I recently purchased a bench (actually a shelf unit) from Ikea that I ended up turning onto its side so that my daughter could access her toys in each individual cubby. I believe it’s normally supposed to stand vertical, but my daughter is only about 2 feet tall at the moment so I’ve been decorating and building most things in her room that she is able to reach. Anyways, I bought this bench and it was just boring and blah on top, so I decided to look online for a cute cushion to go on top of her bench that she could read next to her window eventually. Everywhere I looked all the cushions were either not the right dimensions or the main reason was every cushion I found had the most hideous print and fabric that I wouldn’t dare put it in her room let alone buy it… So, I decided to make my own cushion for her, and personalize it with fabric that matched her room. I am the worst sewer. Actually, I can’t even really sew, just patch up things here and there, but even then my patch work is a little on the messy side. So I made my daughter a cushion without sewing! Plus, who really has time for that when you have a kid and are pregnant with your second (future two under two…help).
So, let me now jump into how I made this beautiful no sew bench cushion.
I got the measurements of my bench and had an employee there cut the 2″ foam to the length of the bench (they won’t cut the foam to your width measurements, you’ll have to do that at home). They also cut the amount of fabric I needed for my bench as well. I went over by 8 inches with the fabric on the measurements because the fabric had to fit over the 2 inch foam on both sides as well as have a comfortable amount left over.
I then went to Home Depot and bought particle board and a heavy duty staple gun along with staples for the staple gun. They cut the particle board there at Home Depot, so make sure you let them know so they can cut it with their big fancy saw to the exact measurements of your bench.
The final bit of supplies that I used, was an electric knife from Amazon, to cut the foam. You can also use just a regular knife, but it will take quite a bit more time. I also grabbed a sharpie that I had on hand, to trace a line on the foam.
STEP 2
Create and Build Your No Sew Bench Cushion
I began by cutting my 2″ foam to match the width of my plywood, which was already cut to match the exact measurements of my bench at Home Depot. I laid the plywood on top of the foam and traced a line to match the plywood.
I cut the foam using my electric knife cutter to save time and energy, rather than using a regular knife. Once I finished cutting, I lay the fabric I picked out on the floor with the side I want show on the bench cushion facing towards the floor. Fold and lay out your batting on top of the fabric. I folded my batting into thirds to match the size of the bench. After, I lay the foam I purchased on top of the batting and lastly the plywood on top of that.
STEP 3
Staple the Fabric
Staple the fabric with each staple being evenly spaced apart, along one edge of the plywood. Pull the fabric tight and staple along the opposite edge of the plywood.
At the ends of your plywood fold the fabric like a present by tucking the ends in and folding up, and staple into the plywood. Repeat on the opposite side of the plywood.
ALL DONE!
Let me know in the comments if you tried out this tutorial and made your own No Sew Bench Cushion. I’d love to hear how yours turned out!
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
I’ve been really into following and raising my daughter off the Montessori approach and wanted to build her a pretty little kitchen so that she could prepare her snacks and food at. I stumbled upon the Ikea toy kitchen and while I was super impressed with the price, I wasn’t so much impressed by the look. After some research I noticed a lot of other parents out there redoing their Ikea toy kitchen to fit their own personal style. It’s called the “Ikea Toy Kitchen Hack”, and I decided to give it a try!
I first ordered the Ikea toy kitchen. It came within two weeks in the mail. I also decided to go ahead and order wood handles (rather than the plastic one that the toy kitchen comes with) from this wood shop off of Etsy. As far as the rest of the decor and the geode knobs and spray paint, I got everything from Hobby Lobby (best store in the Universe).
Here’s the final project and I am a pretty happy mom and she is a pretty happy food preppin’ babayyy.
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Your body is creating life and is constantly changing every day. With these changes comes exhaustion, fatigue, and sickness for the most part. Getting a good nights sleep is crucial, but with a baby or toddler thrown into the mix the hard parts of pregnancy just become harder… Take it from me, I found out I was pregnant with my second when my daughter was only 8 months old! You can’t just lie in bed all day or hang out over the toilet if you’re sick. You can entirely forget about even thinking of taking a nap or resting up for a bit if you’re exhausted and your body aches. Your little human takes up all your energy and total attention.
