Homemade Baby Food

 Making baby food is super simple and so much better for your baby than store bought. I know, we are all busy and don’t have time for it but if you start with a few things at a time soon you can have a freezer full of healthy, safe baby food. Here is my recipe for Fresh Peas but you can also use sugar snap if you can’t find fresh peas, or even green beans cut into pieces and cooked a little bit longer. When you see the end product vs. the jar store bought kind you will know why kids don’t like peas…they haven’t had the real thing!

Baby’s Green Beans or Peas (All Stages)

8 ounces fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces   Or

8 ounces fresh or frozen peas

Reserved cooking liquid, formula, or milk

To Steam:

Green Beans: place beans in a steamer basket in a pot  with just enough water to reach the bottom of the steamer.  Steam with the lid on for 10-12 minutes or until the beans are tender when pierced with a fork.   Reserve the cooking liquid. Run under cold water to stop the cooking and to cool before processing.

Peas: place peas in a steamer basket in a pot with just enough water to reach the bottom of the basket.  Cover and steam for 3-4 minutes or until the peas are tender but still bright green. Reserve cooking liquid.  Run under cool water to stop the cooking.

To Microwave:

Green Beans: place beans in a microwave safe glass dish with a lid and add a small amount of water to bottom of pan.  Cook on high for 3 minutes, stir, recover and cook for 3 minutes more or until beans are tender.  Reserve cooking liquid.  Run under cold water to stop the cooking.

Peas: place peas in a microwave safe glass dish with a lid and add a small amount of water to bottom of pan.  Cook on high for 1 minute, stir, recover and cook for 1-2 minutes more or until peas are tender.  Reserve cooking liquid.  Run under cold water to stop the cooking.

Process cooked beans or peas in a food processor or blender adding reserved cooking liquid to achieve desired consistency.  For a smoother texture after processing push the beans or peas through a fine mesh sieve or squeeze through several layers of cheesecloth.

Fun Add Ins:  Getting your baby to eat green veggies can sometimes be a challenge, try adding in a fruit such as pureed apples or pears or even mashed banana.

Storage: Allow cooked vegetables to cool before pureeing and then again to room temperature (not exceeding 2 hours) before storing. Store in 4 oz. canning jars filled to 1 inch below the rim of the jar.  This is called the “headspace” and allows room for expansion in the freezer.  Freeze in 2-4 oz. portions. 

Thaw: in refrigerator over night.  If you must quick thaw do so in the microwave in the glass jar on half power in 10-20 second intervals.  Always check the temperature of your baby’s food before serving.  You can thin out consistency with expressed breast milk or formula.

Serve:  Use a clean spoon to dish out portions of food form the storage jar.  Never refreeze a thawed food.  Only thaw and heat what you intend on using. 

Green Bean Fact: green beans contain good source of vitamins A & C and are virtually sodium free.

Pea Fact:  are actually legumes and also contain great sources of vitamins A& C and also contain folate.