Some Fruity & Veggie Combos To Try

Now that we have covered the basics it's time to move on to something more adventurous. Once you have safely introduced these different types of vegetables and fruits, then it's time to "mix 'n match". You can mix any number of vegetables/fruits in any combination you choose. You just need to experiment a bit and trust your instincts as to what your baby would or would not like.

Like I always say, home made baby food is so simple and more importantly so much more rewarding as you know exactly what your baby is eating and you have the ultimate satisfaction of becoming a master chef for that very special little customer!

Have fun experimenting with fun and healthy foods to feed your children.  They will become better eaters, and you can rest easy knowing that you are giving your loved ones the best, healthiest, tastiest food possible. Happy Cooking!


Pear, Blueberries & Banana (6+)
*Blueberries do not fall under the "No Berries Until 12 Months Old" rule and may be introduced as early as 7-months of age. But please do consult your baby's pediatrician if your baby has shown any signs of food allergies. You should consider stewing the blueberries if you are introducing them earlier than 7-8 months and also if you have found your baby has any troubles with digesting other foods.
 * You can omit the berries and the pear and banana combo will be suitable for babies from 4 months onward.

Ripe Pear - 1
Blueberries puree - 3tsp
Banana - 1/2 of a very ripe banana

1. Peel and de-seed a fully ripened pear
2. Mash or puree as needed for your baby's preference .You may wish to steam pear chunks for a bit to soften them and enable easier digestion for a younger baby who starts solids at 4 months of age.
3. To make the blueberry puree - Bring water to a boil. Add blueberries and simmer for 15 minutes until soft. Reserve liquid and use a slotted spoon to transfer blueberries to blender/processor/mixer and puree.
If needed, add some of the liquid to blueberries.
4. Mash the very ripe banana
5. Mix all 3 purees and voila yummy puree ready to serve!
6. Add cereal to thicken up if you wish. I found the puree to be of just the right consistency that Chackochi likes so I didn't need to thicken it any more.

Peach, Pear & Banana (6+)
1 peach
1 ripe pear
1 banana

1. Score an “X” into the side of the peach and lie, X-side down, in a small saucepan of water (the water should come no more than halfway up the peach).
2. Bring the water to a boil and simmer the peaches for around five minutes, until soft.
3. Remove from water and, once cool enough, peel away the skin, cut, and discard stone.
4. Peel and deseed the pear and cut into small pieces.
5. Place the peaches, pear and banana into a blender and puree until smooth.

Notes:
*This puree can be frozen for up to six weeks.
*Banana will start to darken when it is left exposed to the air so peel your banana just before you are going to use it. Dark banana still tastes the same but it doesn't look so appetizing!
*You can also substitute the peach with an apple and the puree will be suitable for 4 month old babies

Pumpkin, Sweet Potato & Carrot (4+)
1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 large carrot , peeled and chopped
1 cup pumpkin, peeled and chopped

1. Steam the vegetables for about 20 minutes or until tender.
2. Blend the vegetables to a puree adding a little of the boiled water at the bottom of the steamer (about 75ml) or some of your baby’s usual milk to make a good consistency for your baby.
3. If you don't have a steamer,  put the vegetables into a saucepan and just cover with boiling water.Cover the pan with a lid and cook over a medium heat until tender (about 20 minutes).
4. Drain the vegetables and blend to a puree using a little of the cooking liquid or you could add a little of your baby’s usual milk.

Notes:
*Suitable for freezing
*Makes about 6 -8 serves

Oatmeal with Apple (6+)

1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup water
1 apple, peeled and cut into small chunks
milk, optional

1. Put the rolled oats, water, and apple chunks into a saucepan over medium high heat.
2. Bring to a boil and allow to gently boil for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Remove from heat and transfer to a blender.  Blend until the oatmeal is at your baby’s desired consistency.

Notes
*Will keep stored in the refrigerator for  2-3 days.  Simply reheat and add some of your baby’s usual milk (or more water) to thin it again.  
* You can substitute apples for pears or bananas or any other fruit your baby likes. Let your imagination run wild :)


Here are links to some of the older recipe posts I put up when I had Issac. Check them out!
Apple & Banana Surprise - 4+
Fruity Breakfast Porridge - 6+ or 4+ if you omit the raisins
Creamy Zucchini Soup - 7+
Lentils and Apple Puree - 6+

And also coming up next are some toddler friendly recipes as I've been neglecting that part of my blog for a while now to stay tuned. Until then take care and Happy Pureeing everyone! :)

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Applesauce

I just don't know how some of you mothers out there do it. Juggle baby(babies),work, housework and life in general. I've been struggling the past few weeks to keep my sanity.