When I was pregnant with my first, I slept anytime I wanted. I had severe morning sickness and a high risk pregnancy so I was constantly having to take it easy and relax. Now with being pregnant with my second, it’s a whole other ball game. I am EXHAUSTED! I am unmotivated to do anything, let alone bathe an infant, change diapers, do dishes, make food for the three of us, throw in daily household chores, and just try to survive… To make this pregnancy even harder; my husband broke his leg and completely shattered his ankle, which means he needs my help, as well. I currently have two babies while being pregnant! I am tired to say the least. I had to come up with ways to help myself survive these pregnancy days without becoming a complete walking zombie! Here are 10 ways to survive pregnancy with an infant (and injured husband;)
1. Independent Play:
Playing with your children is a lot of fun. However, when you’re tired and sick, playing and using exhausting energy towards games and “bouncing” your child up and down, up and down, up and… It can become a little much! I had already “baby proofed” my daughter’s entire room, while also purchasing a regular house camera. *Side note* always try to purchase products that don’t include the word “baby” in it if you don’t have to. Companies just love to rack up the prices if their product has the word baby in it. So a small little tip is try to look for the same products you’ll need, but if you do online searching don’t write baby cam. Instead, search for a house cam. (I’ll include a link to the house hold camera, which I use and I can log into it anywhere, and I mean anywhere!) It’s great to say “bye bye” to my daughter in her room, shut the door, and quickly run to the bathroom with bouts of morning sickness, while also being able to watch her on the camera in her room. I also decided to invest in a playpen for my daughter, which I set up next to our living room couch. So that I could lay down on the couch while my daughter played away.
2. TV can be OK:
When you just need a breather or even to just bust out a few loads of laundry or household chores. It’s nice to turn to a cartoon sometimes to help out… I know what first time moms are thinking “I will never let my kids watch tv until they’re older!”, and don’t get me wrong I was that mom! But when you’re about to fall over and faint from the amount of work you’re having to do 24/7, it’s ok to turn to a TV for a little help. I love “BabyFirst” channel on TV. It is educational (which I try to choose over just a regular cartoon), so my daughter learns some things and is also distracted for a bit so that I can rest.
3. Do Ask for Help:
Your body is creating a human from scratch. There is a lot your body is going through and that can mean asking for help! I didn’t ask for help during my first pregnancy, but with this second pregnancy help is gold! Asking for help is crucial and OK for you to do. Whether it is to bring some dinner or takeout over, running some errands for you, doing some chores around the house like dishes or laundry, or even just watching over your little human while you squeeze a little alone and nap time for yourself. Asking for helps keeps you sane. Trust me, you do not want to become a zombie parent!
4. Plan Accordingly:
If you are feeling under the weather during the mornings, try to do most of the household chores during night time when your little one goes to sleep. Changing your schedule around to meet the needs of your body and how you feel is probably one of wisest tips I can give you.
5. Join a “Mommy and Me” Class:
I joined a “Mommy and Me” workout class in my city and I love it! We workout out while incorporating our little ones into the workouts. So our babies are getting some sunshine and getting to be outside while also do some fun exercises with their mommies. Exercise seemed to really help me when it came to morning sickness. It almost was my morning sickness medicine. But just going to a “Mommy and Me” type of class, will help distract your child, and it helps to talk and relate with other moms who have already went or are currently going through the same thing that you are going through.
6. Go Outside:
Getting Vitamin D and some fresh air can go a long way for our tired bodies. Just getting 10 minutes everyday, even on those hard days, is great for our health, our baby’s health, and even our developing fetus’ health. Plus letting our child be adventurous in Mother Nature’s playground gets them super tired; perfect for bedtime).
7. Snacks:
Sometimes just prepping three days of fruits, veggies, and protein as snacks for my daughter gives me 30 minutes while she watches me plus the time I save each day while she eats her snacks. I just chop up whatever I have on hand of fruits, vegetables and/or protein for her. Do cook any vegetables and or fruits that are hard or rough to chew in order to prevent choking. Make sure all proteins are fully cooked before giving them to your child and cut into small bite-sized pieces. Doing all the prep work in front of my little one distracts and entertains her. I mean who doesn’t get distracted by food! Giving her the already prepared food over the three days saves me time. It also allows me to relax and just watch her enjoy her food and improve her pincer grasp skills as well! I often take her outfit off so it doesn’t get dirty in order to save laundry time. My mom says I am saving water and my husband says she’ll be a “fun” date when she’s older.
8. Nap when your baby naps:
I know this is so cliché, but most babies will take at least one nap during the day, which means you can get some Zzzs during this time too. Anything that allows you to get more sleep is a plus in my book. If you don’t want to nap during this time, even taking a relaxing bath can help as well!
