Baby Soup

Soup is an excellent first food for baby and toddlers. It has a soft texture and it's easy to sneak in those veggies! Here are two recipes for soup baby will love.

Hearty Homemade Soups for Babies and Toddlers
by Rachel Paxton

Hearty soups make great meals for babies and toddlers.  These
soups combine meat and vegetables into one easy meal, they are
inexpensive to make, and they freeze well for later meals.

Beef Stew

1/3 c. flour
1 1/2 lb. stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
3 c. water
4 medium potatoes
3 medium carrots

Coat meat with flour and brown in oil.  Place all ingredients in
crock pot and cook on low all day. Other vegetables like green
beans or peas can also be added.


Split Pea Soup

3 c. split peas, rinsed
1 c. ham, cut into small cubes
1 medium carrot, cut into small cubes
7 c. water
3 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low all day.

After soups cool, blend in blender or food processor, adding more
water if necessary for desired consistency.  Blend soups until
completely smooth for younger babies. These soups are suitable
for babies 6 months and up who are eating a variety of solid
foods and also for toddlers.

To freeze soups for later, pour into ice cube trays and freeze
until solid.  Transfer cubes to Ziploc freezer bags.

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of
What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick
easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home
decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative
Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.