So, eventually Emil will eat real food. Right now, at nearly 7 months, he still prefers breastfeeding and that is totally normal and fine by me. I see other babies his age eating Cheerios (!) and I have to remind myself that he is getting everything he needs and there is no rush to this process. He tastes a finger dipped in just about everything I eat, but that is about as far as he lets it go. A baby-sized spoonful of food gets pushed back out of his mouth or he gags. But we are continuing to experiment, and this brings me to the reason for this post.
A while back, my awesome and very generous Aunt Barbara and Uncle Steve sent us this great gift- the Baby Bullet, which makes baby food preparation extremely easy (and even fun!). I have been dying to try it, so last night, the boys and I whipped up our first batches of baby food. We started with a very ripe pear, then moved on to brown rice cereal, which is what we will share with you today.
We started with 1/4 cup organic short grain brown rice, uncooked. If you don’t have this device, try a milling blade in your blender, or use a clean coffee grinder. 
Place the 1/4 cup rice onto the bullet and press down hard to mill into what looks like rice flour.
Pressing hard. Really hard.
Also pressing really hard.
Pressing hard together!
Grind rice until it is a powdery texture. This will help it cook a lot faster, and will alleviate the need to mash or blend the cooked rice before giving it to baby.
Pour ground rice into a pot that has a tight-fitting lid.
Add 2 cups water,
Then stir. Cover and bring pot to boil, then reduce heat, stir, re-cover, and cook on low for 20 minutes.
Once cool, transfer to small serving cups (the Baby Bullet uses all BPA-free plastic) and store in refrigerator until ready to serve (best to use within 3 days or freeze).
It is so easy to make a homemade porridge that is extremely healthy! The rice cereal you buy in the grocery store is usually from white rice so it lacks the nutrients and protein that brown rice has. I think next time I am in the mood for some cream of wheat for breakfast, I will make this for myself instead, sweetened with a little maple syrup.
Thanks, Barb and Steve! I can tell we will be getting a lot of use out of this great gift! And I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful weekend and some beautiful spring weather!
I would absolutely be using that thing for myself! Quick, creamy porridge for breakfast (or folding into muffins)? Yes, please!
I think it’s awesome and wonderful and fantastic that Emil is still getting so much nutrition from breastmilk at 7 months. High five, mama!
Oh man. I am TOTALLY getting one of those gadgets. So cool. And we’ve been making so much more of our own stuff lately (crackers, bread, noodles, and today… ALMOND BUTTER) that I know I can talk my husband into another kitchen device.
Bookmarking this! And I HOPE to be able to breast feed that long. Any advice?? Or have you written a blog about it?
I love that the older boys are helping out. Such good brothers! Wyatt also kept nursing up a storm even once he was eating solid food until about a year when he suddenly had better things to do. It’s amazing how they will let you know when they’re ready to try something new, and when he is ready you’ll have such a tastey home-made meal waiting!
This is great! Owen hasn’t started solid food yet either, but I’m trying it learn more about it for when he is ready. Any advice on good books related to baby food and/or nutrition?
Making baby food has never been cuter! So adorable that your boys helped. 🙂 I can’t wait until Audrey starts some solids… I think we’re going to have so much fun making food for her and seeing her reactions to new things!
Amanda, I don’t have any books on baby food or nutrition, but if you go to the baby bullet website (link below), they have some great ideas! Also, for a first food, I always start with avocado mashed really well with a little water added- it is a super healthy first food and my guys have all loved it!
http://www.babybullet.com/recipes.php
We are so glad that you like the baby Bullet. I wish that there had been something like that when our kids were little. Enjoy!
Wow! I love this post! I made a lot of Jackson baby food in the blender, but never rice cereal…I will definitely have to try this the next time around. I just stuck with the organic brown rice cereal, but I love experimenting!!
How awesome!! I love Milo and Oliver working together – so sweet 🙂