Oh Baby! Makin' Baby Food

Homemade Baby Food…its the best gift you can give your baby.  Its good for them, it saves you money, and its fun!  :)

While I was pregnant with C I searched and searched for information on making your own baby food.  Everyone has a different opinion and a different way of doing it.  I like to keep things simple, and I will share with you what worked for me...

Today I made Apples.  When I make something for the first time I make sure to wash with soap everything I use before making a second food (assuming I'm making more than one food in a day).  Otherwise I just rinse everything.  You have to be really careful with possible food allergies.  You want to wait 5-7 days between each new food (that's what our pediatrician recommended).  We introduce new foods in the morning so we can monitor any reactions he may have.

I cleaned, pealed, and cut the apples before steaming them.  This is the steamer I use.  Again, keeping it simple.  I just put the metal steamer in a pot with water and add food.

You don't need a special blender.  I use my Magic Bullet (which is really old and may not last much longer), but you can use any blender you have around the house.  Add water as needed.  I suggest adding a little less than you think you need, you can always add more when its time for the baby to eat. You can use the water you steamed the food in to preserve nutrients.

Next, you put your food in a ice cube tray.  I got these from Amazon and I love them!  They are specially made for baby food and they have a lid so nothing from the freezer gets into your babies food.  Let your cubes freeze for 24 hours.

After your food is frozen you can put in into a freezer bag.  Again, when I make a new food I keep it separate and put it into a bag by itself, but when I make food that he has had before I just put it all in one bag.

The day before I am going to feed him, I thaw two cubes in a mason jar, and put it in the fridge.  I got these mason jars from Target, they are perfect!

 There was never a second thought when it came to making my own baby food.  This is something I wanted to do for my baby, and I'm so glad.  I know exactly what is going into his body, and I am helping him form good food habits early.  So far we have tried sweet potatoes, pears, cucumbers, peaches, yellow squash, carrots, banana, and avocado.  And now Monday we will try apples.  (isn't it funny how we say "we", but really its just the baby)

Our Trip to Chopstix

This evening my husband and I broke our Chopstix cherries.  We are both a fan of chinese food, and sushi, but had never been to Chopstix.  I have been wanting to try it for sometime, I have heard loads off wonderful things about this place, and the reviews online are also awesome.

The hubby and I stayed in last night, and so we decided we would go out tonight instead.  It works in our favor that we are not football fans.  When we go out during the game, places that don't have a very big bar are usually not very busy.  And so we headed to Chopstix...I for one was very exited!

I got a lot of different recommendations and suggestions of food from different people.  The menu is very extensive.  Chris and I decided to go with the "big meal".  With this you get your choice of soup, two pieces of shrimp toast, two crap wontons, and an entree.  I have never had soup from a chinese place, so I decided to try the hot and sour soup, and Chris got the Chicken wonton soup.  My soup was only ok...I didn't even eat half of it...honestly I wasn't really sure what was in it, and so I wasn't really eager to scarf it down. 

The crab wontons were amazing!  And I know my wontons...they are a favorite of Chris and myself.  We get them almost every time we get chinese food.  I enjoyed the shrimp toast, Chris was not a fan.  Needless to say, the "big meal" idea was a good one, but we will not be doing that combo next time.

Next came our sushi (which did not come with our big meal...but we couldn't not try the sushi!)  The Baltimore Roll was recommended to me by my friend Ashley, so that's what I got.  Chris got the Ninja Roll.  The Baltimore Roll was good, but Chris's Ninja Roll was better.  It was quite tasty in fact.  It was topped with salmon...I love Salmon!

By the time our meals arrived, we already knew we would be needing two boxes.  I think I ate two bites of my sweat and sour shrimp (two very yummy bites btw).  Chris got Kung Pao Chicken....he likes his food very spicy.  He said the chicken had a good flavor, but it was a little more on the sweet side than the spicy.  He likes it more spicy than sweet.

We really enjoyed our dinner at Chopstix, we will be going back soon to try a few new things.  The service was amazing, the atmosphere comfortable, and all over a good experience.  

Plus, they had this really cool ship in the lobby!

Cookies and Pie

Now that I have my new computer, i am feeling more inclined to keep up with my blogs.  After all, it took my Dell about 5 whole minutes to turn on and the internet to start working.  How fast is my new Mac you ask....it takes about 30 seconds....that's a lot faster!!!  

Anyhoo, I am going to condense two blog posts into one here.  I made cookies, and I also made my famous pie.  I am not much of a cook, but I do enjoy baking.  There is an art to it, an art not involved with cooking.  Not to mention baking is a more take your time thing, and when I cook I feel like its a race-a-round until the food's on the table.

Making Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies...yummy!!!

 I got to use my new mixer for the first time!

Cookies!!!!

My next baking project (not in the same day) was my pie.  You can find this recipe on foodnetwork.com 

Spiced Apple Pear Pie. 

This pie is always a big hit with everyone.  Its not super easy to make, and its very time consuming, but its all worth it when you impress everyone with your baking skills.  And you take a big bit of pie and it tastes like heaven in your mouth.  Yummmy heaven :)

Smoothie

After stuffing my face yesterday (Thanksgiving)  I thought it would be a good idea to start with something light and healthy today.....especially since I plan on having leftovers  :)

 Step One...Add ice, frozen, fruit, some whey protein powder (vanilla), and orange juice

 Step Two....blend.  I love my magic bullet, I dont know what I would do without it!!!

Step Three....ENJOY!!!!

And it is very yummy!  Now I can jump start my day without feeling guilty.  Time to find those Christmas decorations!  :)