Quick and easy baby food (6 months)

[Swizzler]

Following on (kind of ) from the Great Jar Debate, any suggestions for easy food to give DS (6 months)? He's been on solids for a few weeks, loves fruit purees and porridge, happy to munch on a few finger foods (tho not too keen yet) but not that keen on savoury jar stuff (don't know that I blame him). Tried pureeing some carrot and potato but he liked that even less.

Am pretty clueless and now back at work p/t (DH looking after DS 3 days a week and prob wouldn't cook from scratch every day, nor would I), no freezer (well, a little one but it's full of ebm).

Any suggestions?

oh, and no history of allergies to foods, but DH has eczema and I have mild asthma. Boy ridiculously healthy.

bump

The easiest thing that I give my DS (7 months) that he loves is mashed avocado with banana. Sounds grim, but goes down very well indeed. No cooking required, just peeling and mashing. I also add other things in if I have them lying around, strawberries, natural yogurt etc..

Hmm, tried avocado but he wasn't keen.

swizz - I gave A avocado and pear today and she went bleurgh I love avocado and ate loads when pg.

I'm just going to keep A on fruit/veg/rice purees for a while yet as there are lots of varieties to try. Feel as though it will give her a chance to get used to different textures/flavours before adding meat/carbs etc. Although I did cook chick peas, sundried tomato and plain pasta the other day and puree that - went down well.

Chick peas sound possible (when pureed). It's just that he really isn;y keen on pureed veg in jars - makes aface and spits it out. Not sure I blame him

banana.

fwiw have you tried babyrice yet? [snigger]

didn't like that either. And it smelt bogging.

Tried banana (in chuncks and pureed), Makes faces.

How can he tell it's from a jar? You can buy dried chick peas or canned ones. Have you tried Hipp organic. I keep them for if we are out and A likes them - she prefers savoury to sweet though.
Try all sorts of bean and lentils - butterbeans, frozen peas mashed, put some herbs and spices in. tumeric, coriander etc. Trial and error for me too, although I did get Annabel Karmels' book.

I'm a time-starved working mum but I've never given my DS or DD baby food jars...don't have a problem with those that do (each to their own and all that) but it's my preference not to. I don't have time to prepare lots of different meals for the family so DD (now 10 months) basically eats what we eat (but without the stock/salt). I cook lots of dead-easy soups (leek and potato, mixed veg, carrot and coriander, cauliflower and sweetcorn etc) take a bit out for DS to eat and season the remainder for the rest of us. DD isn't a great milk drinker either so I usually whack in a load of creme fraiche too to up her calcium. Fish pie and cottage pie also go down a treat.

At that age I found anything smooth and milky went down well. Saute your favourite veg in some butter (courgette is particularly good, as is broccoli, but I used to do leeks, spinach, jerusalem artichokes, parsnip, butternut squash, you name it really). Add enough milk to cover, simmer gently until completely soft and puree. If you can squeeze anything into the corner of your freezer then freeze it in icecubes, it defrosts really well. You can thin it with more milk, or thicken it up with greek yoghurt and/or baby rice. DS loved it when I added a small grating of parmesan, not too much though, as it's quite salty.

Other favourites:

Risotto - very easy, just basically the above only add some risotto rice to the saute mixture before you add the milk. DS's favourites were mushroom risotto or cauliflower risotto.

Chicken casserole - use any old chicken left from a roast, saute with onions and root vegetables, cover with water and simmer until the veg are soft. Puree.

Leek and potato soup - use an adult recipe but omit salt or stock cubes

Red Lentil stew - like chicken casserole but with red lentils instead of chicken. Make sure the lentils are completely soft and don't use too many - they are quite indigestible, about 3 parts veg to 1 part lentils is about right.

Have to say, my freezer was my life-saver when weaning. Any possibility you could invest in a small one?