Getting your baby to eat his vegetables is a never ending challenge. Let’s be honest, what would you rather have, cheesy chicken casserole or broccoli and cauliflower puree?
I personally love any vegetable, maybe the reason is that my Mother made us eat them at every meal. Regardless, this puree is smooth and sweet. It could just be in my head, but the organic broccoli and cauliflower I get at the farmers market is somehow sweeter. Also, broccoli, pound for pound, has more vitamin C then oranges. At least I know there’s no pesticides in organic produce and Kenya is getting the freshest vegetables possible.

Broccoli & Cauliflower Puree (12 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1 Cup Broccoli, florets and stem pieces peeled
1 Cup Cauliflower

1. Put vegetables in a steamer pot over boiling water.
2. Steam for 5 minutes or until fork tender.
3. Put vegetables in a food processor and puree until smooth.
4. Cool and serve.

There are two foods, in my experience, that kids almost always turn their nose up at. Beets and brussel sprouts. Why is that? Did we over hear our parents saying “yuck, beets,” or are we programmed not to like it? At our farmers market we have orange, red, yellow and candy beets. They’re gorgeous and sweet as sugar. I use beets and the greens in salads and other warm dishes, but when I make them, half of my friends say “yummy, beets” while the other half turns up their nose.
I made them with great trepidation for Kenya and was shocked that he liked them. Nothing makes me happier then when he enjoys something I never thought he would.
Beware, though! Pull out your biggest bib or tape a plastic garbage bag all around your baby because beets do stain and can make a mess, but trust me, they’re worth it.

They’re rich in calcium, important for healthy bones and teeth, are full of flavonoids and other anti carcinogenic compounds as well as a great immune booster in your babies diet.

*Steam the greens and eat with your dinner

Beet Puree (12 Baby Servings)

2 Beets, washed (any color)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Take a piece of tin foil and fold it in half.
3. Place beets on one side of the foil and cover the beets like a book. Pinch the edges to fully seal the package (this way they will steam in the oven).
4. Bake for 45 minutes.
5. Open foil, let cool beets to the touch.
6. Take a ziplock or a gloves and peel the beets (this prevents your hands from getting stained). The skin should slide right off.
7. Cut beets and puree in a food processor until smooth.
8. Cool and serve.

Breakfast was always my favorite meal growing up. My Mother would make us homemade pancakes, muffins, eggs and more. It was always a surprise to see what would be waiting at the table before we started our long day of play and school.
Since Kenya has been eating almond butter for two weeks, it’s been my saving grace and a new addition to his usual breakfast dishes. He smiles when I show him the bowl with his new favorite treat.
This protein mash is packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s smooth and creamy and easy for him to digest first thing in the morning. Even better, it only takes seconds to prepare and can be made fresh each morning.

* Make sure to cover the tofu with new water everyday, so it remains fresh.

Oaty-Almond Protein Mash (1 Baby Serving)

1 Tbsp Soft (Silken) Tofu
1 Tsp Almond Butter
1 Tbsp Oatmeal Cereal (you could also use other infants cereals such as rice, barley or multigrain)
1 Tbsp Hot Water (use more if too thick)

1. Place all ingredients in a bowl and mash with a fork.
2. Serve.

Recently I’ve gone on a “protein kick” cooking for Kenya. Chicken, beef, fish, but what about beans. Some people dread cooking beans because they think there are too many steps in the preparation. That’s where lentils come in handy. When mixed with a grain they become a protein and lentils are packed with iron, important for the creation of white blood cells and antibodies. Iron is more readily absorbed when eaten with vitamin C, so I added tomatoes to this dish.

*Don’t be freaked out by the purple color in the dish. I used purple cauliflower.

