Making Baby Food

A week or two ago I started making baby food for Scarlette.  It is so fun and EASY.  I always thought people who made baby food were crazy and that I did not have the time.  Apparently I was wrong.

Last year about this time my friend Kristina came and visited, she told me she made all her baby food.  I couldn't believe it, she had twin babies and a older toddler at that time, she works as a teacher full time and her husband travels for work a lot.  Well, if she can do all that and still make baby food, I thought I better give it a try. 

I ordered a couple of baby food cook books, got some ice cube trays and off I went.  I started with apples and pears, then moved on to mangoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, peas and broccoli.  It is fun, quick and super easy.

I started out with my small food processor and then along the way my friend Jenny(Napa) gave me a immersion blender, that I LOVE.  The immersion blender is not necessary, the food processor or blender works perfectly, just more clean up between batches.

Here is what you need to get started:

Ice cube trays at least 6( don't bother getting the special baby ones with lids, I have the ones with the individual lids, the ones with the lids that cover the whole tray and regular ice cube trays.  Ice cube trays are the way to go!)

Large freezer/storage bags

A sharpie

 one of these: food processor, blender, food mill, immersion blender

a steamer basket- the little metal thingy that folds up like a flower and fits into a pot to steam veggies.

A little bit of time and some fresh fruit and veggies.

I did use frozen peas, but everything else was fresh and organic. I also made my own baby oat meal in the food processor.

The amount of food you get is amazing:  You could get more or less depending on how much you thin it out.

1 bag of baby carrots= 18 servings  (servings= 1 ice cube= 1oz)

1 butternut squash= 3 ice cube trays full= 36 servings

1 sweet potato=18 servings

1 bag of frozen peas=18 servings

The money saved is huge. 

This is the peas I made today....isn't the color amazing, so different from the grayish jarred baby food.

Before I freeze them I shove the whole thing in a storage bag and then when they are frozen I pop them out into the bag and label with the date and food type.

A peak into my freezer.

Next on the list is:

Corn

Prunes

more apples and pears

Chicken

Green Beans

can't wait for melons, peaches, berries to get into season!

Here is a link to a great site that a friend gave me. I am so going to make the teether biscuits too. 

A lot of my friends have or are making their own food... funny how things have changed since I had Gab 12 years ago.

Green Living

No baby news yet, still just waiting! Our A/C broke yesterday and they are here fixing it right now. They tried to put it off until Monday, I had to pull the prego card so they would do it today! So hot, 88 and 80% humidity ugggg. Not that it has anything at all to do with being green. HA

It has been awhile since I have posted anything in regards to green living. We have made some progress in some areas and not in others, but we are working on it.


Reusable grocery bags: We use them for all shopping trips, including the fabric store or the mall even.

Reusable lunch bags: On my side bar I have a lunch bag pattern I wanted to try.
However I was at Target and was perusing the $ section and found these for the girls. Can't beat the 1$ price, even if I do have all the materials to make my own.

Laundry Soap: We have switched our laundry soap to Ecos it is all natural and smells FAB.

I really want to try these dryer balls.


Dish Soap:We have switched our hand washing and dishwasher soap to: 7th Generation and we like them a lot.

Food: we are buying very little pre packaged food, we are trying to get all fresh foods.

Cleaning products: Vinegar and baking soda is what we use to clean the whole house, even the wood floor. Not only are they natural, they work great and are super cheap. I am saving a ton of money not purchasing all the cleaning products.


I found some disposable bags that you carry in your diaper bag when you need to throw away a diaper. They are green... they are actually biodegradable.

We have a veggie garden: yummy as well as better for the environment.

Light bulbs:As light bulbs die we are replacing them with CFL's except in the chandeliers because they still are not pretty enough.

I recycle every bit of cardboard and chip board from every package we bring into the house. Even fast food containers. Every baby item comes with cardboard as part of the packaging and I recycle that too no matter how small it is.

We try to buy organic and green products when ever possible as long as it is cost effective. I have an organic foundation I am using and we have been using method baby wash on Graham and now will be switching to CA baby wash for both Graham and baby girl. Now if we could just find affordable organic hair products for the girls that would be great.




Still using paper towels and paper napkins: we do use the cloth napkins I made, but paper are still used a lot around here.

Still using disposable diapers for Graham at nap and bed time. Would love to have some reusable cloth ones that are easy to use for that purpose since we are using so few and he is not soaking through everything at night anymore. Problem is they are expensive and we are on a super tight budget so we can get back to CA.

Will be using disposable diapers for baby girl: Pro- I did get the huggies pure and natural and they bio degrade. Maybe when we get back to CA I will invest the time and $$ into cloth.

Still using sandwich baggies for lunches: need to make some reusable ones

Things we want to do once we get to CA: Have a composter and compost.

Have a bigger garden and some fruit trees and a lemon tree.

I plan on making my own baby food this go round, should be fun:)

Well, these are our attempts to make a small difference, would love to hear other suggestions. I feel really good whenever we can eliminate a product with harmful chemicals from our home, I know it is so much better for everyones health.

Hopefully we will have baby news to report SOON!