Lena has a new little brother, so I am cooking for a baby again. I know there are a lot of posts out there about how to make homemade baby food, but I thought it might be helpful to see several ways that I make baby grains.
Personally, I have not had a problem feeding babies the whole grain. I know some people advocate feeding babies more refined versions or waiting until one year to introduce grains. If you want more information, a quick search will give you more than enough to think about.
Here are three different ways I make baby cereal:
1. Rinse and lightly pan toast the whole grain. I have used this technique for brown rice, millet and barley, but if you use rice or barley soak them for at least 8 hours before rinsing and toasting. Cool the grain. Grind a small portion in a non-coffee designated coffee grinder. Bring 1/2 cup of water to a boil and whisk in 2 Tbsp of the grain powder. Stir frequently and let cook for 10 minutes, adding a little more water if necessary to get the right texture for your baby. Cool and use. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days. You can also make morning porridge this way for the whole family.
2. Add a small serving of unsalted cooked grain to some water in a pot. Bring to a boil and cook until grain is very soft. Purée in a small food processor or baby food grinder. Add more water or breast milk when puréeing to get the desired consistency
3. Cook unsalted brown rice into a very wet porridge. Brown rice can cook for hours and get very soft. Just keep adding more water if necessary. Strain through cheesecloth to make rice cream. This is a great first food for baby.
My next post I will highlight some of my recipes that are great options for feeding baby and the whole family.