberries in a food processor. Puree until raisins are finely chopped. Add reserved liquid in 1/8-cup scant increments to achieve desired consistency (smooth for little ones and a bit chunkier once they're eating textured foods). 

Sweet Potato, Spinach & Tofu Blend
Plant proteins are easier to digest than meat, making them ideal for babies younger than 10 or 11 months. 


Ingredients
1 medium sweet potato
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach (about half a bundle)
3/4 cup soft tofu


Directions
Peel and dice the sweet potato into 1-inch pieces. Steam for 20 minutes, or until soft. Reserve the liquid from the steamer. 
Add the sweet potato and 1 cup of the reserved liquid to a food processor. Puree until smooth. Add additional liquid to achieve the desired consistency. 
Wash the spinach and remove the stems. Wilt the leaves in the steamer for 7 minutes. 
Add the spinach and tofu to the food processor. Puree until smooth, adding additional reserved liquid. 






Recipes courtesy of Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies & Toddlers