Cooking for Baby: Butternut Squash

Iris had her first introduction to solid foods recently. We decided to start off with butternut squash and she was a big fan.  I've given a run-through of how we cooked, served, and stored the squash here for those of you that are interested.

To Prepare: Cut the butternut squash length-wise and scoop out the seeds. Set each half on a baking sheet, flesh-side up. Cook in the oven at 350 for about an hour and a half. Check at one hour as oven times vary. Run the squash through a food mill or other food processor until the squash is completely pureed. We have an OXO Good Grips Food Mill and it worked pretty well but does have several parts to clean.

To Serve: Add some milk to the squash. This helps to make it even more mushy (easier to eat) and more appetizing to the baby as it will have a more familiar taste. We first used our fingers to give her the food, as suggested in one of our baby books, but Iris was just as willing to open up for a baby spoon. You'll note in the pictures that we were using our regular dishes. I have since purchased some plastic (non-breakable) children's bowls and spoons. She was really grabbing at the dish.

To Store: Put the remaining mashed up squash into an ice-cube tray or specialized freezer tray.  We used the Green Sprouts silicone baby food freezer tray. There was exactly enough squash to fill all the spaces. After the squash is frozen pull out the cubes out and put them in a freezer ziploc for easy retrieval. The cubes should keep in the fridge for up to 6 months.

My new kitchen helper...

Look at this guy! Isn't he the cutest? He is a clay brown sugar saver and I have to say he's pretty amazing!  Just soak these sugar savers in water for twenty minutes and then toss them in with your brown sugar and re-seal the bag.  This little guy successfully softened a rock-hard bag of brown sugar in my pantry. Every use of brown sugar in my kitchen since I've had him has been so much more enjoyable!

For under $5 I would say he is well worth it! And really...how could you say no to that face? These are available at most kitchen stores (and they do have other non-gingerbread men savers).  The one I got is also available here on Amazon.

Cookie Jar

My sun tea jar also makes a really kick-butt cookie jar. Check out those giant snickerdoodles!

Silver Lining...

April was so very rainy!  I thought (like I do every April in Seattle) that it might never end.  But this weekend was gorgeous.  One of the great things about living in the Pacific Northwest is that the sunny days are so glorious when compared with the overcast days that seem to plague us in months like April.

This morning, I made brunch for Tony and a friend.  As I was setting the table I decided to break out the silver. 

Some of the pieces of my silver "set" have been handed down from the family, like my Aunt Clairabelle's baby spoon, and some are from a set that my dad found at the thrift store.  I like to think of it as treasure because I keep it in a dusty old box and also because it really is quite beautiful. 

The combination of the food and company at brunch were lovely.  And I was in such a good mood because of the sunny skies. But I think that the day had that extra something special because of the silver...which makes me think I should leave it out...just for now...in case those clouds come back.

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