Recipes for Baby's First Thanksgiving

Your baby may be too young to dig into the turkey and stuffing with the rest of the family this Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean he or she can't enjoy some special holiday meals. The following are simple recipes for Thanksgiving dishes made just for baby. Remember that infants (especially younger ones just starting on solid foods) don't need many seasonings, if any at all. So go easy on the salt, sugar, butter or margarine, and spices.

For the littlest pilgrims (7 months and younger)

Squash Puree

2 small acorn squash or one butternut squash
2 tbsp. apple juice

Cut the squash into halves and scoop out the seeds. Divide the juice and pour over the squash halves, and then cover with aluminum foil. Place in a baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Remove the foil and allow the squash to cool. Scrape the insides of the squash and puree in a blender or processor. Freeze any you don't use right away.

Carrot-Apple Blend

1/2 medium apple, cored and peeled
1/2 carrot, washed and peeled
2 tbsp. fruit juice (such as apple or orange)
1 tsp. lemon juice

Puree all ingredients in a blender or processor and serve.

Pureed Vegetables

1 potato, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, scrubbed and chopped
1/2 zucchini, scrubbed, peeled, and chopped
1/2 celery stalk, scrubbed and chopped

Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer until all ingredients are tender. Put in blender or food processor with a little of the water from the saucepan; adjust the amount of liquid to achieve the desired consistency. Cool and serve.

Pumpkin Pie

1 can pumpkin puree
Baby rice cereal or oatmeal
Breast milk or formula

Blend all ingredients together. Adjust the proportions of each ingredient until you reach the desired consistency. Serve warm or cold.

For more experienced papooses (7 to 10 months old)

Carrot-Rice Puree

1 tbsp. brown rice, uncooked
3 carrots, scrubbed and chopped
3/4 cup water
1 tsp. sweet butter (optional)

Place rice and carrots in a saucepan with water and cover. Simmer until the water is absorbed - about 30 to 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, puree in a blender or food processor with butter until smooth. Serve warm or refrigerate until cool.

Tofu Dinner

1 carton soft tofu
Fresh or canned applesauce
1 baked butternut or acorn squash, or sweet potato

Blend tofu, applesauce and cooked squash together until smooth. Adjust proportions of each ingredient until desired consistency is achieved. Serve warm or cold.

Apple Pie

Baby rice cereal or oatmeal
1 carton plain yogurt
Fresh or canned applesauce
Cheerios
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

Combine baby cereal, yogurt and applesauce together with a dash of cinnamon. Crush some Cheerios on top and mix well. Adjust proportions of each ingredient until desired consistency is achieved. For pumpkin pie, substitute 1 can pumpkin puree for the applesauce.

Hearty Banana-Oatmeal Cereal

1/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup breast milk or formula

1/3 cup whole banana 1/4 cup breast milk or formula

Combine oats and 1/2 cup formula or breast milk. Bring to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, mash banana and 1/4 cup formula or breast milk. Combine banana and oatmeal mixtures. Serve warmed or cold.

For the expert eaters (10 months and older)

Basic Turkey Dinner

1 slice of cooked turkey breast
1/4 cup cranberry sauce Water

Place turkey in a blender or food processor. Blend with water (1 tbsp. at a time) until it is a smooth liquid. The cranberry sauce will thicken the mixture, so add until it is the desired consistency. You may need more than 1/4 cup to make it thicker than a puree.

Turkey and Veggies

1/2 cup ground or cubed cooked turkey
1/4 cup cooked corn
1/4 cup cooked rice, cooked potato, or enriched pasta
1/4 cup breast milk or formula

Combine and blend or mash until only a few lumps remain. Also try these good combinations: beef, peas, and potatoes; chicken, carrots, and rice; beef, squash, and macaroni; pork, green beans, and potatoes.

Crust-Free Sweet Potato Pie

1 sweet potato
1/3 cup butter
2 tbsp. evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel sweet potato and boil until tender. Place in a bowl and add all other ingredients. Mix until smooth. Pour batter into a small baking pan and back for about 35 minutes.

Cheesy Veggies

1/8 cup breast milk or formula
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/8 cup of shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 cup cooked peas (still warm)
1/8 cup cooked carrots (still warm)

Mix all ingredients together and blend or mash until the desired consistency is achieved. Serve warm or refrigerate.