9. Take it easy:
Pregnancy is hard! It takes a lot out of you and especially with chasing a little one around, you can kiss your energy goodbye. So be patient with yourself, relax, and take it easy. If you feel like passing up on your sink full of dishes; do it! That big pile of laundry starring back at you waiting to be folded; skip it! Not feeling up to cook; order in! Remember that you are BUSY. Your body is growing a human from scratch and you are not being lazy. So slack up a bit! Take everything in day to day, laundry, dishes, chores, cooking, all of that can wait. Rest when you can and enjoy this time before another crazy little human joins your family :p
10. Get your little one involved:
Pregnancy can be hard and difficult to understand for your child too. With all the changes with your body that can bring on confusion to them. This can cause them to act out and have a tantrum. Instead, emphasize the importance of their new role as an older sibling. Get them excited about the baby’s arrival. Let them pick out a couple of outfits or toys for when their new brother or sister arrives. Read them books about younger siblings. Once the baby arrives, keep up having your toddler involved. Let them bring the clean diaper and wipes to you for diaper changes or carrying in the bottle to their sibling once they wake up from a nap. Keeping them involved helps them notice the importance of their role in the family and hopefully will help with juggling the jealousy factor of having a new baby in the household.
By the way, my husband and I just announced to our parents what gender our second child is, but here it is for the rest of the world to know what we are having:) For our second child, we are having a…
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I love Christmas decorations much, that I am that person that starts decorating early November with Christmas decor :P. Christmas decorations always makes me feel so bubbly and happy inside that I wish I could just have Christmas decorations up all year! Or is that pushing it? My philosophy in life is do what makes you feel happy, so pulling out my Christmas decor early is at the beginning of my “To Do” list.
I love incorporating red in all my Christmas decor. There is something about just adding such a bright splash of color just brightens up the mood and decor. A lot of my Christmas decorations I have accumulated from my parents and in-laws, but as far as everything else goes, I’ll try to include links to these items so you can shop them too!
All the decorations on the tree I actually bought at the 99 Cent Store. Even the tree boa is actually about 30 feather dusters that I bought and just wrapped around the tree to look like one of those expensive feather tree boas that are so expensive.
I got this advent calendar from Target, but the beautiful handmade stitched Christmas felts I bought from Etsy. I absolutely love them and my daughter loved picking one out everyday to put in the according date.
Here’s some more decorations that were scattered around the house. Enjoy!
Now that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, what perfect baby food to blend for your baby than potato mash puree?!? Mashed potatoes are such a loved dish by everyone, so while you’re making your mashed potato dish for the family for Thanksgiving you can also prepare your baby’s.
HOW TO MAKE POTATO MASH PUREE
What Kind of Potatoes Should You Use to Make Potato Mash Puree for Your Baby?
Potatoes are easy for our stomachs to digest and are loaded with minerals and vitamins to help protect babies in their liver, gastrointestinal health and provides them with energy towards their movement and growth.
I love using 50/50 Russet potatoes and Yukon Gold potatoes. Using a blend of both of the potatoes gives you the best of both worlds! The starchy Russet potatoes mixed with the buttery Yukon Golds is the perfect marriage!
When choosing your potatoes, always pick out ones that are firm and do not give when you squeeze them. A soft potato is an indication that the potato has gone bad, so avoid ones that are squishy when you touch them. Also, check for blemishes like cuts, nicks, bruises, dents, or any other open spots in the skin of the potato. Blemishes like these can lead to decay, as well as provide an environment for mold and bacteria to grow in the potato.
When buying potatoes, or any produce for your baby, I always recommend buying organic if it’s available. According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), “Children’s internal organs are still developing and maturing and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult. There are ‘critical periods’ in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual’s biological system operates. Children may be exposed to more certain pesticides because often they eat different foods than adults.” Organic foods are a smart choice for your little one because it protects their health from future illness and disease.
Wash and Peel the Potatoes
I always wash and scrub the potatoes first and then peel them after washing. This is because I don’t want to push any dirt, pesticides (non organic) or other unwanted contaminants that can be living on the outside of the potato with the peeler tool. After I peel them I do give them a quick little rinse too.
Potatoes should be peeled for babies that are younger than 8 months. Peeling the potatoes ensures that your baby’s stomach does not get upset because it is harder for younger babies to digest the peelings.
