Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food Recipe

Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food Recipe

Healthy and tasty. The two words seem to contradict each other when it comes to food. When it's baby food, the contrast seems even more extreme. Delicious and nutritious? This just cannot happen. 

Well it did. 

I came along.

Here's another baby food recipe that I love to sample when I heat it up for my little one. It is very good for you, filled with vitamins and nutrition, yet somehow manages to taste good. 

Imagine that.

I recommend this baby food for ages 9 months and older.

Here is a quick reference for ages and introduction of food: 

http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-your-baby_1400680.bc

Please always always read my disclaimer before trying any of my baby food recipes. 

Here's the link: http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

I begin with an acorn squash. I cut it in half, remove the seeds, and place inside down in a pan with 3 cups of water.

This I bake at 400 degrees for an hour.
Go fold laundry or chase your kid around for a while.
I remove the squash from the oven and allow to cool. Keep the water they cooked in.
Read about health benefits of eating acorn squash here:
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/acorn-squash.html

Then in a medium saucepan on medium heat I put in a can of organic sliced peaches including the juice. Yes a can. If you have time to cut and peel about 4 peaches be my guest. I tried it and all I managed to do was create a sticky mess and cry tears of frustration into the sink.
Read about why we should eat peaches here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274620.php

I also take two medium sized beets, wash them, cut them up in small pieces, and place in the mixture. Beets are so good for us. And delicious. And most people have forgotten about them. Read all about the health benefits of eating beets here:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49#healthbenefits
Remove all the delicious inside of the squash and also place in the pan.

I also slice up two large organic bananas and put that in.
Read about the health benefits of eating bananas here:
 http://www.livescience.com/45005-banana-nutrition-facts.html

Put in 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil, and 3 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice.
Again, please read my disclaimer for the reasons behind my ingredients.
http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
Read about the health benefits of cinnamon here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266069.php

Also add about half of the squash water that is left. This is usually around 1/2 cup. Still keep the rest. Of course, if you are using breastmilk or whole milk (for the age of 12 months and older) I recommend that you do so here. Do not add at the same time as lemon juice however since that will cause your milk to separate. Or skip the lemon juice altogether.
Cover and let simmer. Stir frequently.

When everything is cooked thoroughly and mushy, usually after about 30 minutes, put in 1 cup of natural quick oats. You may have to add a little more squash water (breastmilk) to make sure that it does not burn and remains smooth. Stir frequently. Please note that since there is already oatmeal in the baby food there is no need to add any baby cereal to it.

When the oatmeal is done, it's time to blend! I use my blender but please use a food processor or any other fancy device you may have purchased.

And when it's all completed viola! You have some very tasty baby food that you child will love to nosh upon. And that you don't mind having to test the temperature of!
It really tastes so good, I have been known to take a bite or two in the morning.

This recipe makes about 6 cups of baby food.
Feel free to freeze some if your child doesn't have the gigantic appetite mine does. If you have added the lemon juice, this stays fresh 10 days. If you used breastmilk, it is only good for 5 days.

It is thick so I advise you to thin on a bowl to bowl basis with a little breastmilk or whole milk when feeding your child. Again, refer to my disclaimer:

  http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

A little side note:
Beets stain clothes! Always always ALWAYS use a bib! And if your child has some particularly purplish poops the next day that is completely normal. What baby food companies have done to baby food that have beets in them to remove some of the color and keep our poops brown I do not want to know. Do these baby foods even have beets in them? I don't know. But these are real beets and they stain clothes as well as poop. FYI.

And here's my sweet girl reading a book while enjoying her morning beets and sweets. 

What a cutie! (We are teething, please forgive the drool, how embarrassing!)

Beets and Sweets Oatmeal Baby Food

2 Medium Beets

2 Large Bananas

1 Acorn Squash

1 Can Organic Sliced Peaches in 100% juice, with the juice

3 T. Olive Oil

3 T. Lemon Juice

1 t. Cinnamon

3 c. Water 

1 c. Quick Oats

Bake the acorn squash face down in 3 cups of water in a pan at 400 degrees for an hour. Let cool. Keep water squash cooked in. In a medium saucepan place 1 can of sliced peaches, including juice, 2 washed and sliced beets, 2 bananas, the squash removed from it's shell, olive oil, lemon juice, cinnamon, and 1/2 cup squash water. Cover, let simmer, and stir frequently until beets are soft, about 30 min. Add quick oats and stir until cooked. You may need to add more squash water (breastmilk), about another 1/2 - 1 cup. Blend or process until smooth. Allow to cool before feeding to your baby. Stays fresh for 10 days, may freeze and stay fresh for 3 months. 

Enjoy! 

Owl Always Love You

Owl Always Love You Hand Art 

I love handprint art. Love it. I think it's a thoughtful and creative way to capture the small size of your child's hands and feet. They are only small once and for such a short time. Why not keep little reminders of their tinyness around for always? 

Spellcheck does not agree with me that tinyness is a word. Well it is now! 

