YumUniverse™

My dear friend, and YU contributor, Kathy Beymer and I made some homemade organic baby food the other day and she wowed me again with her crafting genius. To store our fresh apricot puree, she pulled out recycled and reusable glass jars with easy-to-make chalkboard lids to label and record the date the food was made! This idea can be used for all types of fresh food storage (leftovers, kimchi, nut butters, hemp milk)—it’s an adorable and sustainable way to make sure that food never goes to waste. Get Kathy’s free step-by-step photo instructions for making these smart storage jars at her crafting website, Merriment Design. And read on for the simple and delicious apricot baby food instructions.

Makes: approx. 4-5, 4 oz. jars | Preparation Time: 20mins

Tools:
Good Knife
Steamer or Double Boiler (optional)
Hand Blender, Food Processor or Pro Blender
Silicone Ice Cube Trays (these are for frozen food storage—lasts for weeks)
Kathy’s recycled chalkboard lid baby food jars (these are for fresh food storage—be sure to use baby food within 1-3 days)

Ingredients:
10-12 fresh, ripe organic apricots

Let’s Get Started:
Wash your apricots well.

Slice in half and remove the pits.

Steam apricots either in a steamer or double-boiler (with lid on).

If you don’t have a steamer or double-boiler, just add whole apricots to boiling water for 5-10 minutes then take them out, run cool water over them and slip the skins off. With the boiling method, you will halve and pit the apricots after removing skins.

Using hand blender, a pro blender or a food processor, mix up apricots until you get a smooth puree. Spoon the amount that you think you will use over the next 3 days into your smart storage jars and place in the refrigerator.

You can freeze the remaining baby food into single servings if you use a silicone ice cube tray—your food will last for weeks. Puree will not freeze solid, but into soft/slightly frozen cubes. Just remove from freezer and heat (without a microwave) when ready to use.

Be sure to record your creation and preparation date on your lid!

Just take a look at Kathy’s beautiful girl, Elise. She is one lucky little lady, who in my opinion, could send the Gerber baby lookin’ for a new gig.

Substitutions:
1. Try adding organic white grape juice, pear juice or apple juice to your apricots.
2. How about mashed banana?
3. Serve up apricots and rice. Just add 1/4-1/2 cup of cooked, organic brown rice to your puree.
4. There are many combinations to try. Explore sweet potato, peaches, even summer squash. Just steam and blend!

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