Puree Monday - Brocco-cado

Puree Monday is back!!  I took last week off from posting to manage my busy week...hubby’s birthday and sister’s baby shower.  This is one of my favorite purees to make.  It’s easy and so versatile.  When Bebe B was first eating solids I would mix it in with some rice cereal or pureed cooked rice and she adored.  We still make it a lot in our house and have it mixed in with noodles and make our scrambled “green” eggs with it often.

Brocco-cado 

Ingredients:

2 cups broccoli (fresh or frozen thawed)

2 tsp nutmeg

1-2 ripe avocado(s)

Clean and chop the fresh broccoli.  Steam the broccoli in either a steaming basket on the stove or in the Beaba babycook.  If using the babycook fill water to the 2 mark for a full basket of veggies.  If steaming on the stove use about 2 inches of water and steam for about 10 minutes, checking with a knife every so often to see if the broccoli is tender enough. It should be very soft but still green.  If using frozen broccoli the steaming time may vary so watch closely.  Reserve the cooking liquid.  Slice the avocado(s) in half and twist apart, remove the seed and scoop the green goodness from the skin, it should be pretty soft but not brown.  Add the avocado and puree together with the broccoli and nutmeg.  You may want to add a touch of the reserved cooking liquid if needed to reach the desired consistency.  Purees can be as chunky as your baby is ready for- it’s up to you. This recipe will keep up to 2 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer.  This is a perfect one to freeze because it prevents the avocado from browning.  This recipe also makes the perfect addition to toddler meals –wonderful with noodles or scrambled with eggs.  This recipe will fill about 3 ice cube trays (15-30 servings). 

Some of the Amazing Health Benefits:

• -Broccoli is rich on Vitamin C, Fiber and Calcium.
• - Avocados are a wonderful "good fat" food for baby's brain and physical development. They contain valuable nutrients including folate, fiber, potassium, vitamin E; and iron. 
• -Nutmeg: studies have shown it can stimulate the brain, relieving stress and stimulating mental activity.

This recipe is vegan and gluten-free.