Word of the Day: Vicissitudes

This word is kind of a cool one to say, if rather an old one to use. Found once again in “The Summer of Beer and Whiskey” by Edward Achorn.

Context:

Another reporter, studying an “irregular” face that smiled more than it frowned, formed a strong impression of his willpower: “Base ball vicissitudes have not turned his hair gray. He looks like a man who could strike out vigorously when the sea becomes troublesome and who could keep his head well above the waives when other powerful swimmers begin to think of sinking.”

The definition:

a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

Well there’s one that makes perfect sense! I like it when it doesn’t take much work to figure this stuff out.

Here’s to Baby Food: Zucchini

I’ve been told by several people lately who have witnessed me feeding Baby Girl zucchini puree that they never thought about giving their babies zucchini. Well, I did. It is easy to digest, mild flavored, and good for you. Baby Girl isn’t a huge fan, but she liked them better than peas, so it’s a step in the right direction.

Equipment:
Steamer Appliance OR Stove, Pot, and Steamer Basket
Sharp Knife and Cutting Board
Blender or Food Processor

Ingredients:
2 Zucchini
That’s it!

1. Trim the ends off the zucchini and slice them into one inch slices. Don’t bother to peel them. The peel is easy to digest and blends easy as well.

2. Steam the zucchini. I used an actual steamer appliance (I have an Oster one), because it’s easy and it turns itself off when it’s done (seriously helpful when you have to run and change a baby), but a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water would work just as well if you keep an eye on the kitchen timer. It should take about 7 minutes.

3. Process the zucchini in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add water or cooking liquid as needed to make it the right consistency for your baby. I used my basic Hamilton Beach blender, and cooking liquid to thin it. My steamer has a reservoir under the steaming basket that catches all the zucchini flavored water before it ends up in the steam water, so I used that. Normally I would use a food processor because it makes quick work of it, but I don’t have a full size one, only a mini, so all the zucchini pieces wouldn’t have fit.

5. Transfer to containers (I use the OXO Tot baby food containers because they’re airtight, plus freezer and microwave safe). To store, keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If your baby is old enough for spices, zucchini can be great when you stir in a little basil, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper.

That’s it! Use the same recipe to make yellow summer squash for baby!

Here’s to Baby Food: Pears

So, pears. They are as easy as apples ( think they were even easier, but that’s just me), and they are delicious. You won’t regret making these babies form scratch.

Equipment:
Steamer OR Stove, Pot, and Steamer Basket
Vegetable Peeler
Blender OR Food Processor

Ingredients:
4 pears
That’s it!

1. Quarter and core the pears. Don’t peel them, we’ll do that later. Cooking with the peel on adds nutrients.

2. Steam the pears. I used an actual steamer appliance (I have an Oster one), because it’s easy and it turns itself off when it’s done (seriously helpful when you have to run and change a baby), but a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water would work just as well if you keep an eye on the kitchen timer. It should take about 7 minutes.

3. Now peel the pears. I used a vegetable peeler. If your knife skills are way better than mine, you can just use a knife. It can be a bit of a pain, and the apples can get a bit slippery, but you’ll get the hang of it, I promise.

4. Process the pears in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add water or cooking liquid as needed to make it the right consistency for your baby. I used my basic Hamilton Beach blender, and cooking liquid to thin it. My steamer has a reservoir under the steaming basket that catches all the pear flavored water before it ends up in the steam water, so I used that. Normally I would use a food processor because it makes quick work of it, but I don’t have a full size one, only a mini, so all the pears wouldn’t have fit.

5. Transfer to containers (I use the OXO Tot baby food containers because they’re airtight, plus freezer and microwave safe). To store, keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The pears will brown a little while being stored, but don’t worry, that doesn’t mean they’ve gone bad.

That’s it! It doesn’t get much simpler than that (and you thought this was going to be hard)!

Here’s to Baby Food: Peas

Everybody needs green vegetables in their life. That’s my opinion, in any case. So here’s a recipe for pea puree. Mine turned out really great, even if baby isn’t the biggest fan.

Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or frozen peas
That’s it!

1. Steam the peas. If you are using fresh peas, wash them first. I use frozen because they’re cheaper, and just as good as fresh in this instance. I used my Oster steamer again (just like when I made the Apples), because it’s easy. Once again, a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water will work just as well as long as the basket has small enough holes that the peas won’t fall through. It should take about 5 minutes, and they’ll be a bright beautiful green when they’re done.

2. Run the peas under cold water to stop the cooking.

3. Process the peas in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add water or cooking liquid as needed to make it the right consistency. As usual I used my basic Hamilton Beach blender with cooking liquid to thin the puree. In this case the ingredients would have fit in my mini-prep, but I didn’t want it to be a tight fit, so I went with the blender. Plus the pour spout makes putting the puree into containers simple.

4. Transfer to containers (I use the OXO Tot baby food containers because they’re airtight, plus freezer and microwave safe). To store, keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simple as can be.

So far the easiest baby food I’ve made (but I haven’t done bananas or avocado yet).

Here’s to Baby Food: Apples

So, my first foray into baby food today was an apple puree. Baby Girl is only six months old, and we just started her on solids. I always wanted to make her baby food, but I wasn’t sure how she would like it, so I started out with some jarred organic stuff people had given me at my baby shower. Once it was clear that she wanted solid food on a daily basis, I decided to make some. Apples it is. This is how I made it. There are many variations to this (it is essentially applesauce), so feel free to do it your own way. I do not use any special baby food specific equipment, as the functions they perform are the same as other kitchen appliances I already own.

Ingredients:
6 sweet apples (I used Gala)
That’s it!

1. Quarter and core the apples. Feel free to use an apple corer thingy…I didn’t, because I don’t have one. Why don’t I have one? Seriously. I must be nuts. Don’t peel them, we’ll do that later. Cooking the apples with the peel on adds nutrients.

2. Steam the apples. I used an actual steamer appliance (I have an Oster one), because it’s easy and it turns itself off when it’s done (seriously helpful when you have to run and change a baby), but a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water would work just as well if you keep an eye on the kitchen timer. It should take about 12 minutes.

3. Now peel the apples. I used a vegetable peeler. It can be a bit of a pain, and the apples can get a bit slippery, but you’ll get the hang of it, I promise.

4. Process the apples in a food processor or blender until smooth. Add water or cooking liquid as needed to make it the right consistency for your baby. I used my basic Hamilton Beach blender, and cooking liquid to thin it. My steamer has a reservoir under the steaming basket that catches all the apple flavored water before it ends up in the steam water, so I used that. Normally I would use a food processor because it makes quick work of it, but I don’t have a full size one, only a mini, so all the apples wouldn’t have fit.

5. Transfer to containers (I use the OXO Tot baby food containers because they’re airtight, plus freezer and microwave safe). To store, keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can add a little lemon juice to keep it from browning, but a little color change won’t hurt it.

That’s it! It doesn’t get much simpler than that (and you thought this was going to be hard)! I thought about including a photo, but it really does just look like applesauce. I swear it. When baby is old enough for spices, add a little cinnamon!