I am a happy lady right now: a warm fire is glowing in the woodstove, I just ate a great bagel (rare treat), the smell of freshly baking bread in the oven, and my little Gabriel is sitting here excited about spoons. He bangs them, gnaws on them, drops them so he can pick them back up… his excitement over something so small is contagious.
And right now, that contagion has bitten me. My “something small” is the Beaba Babybook I mentioned I got for my birthday a few weeks ago. Well, I am babysitting a friend’s active 2 year old today but didn’t want that to keep me from getting something done in my home too. He’s afraid of the vacuum, so I had to pass that up. And since I don’t want him getting into my cleaning supplies, the bathrooms will wait to be scrubbed until tomorrow. So I decided baking and cooking was today’s task. So! He “helped” me make bread, and thankfully Gabriel didn’t mind just watching. 🙂 And then I decided to make a few batches of baby food.
According to the Williams-Sonoma website, regarding my awesome Beaba Babycook: “The French baby-food maker that has won praise throughout Europe is finally available to American families. This compact countertop appliance multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, meat and fish in less than 15 minutes, preserving their vitamins and flavors, then purees or blends them to your desired consistency.“
And let me just tell you: it’s so true. I made a batch of peas, a batch of carrots, a batch of sweet potatoes… and then steamed (without pureeing afterward) sweet potatoes for us to have for dinner tonight. Since I teach on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, I have to make dinner early in the day. Not only did I make Gabriel enough food (it’s now frozen into cubes and stored in separate ziptop baggies) to last for a couple weeks, I also used the thing to prepare some of our own adult dinner! Pretty slick if you ask me.
I still have mixed feelings about the fact that I started solids so early. Nine months was the earliest I would let myself to do, but was hoping to make it twelve. Oh well. God guides each day and shows us where we need to bend our “plans.” 🙂 So since I was only half-hearted about this in the first place, days like today make me so happy. I know that I am able to make healthy food for my son, using a steaming method that keeps in vital nutrients (especially when I add the steaming water back into the food as I puree it). Plus, it’s easy enough that I can make baby food while caring for my baby in addition to watching someone else’s 2 year old AND making bread at the same time!
Pretty good, huh? 🙂
Looks yummy! I’m enjoying making baby food again. I actually missed it in between Rachel and Kara.
I have so many friends here that, though I can’t say they’re “against” the pureed food, they don’t think its necessary at all and so they think I’m weird for going through all the fuss of making it just so. Oh well. My babies have always loved it!
I know, it IS fun, huh? 🙂 Love cooking for my family, whether it is adult gourmet meals, simple daily dinners, or easy baby foods. Too fun.
And as far as pureed baby foods… I am always voting for mommy’s + baby’s personal preference. Whatever works for you guys, works for you guys! 🙂 And it does depend somewhat I suppose on the baby’s age & abilities. I mean come on, you’re friends wouldn’t give a toothless nine month old a steak & baked potato to gnaw on. Haha. 😉 I know Gabriel sure can’t go from milk straight to table foods; he (and I!) needs the progression in between.
And hey, I like being weird. 🙂 Haha!
You have me sold on the Beaba Babycook, when I (LW) have my own children someday, I want one! =) It sounds terrific! 9 months..wow, that is really good for starting solid foods. Does Gabriel still nurse too? (guessing he must be nursing some still) I always cringe when I hear people starting their babies really early, sometimes as early as 3 months. I know sometimes it can’t be helped though.
~Jaclynn