Just Bananas "Ice Cream"

I've been seeing this one ingredient ice cream on the internet for years and recently tried it out for my 52 Food Adventures challenge.  We've been making it ever since.

As the only ingredient is frozen bananas, it really couldn't be simpler.

Your baby will get a unique treat when eating, your older children will consider it dessert,

and it would be perfect to help soothe the gums of a teething baby.

Just Bananas "Ice Cream"

Banana (the more ripe the banana is the sweeter it will taste)

Take your banana, peel and slice it and place the pieces on a plate or tray.

Freeze the bananas and then puree in a food processor.

At this point you can definitely serve as is.  The texture will be that of soft serve.

If you like it to be more like traditional ice cream then stick it back in the freezer for another couple hours.

Enjoy!

*Variations

-Add peanut butter, cocoa powder or nutella

-Roast your bananas first to intensify the sweetness and add a note of caramel

*Storage

Simply place in an airtight container in the freezer

*Benefits

Bananas are packed with potassium and fiber but they are also good for the digestive system.

They've been known to be binding and I think this would be the perfect that for a sick baby or child with diarrhea.

Have you had the one ingredient ice cream before?

Raspberry & Pear

Before this past year I did all my shopping at the grocery store.

As a result I wasn't really aware of the local growing season for a lot of fruits and vegetables.

I always considered raspberries and blackberries a summer fruit but

they are really a fall fruit.

We had these gorgeous raspberries and pears just calling out to be blended together.

The puree is vivid and refreshing.

Raspberries are a bit tart and so is this puree.

I don't see anything wrong with that.  Not all fruit needs to be really sweet.

Also, don't assume your little won't like tart.  Peanut likes plain yogurt and that is pretty darn tart.

However, if you find that your little isn't buying into the tartness 

there are a few options that I've listed in the variations section.

Raspberry & Pear

12 oz (or about 2 cups) raspberries, rinsed

3 small (or 2 large) pears, peeled, cored and cut into chunks

Throw it all into a food processor and puree!

I did mine in batches because I was too lazy to pull down the big food processor. 

Enjoy!

*Variations

-Mix with minced mint or ginger

-Add a pinch of spice like allspice, nutmeg or cinnamon

-Top oatmeal or other grain

-Add some mango or banana and bland into a smoothie

-This would also make a great popsicle

-Cook some chicken, pork or turkey in this

To make it sweeter:

-Add some apple or mashed banana or roast your banana to make an even sweeter blend

-You can always cook this down a bit over medium heat in a heavy bottomed sauce pan.

This will bring out the natural sweetness but will also make it runnier.

This would be fantastic to cook oatmeal or other grains with as done HERE.

*Storage

Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

*Benefits

For such a little fruit raspberries are packed with nutrients.  High in fiber, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin K.

Pears are a good source of fiber, vitamin C, E, K and B2, copper as well as potassium.

Cherries with Mango & Pear

The cherries out right now are just so absolutely gorgeous, it seemed wrong not to share them with Peanut.

My mom was telling me that cherries and mango are her favorite fruits and here we are.

No cooking.

The hardest part of this recipe is pitting your cherries.

Unfortunately my cherry pitter went back to Sacramento, her name is Jordyn :)

So I just sliced them in half and took the pit out with my fingers.

I still have purple under my nails.

I added diced pear for some additional texture and we ended up with this tasty treat for your little.

Cherries with Mango & Pear

2 cups pitted cherries

1 mango, peeled and cut into chunks

1 large ripe pear, diced*

Place your cherries and mango in the food processor and blend (or pulse if you want chunks) 

to the consistency right for your little one.

Add your diced pear, stir and serve!

*A word about your pear.  

Make sure it's very ripe and you dice it to a size that your baby can mush in his/her mouth.

~Alternatively you could also just puree all the fruits together

*Variations

-Add minced herbs like mint or basil

-Add spices like cinnamon, ginger or vanilla

-Mix in to yogurt, cottage cheese or oatmeal

*Storage

Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

*Benefits

Cherries are a great source of potassium, have anti-inflammatory properties 

and are packed with antioxidants.

They also contain melatonin which is said to help regulate natural sleep patterns, 

in which case I may only give Peanut cherries to eat from now on.

Mangoes are also a great source of potassium as well as beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Pears are high in fiber, vitamins B2, C and E.

Check back on Monday for an awesome new product and a giveaway!

Banana Avocado Whip

Banana and avocado are one of those combinations that I have seen over and over on baby sites.

Seriously, don't knock it until you've tried it.

The color is that gorgeous avocado green but the majority of the flavor is the sweet banana.

The secret ingredient in my banana avocado whip is the silken tofu.

Years and years ago I made a Cooking Light recipe for strawberry mousse that had silken tofu.

It blends right in and noone would ever know that it's in there.

It's softer then firm tofu, making it perfect to blend and you can put it with just about anything.
Add it to your fruit or veggie purees, serve it as finger foods
or pretty much mix it into anything.

Banana Avocado Whip
1 banana (Make sure it's ripe! The riper, the sweeter)
1 avocado
1/4 cup silken tofu

Simply puree all the ingredients together!

*Variations
-Serve it chilled on a hot day.
-Mash into chunks with a fork.
-Eliminate the tofu to serve as a first food.
-Add yogurt and/or milk and make this into smoothie for baby or for you.
No really, people drink these shakes, just google it!