How to Cook the Potatoes
I love making this potato mash puree recipe because it doubles as a mash puree for my baby as well as a side dish for mommy and daddy;) I love steaming the potatoes, but you can also always bake/roast the potatoes as well. Try avoiding boiling the potatoes because this can reduce the amount of nutrients that the potatoes normally provide.
STEP 1
Steam the Potatoes
Chop the potatoes up into once inch cubes.
Next steam the potatoes by filling up a pot with water (leaving an inch below the steamer) and placing the steamer basket filled with the potatoes on top. Steam on the stove for about 40 minutes (or until tender) on med/low. Make sure that the water does not reach the bottom of the steamer basket or you will end up boiling it instead of steaming it!
STEP 2
Blend the Potatoes
Using my Blendtec (always blends my baby purees perfectly), I blend the potatoes until they’re a silky smooth puree, but I never over do it! Otherwise, your mash potatoes will come out sticky and gummy like. I like to add either breastmilk or formula to the mash potatoes to make them creamier for my daughter when eating. I do not select the smoothie blending option on my Blendtec for the mash potatoes like I do my other baby purees. Instead, I select the pulsing option to get the potato mash nice and smooth, but not gummy.
STEP 3
Freeze the Potatoes
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 4
Reheat the Potatoes
If frozen, warm the frozen potato puree in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the potato mash puree is not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Homemade Potato Mash Puree is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store bought varieties!
Ingredients
2 Russet Potatoes
3 Yukon Gold Potatoes
Breastmilk or Formula
Directions
Scrub, wash and peel the potatoes
Chop the potatoes up into one inch cubes. Make sure to discard the skin (hard for babies under 8 months to digest the skin)
Steam the potatoes on the stove for 20 minutes (or until tender) on med/low
Add the potatoes to a blender and blend selecting the pulse option on the blender (you do not want to over blend the potatoes! Otherwise they will get a gummy/sticky consistency)
Add either breastmilk or formula to the blender to get a silkier potato mash consistency. Add as much formula or breastmilk to your desired consistency
Freeze excess potato mash puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Corn, which in another countries is commonly known as maize, is a delicious sweet tasting food that is bright yellow in color and loaded with protein. Corn is also rich in Vitamin A; a good source of the antioxidant, beta-carotene, which plays an important role in eyesight and your baby’s skin. Corn also contains phosphorus (a chemical element known to support bone health), iron (improves brain development), potassium, and magnesium (necessary for nerve and muscle function).
HOW TO MAKE CORN PUREE
What Kind of Corn Should You Use to Make Corn Puree for Your Baby?
When feeding your baby corn, always chose corn ears that have green husks and tightly wrapped in the husk. Ones that are dry and have gone bad. If buying corn that has already been husked, look for corn with kernels that are plump and bright in color, not indented. Prepare the corn as soon as you purchase it to prevent it from spoiling. Until the time you make your baby’s corn puree, keep the cobs refrigerated because this slows down the conversion of sugar to starch.
I always try to go with the organic option if it’s available for my little one because according to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), “Children’s internal organs are still developing and maturing and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult. There are ‘critical periods’ in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual’s biological system operates. Children may be exposed to more certain pesticides because often they eat different foods than adults.” Organic foods are a smart choice for your little one because it protects their health from future illness and disease.
I always use fresh corn on the cob for my daughter, but if you’re on a time crunch, you can also always buy frozen organic corn kernels. Steam them for about 5-6 minutes and then blend:)
*Avoid feeding your baby whole corn kernels until at least one year of age!* Kernels may pose as a major choking hazard before a year, so make sure you blend the corn kernels into a puree when feeding your 6 month -1 year baby.
How to Cook Corn
When it comes to cooking corn on the cob, I recommend roasting the whole corn on the cob with the husk on. This is because it brings out their natural sweetness and keeps their nutrients within the corn because the husk acts as a barrier. Baking/roasting and steaming are the preferred methods to use when cooking homemade food. I never boil my corn because this can actually remove some of the nutrients within the vegetable or any other veggie or fruit for that matter.
Foods such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips and peaches are especially flavorful when baked.
STEP 1
Roast the Corn
Spread each ear of corn on a cooking pan. Leave the whole husk on the corn when cooking. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. So delicious, you will probably want to make plenty for you and your baby!
Once the corn is cool to the touch, you’ll want to remove the husk. Slice the ends off of the corn and peel off the husk.
