The response to my first post regarding homemade baby food was quite encouraging, so I will continue posting about some of the different types that I make. We are nearing the end of our first round of vegetables before moving on to fruits for a while. So far we have introduced butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans and acorn squash. These have all been great introductory veggies as they are unlikely to cause an allergy and cooperate well with a younger baby’s tummy. Andrew is quite the little piggy, so he has enjoyed every vegetable we have tried so far. For some reason though he eats slightly less green beans in a feeding than he does other veggies (1.5 to 2 cubes versus 3 regularly). These green beans cost me $1.59 at the store, and made about 20 cubes, so that works out to around $0.15 per serving. Nice!
Start by rinsing the beans thoroughly. You don’t want your child eating dirt and/or pesticides!
Slice the tips off of the beans…or just snap them off if you are less OCD than I :)
Place a fine mesh sieve, colander or steamer over a pot with a small amount of boiling water (basket should not touch the water). I briefly contemplated buying a steamer and then realized I had many things in my kitchen that would do the same job just fine. I am extremely short on cabinet space so finding multiple purposes for items I already own is a big plus.
Place the beans in the basket and allow to cook in the steam.
I place the lid of the pot over the top to keep more steam in. This is not necessary, it just helps the beans cook more quickly. Steam until the beans are fork tender.
Transfer the beans to the bowl of a food processor. Puree until smooth. Add water as needed to achieve desired consistency. (It can be difficult to get green beans pureed finely so you may opt to strain through a fine mesh sieve or use a food mill if desired.)
Portion into ice cube trays and freeze. Thaw in refrigerator or at room temperature as needed. Green beans are an excellent source of calcium, as well as vitamins K, C, and A!
Another winner with our little guy. And a random tip – if the child’s shirt is already dirty and you’re getting ready to change their outfit, just feed them and skip the bib. Less laundry later is always a good thing :)