Indian Lentil Stew (15 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1 Tbsp Onion, chopped
1 Garlic Clove, chopped
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 Cup Brown Rice
1/4 Cup Lentils
1 1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Tsp Cumin
1/4 Tsp Curry Powder
1/2 Cup Tomatoes, canned or fresh
1/2 Cup Cauliflower

1. Heat oil in a 2 quart saucepan and saute onion and garlic until soft.
2. Add water and bring to a boil.
3. Add lentils, cumin and curry powder. Cover and simmer for 50-60 or until soft.
4. 10 minutes before mixture is complete, add tomatoes and cauliflower. Cover.
5. Puree mixture until smooth.
6. Cool and serve

I find it funny that everyone says Kenya looks tan. Both my husband and I are pale as ghosts so there had to be some long lost relative with a dark skinned gene. Nice try! He just eats so many orange vegetables, that his skin has taken on an orange hue. He does look handsome with his auburn glow, though.
There’s at least one deep orange vegetable for Kenya to snack on in the fridge everyday. They’re incredibly easy to make, nutritious, a beautiful color and super sweet. Yesterday, I baked his ‘once a week’ butternut squash. As it came out of the oven, I scooped out a bite to make sure it’s something I would eat. Not so sweet?! I was perplexed and didn’t want to throw away a perfectly good squash. I looked around the kitchen and found the gorgeous California Medjool dates I had bought at the market to snack on. Sweet as candy and rich in Magnesium and Potassium, I soaked a few and threw them in the food processor with the squash. Heaven. Kenya thought so too.

Butternut Squash and Date Puree (Makes 10 Baby Servings, freeze 1/2)

1 Butternut Squash, halved, seeds removed (refrigerator the other half for later
4 Dates

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
2. Place one half of squash face down on a cookie sheet or in a pyrex dish.
3. Bake for 45 minutes or until tender.
4. Pour hot water over dates in a bowl and soak for 15 minutes.
5. Scoop cooked squash out of the shell and into a food processor.
6. Remove the pits from the dates and put them in the processor.
7. Puree until creamy.
8. Cool and serve

Yummy, delicious, creamy, nutritious.. All the words I think of when describing this dish. The first time I tried a cherimoya was 3 weeks ago at the Farmers Market and my “avocado lady” gave me one. In some Latin cuisine, cherimoya ice cream is popular. To me, it tastes like banana crossed with strawberries and pineapple. When Kenya isn’t in the mood to chew and I want to give him something sweet, pureed cherimoya is perfect. One night when he wasn’t in the mood for it, but was devouring his avocado, I decided to throw the two in the blender and it made this gorgeous light green mousse. Packed with vitamin B6 and potassium, this is a fruit every baby should have the opportunity to try.

Avocado & Cherimoya Mousse (makes 10 Baby Servings)

1 Avocado
1 Cherimoya

1. Wash both fruits.
2. Halve the avocado, remove the pit and scoop the light green flesh into a food processor.
3. Halve the cherimoya and remove the big black seeds. Scoop white flesh into a food processor.
4. Puree until smooth and serve.

Babies need more protein then adults because they’re growing so fast. This is especially true in first few years of your babies life. Most of the time I cook with skinless, boneless chicken breasts, but last week I found organic/free range chicken thighs that looked delicious. The thigh is higher in fat then the breast, which is a good thing for babies and it also has more iron and twice as much zinc.
The first time I gave it to Kenya he kind of turned up his nose. I couldn’t figure it out since he loves carrots and corn. After try number two, I added a little hot water to thin it out and presto, he loved it. Always take into consideration the texture of babies food. Sometimes a creamy texture is all it takes.

Chicken with Carrots and Corn (10 baby servings, freeze 1/2)

1/2 Cup Brown Rice
1 1/2 Cup Water
2 Chicken Thighs, skinned on the bone
1/2 Cup Baby Carrots, sliced into coins
1 Cup Chicken Stock
1/2 Cup Frozen Corn

1. In a saucepan bring water and rice to a boil and immeditaly cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
2. In a saucepan over medium heat, bring stock to a boil.
3. Add the chicken and carrots and reduce to a simmer.
4. Cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add corn and cook another 2 minutes or until carrots are tender and chicken is cooked through.
6. Let mixture cool for several minutes.
7. Remove the meat from the chicken and put into a food processor with the remining ingredients and puree until smooth.
8. Cool and serve.