*Storage
Hmmm, this is really a matter of opinion.
It will easily refrigerate for up to 3 days but it does get brown.
Both the avocado and banana get brown like guacamole that has been sitting out.

This doesn't mean that it's bad.

You can avoid this by putting the puree in a container and filling it to the top
or covering the top with plastic wrap, making sure the wrap sits on the top of the puree.
I would still put a lid over that.

If the air doesn't get to it then it won't brown.
If you do get some brown parts you can mix them in,
eat them yourself or skim it off the top and throw it away.

I used 2 ounce containers and filled them to the brim.
These keep perfectly until opened.

*Benefits
Bananas are packed with potassium and fiber but they are also good for the digestive system
and have been known to be binding (which is a nice way to say that it aids in diarrhea).

Avocados are fantastic for your baby.  Yes, they do contain some fat but it's the good fat.
The fat in avocados is monounsaturated which helps lower cholesterol and is high in omega-9.
Besides, babies could use the healthy calories in avocado.
They contain lutein, an antioxidant that helps maintain the health of your eyes and skin.
All this in addition to fiber, potassium, folate & vitamin A and you have a perfect first food.

Tofu is a great, simple source of protein without the added fat of some meats.
It also provides iron, omega-3 fatty acids and calcium.

Simple Stone Fruit (Plum, Peach, Nectarine, etc)

This puree can be done with any stone fruit or any combination of.

I needed to use up several different kinds so I ended up with a combination
of donut peaches, nectarines and plums.

There are all 3 in both of the purees shown but one has more plums then the other.

There are a so many different types of stone fruit on the market these days.
There are different varieties of fruit as well as hybrids like apriums and pluots.

Simple Stone Fruit 
3 medium nectarines, plums or other stone fruit (or combination of)
-make sure your fruit is ripe-

Boil a pot of water.  Meanwhile wash your fruit and cut an X on the bottom of each piece.
Place the fruit in the boiling water for a few minutes.
Remove and run cold water over the tops and simply peel back the skin.
Cut the flesh from the pit and puree.

If you are using this as a first food and prefer to cook it
 you could also place the fruit in a small saucepan and simmer until fork tender, then puree.
~~~

Taste your puree.  If the end result is too tart
 you could add pureed dried apricot or prunes for additional sweetness.

*Variations
-Mix this puree with just about any fruit under the sun
-Mash with banana (another easy way to sweeten)
-Add 3/4 teaspoon minced mint
-Add a generous pinch of cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (about 1/8 teaspoon)
-Mix with oatmeal or other cereal

*Storage
Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months

*Benefits
Peaches have lots of vitamin C and K as well as potassium, calcium and fiber.
Nectarines are high in antioxidants and vitamin A along with beta-carotene and potassium.
Plums are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamin C, K and A.

What is your favorite stone fruit?

I'm particularly obsessed with donut (or saturn) peaches right now.
The white flesh is so full of flavor with a hint of almond and
are much sweeter than some of the other stone fruit.
They are really easy to eat as the tiny little pit can be removed easily,
leaving you with tons of the yummy flesh.

Banana & Blueberry

This recipe is super simple and completely delicious.  This is one of those, throw together at the last minute purees and your baby will love it.

Banana & Blueberry

1 medium banana

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Place in food processor and puree.  

If using frozen blueberries just allow them to defrost a bit.  

Mine were still slightly frozen which worked out just fine.

*Variations

-Add a dollop of yogurt.  I usually do this when I've used a really ripe and sweet banana

-For some extra protein, add 1/4 cup of silken tofu.  It blends right in and the flavor hardly changes.
-Mash this with a fork for some texture
-Mix with prepared oatmeal

*Storage

This looks prettiest when eaten fresh as the banana will turn brown.

However, brown banana does not mean bad banana 

(unless of course we are talking about starting off with a rotten banana).

You can refrigerate for up to 3 days. 

I suggest placing cling wrap directly on the surface of the mixture to reduce browning if it bothers you.

You can also freeze this for up to 3 months (and I have frozen it) but it will brown as you thaw.

*Benefit

Blueberries are full of antioxidants and they help maintain memory. 

I'd say that's a huge perk considering the amount that your baby is learning on a daily basis.

Bananas are a great source of fiber and potassium.

They are also very good for the digestive system and have been known to remedy diarrhea(tmi?).

Tropical Fruit

This is a super simple fresh fruit puree.  No cooking, easy peasy.

I'll admit that this was the first time I've had papaya by itself and I really wasn't a fan.  However, just because I didn't like it doesn't mean that Peanut wouldn't. 

Once I added the mango and banana we both liked the puree.

Tropical Fruit Puree
1 papaya
1 mango
1 banana

Make sure all your fruits are ripe so they'll be sweet for your little.  Peel and cube the mango, slicing around the pit, and put in food processor.  Cut papaya in half, scrape out seeds and scoop flesh into food processor.  Add banana and puree.

This puree was perfect consistency for a beginning eater.  If you feel it's too thin you could add cereal to it.  It would also be great hand mashed for more texture.

Banana is a great source of potassium and fiber and they also have natural probiotic qualities.  Mangoes add to the potassium in addition to vitamins A, C, K, beta-carotene and calcium.  Papayas are a great source of vitamin C, folate, fiber, potassium and they aid in digestion.



Sometimes Peanut looks like such a big boy. 

I feel like I might just blink my eyes are he'll be running around.


Well, maybe he's not that big. 

It might be a while before he can run around in grandpa's work boots.