Baby Spinach Pesto Pasta with Peas

I'm always trying to come up with tasty ways to incorporate spinach and other dark greens into my little guy's diet. Last night I decided to boil baby spinach with garlic and then puree it with olive oil and Parmesan cheese to make a "pesto" like sauce for my son's pasta. It ended up being a really delicious sauce, and my son loved it! You can also add legumes or chicken to this dish to add protein. My little guy had chicken for lunch so I didn't add it to his dinner. You can puree this dish for babies 8+ months, or serve as finger food for older babies.

Here's what you need:
1 cup whole wheat pasta
1 cup organic baby spinach
1 garlic clove minced
3/4 cup organic peas (fresh or frozen)
olive oil
1 tblsp grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a medium pot of water to boil. Add pasta and peas and cook for 5-8 minutes. Once the pasta and peas are cooked use a large slotted spoon to scoop out the pasta and peas (you are going to boil spinach in the pasta water so do not drain the pasta, just scoop it out with the spoon. I know it sounds odd, but it will give the spinach a little more flavor.) Set the pasta and peas aside. Add the baby spinach to the boiling pasta water. Add minced garlic and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Drain spinach, and puree it with 2 tblsp olive oil and parmesan cheese. Pour the spinach sauce over pasta and peas. Toss to coat the pasta. Serve your little one about 1 cup of the pasta, and store the rest in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!

Baby Scramble

This is a yummy scramble for your little one, and a great finger food. Make sure your baby is old enough to eat cooked egg yolk.

1-2 egg yolks scrambled
1/2 an avocado mashed or diced into small cubes
1 oz smashed cooked peas
1/2 teaspoon grated parmesan cheese
1-2 pinches parsley

Crack eggs into your hand or use an egg separator to separate the yolk from the egg whites. Beat egg yolks and then put them in a small saute pan. Add mashed or diced avocado, smashed cooked peas, parmesan, and parsley to the pan and scramble. Let cool for 1-2 minutes and then serve to your little one. I usually put it right on his high chair tray, or in a bowl as finger food.