Petite village

  by Jill Epner*

 

Fall time in the Bay Area means an abundance of root vegetables, leafy greens, and a variety of other fresh fruits & vegetables your little one can enjoy.  Whenever possible, buy organic produce, especially foods that have thinner skins like strawberries and nectarines. 

 

Here are some recipe ideas inspired by the season’s best ingredients:

• Sautéed turnips or rutabagas with olive oil, nectarine, and fresh mint or basil

 

• Roasted eggplant with rainbow chard, garlic, chickpeas and cumin

 

• Roasted golden beets with white sweet potato and fresh thyme

 

• Asian pear with roasted butternut squash, parsnip and cinnamon or nutmeg

 

• Spiced pluots or plums simmered with coconut milk and red quinoa baby cereal

 

To make your own organic baby food: Just cook the fruit or veggie, add some liquid (breastmilk, formula, water, or coconut milk are all options), and puree or mash depending on the desired consistency.  Freeze extra in ice cube trays, and defrost as necessary.  Don’t be afraid to add herbs and spices, which are filled with antioxidants and other health benefits for baby. 

 

Interested in buying baby food like this?  Little City Kitchen Co. makes handcrafted, frozen, organic baby food with an International twist using the season’s best ingredients.  Check out Little City Kitchen Co. or sign up for their weekly newsletter for selling locations, baby food flavors of the week, and information on private baby food cooking classes. 

 

 

 Exclusively for Petite Village readers: receive $5.00 off your first baby food order! 

 

 

 

 * Jill Epner is a life-long foodie and the owner of Little City Kitchen Co., a Bay Area-based company making handcrafted, frozen, organic baby food with an International twist. Little City Kitchen Co. is built around the belief exposing kids at an early age to various flavors, textures, and spices sets them up to be healthy eaters later in life. In early 2011, she launched an International baby food line in addition to her seasonal baby food available now available at area farmers markets.  Visit her website for more information.