How to Make Baby Food - Apples

I've been nervous to give Molly apples because my husband has an oral allergy to them. However, I was surprised when the doctor said that because of this, it is extra important for her to try them now. It turns out the longer we wait to introduce them to her, the greater her chance of developing the same allergy.

Making apples into baby food was honestly quite a pain in the butt. I think this is almost 100% due to user error however. I attempted to do this in a very short window of time after work. My light was limited, my kiddo got hungry, and I learned very quickly to always peel the apples BEFORE you chop them. This added about 15 minutes to my overall cooking time.

One thing to know is that apples are considered one of the "dirty dozen" foods for babies. (See the full list here). This means that apples are one of the fruits most likely to be contaminated by pesticides, so if you are able, buying organic is a smart choice.

So, to make apples into baby food, start with as many apples as you choose.

Core your apples. (Again, peeling BEFORE doing this step would be wise), and chop into chunks.

Place the apples in a large pot, and just cover with water. Bring to a boil, and steam until tender.

The next step is subjective, depending on how thin you want the final product. Molly is working her way into thicker purees, so I mashed the apples, but you can also puree them.

You can also add spices to give them a bit more flavor. I did not do this this time around, but will next time to help as I thought they were just a bit bland.

Have any other apple tips? Feel free to share them below!

How to Make Baby Food - Plums

Plums are a great fruit to introduce early on to your little one. They're extremely nutritious, and I like them because of the thin consistancy they make when pureed - making it easy for babies to eat without choking.

There are a few ways you can make plums for your baby. You can bake them in the oven, or you can boil them in water. I chose the boiling method.

To start, scrub the fruit clean. You should do this with any fruit or vegetable you serve to your baby..or yourself!

Next, carve an "X" in the bottom of the fruit. This will help it to "stand" while in the pot of boiling water.

Add the plums to a small pot. (I apologize for having two very different colored ones. I told my husband to pick up at least one ripe one, but then forgot how little puree one plum makes, so I had to cook both of them!). You want the water to go almost to the top, but not cover them completely, otherwise they will float.

Bring the water to a boil, and boil the plums until you can easily stick a fork in them. You will need to turn them over at some point so that the tops cook as well. Don't worry if they start to peel..this will be helpful after you're done boiling!

When the plums are soft, drop them into cold water. This helps with the peeling process, and I usually peel them in the water, or under the faucet in cold water.

Once they are peeled, cut them into chunks, and throw away the seed in the middle.

Add them to the blender of your choice and blend until smooth. The fruit already has enough water in it, so you do not need to add any.

Be careful because the few times I've done this, I have noticed some chunks left in the mix, no matter how much I blend them. I usually just take those out, and there's enough smooth liquid left over.

Poor into the container of your choice and refrigerate or freeze!

Do note, that one plum does not make very much..maybe just a tablespoon or two, so making a few at a time is a good idea.

Enjoy!