Gardener's Blend Organic Veggies with Pasta, Garbanzos and Marinara for Baby

This is a super healthy and yummy meal for your little one. It also makes a great lunch for Mommy. It's full of vitamins A and C, protein, beta-carotene, potassium, calcium and whole grains. You can puree this for little one's 7+ months, or serve as is to little one's who are eating finger foods. I spoon fed this to my little guy because it would be really messy as a finger food. Especially since he loves throwing his food ALL over the place.

Here's what you need:
1/4 cup organic Gardener's blend frozen veggie mix (It's peas, green beans, corn, and carrots you can find it in the freezer section at the grocery store)
2 tblsp (1 oz) organic garbanzo beans (I use canned, so much easier)
1/4 cup whole wheat macaroni pasta
1/4 cup organic marinara sauce
Pinch Parmesan cheese

Bring a small pot of water to boil. Add pasta and frozen veggies, and cook for about 5 minutes or until pasta is done. Drain and return to pot. Add garbanzos and sauce. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with a little Parmesan cheese. Let cool for a minute, then puree or serve as is. Make sure to test the temperature on your bottom lip before serving to your little one. Enjoy!

Finger Food: Turkey with Butternut Squash, Avocado and Smashed Peas

This is what my son had for lunch yesterday. It's full of vitamins A and C, iron, protein, and other essential minerals for your little one. I also managed to sneak a few veggies into the turkey meat, just like with the turkey meatballs. This is for little ones 9+ months.

I forgot to take a pic before, so here's the after shot :)

Here's what you'll need:
1/4 lb ground turkey meat
1 tblsp minced organic garbanzo beans (I use canned organic garbanzos. Rinse thoroughly)
1 tbslp minced organic broccoli florets
1/2 organic avocado diced
1 tblsp cooked organic peas smashed (I used frozen peas. Steam in microwave for 2-3 minutes and then smash)
1/4 cup diced organic butternut squash

Saute turkey, minced garbanzos, and minced broccoli with olive oil in a small skillet. Steam diced butternut squash in a microwave safe bowl for 5-8 minutes. Make sure the squash is very soft. It should almost mash when you pick it up. Dice avocado, smash cooked peas, and then put all ingredients right on high chair tray. Make sure it is not too hot for your little one. Serve and enjoy!

Turkey Meatballs for Baby

I've been experimenting with different ways to make baby meatballs, and came up with this the other day. It's a great way to get meat and veggies all in one bite.  I served them with Trader Joe's mini ravioli. This is for babies 9+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1 lb ground turkey
1/4 cup minced organic broccoli
1/4 cup minced organic garbanzo beans
1 egg
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 cup italian seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups salt free organic marinara sauce (Trader Joe's makes a good one)
olive oil

Put turkey, broccoli, garbanzos, egg, parmesan cheese and bread crumbs in a medium size bowl and mix together with your hand until well blended, and then make into little meatballs. Pour marinara sauce into a medium size pot. Cover and heat over medium to low heat. Heat 2-3 tblsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place the meatballs around the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides. When they are browned transfer them to the sauce pot, cover, and cook the meatballs through in the sauce stirring occasionally. This usually takes about 10 more minutes. This makes a big batch of meatballs so you can store them in the freezer for 2 months.

Rainbow Chard Garbanzo Bean Zucchini and Cauliflower Puree

I made this for my little guy today. It's full of iron, protein, fiber, folate and other essential vitamins and minerals for your little one. Not to mention, it's pretty tasty. These taste great sauteed with olive oil for Mommy too! This recipe is for babies 10+ months.

Here;s what you'll need:
1 oz organic rainbow chard puree
1 oz organic garbanzo bean puree
1 oz organic cooked zucchini puree
1 oz organic cooked cauliflower puree

Saute rainbow chard with olive oil until it wilts, then puree with filtered water. I use canned organic garbanzo beans. Rinse them thoroughly and then puree with filtered water. Cut zucchini into small pieces and then saute with olive oil until tender, and then puree. Steam cauliflower for approx 8  minutes and then puree with filtered water. Mix together, serve and enjoy!

Garbanzo Bean and Pumpkin Puree

My little one absolutely loves garbanzo beans (so do I),  and I'm finding out that they taste good mixed with almost anything! This is a simple puree that is full of Vitamin A, iron, protein and other essential nutrients for your little one. This is for babies 6+ months.

