Applesauce (Makes 4 1/4 cups or about 48 cubes)
4 pounds apples (skins on), washed, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
Simmer apples, covered, in a large saucepan with 1/3-cup water until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender. Working in small batches, blend until smooth. Pass through a fine sieve. For a coarser texture, pass apples through a food mill, or pulse in a food processor. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays
Pear (Makes 2 1/2 cups or about 28 cubes
3 pounds pears, washed, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
Simmer pears, covered, in a large saucepan with 1/3-cup water until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain; reserve cooking liquid. Transfer pears to a blender. Working in small batches, blend until smooth. Add reserved liquid if needed. Pass through a fine sieve for a smooth texture. For a coarser texture, mash with a fork. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Plum (Makes 3 cups or about 30 cubes) 2 pounds ripe plums, pitted and quartered Simmer plums, covered, in a large saucepan with 1/4-cup water until tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer plums to a blender. Working in small batches, blend until smooth. Add up to 1/3 cup boiled and cooled water if needed. Pass mixture through a fine sieve for the smoothest texture. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Use same method for peaches, apricots, and other stone fruits. Pear Plum Combination (Makes 3 cups or about 30 cubes) 1 1/2 pounds pears, washed, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces 1 1/2 pounds ripe plums, pitted and quartered Simmer pears and plums, covered, in a large saucepan with 1/3-cup water until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; reserve cooking liquid. Transfer fruit to a blender. Working in small batches, blend until smooth. Add up to 1/3 cup boiled and cooled water if needed. Pass mixture through a fine sieve for the smoothest texture. Fill 1/4-cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Use same method for other fruit combinations. Sweet Potato (Makes 3 cups or about 30 cubes) 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (skin on), cut into 2-inch pieces Arrange sweet potatoes on a steamer rack in a large pan over 1 inch of water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Steam until tender, about 12 minutes. Pulse in a food processor, or pass through a food mill fitted with a medium disk. Add formula, breast milk, or boiled and cooled water as needed. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Use same method for new or baking potatoes and any winter squash. Green Beans (Makes 2 2/3 cups or about 24 cubes) 2 pounds green beans Arrange beans on a steamer rack in a large pan with over 1-inch water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Steam until tender, about 8 minutes. Plunge beans into cold water to stop the cooking. Pulse in a food processor, or pass through a food mill fitted with the medium disk. Add formula, breast milk, or boiled and cooled water as needed. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Use same method for green peas. Carrots (Makes 3 cups or about 30 cubes) 1 1/2 pounds organic carrots, peeled if not organic and cut into 1-inch pieces Arrange carrots on a steamer rack in a large pan over 1 inch of water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Steam until tender, about 12 minutes. Plunge carrots into cold water to stop the cooking. Pulse in a food processor, or pass though a food mill fitted with the medium disk. Add formula, breast milk, or boiled and cooled water as needed. Fill 1/4- cup plastic containers or ice-cube trays with purée. Homemade Baby Cereal (2 1/2 cup servings) 1/4 cup organic brown rice Bring 1 cup water to boil. While waiting for it to boil, put 1/4-cup brown rice in your blender and grind for 2 minutes. When water boils, turn heat to lowest setting and sprinkle in the ground rice while stirring briskly with a wire whisk. Cover the pot and simmer it on low heat for ten minutes, stirring frequently to avoid scorching and to remove all lumps. Refrigerate immediately. You can also use instead of brown rice, whole grain oats, pearled barley, or millet. Millet is a good starter cereal as it is easy to digest. Oats and barley are 1/4 cup to one-cup water. Millet is 3 TBSP to 1-cup water. Cook the same. After child is 7 months or older, you can make two different kinds together for a mixed cereal if you desire. Single batches stay good in the fridge for 2-3 days. Batches can be made for freezing. Homemade Granola 1-cup rolled oats 1-cup uncooked brown rice 1 /2 cup wheat germ 1-cup banana Mix the oats and rice in a blender until a fine powder result. Add wheat germ and banana chips and process until texture is uniform. To prepare cereal for baby, combine 2 tablespoons granola mixture with 1/3-cup milk in a small saucepan. Simmer for 10 minutes. Put in a bowl and add 1/2 cup milk (or to taste).