Adventures into Baby Food : Fruits

We have finished all the veggies and are moving onto fruits! I'm loving making food for Jack and this time my mom got to join in on the fun since they were in town :)

Things you will need:

1. Cutting board
2. Large Knife
3. Peeler
4. Pots
5. Produce (apples, plums, peaches, pears, beets, squash)
6. Blender (or any mixing device like a food processor or stick blender)
7. Spoon and Fork
8. Containers to cool food in before using the trays
9. Freezer trays

Step by Step How-To:

Apples:

1. Peel and cut the apples into chunks.
2. Put all the chunks in a pot and cover with water.
3. Boil the water until the chunks are soft and tender. You can check this with a fork.
   
4. When they are ready put them in the blender and puree. 
   
5. Remember - NEVER EVER add seasonings to your purees. I love me some cinnamon on apples but until your little one has tried and passed each food never add anything to them, that way you know exactly what caused any potential allergic reactions.
6. Then pour the puree into a dish to cool. Don't add hot puree to your freezer trays, they might warp or break. All the dishes I used to cool my purees are microwave safe and thus safe for hot items.
7. Once they are all cooled fill up your trays. Remember DON'T combine any purees into the same cube. You want a single fruit in each cube.
   

Pears:

1. Peel and cut the pears into chunks.
2. Put all the chunks into a steamer. I have a steaming basket for one of our pots but you could also use an actual steaming appliance.
3. Once the chunks are soft and tender put them in the blender and puree.
4. Then put the puree into a dish to cool.
5. Once it's cool fill up the freezer trays.

Peaches:

1. Peel and cut the peaches into chunks.
2. These can go straight into the blender and pureed. They don't need to be cooked unless you want to boil them to get the peel off but that just seemed like over kill to me.
3. Because they weren't cooked they don't need to cool so they can straight into the freezer tray.

Plums:

1. Peel and cut the plums into chunks.
2. These can go straight into the blender and pureed. They don't need to be cooked unless you want to boil them to get the peel off but that just seemed like over kill to me.
3. Because they weren't cooked they don't need to cool so they can straight into the freezer tray.

Beets:

I know what you're thinking; these aren't fruits but I wanted another veggie for him to try so here we are.

1. Peel and cut the beets into chunks. Also cut off and throw away the top greens you only want the bulbs at the ends like radishes.
2. Put all the chunks into a put and cover with water.
3. Boil until the chunks are tender.
4. Once they are soft place all the chunks into the blender and puree.
5. Then put the puree into a dish to cool.
6. Once it's cool fill up the freezer trays.

Squash: 

Also not a fruit but Jack's favorite so it's nice to have on-hand. I did it a little different then last time and it worked out so much better.

1. Peel the squash. This isn't as easy as it sounds because the rind is very thick. Keep peeling until it turns a brighter orange color, the light tan color is still rind. That part isn't edible so make sure to get it all off.
2. 
3. Scoop out the seed section like a pumpkin and cut the squash into chunks.
4. Put all the chunks into a pot and cover with water.
5. Boil until the chunks are soft and tender.
6. Once they are soft place all the chunks into the blender and puree.
7. Then put the puree into a dish to cool.
8. Once it's cool fill up the freezer trays.

I boiled and steamed mine all at the same time which was pretty nice. The apples were done first, then the pears, then the squash, then the beets.

How much does this all yield?

-Apples : 3 = 14 oz
-Pears : 3 = 12 oz
-Peaches: 3 = 20 oz
-Plums : 8 = 15 oz

-Beets : 3 = 13 oz
-Squash :1 = 20 oz

And this whole process still only took 2 hours. So I highly recommend it to everyone.

How much did this save?

Apples = $2.11
Pears = $0.60
Peaches =$6.85
Plums = $4.13
Beets = $1.99
Squash = $2.27

That's a total of $17.95. Since it yielded 94 oz then it's $0.19 an oz!! The store averages around $0.40 an oz so that's over a 50% savings! Or a savings of $19.65!!

This experiment has worked out so well for us and I hope it helps you save some money too. Because let's be honest you can always spend that extra money on baby toys ;).

I wish you all the best of luck in your baby food adventures.