Welcome to the World of Homemade Baby Food!
Welcome to Simply Baby Food Recipes! This site will give you simple and easy instructions for making wholesome and delicious homemade baby food. If you can boil water, turn on the oven, and work a blender then you can make baby food!
Moms and Dads, are you stressed from wondering what you are going to feed your baby? Do you cringe at tasting jarred baby food, and you only give it to your baby because you think he or she doesn't know the difference? Then try making homemade baby food. Babies will know the difference. As soon as they taste fresh baby food made with goodness and love they will turn their heads at the jar just like you! You can have a couple months worth of baby food stored in your freezer by the time the Iron Chef is over on the Food Network!
You are a busy parent and you want convenience. We have all the tools you need to help you whip up fresh homemade baby food on demand, on the run, and for months to come! Put on your chef's hat and apron and lets get started!
Here is a YUMMY smoothie recipe. I used to get this smoothie at the workout facility I used to go to. The juice bar went out of business but we were still enjoying this at our house!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 Banana
Sqeeze of Honey
1/2 cup coconut milk (or 2 tablespoon grated coconut)
1/2 cup Frozen Vanilla Yogurt
1/2 cup Ice
Add all ingredients into blender, adding the ice last. Blend until smooth. Serve immediately and have some yourself!
Warning: This recipe contains HONEY and therefore should NOT be given to children under 12 months old. In fact, please consult with your pediatrician prior to making this or omit the honey.
Recipe and Photo by Tamika Gardner
Judging from these recipes, one might think my kids eat everything. Well, they don't! They are just like most children who are 2-3 years old. Picky! I do try to make new and exciting meals for them to try, and eventually they come around. Today I made Shrimp Fritters and Garlic Butter Corn for the family. For, my toddler, I simply diced up the shrimp and tossed it in with the corn. Which, by the way, was the only way he'd eat it. Needless to say, he loved it! And he is the pickiest of eaters.
Here is the uncut version of the fritters!
Now for the recipe. Serves 2 toddlers
Ingredients:
8-10 jumbo shrimp (peeled and deveined)
1 egg
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons Tones Seafood Seasoning
For Corn:
1 cup frozen corn
1 tablespoon butter
Canola Oil (for pan frying)
Lawry's Garlic Salt (to taste)
Note: Tones Seafood Seasoning can be found at Sam's Club or your local grocery store. As a substitute, mix together 2 tsp each of sea salt, dill, pepper, and garlic powder.
Directions:
Add oil to frying pan (about 1 inch from bottom) and set on medium-high. Remove tail from shrimp. Rinse in cool water. Set aside. Add flour and seasoning to mixing bowl. Add egg to small bowl. Dip Shrimp in egg and then dredge in flour. Add to hot oil until golden brown on one side and turn once.
Saute corn with butter and garlic salt. Serve.
My family loves butter croissants! And this grilled cheese melt literally melts in your mouth. I purchase the large butter croissants from Sam's Club. You can also find them at WalMart. They are only a few dollars and they come 12 in a pack in the bakery department. They freeze extremely well and can be used when you need them! So there is no waste.
Serve this dish with your kids favorite soup for a very tasty meal.
Here is the recipe for Grilled Cheese Melts
(Makes 1 sandwich)
Ingredients:
1 butter croissant
2 slices American Cheese
Butter Spread
Directions:
Cut croissant in half lengthwise. Spread butter on each half. Grill in a pan on top of the stove for a few minutes, butter side down, until toasty. Turn over, and add 1 slice of cheese to each half. Combine into one sandwich and continue to grill until cheese has softened. Remove from heat. Microwave for 10 seconds. Cut in half and serve.
Recipe by Tamika Gardner
Sweet Potatoes are in season in the fall so it's time to find ways to use them up! Here is my recipe for sweet potato fries.
Ingredients:
1 pound sweet potatoes, scrubbed and skinned
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Cut potato into circles (be careful not to cut to thick). If you have a crinkle cutter, you will get crinkle fries! In a large plastic bag, combine oil and salt. Add sweet potatoes and shake to coat. Lay out potatoes on baking dish and bake for 15-20 minutes, and turn over halfway through baking.
Serve warm.
Used with Permission.
Peel and dice sweet potato into 1cm cubes and cook in water for 15 minutes until soft, once cooked and cooled, fill The Wean Machine two thirds full, squeeze and feed (add a little water or formula if necessary) - always check the temperature of the food before feeding.
Hygiene in the Kitchen
Here are a few tips to practice to reduce the likelihood of food contamination.
Always wash your hands before, during, and after preparing food.
Wipe all surfaces with soap and water or mild detergeant. Especially surfaces that have been exposed to raw food.
Use separate cutting boards for fruit/vegatables and meats. Wash them immediately after use.
Use clean towels for drying
Basic Equipment
Food Mills
Great for young babies as it removes any indigestible skins for baby (blueberries, peas, appricots, etc.) The Wean Machine and the Kidco Food Mill are examples.
