BABY CHOW: SINGLE PUREES

Around 5 months we started giving Kensi single pureed foods. I would often buy a new flavor at the store before I would make a large batch of pureed baby food. Her favorites are still green beans, mixed veggies and sweet potatoes. Although, I will admit I didn't attempt to make our own green beans and veggies. It didn't take long for her to get kind of bored with single purees and we moved into blends and bite sized foods. But I know there are an array of moms out there....some who only want to make their own baby food and others who'd rather just pick it up at the store. I fall somewhere in the middle and am sharing more of our homemade purees, the directions for the veggies are pretty much the same, only the cooking time varies.

I use a Tupperware microwavable food steamer, you can always just steam over the stove.
For freezing....cookie scoop on to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in freezer for 1 hour. Remove each scoop and wrap in plastic wrap in groups of 4-6. Place in a labeled Ziplock Freezer bag and you're done!

Let's start with the easiest..... single purees.....

Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes
(You can always omit the cinnamon)

Broccoli 
1 head of Broccoli
Cut broccoli into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once broccoli is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until broccoli is a smooth consistency. 

Cauliflower
1 head of Cauliflower
Cut cauliflower into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 minutes. Once cauliflower is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until cauliflower is a smooth consistency. 

Potato
1 large or 3 small Potatoes (about 1 pound)
**I like Yukon gold because you don't have to peel, but if you use Russet or another potato with a harder peel, you may want to peel it since it probably won't blend up as well.
Peel and cut potatoes into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 5 to 8 minutes. Once potatoes are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until potatoes are a smooth consistency. 

Carrot
1 pound of Carrots
Cut carrots into small pieces and place in steamer. Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 8 to 10 minutes. Once carrots are fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until carrots are a smooth consistency. 

Zucchini
1 pound Zucchini
Cut zucchini into small pieces and place in steamer (I keep the peel on!). Add 1/8 cup water to steamer and microwave for 3 to 5 minutes. Once zucchini is fork tender, transfer to a food processor or blender. Add water from steamer as you blend. Blend until zucchini is a smooth consistency. 


Banana
3 bananas
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Toss everything into the blender or food processor and puree until smooth.


Mango
2 Mangoes
1/8 - 1/4 cup apple juice (no added sugar) or water
Remove peel from mango and cut the fruit away from the seed. (Check out this video for easy mango cutting). Cut the fruit into chunks and place in blender or food processor. Blend with liquid until smooth.