Next, hold the corn up vertically with one of the cut sides facing downwards on a cutting board and while cutting downwards cut off the kernels from the cob.
STEP 2
Blend the Corn
Using my Blendtec (always blends my baby purees perfectly with its high horse power motor) blend the corn kernels until they’re a silky smooth puree. I add small amounts of water until I get the consistency that is best for my daughter.
When your baby first starts on solids, you want to blend their food to silky smooth because they are not ready to handle textures quite yet. Once your baby starts to grow you can leave the puree a little chunkier and then chunkier as they age. With corn kernels, always blend them until your baby is one year or older. Kernels can pose as a choking hazards for babies younger than a year old.
STEP 3
Freeze the Corn
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 4
Reheat the Corn
Warm the corn in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the corn are not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Homemade Corn Baby Puree is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store bought varieties!
Ingredients
4 ears of corn with husk on
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Place the corn with the husk straight onto a cooking pan (don’t remove the husk)
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes
Once the corn is cool, cut off both ends of the corn and peel off the husk
Cut the kernels off of the cob and transfer to a blender
Blend the corn and add water, to get your desired consistency until smooth if needed
Freeze excess corn puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Did you know that there are over 130 different kinds of green beans? That’s a lot of varieties of green beans casserole options you can make for Thanksgiving! Speaking go Thanksgiving, this is my all time favorite holiday. It has always been my favorite holiday since I was a kid. You get to make a bunch of good food, spend time with loved ones, and then EAT the good food! Here’s a simple recipe to make green bean puree for your baby and then use the rest of those green beans for a tasty casserole dish for your Thanksgiving dinner;)
HOW TO MAKE GREEN BEAN PUREE
What Kind of Green Beans Should You Use to Make Green Beans Puree for Your Baby?
You want to look for green beans that are firm and green. You don’t want ones that are yellow, unless you’re buying yellow beans! Beans that are wrinkly are either dried out or old; you want the smooth ones. The ones that are lumpy have beans that are over developed these beans are overripe.
I always purchase organic green beans to avoid pesticides. Pesticides have even been located in many baby foods which is another reason to make your own in order to always know what is in your little one’s meal. When buying green beans, or any produce for your baby, I always recommend buying organic if it’s available. According to the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), “Children’s internal organs are still developing and maturing and their enzymatic, metabolic, and immune systems may provide less natural protection than those of an adult. There are ‘critical periods’ in human development when exposure to a toxin can permanently alter the way an individual’s biological system operates. Children may be exposed to more certain pesticides because often they eat different foods than adults.” Organic foods are a smart choice for your little one because it protects their health from future illness and disease.
Fresh green beans can sometimes have a grainy texture (great for getting your baby used to different textures!). However, if you want to avoid that grainy texture after blending, you can use frozen organic green beans. What’s great about organic frozen beans is that, you don’t have to cut of the ends and wash them! One less thing us as a parent has to do…
Avoid using canned green beans when feeding your baby because they’re filled with sodium. When making my baby’s food, I will sometimes season my puree’s with healthy herbs and spices, but never salt or sugar!
Wash the Green Beans
If you prefer to go with fresh green beans (rather than frozen) I always wash the green beans first before cutting off the ends.
This is because I don’t want to push any dirt, pesticides (non organic) or other unwanted contaminants that can be living on the outside of the green bean when cutting off the ends. Once, I rinse the beans in a colander thoroughly with cold water I then cut off the ends of each bean and wash them again a second time.
How to Cook theGreen Beans
I love steaming the green beans, but you can also always bake/roast the green beans as well. *Try avoiding boiling the green beans because this can reduce the amount of nutrients that the green beans normally provide.*
STEP 1
Steam the Green Beans
Make sure you slice both ends off of each green bean if they’re fresh beans (you can skip this if they are frozen). You do not have to peel or cut the beans out because the skin of the green bean is the most nutritious part of the bean!
Next steam the beans by filling up a pot with water that is about one inch below the steamer and placing the steamer basket filled with the green beans on top. Steam on the stove for about 5-10 minutes (or until tender) on med/low. Make sure that the water does not reach the bottom of the steamer basket or you will end up boiling it instead of steaming it!
*Other options to consider are steaming your green beans in a microwave or pressure cooker.*
When the beans are finishing steaming. You’ll want to transfer and dunk the green beans into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. Leave the beans in the water for approximately 3 minutes.
