Easy Home-Made First Food Purees

I'm one of those people who, since my teens, occasionally takes a turn past the baby foods aisle in the supermarket in search of a jar of Purity's apple or peach puree to nom in front of the TV.  I love the stuff!  But, while I endorse said foodstuff for my own consumption, I decided that when it came time for solids, I would prefer to nourish my little one with something a little less preservative-laden, and a little less expensive.  And so my search began for a few simple and tasty puree recipes I could whip up in my own kitchen.   I always believed that, at the cost of a jar of Purity, there must be a whole lot that goes into making a tasty puree, but I stand corrected.

To many moms, the idea of making your own baby food can be somewhat daunting on top of the massive list of commitments you already have as Mommy, especially if you and the kitchen are not the best of friends!  But these recipes are so simple you could make them with one hand tied behind your back!  And at less than R1 per meal, they're light on the pocket too!
All the recipes I found recommend boiling your fruit or vegetables in a pot of water until soft, but I respectfully disagree.  That would mean losing that gorgeous natural colour and flavour, not to mention all the goodness that should be going into your little one's tummy!  So I prefer steaming or baking my goodies.  If you have a steaming unit, it works a treat!  Alternatively, steam your fruit or vegetable on the stove.  The only other thing you need is a blender or food processor.  We just have a standard jug blender, and it works perfectly!

Recommended first foods are yellow veggies - the ever-trusty butternut, carrots and sweet potato - and bland fruits like pear, apple and peach.  Like the sisters at the baby clinic told us, Purity has done all the research, see what they offer and make your own.  So we did.

Butternut 

Halve a whole butternut and leave the seeds in.  Place the halves cut-side down in a baking dish and pour in about an inch of water.  Do not season the water.  Bake in an oven at 180 Celsius until soft - about an hour should do nicely.  Scoop out the seeds and discard.  Scoop the flesh from the shell and mash with a fork until smooth.  If you find the mixture a bit stiff, add some of the water from the baking dish until the desired consistency is achieved.

Carrots

Wash and peel your carrots, then top and tail them.  Cut into medium-sized chunks and steam until soft but not mushy - I find about 40 minutes in our steaming unit does the trick.  Do not season.  Blitz in a blender or food processor until smooth.  Again, if you find the mixture a bit stiff, add some of the water from the catch tray of the steamer.

Sweet Potato

Wash a whole sweet potato and pat dry.  Pierce the skin with a fork and wrap in foil (shiny side in).  Bake in an oven at 180 Celsius until soft - about an hour.  Halve the potato, scoop the flesh from the skin and mash with a fork. Add warm water until desired consistency is achieved, or replace the water with breast milk for a creamier meal.

Apple, Pear and Peach

Peel and quarter your fruit, and remove the pips and cores being sure to get all the hard bits - these pieces don't soften well and can be a choking hazard. Cut the fruit into fair-sized chunks and steam until soft but not mushy - about 30 minutes works great.  Blitz in a blender or food processor until smooth.

All of the above can be frozen, and I make a two week supply at a time. Scoop the puree into clean ice trays and freeze overnight.  In the morning, remove the blocks from the tray and place in freezer-safe containers or Ziploc bags - this is so the food doesn't get freezer burn and you can reuse the ice trays.  We bought new trays with large blocks, and find that they are the ideal size for Ricky's meals - one block for lunch, and two for dinner - so no guessing and less waste.  To thaw, just pop the blocks into the microwave for a minute and you're ready to feed your baba!

Try mixing purees for interesting new flavours or when easing your little one into a new food.  Ricky is particularly fond of carrot and apple!

Here's to happy cooking and full tummies!

Smiles,
Mommy