Pear, Turnip, Collard Greens, Purple Carrot with aromatic Star Anise

This combo has quite a few stage 2 ingredients. If you or your family members have any history of food allergies do consult your pediatrician before trying this combo. You can also prepare purees of individual ingredients first (for a trial run) and if everything goes ok, try the combo.

Let’s discuss Star Anise. I don’t recommend giving any herbal teas to your babies at this age. But occasionally adding star anise in a puree for some fragrance should be ok. Remember to take it out before making the puree though. We don’t want our babies actually eating the whole spice. 

So what is Star Anise?

This is a mahogany colored, 8 pointed star shaped fruit. It has a licorice anise like flavor and we get hints of fennel, clove and a little pepper from it. It is perfect to add in dishes where the ingredients have a bland/ dull aroma and flavor. However, you are most welcome to skip it if you feel uncomfortable adding it in.

Before we move on to the recipe, I would like to address the messages of the mama’s wo are looking for a Sippy cup recommendation, I have been using the Munchkin Miracle 360 Trainer Cup for baby Prisha. These are 7 Oz cups and you get 2 cups for $11.25. They have two handles so it is easier for the babies to hold them. They also have a 360 degree drinking edge so the babies can drink from any angle and they don't spill! I trained baby Prisha with water in these cups and now she drinks milk. It is super easy to clean both in dishwasher (top rack) and by hand and are of course BPA free.

A word of advice, never leave the Sippy cup with the babies in their crib. Offer it to them when you are around to keep an eye on them.

Ingredients:

• Pear – 1
• Turnip – 1
• Collard Greens – 3 stems with leaves, fresh
• Purple Carrot – 1
• Star Anise – 1

Directions:

• Remove the stem and core of the Pear, you can do that by cutting the pear in half lengthwise then chopping it into pieces excluding the stem and core.
• Peel, wash and chop in big pieces the Turnip and Purple Carrot.
• Rinse and chop the Collard Greens, include the stems as well. Discard any discolored leaves or thick stems.
• Fill a medium saucepan with 3 inches of water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Place the Pear, Turnip, Collard Greens, Purple Carrot and the Star Anise into a steamer basket over the boiling water, cover, and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Alternatively, you can pressure cook with ½ cup of water. 2 whistles on medium heat should be enough.
• Let the fruits and vegetables cool down. Remove the Star Anise. 
• Transfer the fruits and vegetables to your blender cup or Nutri bullet cup and puree until smooth. Keep adding water (in which they were cooked) 1 tablespoon at a time till you reach your desired consistency.
• Delicious puree is ready! 
• This puree can be kept in the fridge for 1-2 days.

Try these Baby Food purees as well:

• Green Beans and Asparagus Puree
• Beef Pasta with Spinach, Tomato and Carrot
• Zucchini Pear Mango Purée
• Apple Blueberry Puree
• Beef, Broccoli, Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Puree
• Turnip Pear Broccoli Yellow Squash
• Butternut Squash, Strawberry and Golden Beet Puree
• Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Butternut Squash and Mango Puree
• Chicken and Barley Puree with Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash
• Apple Puree/ Apple Mango Carrot Puree
• Carrot, Apple and Ginger Puree
• Apple Mango Kiwi Banana Puree with a dash of Vanilla Extract
• Diary of Finger Foods - 2
• Garlic Tomato Pasta Puree
• Chicken Broccoli Fried Rice/ Casserole
• Chicken, Yellow Squash, Apple with Nutmeg
• Chicken, Mango and Broccoli Penne
• Mangsho Bhat (Chicken Rice with Potato and Tomato)
• Pot Roast
• Plum Apple Avocado Puree
• Green Power: Green Beans Puree/ French Beans and Pear Puree with Yogurt
• Green Beans, Green Apple and Avocado Puree
• Breakfast Purees – Pear Oats Plums Blueberries and Pear Oats Apricots Mangoes
• Avocado Purees – Avocado Cherry Banana Puree and Avocado Orange Banana Puree
• Kiwi, Carrot, Butternut Squash and Mango Puree
• Beef Beetroot Yellow Squash Puree
• Carrot, Peach, Butternut Squash puree with Clove
• Sweet Banana – Banana Avocado Pineapple Puree with Yogurt and Banana Golden Beet Mango Puree
• Ginger Beef with Veggies
• Cheesy Chicken Pasta with Golden Beets, Acorn Squash, Peas and fresh Parsley
• Triple Berry (Blueberry, Raspberry, Strawberry), Banana and Oatmeal Puree
• 5 Minute Purees – Blueberry Avocado Banana Puree and Cherry Mango Banana Puree
• Carrot Puree/ Carrot Avocado Puree
• Cheesy Chicken Pasta with Zucchini Carrot and Cilantro
• Cheesy Chicken Pasta with Carrot, Yellow Squash, Apple and Oregano
• Khichri (Lentils and Rice with Garden Veggies Puree)
• Collard Greens, Pineapple and Apple Puree
• Mango Banana Coconut Cream (with Yogurt) Puree
• Red Lentils Puree with Turnip, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes and aromatic Cloves
• Cheesy Chicken Pasta with Carrot, Tomato, Pear and Mint
• Purple Carrots, Butternut Squash and Dried Apricots
• Chicken, Acorn Squash, Golden Beet and Ginger Powder
• Blueberry Strawberry Peas Avocado Puree
• Sweet Potato, Mango and Avocado Puree
• Chole Chawal (Chickpea curry with Rice)
• Beef Barley Stew for the Babies
• Cardamom Chicken with Vegetables for the Babies
• Sweet Potato, Kidney Beans, Purple Carrots and Green Apple
• Diary of Finger Foods -1
• Pear Banana Oatmeal
• Rice Pudding with Apple and Banana
• Kiwi, Green Beans, Peas, Strawberry and Blueberry Puree
• Kiwi, Green Apple and Banana Puree
• Butternut Squash and Kiwi Puree
• Plum Puree
• Plum, Blackberry Puree with Yogurt
• Plum Cherry Mango Puree
• Carrot Peach and Cherry Puree
• Mangoes Cherries Peach Acorn Squash and Mint Puree
• Diary of Finger Foods