Apples

Jake LOVES apples, but we've hit the independence phase where he doesn't want to be fed purees, so applesauce is out of the picture.  We have 9 teeth total so far, but none that will allow Jake to bit into a crunchy crisp apple, so I'm constantely looking for soft, toddler friendly foods.  I tried steaming some apples for him to get them soft and easy to eat ... lets just say my first batch is almost gone so its time to already make some more.  I batch freeze these and keep them in a ziploc bag that allows me to just pull out exactly how many I need for lunch, dinner or snack time. 

I highly highly recommend a apple peeler, it will become your best friend and is a staple item if you are making your own baby food.  My peeler slices and cores the apples so it makes for a quick chop to make them into bite sized pieces.  Back To Basics Apple And Potato Peeler

For this batch, I used a dozen golden delicious apples.

You just place each apple on the peeler ...

Crank the handle, and voila ...

Perfectly peeled, cored and sliced apples.  All you'll have to do it slice then in half, then cut individual pieces from that.  Super east, and quick too!

Place all of the cut pieces in a steamer basket with about an inch of water in a large pot, cover and steam for approximately 5 - 10 minutes until you have reached desired texture.  Start your cooking time once you have started to steam. 

I will then Pam a baking sheet, place the apple pieces on the baking sheet and freeze for a minimum of 4 hours (up to 24 hours).

Once frozen, using a spatula remove the apples, place in a ziploc freezer bag and keep in your freezer for up to 3 months (if they last that long!).  For an added treat, once defrosted (place in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 30 seconds - 1 minute) I sprinkle cinnamon and sugar, which Jake loves!

Sweet Potatoes

Jake's favorite food has always been sweet potatoes, and now that he refuses to eat purees I have been trying to think about how to keep sweet potatoes in his diet while doing a big batch cooking.  I tried roasted sweet potatoes tonight, which were a huge hit and I have a giant bag of potatoes in my freezer for future meals which is a huge bonus.

Ingrediants
3 medium sweet potatoes
2 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Pam cooking spray

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Wash and peel sweet potatoes
3. Dice sweet potatoes into small sqaures

4. Toss sweet potatoes with oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl

5.  Spray baking sheet with Pam  [Pam Original Cooking Spray, 6 oz] and lay sweet potatoes on baking sheet.

6. Cook for 40 - 50 minutes, stirring / tossing sweet potatoes every 10 minutes until tender.

For freezing:
7. Let sweet potatoes cool on the baking sheet completely, then place entire sheet in the freezer for at least 4 hours, but not to exceed 24 hours.
8. Using a spatula, remove sweet potatoes and place in a ziploc freezer bag. 
To reheat:
9. I'll take approx. 1/4 cup per serving, place in a microwave safe bowl and book for 45 seconds - 1 minute on high until cooked completely.  

Veggie Pasta

I found this pasta when wandering the pasta aisle for dinner ideas.  I thought it would make a great toddler food, and for 4oz. you get a full serving of veggies! (at least that's what the box says) I normally like tri-color rotini, but this one was different, it actually tasted like vegetables.  The dish was very yummy, and best of all, Jake approved.

Ingredients
1 lb Ronzoni Garden Delight Rotini Pasta
1 bag frozen diced veggies (I used Cascadian Farms organic carrots, peas and corn)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup fresh grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
Salt
Pepper

Directions
1. Cook pasta according to box, boil 9 minutes.
2. While the pasta cooks, place frozen veggies in a microwave safe bowl with 4 tablespoons of water, cover and cook on high for 6 minutes (I do 2 minutes over the maximum time on the instructions to ensure soft toddler friendly vegetables).
3. When pasta is done cooking, drain and place back in the pot and toss with olive oil,  garlic powder, parmigiana cheese, cooked vegetables, salt and pepper to taste.

toddler = approved!

I made the full batch of pasta and divided it up in Rubbermaid Take & Toss containers.  Note - I really like these because of their twist lock feature.  I'll pop them out of the freezer to the fridge the day I want to serve them to defrost, or just do right from freezer to the microwave.  They also travel well to daycare if planning meals ahead at the beginning of the week.