Let me start by saying how thankful and truly blessed I am to live the life I live, maybe just sitting down to write this will clear my mind and remind me how good I do have it... But the past few nights have been a struggle for both of us, maybe more so for Issac since he is the one cutting the top tooth, but I don't remember his bottom teeth giving him as much trouble as this top tooth has. :(

I can see the faint outline of his tooth ready to burst out into the surface. Just wish it would hurry up and come out soon and put us both out of our misery.

OK! I'm done with my rant about teething. On a happier note, he has pulled himself up to stand and completely let go and still stood by himself for a few moments, so I’m thinking walking time is fast approaching. He is also trying to talk more and he just seems to understand more and I feel our communication is clicking with him more and more every day. Its just so rewarding to see him growing up into this happy little chap every passing day. :)

Now, onto today's recipe. Since Issac's teething and is not really interested in eating, applesauce seemed to be a good idea as it was sweet and also it's really soothing when served cold.

Full of vitamin C and fibre, you can make sauce from almost any kind of apple you can find, although Fuji's and Gala apples are especially sweet and delicious.

I add a touch of cinnamon just to give it a little zip, but you could easily leave it out. Why spend more money buying jarred when you can make this in minutes?!

Applesauce

6 medium Royal Gala apples (or any other naturally sweet varieties)

A pinch of nutmeg or cinnamon

Water

Wash, peel, quarter, and core the apples. Place in a steamer basket over a pot of water.
Cover the pot tightly and steam for 10 minutes or until apples are tender, adding more water if needed. The apples should pierce easily with a knife when ready.
Cool, then strain in a food processor or blender, adding 1 tablespoon of the cooking liquid per apple to the puree.
Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg and serve warm or - as a soothing treat for teething babies - nice and cold.

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Apple Kesari & a Goodbye...

One of the very important people in my life is moving away. She is a friend and she and her husband are moving to another place soon.

My husband is my best friend but that doesn’t mean that Her moving away doesn’t feel like a seismic shift tossing me off balance. Because it does feel that way. It feels like a little earthquake.

What's especially sad is that we never got together as much as we should have,until recently. We were both super busy, and when someone's around all the time, it's easy to think that you'll always get to see them.

Then life happens and suddenly, the friend that you always assume you'll see next week, is packing her bags.

We haven't been friends for very long but it sure seems that way. Has she changed the way I think about the universe, about life, about love?? No, not really. Has she changed me in a way words can never express? Nope.

But without doing any of those things, she's managed to make a mark on my life and I know that even though we didn't do so much stuff together, when I say goodbye to her, a piece of me will go with her.

And  I know Issac's going to miss them too. He absolutely adores the both of them as much as he does us.

Yes, I know there is Skype, Facebook, G+ and the phone...but it's just not the same. I just hope she knows what she means to me and that she will be missed!!

Just reminds me how important it is that we find time for friends even though it seems absolutely impossible. There are so many special women in my life that I've met along the way and have stuck with me :) Ladies, you now who you are and I just hope you know that I love you and miss you even if I don't say it often or keep in touch as often as I should!!

OK, now for today's recipe.Today's recipe is something sweet. A bit of a treat for the babies. Issac hasn't got his appetite back yet after his bout of illness and so I made this coz he loves sweet stuff and hoped that he would take more than a couple of mouthfuls.

He did like it and did eat a wee bit more than usual. Its just a very easy Indian dish you can treat your baby to once in a while. And its great for parents too!!

Apple Kesari

Recipe Source : http://thecuisine.blogspot.com

2 medium sized Apples

1 cup Semolina (Rava)

1 cup Sugar 

3 cups Water

1/2 cup Ghee

1/2 tsp Cardamom Powder

Raisins (optional) (refer Notes)

Roast the semolina in a table spoon of ghee until light golden color and keep it aside.
Wash, peel and grate the apples and set aside.
Bring 3 cups of water to boil and add the roasted semolina and grated apple to it.
Cover with a lid and let it cook completely. When the water evaporates, add the sugar, cardamom powder and ghee.
Mix well and cook for a few minutes. When it thickens switch off the heat.
Garnish with fried raisins and serve.


Notes
You can adjust the amount of ghee to your liking. I haven't used the whole amount as in the recipe.
Omit the raisins and cashews if your baby can't manage chewing big pieces or optionally cook the raisins along with the semolina and apple until soft.

