Welcome to your Once a Month Meals Early Start (4 – 6 months) Baby Food menu! Starting solid foods with baby is an exciting and fun time. With this menu from OAMM, you can fill your freezer for the weeks ahead by making your own baby food. Best of all, we’ve done most of the work for you! This menu will provide you with 8 different purees making 20 cubes each. Each cube should be approximately 1 ounce (for reference, the typical baby food jar contains 2 ounces). What exactly is included in this menu?

• Organized Grocery List • Recipe Cards • Prep Instructions • Step by Step Cooking Day Instructions • Thaw Sheet • Labels

If you need additional information on getting started we invite you to visit these engaging resources to assist you in your baby food freezer cooking adventures! Also, don’t hesitate to engage us on our various social media outlets. We love to get to know and walk alongside our readers. **Most pediatricians recommend starting one new food at a time and waiting 3 days before another in order to watch for allergies. Please check with your child’s doctor before starting baby on solids. Our menus are meant as a support system and not as medical advice. **

Additional Helpful Resources:

                                                                                             Baby  Intro                                          Prepping  &  Storing                                    Equipment        Recipes  

Early Start Menu (4-6 months)

Shopping List

Item Amount Measure Store Notes

Frozen

cut green beans, frozen 26.67 ounces

peaches, frozen 26.67 ounces

peas, frozen 26.67 ounces

Other

water 26.67 fluid ounces

Produce

apple 7 medium

banana 6 medium

carrot 14 medium

pear 8 medium

sweet potato 3 medium

Containers

gallon freezer bag 16

Supplies

plastic wrap

ice cube trays 10.0

Early Start Menu (4-6 months)

Prep Instructions

Your Recipe Cards and Cooking Day Instructions assume that you have completed the below tasks before you start yourcooking day.

Chopping ListAmount Bought Measure Approx. Prep

AmountPrep Measure Ingredient

Apple 7 medium 5 cups peel and dice Apple

Carrot 14 medium 6.67 cups dice Carrot

Pear 8 medium 7.50 cups peel and slice Pear

Sweet Potato 3 medium 2.25 cups peel and chunk Sweet Potato

Early Start Menu (4-6 months)

Cooking Day Instructions

Menu Description Menu Notes

Step1

OvenCook

Sweet Potato Puree: Preheat oven to 350.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Place potatoes in glass bakingdish, just covering with water. Bake for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees, or until potatoes are soft.Transfer to blender and puree, adding water as needed to reach desired consistency. Spoon pureeinto ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Oncefrozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step2

StoveCook

Peaches: Place water in a pot and bring to a boil. Add in peaches, ensuring water covers them.Return to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until peaches are soft. Using aslotted spoon, remove peaches from water (reserving) and place in a food processor. Puree to desiredconsistency, adding reserved water to thin, if necessary. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking carenot to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours.

Step3

StoveCook

Apple Puree: Place apples into a saucepan and fill with just enough water to cover apples. Boil untiltender. Drain water from apples, reserving in a separate bowl. Let cool. Transfer to a blender, andblend to desired consistency, using reserved cooking water to thin if needed. Spoon puree into icecube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours.

Step4

Peaches: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step5

Apple Puree: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step6

StoveCook

Pears: Place pears in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, or until pears aresoft. Drain, reserving water. Puree in food processor until desired consistency is achieved, addingwater if necessary. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plasticwrap and freeze for 24 hours.

Step7

StoveCook

Carrot Puree: Place carrots in a saucepan and add water just to cover. Cook over medium heat untilsoft. Cool slightly. Transfer carrots to a blender and puree until desired consistency is reached, addingmore water if desired. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plasticwrap and freeze for 24 hours.

Step8

Pears: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step9

Carrot Puree: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step10

StoveCook

Peas: Steam peas until soft, using preferred method. Puree in food processor. If desired, pressthrough food mill. Add water slowly, until desired consistency is reached. Spoon puree into ice cube

trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours.

Step11

StoveCook

Green Beans: Steam green beans until soft, according to preferred method. Puree in food processor.If desired, press through food mill. After food mill, add water until desired consistency is achieved.Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24hours.