Blender
Blenders make a smooth consistency for purees and are great for small and large quantities.
Food Processors
Food processors can puree foods that are more coarse in texture.
Sieve
A metal sieve takes the chunks out of purees.
Steamers
A steamer or steaming basket makes it simple to steam food. Multiple-tiered steams allows you to steam greater quantities at once.
Preparing Homemade Baby Food
What is the best way to prepare baby food? Here are a few methods in cooking baby food:
Baking
Baking is the one of the best ways to cook food for your baby as it preserves the most nutrients over boiling and microwaving. Baking food requires a lot more time than some of the other methods, usually about 30 - 60 minutes for many foods.
Steaming
Steaming is another great way to cook baby food and it also preserves the most nutrients and antioxidants than boiling or microwaving. It is quick, easy, and many fruit and vegetables can be steamed.
Boiling
Boiling is the least preferred method to in cooking food for your baby because many of the nutrients in the food seep into the water in the pan. However, you can add some of those nutrients back into the food if you add the liquid to your purees. Use minimal water and take caution not to overboil.
Microwaving
Microwaving is fast and easy. However, according to recent research, it destroys antioxidants found in fresh produce.
Slow Cooker
You can prepare your favorite one pot meals in a slow cooker such as soups, chowders, casseroles, etc and then puree to a smooth consistency. However, cooking in a slow cooker is similar to boiling so it can destroy nutrients.
Tools You Need for Batch-Making
Here are a few tools
you will need to get
started with making
up to 2 months supply
of homemade baby food.
1 Blender or
Electric Food Mill__________________
8-10 Ice Cube Trays
or
10-12
freezer trays w/lidsor
12-16 sets of
Baby Cubes__________________
Deep Freezer (optional,
but highly recommended)
Baking Dishes
2-3 Pots
Storing and Freezing Homemade Baby Food
There are many ways to store homemade baby food. However, I am going to tell you the best way to freeze and store homemade baby food to keep things simple.
The best and most economical way to freeze baby food is using ice cube trays and freezer bags. It is very nice to have the ice cube trays with lids because it keeps out air and they stack better, but they are more expensive. If you have regular ice cube trays, don't fret! You are still in business. You can store fresh baby food in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Simple Instructions for Freezing Baby Food
1. Once you have blended the food into a puree that has cooled to room temperature, scoop out the food with a spoon and add to each ice cube square. It is important that you label each tray so that you can remember what the food is if you have a variety of purees.
2. For regular ice cube trays, you will need to wrap it into its own freezer bag. Do not use aluminum foil. Aluminum foil is a pain to take off when frozen and it sticks easy, leaving little foil pieces that are even harder to remove.
If you have ice cube trays with lids, simply snap them on. Freeze for 24 hours. Once firm, pop out all the cubes from each ice cube tray into separate fresh freezer bags, label them, seal tightly, and freeze up to 8 weeks (12 weeks in a deep freezer). When you are ready to use the puree, take out as many cubes as you need and heat them up in a microwave or stove top until hot. Allow it to cool down before serving. Always use a microwave safe dish. If you are not sure if the dish is microwave safe, do not use.
Homemade Baby Food On Demand
Are you an on-the-spot kind of person? Do you prefer to whip up food for your baby as he or she wants it? Well, you can certainly make fresh baby food on demand with these simple instructions:
1. Keep an Electric Food Mill/Blender Handy. If you keep this appliance on your counter, it will be easy for you to throw in cooked fruit/veggies or no cook foods for a quick and easy puree. You don't need to prepare very much, since you are only making enough for one feeding. 1/2 cup of food should give you a nice puree that makes 1-2 portions of food for baby. The food mill on the right prepares up to 2 cups worth of food and is small enough to not take up precious counter space.
2. Invest in The Wean Machine™. This handy little gadget is perfect for feeding on demand, and it even has a bowl for feeding, a spoon, and a lid all included! It makes no mess. Just fill it with your desired food, give it a sqeeze, and feed your baby. Talk about on demand! You can feed your baby anytime, anywhere. You can get The Wean Machine at TheBabyChefStore.com.
3. Mash with Fork. You can also use a fork to mash up foods for your baby. Foods that can be mashed with a fork include bananas, baked sweet potatoes, baked white potatoes, ripe pears, and avocado. Mashing with a fork is not the best method because not all foods are fork friendly!
Food for Thought: Our ancestors did not have the use of blenders or other gadgets for making baby food. How do you think food was prepared for babies?
How To Thicken or Thin Homemade Baby Food
To thicken homemade baby food, add more food or baby cereal. Do not add cornstarch or flour! Those ingredients are not suitable for babies.
To thin homemade baby food, add breastmilk, formula, cool boiled water, 100% natural fruit juices. Do not use cow's milk unless your baby is at least 12 months old.
