Blending Baby Foods (or how to make homemade apple & pear sauces)

After purchasing baby food from the grocery store for the last month, I saw firsthand how quickly it can add up. Baby food is expensive! So I decided to experiment with homemade food using a Magic Bullet Blender. What a machine! It works wonders for fruits and vegetables and the clean-up is quick and easy. If you're in the market for a blender, I highly recommend checking it out.

Here are some of the blended concoctions I ended up giving to my boys. Nothing fancy here. Just simple, healthy stuff that goes a long way.

Vanilla Cinnamon Pear Purée (makes 8-10 ounces)

• 2 ripe pears, peeled and cut into cubes (if unripe, steam for 5 minutes)
• 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. of vanilla extract

Put ingredients into blender for 30-60 seconds. Add water to reach desired consistency.

Carrot Applesauce (makes 8-10 ounces)

• 1 cup of baby carrots (steam for 5-7 minutes or until tender)
• 2 large Honeycrisp apples (peeled, cored and cut into slices)
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  Fill a baking dish with enough water to coat the bottom (1/4" deep) and add apple slices. Bake for 25-30 minutes. When finished, drain the water and then combine carrots, cinnamon and apples in a blender.  Blend for 30-60 seconds or until smooth. Add water as needed to reach desired consistency.

Pears with cinnamon and vanilla. My boys couldn't get enough of this!