STEP 2
Blend the Green Beans
Using my Blendtec (always blends my baby purees perfectly), I blend the green beans until they’re a silky smooth puree. When your baby first starts on solids, you want to blend their food to being silky smooth because they are not ready to handle textures quite yet. Once your baby starts to grow you can leave the puree a little chunkier and chunkier as they age. I sometimes add the water that I used to steam the beans into the blender to give the puree a more silky smooth consistency.
STEP 3
Freeze the Green Beans
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. Frozen batches last up to 3 months in the freezer. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost. A cube or two is also easy to add to other vegetables, grains, fruits, or proteins.
After cooking the green beans, you can place a portion for your baby’s puree in the refrigerator to cool. Refrigerated leftovers can last up to 3 days. Make sure they’re in BPA-free containers and make sure you didn’t start feeding your baby the puree and then put it back in the fridge. Once your baby’s saliva has touched the food, you won’t want to save it because the bacteria from their saliva will spread. So always try to guesstimate how much your baby will eat before hand. You can always add more of the puree to their serving dish if they’re still hungry. And if they’re full never force them to eat more! Forcing your baby to eat will make them uninterested in eating and can promote a picky eater who does not like feeding time. It can lead to tension at mealtimes damaging your parent-child relationship.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 4
Reheat the Green Beans
If frozen, warm the frozen green bean puree in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the pear puree are not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Homemade Baby Green Bean Puree is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store bought varieties!
Ingredients
Green Beans
Directions
Wash the green beans
Cut off both ends of the green bean
Wash the green bean again after cutting off the ends
Steam for 5-10 minutes; or until tender
Dunk the green beans in cold water for 3 minutes after steaming to stop the cooking process
Blend the green beans
Freeze excess green bean puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Happy Halloween! What better puree to make than pumpkin puree?!? Such a delicious winter squash with many health benefits for your little bumpkin baby!
Pumpkin has such an impressive nutrient profile. It’s highly rich in vitamin A and besides being packed with many vitamins and minerals, it’s also high in beta-carotene!
Since I find it hard to cut into raw pumpkins, what I like about this recipe is that you just stick the whole winter squash straight into the oven. You don’t have to cut into the pumpkin until after it is roasted and soft. Making it easier to cut so you don’t have to cut off your fingers trying to slice it before hand (not my ideal Halloween scare).
HOW TO MAKE PUMPKIN PUREE
What Kind of Pumpkin Should You Use to Make Pumpkin Puree for Your Baby?
Pumpkin is such a versatile veggie. Once your baby masters single vegetable purees, you can mix pumpkin with practically everything! I like to look for firm pumpkin that do not have to many dents and marks. I love buying my daughter organic pumpkin from my local pumpkin patch during the Fall season. You don’t have to buy organic, but I do highly recommend it for your baby’s puree. I always try to go with the organic option if it’s available for my little one.
When searching for pumpkins to cook for your baby food. I recommend getting the sugar pumpkins for your puree! Sugar pumpkins, also called sweet pumpkins or pie pumpkins, are sweet and less fibrous than a regular pumpkin, which makes it a great choice for cooking. Plus sugar pumpkins are smaller making it easier to fit into the oven to roast!
You can also buy precut pumpkin cubes and bake them the same way I bake sweet potatoes in this post.
Wash the Pumpkin
I always wash my veggies and fruits even if I am not using the skin/peel. This is because I don’t want to push any dirt, pesticides or other unwanted contaminants that can be living on the outside of the vegetable or fruit with the peeler tool or knife.
How to Cook the Pumpkin
When it comes to cooking pumpkin, I recommend roasting the pumpkin because it brings out its natural sweetness and keeps its nutrients as well. Baking/roasting and steaming are the preferred methods to use when cooking homemade food. Boiling food can actually remove some of the nutrients within a vegetable or fruit.
Foods such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips, pears and peaches are wonderfully flavorful when baked.
STEP 1
Roast the Pumpkin
Dry the pumpkin off from the washing process and then no need to cut the squash in half like other cooking websites say to do. This process is so hard because it’s difficult to cut a squash in half before baking! Instead, pierce the skin making holes with a knife all over the squash.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil (Costco’s Kirkland brand is actually a top pick with olive oil experts!) onto the squash and rub it all over and place on a cooking pan.
Next I roast the winter squash in the oven at 425 degrees for 60-100 minutes, until you can pierce it easily with a knife and until it is browned and look close to the image below.