I decided to try my hand at an art project with my 13 month old. She is a wiggly little thing, running around the house, and I already marvel at how much she has grown in just the last month. I want to remember this time forever. I want to have little memories lying around the house so even when she is old and moved away, I will alway remember how fun and little and mischievous she was. Here are some simple instructions so that you too, can craft some simple treasures. 

I am not a very good artist. 

Whew! I admitted it. 

Least of all am I a painter. 

So I started with simple items. If you are a better artist than me, feel free to use better tools and ingredients. 

I started with a piece of pastel purple paper that I had on hand from a previous project. I don't recommend construction paper, but use whatever you want is my opinion. 

I had 5 colors of acrylic craft paint: brown, yellow, pink, white, and green. 

I used a small paintbrush I had already. 

I used a black sharpie and a silver sharpie. 

That's it. 

Here we go. 

I love owls. I think they're just so pretty, cute, and a symbol of wisdom. So well, I googled hand art owls. There are so many out there. Try it. I was overwhelmed. Again, I am not an artist. Crafty, but not an artist. I modified the many images I found and just tried. Worked out pretty well, so I shared the end result with you! 

I started using the brown to paint a branch. Well, more of a curve and a line, but I tried to make a branch. 

Then I added some little twigs to my branch. Small curves, but they'll do as twigs. 

Here comes the tricky part. Getting the handprint. Not easy with any child, let alone a 1 year old. 

I waited for the branch to dry thoroughly. 

Then I managed to actually get a semi decent handprint upside down on the branch. 

I used the pink paint. 

She moved her thumb a little, but I just considered it artistic liberty and moved on. 

Next came the eyes with the white paint. Two circles. Anyone can paint two circles.

Almost anyone. 

A little funny shaped, but let's move on. 

I placed a dot of yellow paint under the eyes for a beak and some small dots of yellow paint at the bottom of the hand for some little owl feet. 

Looks ok so far, wait for those to dry thoroughly as well. 

While waiting, I added some so called leaves to my twigs with the green paint. Really I just touched the brush to the page.

Also, once the paint was dry, I used the black Sharpie to "draw" some pupils on my owl's eyes. 

Then I used the silver Sharpie to write on my art project "Owl Always Love You."

I was so proud of myself! Turned out very cute and is hanging on my wall right now, always there to remind me how tiny my little girl's hands once were.

I placed my masterpiece in a simple white frame to keep it safe and sound!

This idea also makes a great gift, I made a second one that sits on my husband's desk at work, a Father's Day gift he will always cherish. 

Happy Crafting!

A Simple Baby Food Recipe

I want to start by saying I am by no means a pediatrician, a nutritionalist, or an expert. I just make observations and then, respond. You can read the nutritional needs of infants here at http://www.babycenter.com/baby-solid-feeding-basics. 
Please also read my baby food disclaimer page prior to using any of my recipes or ideas.  

http://justalittlehippie.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Simple Carrot and Apple Oatmeal Baby Food

Both apples and carrots have numerous health benefits to eating them.
We should be eating them and babies should too!
Read about apple nutritional benefits here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267290.php
And read about carrot nutritional benefits  here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191.php
Does anyone else love an overflow of information and interesting facts? I do, so I will include them in my posts. Read at your leisure. (With a baby, ha!)
I suggest this type of baby food for Six Month Olds. The combination of the carrots and apples make a sweet, yet extra healthy baby food that you don't mind taking a taste of! 

I start out with two organic apples, I buy them by the bag to help decrease cost. 
Cut the apple into small parts and remove both core and peel. 

Also slice into small pieces a full cup of organic carrots. 

I add them together, with about a cup of water unto a pot on the stove and cook both the apples and carrots thoroughly.  This usually takes me a half an hour. Stir frequently.
Add 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice and 2 Tablespoons of Pure Organic Olive Oil.

When the carrots and apple are cooked, I add 3/4 of a cup of natural quick oats. You may have to add some more water (breastmilk) to ensure that the baby food does not burn and is smooth. Stir until the oatmeal is cooked. Please note that since there is already oatmeal in the baby food there is no need to add any baby cereal to it. 

After the food is very well cooked and mushy, I blend thoroughly with my blender, ensuring there are no chunks. You may also use a food processor. Or the fancy baby food maker of your choice!

This makes about 3 cups of baby food. 

And as you can see.... My baby loves it! So tasty! 

 YUM!

Simple Apple Carrot Baby Food Recipe

2 medium apples, cored, peeled, and sliced

1 c. sliced carrots

3/4 c. quick oats

1-2 c. water (breastmilk) 

2 T. lemon juice

2 T. olive oil 

In medium saucepan, combine apples, carrots, lemon juice, olive oil, and 1cup water. Cook thoroughly, stirring frequently. When carrots are soft, add quick oats and 1 cup water, depending on consistency. When oats are cooked, blend or food process until smooth. Cool completely before feeding your child. Stays fresh for a week. May freeze, I recommend no longer than 3 months. 

Tips on freezing baby food: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270191.php

Good luck and Enjoy!