Step12

Peas: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step13

Green Beans: Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Step14

Use FoodProcessor

Bananas: Place bananas in food processor. Puree until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon pureeinto ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Oncefrozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Early Start Menu (4-6 months)

Recipe Cards

Apple PureeAuthor Name: Lisa

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/pure-and-simple-apple-puree/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

5 cups peel and dice Apple

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Place apples into a saucepan and fill with just enough water to cover apples. Boil until tender. Drain water from apples,reserving in a separate bowl. Let cool. Transfer to a blender, and blend to desired consistency, using reserved cooking waterto thin if needed. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours.Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

BananasAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/banana-recipe/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

6 medium Banana

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Place bananas in food processor. Puree until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care notto overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label& seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

Carrot PureeAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/carrot-recipe/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

6.67 cups dice Carrot

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Place carrots in a saucepan and add water just to cover. Cook over medium heat until soft. Cool slightly. Transfer carrots to ablender and puree until desired consistency is reached, adding more water if desired. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, takingcare not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezerbags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

Green BeansAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/green-beans/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

26.67 ounces Cut Green Beans, Frozen

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Steam green beans until soft, according to preferred method. Puree in food processor. If desired, press through food mill. Afterfood mill, add water until desired consistency is achieved. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Coverwith plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

PeachesAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/peaches-baby-food-recipe-2/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

3.33 cups Water

26.67 ounces Peaches, Frozen

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Place water in a pot and bring to a boil. Add in peaches, ensuring water covers them. Return to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.Simmer for 15 minutes, or until peaches are soft. Using a slotted spoon, remove peaches from water (reserving) and place in afood processor. Puree to desired consistency, adding reserved water to thin, if necessary. Spoon puree into ice cube trays,taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number offreezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

PearsAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/pear-recipe/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

7.50 cups peel and slice Pear

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Place pears in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil for 5 minutes, or until pears are soft. Drain, reserving water.Puree in food processor until desired consistency is achieved, adding water if necessary. Spoon puree into ice cube trays,taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number offreezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

PeasAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/peas-recipe/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

26.67 ounces Peas, Frozen

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Steam peas until soft, using preferred method. Puree in food processor. If desired, press through food mill. Add water slowly,until desired consistency is reached. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap andfreeze for 24 hours. Once frozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

Sweet Potato PureeAuthor Name: Tricia

Recipe URL: http://onceamonthmeals.com/sweet-potato-recipe/

Yield: 20 cubes (2 per serving)

Ingredients

2.25 cups peel and chunk Sweet Potato

Supplies Needed

Plastic Wrap

1.25 Ice Cube Trays

Containers Needed

2 Gallon Freezer Bag

Cooking to Freeze Instructions

Preheat oven to 350.0 degrees Fahrenheit. Place potatoes in glass baking dish, just covering with water. Bake for 45-60minutes at 350 degrees, or until potatoes are soft. Transfer to blender and puree, adding water as needed to reach desiredconsistency. Spoon puree into ice cube trays, taking care not to overfill. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for 24 hours. Oncefrozen, divide among indicated number of freezer bags, label & seal.

Serving Day Instructions

Place thawed cubes in bowl and serve.

Carrot Puree

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Sweet Potato Puree

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Peas

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Apple Puree

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Bananas

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Pears

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Green Beans

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Serve at room temperature or heat fora few seconds in microwave.

Peaches

Date Frozen:

Thaw. Place thawed cubes in bowl andserve.

Early Start Menu (4-6 months)

Thaw Sheet

Thaw Instructions Cooking Time Cooking Type

Breakfasts

Apple Puree In fridge 1 minute N/A

Bananas In fridge 1 minute N/A

Peaches In fridge 1 minute N/A

Pears In fridge 1 minute N/A

Lunches

Carrot Puree In fridge 1 minute N/A

Green Beans In fridge 1 minute N/A

Peas In fridge 1 minute N/A

Sweet Potato Puree In fridge 1 minute N/A