Spiced Sweet Potato + Apple + Cranberry Mash

Over the summer, we had the pleasure of teaming up with Oxo Tot to try out their new line of Transitions Sippy Cups.  So when they asked us to create a seasonal fall recipe using their Food Masher, Glass Baby Blocks, & Feeding Spoon Set, we were happy to collaborate again with the innovative brand on their "Do The Little Monster Mash with Oxo Tot" campaign!

After brainstorming ideas for a seasonal fall recipe, I eventually settled on a mash of sweet potato, apple, & cranberry.  While this autumnal puree is great on it's own, it can also be combined with some basic old fashioned oats, pumpkin pie spice, dried cranberries, & a touch of maple syrup to create a delicious & nutritious spiced breakfast oatmeal as well!  It couldn't be more simple - here's how to make it....

Spiced Sweet Potato + Apple + Cranberry Mash Ingredients:
-1 sweet potato
-2 apples (I used Gala)
-1 cup cranberries
-sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (optional)

After thoroughly rinsing the sweet potato, apples, & cranberries, peel & chop the sweet potato & apples into small cubes (I cut the sweet potato into extra small prices so it would cook through more quickly).

Boil or steam the chopped sweet potato, apples, & cranberries until fork tender (about 10 minutes).

Next, I strained the water & then mashed everything together using the Food Masher.  The ridges on the masher & inside the bowl allow you to thoroughly & efficiently mash anything from fruits to veggies, to beans & more.  I also love that it's smartly designed to be compact & portable.  The masher comes apart & conveniently fits inside the bowl so you can take it with you to-go as well.  Smart, right?!

Since this recipe makes about 16 oz total, I mashed it in smaller batches before transferring to a larger mixing bowl.

Depending on your child, you could serve it as is or you could sprinkle in some pumpkin pie spice (or any combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, or ginger).  For older kids, you could also add 1-2 tsp. of maple syrup.  It couldn't be easier - it's ready to serve & enjoy!
Afterwards, you can portion out any remaining mash in your Glass Baby Blocks & freeze (my mash ended up filling the four 4 oz blocks almost perfectly).  The Glass Baby Blocks also come with a stackable tray, making it super easy to utilize the vertical storage space in your freezer.

Since the blocks are made from thermal shock resistant borosilicate glass, they can go straight from the freezer to the oven or microwave, with no need to thaw first.  That means you can portion, store, heat, & serve all in one convenient container!  When you're ready to re-heat, simply place a baby block in the oven or microwave to warm.  The SNAP lids are also leak-proof, allowing you to take them on the go without worrying about spillage or leaks.

Don't forget, you can also use this mash to make a fall-inspired Spiced Oatmeal as well!

Spiced Sweet Potato + Apple + Cranberry Oatmeal:

-2 oz. Sweet Potato + Apple + Cranberry Mash
-1/3 cup old fashioned oats
-1/2 cup milk or water (I used coconut milk since Sami has a dairy allergy)
-spices to taste (I used a dash of pumpkin pie spice)
-a sprinkle of dried cranberries (optional)
-1 to 2 tsp. pure maple syrup (optional)

Simply combine the Sweet Potato + Apple + Cranberry Mash, oats, milk, spices, & dried cranberries in a small sauce pot & simmer until cooked through (about 5 minutes).

The oatmeal will be very hot, so allow it to cool before serving.  While it cools down, I also add a little pure maple syrup to sweeten it a touch.  If I was serving this to Sami when he was younger, I wouldn't have needed to add any extra sweetener.  However, as a toddler he is much more picky - no surprise there, right?!

Here is my little test tester giving it a try with his new spoon.  Toddlers can be finicky eaters, but thankfully Sami really liked the Spiced Oatmeal!

On a side note, one of our all time favorite Oxo Tot products are their Roll Up Bibs - they are the best (we have three of them)!  They catch SO much food, and as you can see below, Sami will even eat right out of his bib if he drops something.

This recipe makes a decent amount of oatmeal, so don't be surprised if they can't finish it all.  It's good enough for adults to eat too though - parent & toddler approved!

Hope you have a chance to enjoy this seasonal recipe!  If you'd like more information on any of the Oxo Tot products, you can check out their full line of baby & toddler products @ www.oxo.com.  As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

Mel
xoxo

Disclosure: While I was not compensated for this post, I did receive products in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are 100% my own.

DIY Baby Food: The Basics

Let me preface this post by saying that I am by no means an authority on baby food & there are tons of great websites out there that are dedicated to baby & toddler recipes.  That being said, I've had several requests on how to make your own baby food and there is something encouraging & real about seeing a 1st time mom being able to make all their baby's food at home with no prior experience.  #ificandoityoucandoit  :)

SAMI'S 1st YEAR:
Before Sami was born, I did some basic research and decided to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months.  At that time, we introduced foods like avocado, sweet potato, squash, & banana.  We gave him veggies first, followed by fruit.  Over time we slowly added meats, legumes, grains, & dairy (he ended up having allergic reactions to both egg whites & dairy...but that is a whole other story for another time).

We also made the decision to forego the store-bought rice & oatmeal cereals.  Although his pediatrician advised us to add a little iron-fortified rice cereal to his food, I never did, & Sami's iron level at his 9 month check up was still perfect.

We decided to start with purees at the 6 month mark & then began incorporating "baby led weaning" when he was about 8 months old to help Sami develop his pincer grasp & allow him to become a little more independent & exploratory with his food.  I started with blueberries (cut in half) & slowly added soft veggies or fruit cut into bite size pieces.  Around 11 months, we started giving him pieces of shredded grilled chicken & he has loved chicken ever since!

Sami turned 1 year old last month, so we've actually been in the phase of transitioning out of purees & into more solid food over the several months.  I won't be making any more veggie, chicken, & bean purees (since he's eating them their original form now), but I will continue with the fruit purees as they are very convenient to add to Sami's oatmeal in the morning or to use in baby feeders as popsicles & teething soothers:

SAMI'S FOOD INTRODUCTION TIMELINE:
I'm sure I forgot to include certain foods, but these are the main foods we introduced to Sami over his 1st year:

1-6 months: exclusively breastfed (continued to breastfeed until today)
6 months: avocado, yellow squash, sweet potato, green beans, peas, carrots
7 months: apple, pears, plums, peaches, nectarines
8 months: boiled chicken, mango, quinoa, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc)
9 months: brown rice, hard boiled egg yolk, blueberries, coconut oil & olive oil
10 months: scrambled eggs, chickpeas, lentils, broccoli, whole wheat pasta & homemade tomato sauce, plain yogurt, strawberries, grapes
11 months: grilled chicken, ground turkey, ground beef (limited), raisins, rice with veggie mixed in
12 months: whole milk, almond milk



CONVENIENCE:

Personally, this is the most obvious & singular downside for me.  While not difficult, it does require some extra effort & time from your already busy schedule.  I will say though, that once you get a system down, it becomes easier & easier.  Before you know it, you are introducing regular foods & don't need to make as many purees.

On the flip side, these frozen cubes are convenient in the sense that I couldn't always prepare fresh purees every single day (either I was too tired or lazy, or didn't have the time or the ingredients).  So, always having a freezer stocked with a rainbow of puree options made my life much easier.  You have to figure out what works with your lifestyle.

Storing, packing, & traveling with homemade baby food is definitely more challenging.  You have to consider ways to keep the food cool and/or have a way to heat it up if needed.  I usually throw a few cubes into a small Glasslock container & heat it up at our friends' or families' homes.  I usually had no need to worry about refrigeration, as the cubes were frozen & the food was not left out for very long.  Reusable food pouches are another great option to use as well.