Ta DA! (Bibs...again)

I found a GREAT BIB!! I just love taking her bib off and not having the food be all over her clothes. It's really long and really is waterproof and sturdy. I just wipe it off (and only on occasion ;)

It's $10 (totally annoying price...but totally worth it). When my husband gets excited about a purchase I made...I know it's a good one! He would prefer we just all just sit in an empty house with large T.V.s...we could keep the baby naked, therefore not having to worry about stained clothes!

I got this one at Babies R Us (Bumpkins Junior Bib). They always have those "15% off one item coupons!

Green Eggs for Baby

So, I've been wanting the book Super Baby Food, but my library doesn't have it and I am trying this new thing where I don't always run out and buy everything I want at all times...not as fun as it sounds.

So, I decided to come up with something of my own. Gwendolyn hated green beans and egg yolk was just too dry...but I wanted to give her both of these things. I also needed something hearty and nutritious that I could have on hand (in the freezer and fridge) for when I didn't have the time or energy to find, cook, and cut-up a good lunch for her. My Green Eggs and Quinoa is a SMASHING success!!!! I had heard about Quinoa (Keen-wa) and found mine at Costco. I'm sure this would work for other grains, such as Millet or Rice, too!

2-3 cups cooked Quinoa (Millet, Rice, etc.)
2+ cups of steamed green beans (reserve the cooking liquid!)
4 hard boiled egg yolks
Butter -or coconut oil- (to taste)
Sea Salt (to taste)

(Keep in mind...I have NO idea how to write or express a RECIPE. These amounts may or may not be good ratios...it's just how I did it and it worked for me.)

• Cook Quinoa (or other grain), set aside
• Hard Boil Eggs and separate yolks, set aside
• Steam Green Beans until tender, reserving the cooking liquid.
• Place green beans into Blender (or food processor) and add cooking liquid to make a pureed consistency.
• Add Egg Yolks to Blender. you will need to add more green bean cooking liquid to maintain the moist, pureed consistency to the green bean/egg mixture.
• Mix the Green Bean/Egg Puree into the Cooked Quinoa. add sea salt and butter to taste. I think these helped with partially disguising the strong green bean smell and taste.

I put mine into baby cubes and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Gwendolyn LOVED this little porridge and wanted a double portion. I did find that my batch seemed a little dry (probably not enough liquid in the puree) but she didn't mind and I just kept her sippy cup filled with water!

Peas, Please!

Today was Gwendolyn's first taste of real food! I don't know if she actually swallowed any of the pureed peas her Daddy fed her...but it was fun, non-the-less.

And, nearly as important as this step in her baby-hood is MY culinary accomplishment. I am VERY proud of my peas! It's fun to make the food and I am excited to do more. I love the way it looks and it's cool that I know exactly what is going into the food. I have no idea how it tastes, because I HATE peas...but look how pretty!!!

It's a VERY easy process, but you wouldn't know it if you were in my kitchen this morning. I actually burned a whole pot...apparently I don't know how to use a simple steaming basket. I broke the Magic Bullet...but now I get to go shopping at Costco for another food processor!

I have a couple of mom friends, Mandy and Sarah, who each make their own baby food and have sworn by it's simplicity and their enjoyment of the process. They both love the Cooking for Baby cookbook from Williams-Sonoma...and now I know why. It's so pretty and nice and helpful...and fun! It's not necessarily an organic cookbook...but the purpose is to encourage wholesome, less processed cooking for baby.