Homemade Organic Baby Food

Matilda Jane - 6 Months

I can't believe my little baby has started eating solids!  Where has the time gone?  I feel like I just blinked my eyes and there she is taking her spot in the "big girl chair" aka the high-chair.  I'm sure those of you with older children, can attest that time flies.  I'm trying my best to enjoy these precious early moments with my girls, but my goodness, before you know it they are going to be all grown up (sob, sob).

Since my sweet Matilda Jane is starting to eat solid food (well cereal, so far), I thought I would share one of my favorite homemade baby food recipes.  I had so much fun making baby food for my little Savannah Rose (not so little anymore.....again, sob, sob) and I definitely plan to cook some things for Matilda Jane.

Making your own baby food is very easy and affordable.  It's really nice because you can control exactly what goes into your baby food.  I like to use all organic ingredients and add seasoning as well.  Just make a large batch, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze it.  Once frozen, pop it out of the trays and into a freezer safe bag.  When your little sweetheart is hungry, just pop a few cubes in the microwave and you have fresh, organic baby food in seconds!

Delicious Butternut Squash Puree

Ingredients:

1/2 tablespoon butter

1 medium butternut squash

1/4 yellow onion, chopped

3/4 cup chicken stock

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Peel your butternut squash.  Cut it in half and remove seeds and cut into 1-inch cubes.  Steam butternut squash in saucepan for 15 minutes and remove from pan (you know it's done when it can easily be pierced with a knife).  Add butter to pan and saute onion on medium-low heat until translucent.  Add a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  Add chicken stock and cook for 2 minutes.  Return butternut squash to pan.  Use an immersion blender to puree or if you don't have an immersion blender, puree in a food processor or regular blender.

Cottage Mama's Note:  This puree should be introduced as a 2nd food (after introducing each food separately, in case of allergies).  Taste your puree to see if it needs more seasoning - it should taste good to you.  I like to start using seasoning early on in my kids food because I think it helps them become accustomed to the way our family eats, which is with lots of flavor.  No bland cooking going on around here at The Cottage Home!!

Here are a few more pictures of Matilda Jane starting solids

(just because I think she is so cute!)

My sweet little lady checking out her food (love those cheeks!)

Mama, I don't know if this is a good idea.....