Puree Monday - Broccoli Stew

This recipe is a perfect all in one meal!  I have had many requests for more meat baby food recipes recently.  Here is one that is easy and your bebe will adore.  Bebe B was a big fan.  

Broccoli Stew - 8 Months+

Ingredients: 

2 Cups Fresh Broccoli

2 pieces of chicken breast- boneless and skinless

1 tsp of olive oil for cooking 

2 stalks of celery

1 Apple 

1 tbsp Sage (finely chopped)

1 tsp nutmeg

Water for steaming

Cut chicken into medium sized chunks.  Bake the chicken in a 350 degree oven for around 30-40 minutes or in a skillet on medium heat for around 10-15 minutes.  Be sure the chunks are fully cooked through.  Either way you cook the chicken it helps to keep them covered partially with a lid or foil, preventing them from drying out. 

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.  Reserve the cooking liquid.  Clean, core and slice the apple leaving the skins on during steaming (this helps lock in the nutrients during steaming).  Clean the celery and cut into chunks.  For this recipe it is fine to steam the celery and apple together to save time, either using 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 apple and celery.  If steaming on the stove use about 2 inches of water and steam for about 7-9 minutes.  Remove the skins from the apple slices once they have cooled a bit.  Now puree the cooked chicken, steamed broccoli, apple and celery with the sage and nutmeg in either a food processor or the babycook.  You will probably want to add some of the reserved cooking liquid 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 recipe will fill at least 3 ice cube trays (15-30 servings). 

This recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free.

Some of the Amazing Health Benefits:

• -Broccoli is rich on Vitamin C, Fiber and Calcium.
• -Nutmeg: studies have shown it can stimulate the brain, relieving stress and stimulating mental activity.