Making Yo' Own Baby Food

I'll admit, as a working mom I brushed off making my own baby's food.  I'm a working mom.  I ain't got no time for no food. With Chubby Cheekers, I have no excuse. He gets homemade.  Now, I'm kicking myself in the booty for NOT doing this with the other two for three reasons.

Reason #1: It's fresher.
Reason #2: I have more choices.
Reason #3: It's too fast and simple.

Here's a bit o' information to get you on the easy baby food makin' train...

What do you need?

• blender, food processor, Baby Bullet, Magic Bullet...something that purees
• fruits and veggies (fresh or frozen)
• breast milk or filtered water
• small containers or jars

What foods do you begin with?

• Banana (I mash this with a fork and breast milk until there are no clumps.  Great for when you head out to eat and need to feed the baby.  Grab a banana and toss it in your purse.  Done!
• Carrots (I buy frozen)
• Peas (I buy frozen)
• Cantaloupe
• Super ripe pear
• Sweet Potato
• Russet Potato
• Avocado (I mash this with a fork)

I encourage you to start with these because these can either be quickly boiled then blended or can be thrown straight into the blender.  For example, I get out 3 pots and boil water.  Then I toss a peeled sweet potato in one, carrots in another, and peas in the third.  While I'm waiting for those to soften, I toss the super ripe, pealed, pear in the blender (no water or breast milk needed).  Empty that out into serving size containers. Rinse the blender.  Toss in the cut up cantaloupe (no water or breast milk needed).  Rinse out the blender. Strain the peas (they don't take long to soften). Toss in the blender. Add breast milk or filtered water for desired consistency. Pour into serving size containers. Rinse blender.  Follow the same steps with carrots and sweet potatoes.  That's it!

All of that work will produce 1 full month of food for your baby.  Total time invested is about 30 minutes.  Total money spent is roughly $15.  I freeze it all until it's ready for use.  All the above items will freeze well except bananas.  I haven't tried those because I haven't needed to.

Other foods I have done:

• Butternut Squash*
• Pumpkin*
• Zucchini
• Summer Squash
• Mashed Black Beans
• Apples
• Kiwi

*These items are super easy, but it does take a longer to roast. All roasting consists of is filling the bottom of a pan with water, cutting the squash or pumpkin in half, removing the seeds and 'stuff', placing it face down in the water and bake it at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Scrape out the inside and toss it in the blender with a bit of breast milk or water. I did half of a pumpkin and this is what I got from it.  Heck, I didn't even use the whole thing because I ran out of containers.

Now, all you other baby food making mamas, what am I missing?  What other foods should I do now that Chubby Cheekers is increasing his solids intake?