Here's what you'll need:

2 oz pumpkin puree

2 oz garbanzo bean puree

pinch cinnamon

pinch ground sage

There are a few different options with pumpkin. You can cut, peel and bake pumpkin at 350F for 30 minutes, cut, peel and steam pumpkin for 15 or so minutes, or you can use canned organic pumpkin. If you  use canned pumpkin make sure that it is 100% pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix. I use canned or jarred organic garbanzo beans. Rinse them thoroughly, and then puree with filtered water. Mix pumpkin and garbanzo puree, add cinnamon and sage. Serve and enjoy!

Butternut Squash Mac-N-Cheese for Baby

I got this idea when I saw Tyler Florence's Sprout Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese combination in the grocery store. It sounded like a really yummy mixture, so I decided to try to make my own version. This is a very chunky puree. It's kind of half puree, half finger food. You can serve this as a finger food, but it would be very messy. This is for babies 9+ months.

Here's what you'll need:
1/4 cup whole wheat macaroni
2 oz cooked butternut squash mashed (peel and cut into cubes, steam in microwave for 10 minutes)
1 oz garbanzo bean puree (I use canned organic garbanzos. Rinse thoroughly and puree with filtered water)
1 tsp grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp grated Parmesan cheese
pinch of ground nutmeg
pinch of onion powder

Bring water to boil in a small pot. Add macaroni and cook according to package.  When macaroni is cooked, drain, and chop into bite size pieces. Mix mashed butternut squash and garbanzo puree in a small bowl. Add cheddar, parmesan, nutmeg, and onion powder. Add macaroni and mix until blended. Serve and enjoy!

Broccoli Garbanzo Bean and Eggplant Puree

I made this for my little guy last night. This puree is full of protein, fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C. It's super nutritious and really yummy too. This is for babies 9+ months. My little guy is 10 months now so the purees I make him are a little on the chunkier side.

Here's what you'll need:
2 oz cooked broccoli puree (If using fresh broccoli steam for 15 minutes, or cook in microwave with a little filtered water for 5-8 minutes. If using frozen steam for 5-8 minutes on high in microwave)
2 oz garbanzo bean puree (I use canned organic garbanzos. Rinse thoroughly and then puree with filtered water)
1 oz cooked eggplant puree (peel and cut up eggplant into tiny pieces. Cook in microwave with a little water for 5-8 minutes then puree) *Do not serve raw or undercooked eggplant*
Pinch oregano

Mix together, serve and enjoy!

Garbanzo Bean and Broccoli Puree

This is a very simple puree, but it's super delicious and jam packed with essential vitamins and nutrients for your little one. I made this for my little guy tonight and he loved it. This is for babies 7+ months. I made this a little chunkier for my little guy since he's 10 months, and is getting used to new textures.

Here's what you'll need:
2 oz garbanzo bean puree (I use organic canned garbanzos. I rinse them thoroughly with water, and then puree with filtered water)
2 oz cooked broccoli puree (steam fresh broccoli for 15 minutes,  steam frozen for 5, then puree)

Mix together, serve and enjoy!

I gave my little guy cut up apricot after dinner.

I Love Hummus!

Garbanzo beans are a great source of protein and iron for your baby, and great if you're a little scared to try meat right away. Here are a few recipes with legumes that my little guy loves:

Butternut squash hummus:
1-2 oz pureed garbanzo beans ( I use organic canned garbanzos. Put them in a strainer or salad spinner and rinse thorougly to get all the salt that they are canned in off before pureeing)
1-2 oz cooked pureed butternut squash (I steam and then puree)

Split pea hummus:
1-2 oz split pea puree (simmer dried split peas for 20 minutes in a covered pot. Use 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of dried split peas)
1-2 oz garbanzo bean puree

Sweet pea hummus:
1-2 oz cooked pureed sweet peas (I steam and then puree)
1-2 oz garbanzo bean puree

Mommy and Daddy Hummus:
1 can organic garbanzo beans
olive oil
2-3 oz butternut squash puree
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon italian seasoning

Puree garbanzo beans and half of the pine nuts continuously adding oil until you get the texture you like (about 1/3 cup oil give or take). Once garbanzos are pureed stir in butternut squash puree, remaining pine nuts and italian seasoning. Serve with multigrain pita chips or warm multigrain naan and enjoy!