"Someday's gonna be a busy day..."

Thursday 14 January 2010

In praise of: making your own baby food


You're probably thinking that this is a pretty weird "In praise of" topic, huh? The truth is, I've become addicted to making Jade's baby food. Seriously, hardly a day goes by that I don't have my nose buried in the baby food cookbook (The Baby's Table), the Magic Bullet a-whirring or the steamer steaming. Cooking for me and D has always been rewarding and fun, but cooking for baby Jade is fulfilling on a whole different level. (Okay, except for the part where she spits out a recipe or does her whole fake-gag act. But that's only happened with parsnips and plums.)

Not only is it rewarding to see your tiny offspring gobble down meals of your own making, you have complete control over what goes into her food. It's a bit horrifying to read some of the ingredients on baby cereals, snacks and other pre-packaged baby foods. Check this one out: RICE FLOUR, DRY SKIM MILK, PALM OLEIN, POTATO MALTODEXTRIN, CANOLA OIL, COCONUT OIL, PREBIOTICS (OLIGOFRUCTOSE, INULIN), SUNFLOWER OIL, MINERAL AND VITAMINS (FERROUS FUMARATE, NICOTINAMIDE, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN), BIFIDOBACTERIUM LACTIS CULTURES. I'm sorry, but what the what are Palm Olein and Potato Maltodextrin and Coconut Oil doing in my 8 month old's food? Ugh.

I'm thankful that Jady Lady is a good little eater, and likes everything except the aforementioned P words. It's so much fun to see what foods she favours (avocado, tofu, broccoli, melon) and which she eats with less gusto (peach, egg yolk, papaya). I'm loving all the funky recipes in her baby cookbook, especially now that we've moved beyond the steam&puree-the-crap-out-of-veg&fruits stage. My latest favourite recipe? Baby Ratatouille. It's delicious, nutritious and best of all, Jady, Mummy and Daddy all enjoy it. So, dear reader, in praise of making my own baby food, I will share my version of the recipe with you. Even if you don't have a wee one to feed, this stuff is veggie gold for adults too. And you don't even have to wear a bib.

Baby Ratatouille
1 cup broccoli florets
2 small zucchini, chopped
1 can tomatoes with juice
1 red pepper, peeled and chopped
1 potato, cubed (peeling is optional)
1/2 onion, chopped (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
1 cup no-salt vegetable broth or water
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
handful fresh basil (optional)

Chuck it all in a pot and bring to a boil; simmer covered 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid and simmer another 10 minutes uncovered. It should look like a thick stew when it's done. Serve hot over egg noodles or orzo, sprinkled with copious amounts of cheese and basil. Soooo good on a cold winter day.

5 comments:

Lily Whalen said...

Sounds pretty yummy, actually! But what's with the plums? Parsnips I get - but she prefers tofu to plums?!

MrsS said...

Well looky at your little baby Jade! Gosh - can't believe how she's grown so beautifully - your home cooking is doing her proud! xx

Gingham Skies said...

You'll have to share your fav baby recipe book titles with me when the time comes for my munchkin, Kim! :)

I'm up for cloth diaper suggestions too if you've kept at it.

That pic is hilarious. Jade is far too cute for her own good.

Lois said...

Hey Kim!
Jade is getting so big!
Good for you for doing the home made baby food. Much healthier for her that's for sure. Thirty or so years ago I was making my own baby food too. Even though a lot of family members thought it was weird. Why wouldn't I want to just pick up a bottle of something, open and heat it up? Why didn't they read the labels and see what they were shoving into their babies bodies? Nice to know that I was right all along.
Lois

tanzi said...

That pic is soooo funny! She looks like Ed Sr.!
Baby ratattouille sounds creepy: the recipe title makes it sound like it's made from--not for--babies. Eek.