Produce
As it happens, Adelaide's been playing around with fruits and vegetables for nearly two months now and although she's entirely ready and willing to sample new flavors, Joel and I have been running out of inspiring spoonfuls.
Early on, Joel and I decided that we would invest the time and energy required to make all of Adelaide's solid food. No small task, even when we all can eat the same thing. For example, squash is a delectable vegetable loved by everyone in our home, but everyone prefers a different style of preparation. Around four o' clock, as Adelaide plays with her Tupperware containers nearby, I'll peel and chop half a squash into small cubes and throw it into the steamer for twenty minutes, while the other intact half of the same squash will be elegantly dressed and then stuffed into a 400ยบ oven to bake for the better part of an hour. When we all gather around the table in the evening to fill our bellies with a reviving, comforting meal, I feel a sense of pride. It feels good to home-make my family's food with produce from local farms. But it does necessitate a certain amount of creativity and effort.
An effort that all too easily floats away on a breeze of convenience and boredom.
Lately, we've had a jag of the same-old, same-old butternut squash puree, applesauce, and peas. Adelaide had been refusing her portions during the supper hour, so we decided to start something new, something store-bought. We purchased a package of organic barley teething biscuits, and two pint-sized cups of organic pureed carrots.
Adelaide devoured the carrots, and whenever she sees a biscuit she flaps her arms up and down in excited anticipation.
The homemade food rarely receives this reception.
What are we to do? I suppose a mix n' match diet is a good compromise. A Cheerio or two here, paired with a delicious puree of organically-grown parnips there. I loathe the Slippery-Slope Argument, but still, it feels like introducing a little bit of food from a package will lead Adelaide to a world of Starbucks breakfasts, McDonalds's lunches, and Applebee's suppers.
And for those of you in Toadsland who are especially astute observers, you'll note prominence of our friend, the pig, on Adelaide's outfit in the above photo. Please be assured that the applique is not a menu request for Soused Hog's Face.
Comments
Do you have a little baby food grinder? This makes the family meal so much easier! No need to cook her squash separately. Just scoop out the goodness and put in the little hand held grinder.
I made almost all of my kids food from scratch. I would grind up about half, simply from what we had on the table. I also invested time, maybe a half day every couple of weeks, to make purees in bulk. Steam a bunch of baby carrots, puree in food processor or blender, freeze in ice cube trays and pop cubes into freezer ziplocs. Then I could grab a few cubes and defrost, or take them along to a friend's house. You might try blending some of those favorites - apple & squash - together.
I ended up making chicken pot pie, spaghetti, and cheesy broccoli rice in this same fashion. It was very convenient, and I also felt great providing for my kids in this way. Have fun!
Posted by: Jennifer | November 15, 2006 2:30 PM
Isn't that just frustrating? All that work and you get a big raspberry from the little one. Around here, we believe in the "spoonful of sugar" philosophy. If the pureed beef stew won't go down, add a spoonful of applesauce (or sweet potato or mashed banana). It works wonders.
If all else fails, serve jarred foods and tell yourself that happy parents are more important than homemade food.
BTW, have you given Adelaide the peas whole yet? I've been thawing frozen peas and letting Eleanor chase them around her tray. Makes for hours of good, green fun.
Posted by: Lisa | November 15, 2006 5:16 PM
Jennifer, your system sounds excellent, but did you ever have a "feeding the slops to the animals" feeling after grinding up leftovers?
Lisa, Adelaide does find herself absorbed with chasing whole peas around, but several times we've found a surprisingly unscathed pea the next day in her diaper. "What an intrepid pea!" I always think to myself.
Posted by: Joel | November 15, 2006 8:33 PM
Eleanor prefers to smuggle her spare peas around in her clothing, predigested. I've been finding them all around the living room lately.
When we recently got burned out on the large batch of the aforementioned beef stew, I pureed it and froze it into cubes for Nora. Definitely a case of feeding her the slops, but it's a handy way to dispose of leftovers. Ha!
Posted by: Lisa | November 16, 2006 2:34 PM