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Chicken & Peach Mash

In one of my previous post I talked about how happy I was that Issac finally seemed to be settling in into his day-care. You're going to think I'm crazy, but I think I'm sad my son is actually quite comfortable with his teachers at kindy and is still smiling as he watches me walk away.

It’s not just the teachers in day-care. It’s everyone he jumps into the arms of. It’s all those times I hold out my arms for him and he turns his back on me, obviously more comfortable in a strangers arms!

There used to be a time a couple of months ago, when Renju had to just walk past and Issac would flail and twist and turn in my arms until his Dada picked him up. He would then settle into Renju’s arms and shoot me weird looks like I was a random stranger from the street.

It totally broke my heart! I felt so dejected. Isaac was seriously in love with Renju. He always wanted Renju if he's there. Luckily now, mostly by the end of the day, my son wants to snuggle and love me. He will reach for me, even when Renju was holding him.

Oh don't get me wrong, I love my son. I love him so much, more than anything. Sometimes it's so hard to see him love and want someone more than me! I guess it’s a blessing that he has a Dad he is attached to and in love with. He has such a great Dad. No wonder he is obsessed with him. I am too... J

I guess it’s just a phase and he'll soon outgrow it.But until then, I'll continue to be jealous of all those he chooses over me.

Today's recipe combines chicken with fruit - a combination that works surprisingly well ... and particularly appeals to babies!

This may not top Issac's favorites at the moment but at least he eats it. This seems to be the only way I can get him to eat rice right now.


Chicken & Peach Mash
Recipe Source Homemade Baby Food Recipes

1/2 cup cooked, boneless chicken, chopped
1/4 cup cooked rice (Refer Notes)
1 ripe peach
1 tbsp formula/breast milk

Remove the skin and stone from the peach, then quarter.
Place the peach, chicken, rice and milk into a food processor.
Chop roughly - (this recipe is suitable for babies capable of chewing soft lumps).

Notes

You can use white or brown rice as you prefer.

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Lentils and Apple Purée

Sleep deprivation is a form of torture that is every parents nightmare. Before Issac was born, all my friends and acquaintances told me I could kiss my good night sleeps goodbye. What I wasn't prepared for was that my baby was not a napper at all. I could never get him to take regular naps during the day or to sleep undisturbed throughout the night no matter how hard I tried.
The first month was particularly hard. My mum and I took turns staying awake at nights while Issac slept in our arms. I was exhausted. I don't know how he did it. He could stay up for hours and not seem even the tiny bit tired or sleepy.He would sometimes take a cat-nap, a 30 minute deep sleep, that would then give him the energy to stay up for another good six hours!

People keep telling me it would get better as he got  older. But how old, I ask? Issac's 8 months old now and he is still waking up three times a night ― to nurse, to play, to cry, to do anything but sleep. We just don’t understand why he isn't more tired, when we are utterly exhausted and drained. We have a daily night time routine that I try and follow as much as we can; dinner, bath time, and milk before bed with the lights dimmed low.And like it had been since the day he was born, some nights Issac would go right to sleep, and some nights, perhaps once every couple of weeks, we would get lucky and he would sleep through the night.

To make it worse, my husband is one of those gifted people who falls asleep as soon as his head hits the bed and can stay asleep. Its not his fault he is a deep sleeper but couldn't he have passed his gift on to our son too?? Was that just too much to ask for?

My search for the best technique to regulate my baby's sleeping patterns continue and I'll definitely keep you guys posted. Does anyone out there have a fail proof plan you use to get your baby to sleep through the night? I would definitely love to hear about it.

Today's recipe is a weird combo but is one of Issac's favourites. The sweetness from the apple and the aromatic spices are bound to tingle your wee ones taste buds!

Lentils and Apple Purée
Adapted from Homemade Baby Food Recipes

1/2 cup red lentils
2 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 small apple, cored and diced (refer Notes)
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
pinch cinnamon

Roast the lentils in a heavy bottomed pan (without oil). Boil the water and add the roasted lentils. Cook till the lentils are done.
Whilst the lentils are cooking, heat the oil in a small frying pan and saute the diced onion until tender.
Add the diced apple and crushed garlic to the onion, then stir in all the spices.
Cook for a few more minutes, until the apple is tender.
Tip the onion/apple mixture into the lentil pot and leave it to simmer for 5 more mins.
Allow to cool.
Mash well using a spoon if you want some texture for older babies or you can just run it in a food processor or blender for a few seconds until smooth.
Leftovers will freeze well or can stay in the fridge for up to 48 hours.

