This week is a completely French menu. For lunch today we had Braised Broccoli and Vichyssoise. But the vichyssoise is a "baby" version to be used as baby food. So I let Vera try some. Now stop. Before you tell me how "she's too young to eat baby food and it can't be good for her and LEEKS?! WHY LEEKS? Shouldn't it JUST be cereals?", just breathe. I only gave her a few bites. She'll be ok.
Now other's may say, "You gave your baby leeks? What on earth is a Leek? I've never even had one, that doesn't seem like baby food." To you I say, go try some leeks. They are delicious. They're similar to giant green onions but you don't eat the dark green part. And they have a lot of dirt between the leaves so wash them well.
Vera L O V E D the leek soup. I could not get the bites into her mouth fast enough before she started to cry. Also, we don't have baby spoons so I had to use a tiny ceramic 1/4 tsp spoon, so I didn't want to just shove it in her mouth, so I felt like I had to feed her extra slow.
But the main point is she loved it so much. It makes me excited to have her try all sorts of different foods. Which makes me really want a food processor. I really want a food processor but I really don't want to have to clean the food processor. Any suggestions?
Baby Vichyssoise
1+ cup finely diced russet potato (means a little more than one cup. I used one whole rather large russet)
2 cups finely sliced leeks (about 3 large)
1 pear (I didn't have a pear so I used an apple -very delicious)
2 tsp honey
pinch of salt (omitted for V; extra for me)
Cut off dark green parts and roots of leeks. Slice in half lengthwise and wash between each inner stem. Wash really well! They are so dirty! Slice thinly after washing.
Add potato, leeks, apple (if using a pear, don't add it until the last 3 minutes) and enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 7 minutes. Drain veg but keep all the cooking water. Just put your strainer over a large boil when straining. Add honey and blend in a blender or with an immersion blender (or pulse on a food processor) until smooth. Add cooking water bits at a time until desired consistency. So you could make it more like baby food consistency or creamy soup consistency.
For adults add a pinch of salt and a dot of butter. For babies, try to feed it to them as fast as you can, or they might start screaming for more.
And now, the promised baby faces:
I fully support your leek-feeding. I waited until 6 months to feed solids to my kids (mostly because I'm lazy- if you don't have to, why bother?). They all hated plain cereal. Wren would only eat it with "highly flavored" mix-ins like peaches... When they got big enough for meat, I'd just make baby food out of whatever we made for dinner ourselves (i.e. pork chops, grilled chicken, whatever). You can bet babies in India get curry and more "spiced" foods than bland American babies. I think giving my kids such a variety when they were little has contributed to the fact that they aren't really picky eaters and will try anything. Also, get the food processor. It is easier to clean than a blender if you are making baby food. I've been without one for a year and I'm DYING!
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