STEP 2
Remove the Seeds and Stringy Flesh
After you bake the pumpkin, you’ll want to remove the seeds; along with the stringy flesh attached to the seeds, and the peel. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and the stringy flesh that surrounds the seeds.
Next, I remove the skin by scooping out the flesh with a spoon. The skin isn’t edible, so make sure you remove it before blending it in the blender for your baby!
STEP 3
Blend the Pumpkin
Using my Blendtec (always blends my baby purees perfectly), I blend the pumpkin until it’s a silky smooth puree. When your baby first starts on solids, you want to blend their food to being silky smooth because they are not ready to handle textures quite yet. Once your baby starts to grow you can leave the puree a little chunkier and chunkier as they age.
STEP 4
Freeze the Pumpkin
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 5
Reheat the Pumpkin
Warm the pumpkin in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the pumpkin is not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Freeze excess pumpkin puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Butternut squash is so flavorful, sweet and delicious when cooked for your baby. It is such a versatile winter squash, making it the perfect vegetable to combine with other fruits, veggies, and protein for your child. Butternut squash is sways available year round, yet it is best enjoyed and less expensive during its harvest season in late summer/through early winter.
Butternut squash is also a super-nutritious food because it is packed with fiber and antioxidants.
HOW TO MAKE BUTTERNUT SQUASH PUREE
What Kind of Butternut Squash Should You Use to Make Butternut Squash Puree for Your Baby?
Butternut squash is such a versatile veggie. Once your baby masters single vegetable purees, you can mix butternut squash with practically everything! I like to look for firm butternut squash that do not have to many dents and marks. I love buying my daughter organic butternut squash from my local pumpkin patch during the Fall season. You don’t have to buy organic, but I do highly recommend it for your baby’s puree. I always try to go with the organic option if it’s available for my little one.
You can also buy precut butternut squash cubes and bake them the same way I bake sweet potatoes in this post.
Wash the Butternut Squash
I always wash my veggies and fruits even if I am not using the skin/peel. This is because I don’t want to push any dirt, pesticides or other unwanted contaminants that can be living on the outside of the vegetable or fruit with the peeler tool or knife.
How to Cook the Butternut Squash
When it comes to cooking butternut squash, I recommend roasting the butternut squash because it brings out its natural sweetness and keeps its nutrients as well. Baking/roasting and steaming are the preferred methods to use when cooking homemade food. Boiling food can actually remove some of the nutrients within a vegetable or fruit.
Foods such as carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, parsnips, pears and peaches are wonderfully flavorful when baked.
STEP 1
Roast the Butternut Squash
Dry the butternut squash off from the washing process and then no need to cut the squash in half like other cooking websites say to do. This process is so hard because it’s difficult to cut a squash in half before baking! Instead, pierce the skin making holes with a knife all over the squash.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil (Costco’s Kirkland brand is actually a top pick with olive oil experts!) onto the squash and rub it all over and place on a cooking pan.
Next I roast the winter squash in the oven at 425 degrees for 60-80 minutes, until you can pierce it easily with a knife and until it is browned and look close to the image below.
STEP 2
Remove the Seeds and Peel the Butternut Squash
After you bake the butternut squash, you’ll want to remove the seeds; along with the stringy flesh attached to the seeds, and the peel. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and the stringy flesh that surrounds the seeds.
Next, I peel the skin rather than scooping the flesh out because if you peel the skin it gives it more of a caramelized flavor to your baby’s food.
STEP 3
Blend the Butternut Squash
Using my Blendtec(always blends my baby purees perfectly), I blend the butternut squash until it’s a silky smooth puree. When your baby first starts on solids, you want to blend their food to being silky smooth because they are not ready to handle textures quite yet. Once your baby starts to grow you can leave the puree a little chunkier and chunkier as they age.
STEP 4
Freeze the Butternut Squash
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 5
Reheat the Butternut Squash
Warm the butternut squash in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the butternut squash is not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Freeze excess butternut squash puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Pears are such a healthy and great source of fiber, copper, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, vitamin K, provitamin A, potassium, flavonoids, calcium, iron, magnesium, riboflavin, folate, niacin and antioxidants *fewfff! That’s a handful!
Niacin and folate are so important for your baby’s cellular function and energy production for your growing baby. While the provitamin A supports wound healing and skin health, especially once your little one starts to walk and are more prone to bumping their little heads! Potassium and copper play an important role in immunity, nerve function, heart function, and muscle contractions.