Notes
You can use any lentils you like(yellow, red or green). I used red as they cook faster.
You may prefer to peel the apples. I now have started to leave the apples unpeeled as Issac has no problems with the peels.
You can find more information about whether to peel or not here.

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Apple & Banana Suprise

Being a parent can be really stressful some days. Having kids is just awesome, but haven't you had one of those days when you just want to give up?

You need a little stress relief to get you through the day. I’ve learned that if you can't learn to find the humour in the situation, you'll go crazy or maybe because I’ve already gone crazy I find it. Either way, you’ll feel better if you can laugh, it relieves stress.

 So what is it, that got me talking about stress and laughter, how about the concept of a clean house with a baby???

I used to have a beautiful, spotless, immaculate house. I could take pride in how shiny my kitchen and bathroom floors were, how everything was exactly where they should be and I could dare someone to find a speck of dust anywhere! What can I say, I was a cleanliness freak. I think I got it from my Mom. I still remember how she would go absolutely berserk if anything was out of place!! This more or less usually happened when she visited MY bedroom.

Just to be clear, I wasn't born this way. Before I got married, I did like everything to be neat and tidy, but could not be bothered to do it myself. After marriage though, once you have your own family and your own place, things change. You can't have enough of that pride swelling up inside you when someone randomly visits your house and comments that your kitchen floors are so clean that they could literally eat off them! Ahh, those were happy times.

 Nowadays it’s a major achievement if I can even manage to get through the day without Issac making the living room look like Santa Claus' goody bag exploded in there.

Ever since I've been back at work, things have started to get slightly out of hand. The house looks like a tornado went through it. It’s embarrassing. And it’s no help when you have a baby waiting for just after you have tidied up to crawl over and decide he definitely likes everything thrown across the floor rather than tidily stacked up on the shelves.

Oh well, at least one of us is having fun J

OK, now that I’ve had my rant for the day, here’s today’s recipe. This is a simple yet delicious snack that you can whip up in no time and is always a winner.

Apple & Banana Surprise

Image courtesy: http://recipes.lovetoknow.com

1 small apple, cored and sliced

1/2 ripe banana, mashed
1 heaped teaspoon raisins, chopped
drop of vanilla (optional)
pinch ground cinnamon

Cook the apple with the raisins in a small saucepan with a little water on a low heat until tender. This would take roughly 3 to 4 minutes.
Purée the apples and raisins lightly.
Combine with a drop of vanilla,if using, and the mashed banana in baby’s serving bowl.
Stir in the cinnamon and serve while still warm.

Notes
I choose to not peel the apple as most of the nutrients are on the skin. But for younger babies I would recommend peeling.
You can add a little more water if necessary as the apple is cooking, but make sure you don’t add too much or overcook it as the apple will become watery and flavourless.
You can also add some yoghurt(natural or flavored) into the mix to give it a more thicker texture and for that extra boost of calcium. 

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Fruity Breakfast Porridge

Issac, aka Kochu, is 8 months now. He has started crawling and pulling himself up and exploring more parts of the house. Up till now his cruising was restricted to the lounge and our kitchen, but of late he has dared to venture down the corridor and sit outside the bedroom doors trying to decided whether or not he should go inside. Exciting times ahead!

Now onto today's recipe.Oats are a pretty filling breakfast for both bubs and adults alike. And with the added fruits my son loves the sweet taste. I prefer to use the rolled oats rather than those instant ones as they are more healthy. You can use any fruits you like. Issac really(I mean, really) loves his bananas. He will eat absolutely anything that has bananas in it! So as you'll notice, most of my recipes will have bananas in it :)

Fruity Breakfast Porridge
Adapted from Homemade Baby Foods

1 tbsp rolled oats
90 ml milk (can use breast milk or formula instead)
1/2 small, very ripe banana, mashed
1 small pear, peeled, cored and diced
1 tbsp raisins, chopped
pinch nutmeg (optional)

Mix together the oats, milk, banana, pear and raisins in a small saucepan over a medium heat.
Bring to boil, then reduce the heat to very low and cover.
Simmer gently for a few mins until the oats, pear and raisins are cooked well.
Sprinkle with the nutmeg just before serving.

Notes 
The original recipe uses water instead of milk. I prefer milk as it gives a more thicker and creamier texture. 
I used  a  soft pear(Taylors Gold) as they cook pretty quickly and are much sweeter than the hard pear variety..

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