These cherries now languish – crushed, mutilated, and wholly untouched – in our freezer.
Somewhere between buying thirty-six cloth diapers for Sunshine and committing to what our local Target calls ‘natural feeding’ (because some people consider ‘breast’ a terrible word) I heard about the wonders of making your own baby food. The magazine article claimed it was Easy! Wholesome! Cheap! Fun! And Totally Not Messy At All! Since I’m into cheap fun, I went for it.
It was not the first time I’ve been lied to by a magazine.
There were hints from the start that life would be easier if I simply opened up a jar of Gerber and shoveled it into Sunshine’s mouth. For one thing, Gerber doesn’t require a blender. But I’m a stay-at-home-mom now, so I feel an obligation to get my inner housewife on. Most of the time that means I toss laundry into the washer a few times a week, make dinner when I feel like it, and sweep the floor on a semi-regular basis. Otherwise, it’s all Sunshine, all the time. Still, girlie and I were lurking about the house anyway, so why not?
The peas came first. I lovingly cut open the bag (because, no, I was not going to hand-shell three hundred sugar snaps, no matter how much I love my daughter), dumped the frozen contents into our electric steamer, and set the timer. Now all I had to do was grind them into baby-safe mush. Easy. I poured a mountain of veggies into the blender, tapped the puree button, and waited for the magic. The engine whirred ineffectually, a burning smell tinged the air, and smoke curled out from under the base. Okay. Fine. Next button. More power. Still, those blades would not move. Hot pea juice fogged up the inside. Sunshine fussed. The Mother of the Year acceptance speech I’d been composing in my head dissolved.
A quick consultation with my father – who’d never made baby food in his life, but does have a knack for dealing with mean machinery – solved the problem. A little water, a little stirring, a little more water…a lot more water. With a groan, the blender finally complied, grinding the peas into an unappetizing neon green sludge.
Giddy with accomplishment, I slid Sunshine into her high chair and served up a big old glop of the stuff. Which, of course, she refused to eat. (Because, you know, who wouldn’t love warm pea mush for lunch?) Undeterred, I spooned the rest into three ice cub trays and froze them in baby-sized portions, as per the instructions in the magazine article, two cook books, and seven websites I had, by now, read on the subject.
Carrots came next, chopped and steamed and blended with a bucket of water, then chilled into little orange cubes. I dished up a mound of the sticky slop. Ick face ensued.
I was desperate for a victory, so when she ate the yams I sent a silent “Take that!” to Gerber and planned my next feat. Luckily, the end-of-summer trees were heavy with fruit. I peeled, sliced, and simmered apples. I halved and roasted hand-picked peaches and apricots, then slipped off the skins. I removed the seeds from so many grape-sized plums that my thumbs hurt for days. And every bit went into our now-compliant blender.
On occasion I trot out one of the cubes, let it melt, and dish it up. Sunshine still likes her peas round and her carrots chopped, but she’ll take a taste if I pretend I don’t care. As for the rest? Wholesome, cheap, and, if you’re fourteen months old, rather tasty.
“Natural feeding?” That’s priceless.
If you use cloth diapers, you are already Mother of the Year in my eyes, whether or not you have pureed peas to perfection.
Actually, it’s funny – we’re about to go on vacation, and I am dreading using disposables. They’re so expensive, and ugly, and Sunshine is so much less comfortable in them.
I remember that feeling that being a stay at home mom meant I should do more around the house. 7 years later, I will still not earn the coveted Mother of the Year Award.
Hats off to you!
Sometimes it feels like the house *is* my job, so it’s hard not to feel like I should keep it spotless. That nagging guilt is not fun.
I totally agree. If you use cloth diapers you’re a miracle Mum. Good on you.
As for making real meals, I believe in cooking up vegies and keeping some for the next day. Or even freezing them for a few days time. But hey, how long does it take to wip up vegs, not long. 🙂
Have you seen what the ingredients are in those can’s? Urgh…
So true! I love that I know everything that goes into Sunshine’s food. And your method sounds so good for you, too. What a great way to encourage yourself to eat more healthfully!
You’re so dedicated! I hope I have that energy level when I’m a mom!!
Thanks! If I were working outside the home, it definitely wouldn’t happen, so don’t sweat it if you don’t have the time.
I admire you!!! I really do! =)
It’s so sweet how dedicated you are to making everything as wonderful as possible for your little girl. She’s lucky to have such a fantastic mama! 🙂
Ha!Hilarious! And as an exercise instructor and all around health nut, let me tell you, natural is not always better. Tomatoes are more nutritious stewed, so why not buy canned?
What a cute story! My girls are way past that age, and no, I didn’t make their baby food from scratch. And yes, I had moments when I felt guilty about that!
Caryn, this post totally cracked up me! I went through that phase with my kids. My mini food processor created many horrific glop dinners. I washed my own velcro cloth diapers and it almost killed me. Those things weigh a ton when they’ve been soaking in the pail for a few days. I salute you for all your efforts.
Hilarious! You go, Mama! My poor children. Not one of the three ever had homemade baby food! Although I did spring for the organic stuff at Whole Foods. Shouldn’t that count for something???