what can I and can't I feed my 6 month old DS

[supersonic]

DS is 7 months on 10/12 and I hate to say it but he is getting rather used to the Hipp organic jars of food - I really want to cook his food myself but am unsure what he can and cant eat and what food I can puree (a thick puree)I have only tried pureed cream carrot which he seemed to enjoy and papaya but today he didnt. he doesnt enjoy parsnip which he enjoyed when in the jar (parsnip potato and cauliflower) I am beginning to think it may be the texture and not the taste is there anything wrong with sticking to thicker purees at7 months or is it essential he moves to lumps. He does have jar of food he loves pasta and courgette this is for 6 months so has slight lumps in - if I try anything for e.g 7 motnhs jar of food and he gags (probably the taste of the food)just dont know what I can puree and what I cant and what I can freeze etc..any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks

I think at this stage they can eat most things though there are a few definite exceptions which I think include honey/shellfish/soft cheese (from what it seems most of the things we were told to avoid in pregnancy)and eggs need to be well cooked. If there is a history of allergies in your family then you probably want to take it easy with the possible problem food and perhaps wait a while longer. My DS is almost the same age and I started out with a load of baby cook books doing all sorts of purees but my enthusasim wained and I'm now doing adapted family meals (we're veggie mind so there is no meat involved). A simple tomato and lentil sauce with veggies in it has gone down well (wizzed up with a blender). Thick leek and potato soup (same as ours but without sock cube , salt and pepper) is a favourite. Also did cheesy veg the other night which was steemed veg with a mild cheese sauce wizzed up with the blender (we had the same just with seasoning in the sauce and the veg not wizzed into submission!!)
I do a few sweet purees DS likes apple/pear with apricot and or sultanas - just steam the apples/pears and the dried fruit and wizz up with blender - may need to add a little water (I wanted to get DS to like apricots for the iron as we're veggie). Baked potato and peas goes down well - bake a small spud - scrape out the inside and wizz with a few defosted peas or no sugar/salt sweetcorn and a few ounces of lo's milk - if their eating cheese you can add a little of this.
All these receipes seem to freeze ok (not tried the baked potato one) - just make sure you reheat only once and thoroughly. Because I'm lazy and not an inspired cook (and because I don't want him expecting different food from us) my aim is really, where possible to adapt our meals for him. I do use Hipp jars on uninspired days and when we want something that can't be adapted. So far DS seems to be surviving my culinary experiments!!

I found Annabelle Karmel book a god send! Could not live without it. She's got a website as well if you google her name. I cook a load up once a month and freeze it all, very satisfying!!