making fresh BLUEBERRY puree

Blueberry is an antioxidant super fruit! The sweetness add a pleasing favor into apple, pear, pumpkin or banana.

Fresh blueberry sometime carry with sour taste. If you can't get the fresh one, frozen blueberry is another option.

*reference Wikipedia - Blueberry

It contain those nutrition that baby needs, Vitamin A,B-6, B-12, C, D, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, easy to prepare and come with so much of nutrient benefit.

1) Buy a box or two of fresh blueberries from the market/super market.

Organic or non organic, will do the same puree.

2) Fresh blueberry contain bacteria, so wash the blueberry with white vinegar as 3:1  (Water:Vinegar), soak it for few minutes. Then wash in running water for few times.

*Pick out those bruises, blemishes or spoiled.

3) Set the temperature at 100°C and timer 5 minutes.

    Once it cooked, it will turn into red color & soft.

4) I will used the grinder to filter the fruit skin, because Eli don't appreciate it.

Press it with a spoon and you will get the purplish juicy puree.

5) Continue pressing.

6) Here goes the blueberry puree!

7) One big box of fresh blueberry give you bout 7oz.

Remember to store it into the container and freeze it.

8) We like to mix it with apple, pear and multi grains cereal (other cereals is good too).

Among all the fruits Eli has tried, blueberry is his most favorite.

Chicken+White Button Mushroom+Broccoli Puree!

Animal protein is important for baby after 6 months!

Eli showed signs of liking towards his first taste of white button mushroom with chicken.

Added broccoli to give different texture and enhance the flavour, of cause nutrition too.

These ingredients are easily found in the NTUC (Local Super Markets)/wet markets. The best part of it is that it’s FRESH!

I love fresh ingredients~

let’s begin to prepare the puree~

Fresh ingredient from the market

 1) Prepare the fresh ingredients depend on the portion you require.

2) Wash the chicken and squeeze out the water.

3) Make sure to soak the broccoli and wash it too.
     *(I added salt to soak the broccoli)

4) Usually, i will peel off the outer layer of the mushroom and wash then squeeze out the water.

5) Cut all ingredient and sprinkle some herbs (it can be less or more, depending on your baby's preference).

6) Prepare the olive oil for cooking.

7) Pour a tea spoon or two olive oil and cook the ingredient.

Set the timer to 5 minutes and temperature at 100°C

8) I added the spinach soup which was prepared earlier then cook for another 10 minutes at 100°C.
 

9) after 10 minutes, you can see there is soupy-like. This texture will be good enough to blend it.

Note,
If there is too much soup it will become dilute and watery, you can remove some soup if you prefer a thicker texture for the puree.

10) Puree into the texture that your baby prefer.

11) Store and freeze it!

12) Serve the quantity you need.

- Here is 1oz per cube as shown. 

Baby Spinach Puree!

Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium and vitamin B6. It's a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E and zinc etc etc..

 1. Prepare, Organic Baby Spinach 5oz/142g packing. (any size of packing will do)

2. I add salt into the water and soak it for few minutes before washing.
 
3. Put the baby spinach into the cooker and water (depend on the quantity of spinach) to boiled for 5-6 minutes till it tender.
Some prefer to steam it (5-6 minutes), so choose  your preference.

 4. Usually i will keep some of the baby spinach soup to blend with the leaf once cook.

This puree will enhance the taste when you mix with other ingredient :) tasty and healthy!

*If you like to blend with other ingredient, squish all the water out before mix it.*

5. Serve it or freeze it well with storage box.

*Some baby don't like the taste of spinach alone, is good to mix with chicken, green pea, or apple.

Juicy Pear Puree~

"Pear" is a popular choice to use at the first stage of weaning fruits (non-allergy group), it taste sweet & juicy,  Eli loves it :)

It is nutritious and cheap,  easily available in the market in all seasons.

Note,
Pears provide a very good source of fiber and are also a good source of vitamin B2, C, E, copper, and potassium. They also contain a significant amount of pectin, which is a water soluble fiber.

