Our youngest is 11.  She cried today because she doesn't want to grow up.  God knows I would be more than willing to keep her around longer than we're allowed!  I tried to encourage her with all the great things she has to look forward to as a possible wife and mother someday, like making baby food!  Seriously, that was one of my favorite things about having babies around the house.  It all started, of course, with our first, 25 years ago.  After our first baby boy was born, I quit my full-time job and got a part-time job at a bookstore.  Where else could a bookworm like me go?

As an employee, I received a discount, and as a frugal gal, I scoured the Bargain Bookshelves so my discount would go even further.  One of the books I found as a baby food cookbook.  Wha?????  Don't babies just eat the food that comes in jars from the grocery store???  I can't remember the name of the book.  I gave it away after our third baby because we weren't going to have more children...we had six.  Anyway, with that first cookbook, I made fun things like "Tomato and Lentil Medley" and yes, those that I made it for, ate it!  That book taught me how to puree the food and freeze it in ice cube trays, then store in freezer bags until needed.  Amazing.

By the time our third was born, life was pretty busy, and the cookbook with all the fun recipes in it was forgotten, but I was still gung-ho about homemade baby food!  I kept things going by just pureeing different vegetables and mixing likely ones together when the mood struck.  When the last three were babes, I was a little more savvy.  I would put something like Chicken Pot Pie on the menu, double the recipe, then puree and freeze the leftovers.  It was funny...the older kids would walk by while I fed the baby pureed Chicken Pot Pie and say, "eeeeeeew!  Baby food!"  I would say, "You ate this for dinner last night."  ;-)

So Chicken Pot Pie, Beef Stew, Homemade Applesauce, leftover spaghetti - those were a few things that I made work double duty and served them along with the pureed vegetables and fruits that I had on-hand.  I did invest in another baby food cookbook.  It was Top 100 Baby Purees.  It was a great book. 

Here is one of the recipes that I enjoyed making back in the day.  It's a lot like Chicken Pot Pie.  I used it when I didn't have time to make the official Chicken Pot Pie recipe, but had leftover chicken that needed to be used.  I always cook for the long-term, and would double, or even triple this recipe.  There are free baby food recipes all over the web!  Google "baby food recipes" and you'll find more than you need.

Creamy Chicken and Vegetables

1 T. olive oil
1/2 c. chopped onion
2 medium carrots, chopped

3/4 c. sliced mushrooms

1 T. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. chicken stock

1/4 c. milk

1/2 c. chopped cooked chicken

1/4 c. grated cheddar cheese

Heat the oil in a saucepan and saute the onion and carrots for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the mushrooms and saute for three minutes.  Stir in the flour and continue to cook for one minute.  Gradually stir in the stock and the milk.  Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and cook for 5 minutes.  Stir in in the chicken and cook for one more minute.  Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted.  Either chop into small pieces or puree for your baby.  Makes three servings.

Love,

Becca