DIY Baby Food: Steamed Fruit Purees

Fruits that contain pectin, such as apples, pears, peaches, nectarines and plums, should be cooked before feeding to babies younger than six months. Cooking these fruits help break down the pectin, making it easier for babies to digest. Try different combinations of fruits, such as plum and peach or apple and pear!

Ingredients
choose any one of the fruit options:

• 2 peaches, skin on, pitted and cut into chunks 
• Two nectarines, peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks
• Two plums, peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks
• Two apples, peeled, cord, and cut into chunks
• Breast milk or formula as needed

Note: as baby becomes accustomed to plain cooked fruit purée, you can spice it up to help expand your baby’s pallet. For a 1/2 cup serving of fruit purée add just a pinch of a single type of ground spice, such as cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, allspice. 

*Makes about 1 cup

Directions: 
Fill a pot with 2 inches of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Arrange fruit in a steamer basket in place in the pot. Cover and steam until very tender, 5 - 10 minutes. Remove the steamer basket and let their fruit cool. Reserve the steaming liquid.

Transfer the fruit to a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Add the reserve is steaming liquid or breast milk, 1 tablespoon at a time if needed. To within the cure; it should pour easily and have the consistency similar to a smooth applesauce.
Serve immediately. To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze in individual portions for up to three months.