For your baby to enjoy first fruit puree in 4 months, blend the puree into real fine and smooth. (can add some pear extract, so the texture will be diluted)

*(For 4-9 months (pureed), the following are unsuitable:
sugar, salt additives like MSG, condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, sticky food like peanut butter, slippery food like peanuts and seeds, burnt food either barbequed or toasted food, all processed foods including commercial beverages like sodas and fruits drinks.)

Pear Puree!

1. There is variety of pear in the market, just get the seasonal one (I chose organic fruits/vegetable from 4 to 6 months) .

2. Wash your hands clean and start to peel off the skin then dice.

Option,
 - you may keep the skin but make sure you wash away the wax completely

3. Steam the pear slices.

4. Use 100/200ml water ready to steam.

Set the temperature at 100 °C and time to 15 minute. (or 10 minute for less pear)

(water should just leak through the holes of the basket)

5. Blend it to the consistency that your baby prefers.

*Usually i keep the remaining "pear extract" for mixing with cereal.

6. Now let's pour the puree into the food tray and freeze it.

*Once frozen, remove it from the tray and keep them in zip lock bag.

Bon appetite!

Hope your baby enjoys the puree that you have prepared!

My friend asked, how does the cooker look like?

<= Thermomix Multipurpose Cooker!

Eli 1st Beef Pasta with Healthy Vegetables Puree

Eli loves to eat!
I enjoy preparing the puree that Eli enjoys eating.

My concern for his food, is the nutrition and freshness, so i prepare for him home made puree and keep it in the freezer, usually it can be kept for 8 weeks max.
My pediatrician advice to give animal protein after 6-7 months. I let Eli try his first animal protein with chicken & salmon at 7 months. Follow on with beef after 7 months.

Note,
-  For 4-9 months (pureed), the following are unsuitable:
sugar, salt additives like MSG, condiments like ketchup, mayonnaise, sticky food like peanut butter, slippery food like peanuts and seeds, burnt food either barbequed or toasted food, all processed foods including commercial beverages like sodas and fruits drinks.

Preparation,

Beef slice, Tomato x 2, Baby Carrot x 6/8, Potato, Baby Pasta.

Cut the beef slice into small cubes.
Remove the tomato skin (either peel it with knife or boil the tomato for 2-3 mins then peel the skin off).
Peel the Carrot (optional) and cut into cubes about 1-2cm.
Peel the Potato and cut into cube about 1-2cm.
*Cook the Baby Pasta as per instructions and put aside for use later.





 Before cooking,

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is good for baby.

Baby food don't have to be blend, one can enhance the taste by adding some herbs.

I've added some dried herbs, Thyme (A little will do)

To cook the baby food, I'm using the Thermomix multipurpose cooker. Which is really handy for frying, steaming, and blending. The weighing scale and cooking timer is integrated in the Thermomix.

Throw everything into the pot

Fry the beef, potato, tomato, carrot with extra virgin olive oil (Set the temperature at 100°C) 

Now we set it to fry for 5 minutes. 

Mix everything and fry for 5 minutes.

The tomatoes makes it looks like watery.

(In the case you wan to try the tomato on 9 months onwards, either remove it from the recipe or replace it with cauliflower as an optional)

Add the baby pasta (star shape, cute!)

Add the Baby pasta which was prepared earlier and add some water just to cover the food.

Then let it cook for another 10 minutes before blending it to a puree.

Blended after cooking

Thermomix allows me to blend straight after cooking, blend to the texture that your baby likes.

For this serving, it in consist of carbohydrates, fat (olive oil) & meat proteins.

The tray for baby food

For storing baby food, i'm using "mumi & bubi" starter kit BPA free food storage. It is 1oz per cube. 
Convenient to serve and heat up in small container.

Put it inside the freezer and it is ready for serving, A delicious and tasty dinner for your bub. 

*I introduce the brown rice cereal into the puree so that Eli can experience the taste of brown rice.