When you are making pears for your baby, make sure you include the peel in the pear. The peel provides six times more polyphenols than the flesh of the fruit.
HOW TO MAKE PEAR PUREE
What Kind of Pears Should You Use to Make Pear Puree for Your Baby?
Pears are such a versatile fruit. Although there are about 3000 varieties of pears worldwide I tend to find Bartlett, Bosc, Comice or D’Anjou in a variety of colors at local stores. When selecting pears press a finger gently on the top where the stem attaches to the fruit. If it starts to give, it is ripe.
I always purchase organic pears as pears are part of the “dirty dozen” fruits that can be high in pesticides!. These pesticides have even been located in many baby foods which is another reason to make your own in order to always know what is in your little one’s meal. I love buying my daughter a variety of organic pears. Once your baby masters single fruit purees, you can mix pears with practically everything for added flavor, nutrients and flavor!
Wash the Pears
I always wash the pears first before slicing. This is because I don’t want to push any dirt, pesticides (non organic) or other unwanted contaminants that can be living on the outside of the pear.
How to Cook thePears
I love making this pear puree recipe because it doubles as puree for my baby as well as pear sauce for mommy and daddy’s toast! I love steaming the pear, but you can also always bake/roast the pears as well. Try avoiding boiling the pears because this can reduce the amount of nutrients that the pears normally provide.
STEP 1
Steam the Pears
Slice the pears in half; making sure to remove the core and seeds. Do not peal in order to retain the most nutritious part of the fruit! You can scoop out the core and seeds with a melon ball scoop or just a spoon.
Next steam the pears by filling up a pot with about one inch water and placing the steamer basket filled with the pears on top. Steam on the stove for about 15 minutes (or until tender) on med/low. Make sure that the water does not reach the bottom of the steamer basket or you will end up boiling it instead of steaming it!
Other options to consider are steaming your pears in a microwave or pressure cooker.
STEP 2
Blend the Pears
Using my Blendtec (always blends my baby purees perfectly), I blend the pears until they’re a silky smooth puree. When your baby first starts on solids, you want to blend their food to being silky smooth because they are not ready to handle textures quite yet. Once your baby starts to grow you can leave the puree a little chunkier and chunkier as they age. These steamed pears usually soak up the water when they’re steamed, so I do not usually add liquid to my blender when blending them to a smooth consistency.
You can add cinnamon to your baby’s pear puree too. Cinnamon is so healthy for both babies and adults! Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, can help fight bacterial and fungal infections, lowers blood sugar levels, may cut the risk of heart disease, and may even protect against certain cancers.
STEP 3
Freeze the Pears
When you make your baby purees; I always recommend making it in a large batch so you can easily heat up the frozen batches on another day. I love using these silicone trays because they are easy to remove the purees from and they freeze in small honeycomb shapes, which are much easier to defrost than the large square cubes that other companies offer and take longer to defrost. A cube or two is also easy to add to other vegetables or grains.
Once the puree is frozen in the silicone trays, pop out the honeycomb ice cubes and store them in an airtight container or ziplock freezer bag in the freezer.
STEP 4
Reheat the Pears
If frozen, warm the frozen pear puree in a microwaveable safe dish (I like to use the OXO Tot baby block glass container for heating up my baby’s food) in the microwave for 30 seconds (pausing half way to stir). At the moment I like to use 8 honeycomb cubes for my baby (about as much as she eats at the moment per feeding). Make sure the pear puree are not too warm/hot before feeding your baby! You can also reheat over the stove as well.
You can also combine other whole foods in your baby’s puree that you have previously frozen, for optimal flavor and nutrients. The following list is a general guide, so feel free to be adventurous and combine and build your own meals for your little one:)
If you have read my post on the importance of probiotics for your child (linked here); you can sprinkle a little probiotics on top of your homemade baby food for added nutritious value.
If you make something from Herb’n Sage, I would love to hear about it in the comments! Don’t forget to rate this recipe and follow along on Instagram and Youtube for more recipes and inspirations for your creations for your little loved one(s)<3
Homemade Baby Pear Puree is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store bought varieties!
Ingredients
Pears (I used three Bosc pears)
Directions
Wash the pears
Cut off the stems
Slice the pears in half and core the center removing the seeds
Steam for 15 minutes
Blend the pears with the skin on
Freeze excess pear puree in the freezer (I like to freeze my purees in these silicone trays)
*Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at NO additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for helping a mama out:)
Herb'n Sage 