Yogurt. Apricots. Figs. Edamame. How can this not be good? Dabbing my toe into the proverbial “pool” of 6-8 month baby food cookery I find myself working and re-working the combos. Perfectionism can be a bugger.
Puree consistency set me back a few times. I got a few questionable looks from Ketan, couple spoon pushes and nose crinkles. But we powered through…
He’s got his favs, local Clover-Stornetta whole milk organic yogurt. He pounds these like nobody’s business. At times, I find myself sheepishly clearing out the vanilla and plain yogurt selection at the store. Whole milk is key. Babies need the fat. Over half of baby’s calories should be from healthy fats. So shy away from those low-fat and fat-free options.
The first yogurt combo was inspired and adapted from a baby food blog I reference regularly called Weelicious. Soy beans are the most nutritious of all beans and contain more protein weight for weight than any other food of animal or vegetable origin. Since I have been reticent to introduce meat, this felt like a reassuring non-meat protein alternative.
Ingredients
1/3 bag frozen edamame
3 Tbsp. whole milk plain yogurt
1/2 Tsp. gram marsala spice
2 Tbsp. dried apricots, rehydrated*
1 Tbsp. water
Directions
Steam edamame until tender.
Add all the remaining ingredients into a food processor and puree.
Cool and serve.
* Apricots, use dried un-sulphored apricots and place them in a bowl and cover for 10 minutes in hot water, then puree in food processor. I’ve tried fresh apricots, but the dried really adds the extra flavor power to the dish.
Now, on to the figs, one of the highest sources of plant calcium and fiber with the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits. Now this recipe can’t get any easier. Try two ingredients. Yes, fig + water = success. In fact, this basic recipe was so tasty, that I decided to dab a little on my afternoon nush of cheese and crackers. Maybe there is something to this celebrity baby food diet after all??
Ingredients
1 container black mission figs*
Enough water to puree to desired consistency in your food processor or Beaba
*Dried figs can be substituted. Just rehydrate in hot water for 10 minutes and then puree.
Directions
Puree until smooth.
The last two recipes of this post I am the most proud of because they are sneaky. It’s not that I like being duplicitous, but when vegetables are involved a parent has to do what a parent has to do. Organic dino kale has been something I have been trying to work into Ketan’s palate. It’s a nutritional powerhouse high in cancer fighting antioxidants, beta-carotene, calcium and Vitamins C and K. Kale has a strong taste and without traditional adult embellishments to make it taste super yum, I was perplexed. Enter the dried fig. Dark in color, with a depth of sweetness, this turned out to be a match made in heaven. Not to mention a double whammy of calcium with the addition of fig. I will for warn you the color is a bit off-putting. Camo-military green is the best way to describe it. But hey, he ate it. And even gave me a couple hmmmm. Gold in my book. Be sure to use organic kale as conventional grown kale is known to have high pesticide residue.
Ingredients
1/2 bag dried figs, rehydrated
1 handful organic sautéed (in EVOO) dino kale
Directions
Use rehydrated fig water for puree.
Ketan is Mr. Picky on textures and I found my Beaba really couldn’t get the Kale completely broken down. So I transferred this concoction to my VitaMix and viola, a star was born! (If you don’t have a VitaMix a standard blender will do)
Last puree of the post is my yellow split pea. I am not humble on this one; it’s a winner. Daddy said it was palatable, but he has been a pea hater since he was a wee tike, so I take it with a grain of salt.
Ingredients
1/2 cup yellow split peas
1 cup low sodium, imagine organic vegetable broth
1 cup water
1 cinnamon stick
2 Tbsp. rice cereal
1 peeled and steamed organic fuji apple
Directions
Cook dried split peas with half vegetable broth diluted with water and a cinnamon stick for about 25 minutes. Split peas do not need to be presoaked cutting down on time. Bring to a boil and reduce to low simmer until tender. Discard cinnamon stick and combine split peas, steamed fuji apple and rice cereal in the food processor. Puree until smooth.