Beans

This toddler food turned into toddler food as my mistake.  My husband started soaking the beans overnight to make baked beans the following day for our family that came up to visit for a bbq.  They have to boil for an 1/2 hour to an hour (give or take) then get bbq'ized and baked.  I was put in charge of watching the beans while he mowed the grass.  I watched them all right, I watched them get really soft and start to break open (thus becoming to soft to then bake and make into baked beans).  Instead of wasting an entire batch of beans, we came up with a bean recipe that Jake (and we) loved as a side dish. My husband and I ate them as a side dish to sandwich night, and Jake ate them (scrap that, devoured them) when I mixed in some fresh corn from the cob that I had made the night before.

We use Rancho Gordo yellow eyed beans.  All the beans that we've ordered from these folks have been delicious!

www.ranchogordo.com

Ingredients 
1 lb. beans
3 tablespoon table salt (or 6 tablespoons if using Kosher salt) + pinch for seasoning
2 sprigs of thyme
1 tablespoon oregano (dried)
1 small yellow onion, peeled and chopped into quarters
1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
Olive oil 

Directions
1. Soak beans overnight with 4 quarts of water and 3 tablespoon of table salt. Soak at least 8 hours but no longer than 12 hours.
2. Rinse beans thoroughly and place in pot with enough water to cover by an inch.  Add thyme, oregano, black pepper, onion and garlic.
3. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer until tender, approx. 45 minutes to an hour.
4. When beans are done cooking, remove thyme, onion and garlic, discard.
5. Drain beans and toss with drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

I found the best way to save them as toddler food to dish them in a muffin tin, freeze and when they are frozen, pop out each muffin tin into a freezer bag for single serving portions.  To reheat, put in a microwave safe bowl, cover with a wet paper towel, and microwave on high, approximately 45 seconds - 1 minute. 

Mix with your child's favorite diced veggies or a good side dish, or even main course for lunch or dinner.

Spinach Pancakes

These were recommended to me from another mom as a good toddler food.  I was skeptical at first ... spinach?? But after popping one in the microwave for 2 minutes, cutting it up and feeding to my toddler, I was sold.  They are very tasty, made of real veggies, and Jake LOVES them.  They will be a staple item in our house for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.

Todder, approved!

Pancakes

Adapted from the Cooks Illustrated Featherweight Pancakes, these are by far the best homemade pancakes we've ever tried.  Jacob agrees, each time we serve them they become part of the clean plate club.  No crumb is left behind.

The original recipe calls for buttermilk, which I never have on hand, however a couple of years ago I discovered SaCo Buttermilk for cooking and baking.  You can find it in the baking aisle of the grocery store and you just add the powder to your dry ingredients and the water to your wet ingredients (where it calls for buttermilk).  Its delicious, and a tub lasts forever in your fridge.  You won't ever know that you didn't use actual buttermilk.

Ingredients

1	cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2	teaspoons granulated sugar
1/2	teaspoon table salt
1/2	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon baking soda
3/4	cup buttermilk*
1/4	cup milk (plus an extra tablespoon or so if batter is too thick)
1	large egg , separated
2	tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
	vegetable oil (for brushing griddle) Optional: Toddler Favorite! For fruit pancakes dice up 1/4 cup of your favorite fruit you have on hand (ex - blueberries, bananas, peaches, apples)

*if using SaCo Buttermilk, 3 tablespoon buttermilk powder + 3/4 cup water

 Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking power, salt, buttermilk powder - if using this).

2. Pour buttermilk (or water if using buttermilk powder) and milk to a 2-cut measuring cup.

3. Mix yolk with melted butter, then stir into milk mixture.

4. Wisk egg white to stiff peaks.

Jake is hungry!

Jake is my totally awesome 1 year old, and he sure is hungry! I have been making all his food from scratch and am creating this blog to document my adventures in the baby / toddler food world.