homemade baby food

i decided to make finley's food before he was even born. it was (and is) important to me to feed him good food, mostly organic, and to save money where possible. organic jarred food is expensive, not so much that i wouldn't do it, but i've been saving a ton making my own and i enjoy doing it. i make purees for finn, but plan to continue making baby friendly versions of adult food, incorporating herbs and spices and textures through a variety of ethnic fare. here's one way to make baby food:

i took a few pictures (at night) of my latest puree, made from the last few in a box of organic dried apricots. i decided to add a bit of vanilla bean, since he's only had cinnamon so far.

my supplies include (not just for this, but for most every puree):
pot+lid
metal steamer basket
stick blender
bpa free plastic or glass storage containers (i use tommee tippee food pots and beaba portions)

1. add about 1 inch of water to the pot and bring to a boil.
2. drop apricots into water.
3. slice a portion of a vanilla bean and remove meat from pod.
4. cover and simmer on low for 8-10 minutes, until apricots are soft.

5. remove apricots from liquid (reserve) and place in bowl to puree.
6. use stick blender to puree, adding cooking liquid until desired consistency.
7. allow to cool before serving.
(store covered in fridge for 3 days or freezer for 3 months)

i love serving food to finley that i would eat myself. the colors of homemade food are vibrant and the flavors are true to the actual food. aside from plain green bean puree, he has eaten every bite of everything i've given him.

at 7.5 months finn has had: avocado (raw), applesauce, banana (raw), sweet potato, peas, green beans, squash, pears, apricots, cauliflower, peaches, zuchini, rice, and oatmeal. aside from cooking by steaming, boiling, or baking, everything has been pureed and stored the same way. we give him the same new food for 3 days in a row and then mix and match at meals once he's tried everything.

if you're interested in making your own food, here are some resources: i use this cookbook and love how it's laid out, easy to follow by age and lots of good tips. i love smitten kitchen baby and wholesome baby food. while i haven't priced much out, i do try to buy whatever is on sale to save more than i'd pay on jarred food (unless you buy in bulk or something). i typically get 5-8 servings out of one batch (i don't have the storage for larger), which is just enough for the 3 day trial plus a variety of foods frozen for whenever i need them.

if you have more questions, let me know. if you have your own methods, share!