Cheesy Chicken Pasta with Golden Beets, Acorn Squash, Peas and fresh Parsley

One question that I have been receiving lately is when is it appropriate to start combo foods for your baby. I started baby Prisha on solid foods when she was 6 months old. I gave her several types of purees but all of them were prepared with a single ingredient. Now sweet potato, carrot, apple, beans, pear, banana these are all first foods. Once I knew that she is not allergic to any of these and can digest these well, I started combining these ingredients (and that was around 8 months). As a rule of thumb, whenever I want to introduce something new to her I always offer her a small quantity of only that ingredient. If everything is ok, then only I add it in a combo. Combination foods are fantastic! They introduce our babies to more flavor and aroma. In fact, combo foods are easy to prepare as well. I love adding some vegetable and fruit in a combo with an herb so that it gets a natural sweet, tangy flavor and aroma.

Ingredients:

• Cheese – ½ cup, shredded or in small pieces
• Chicken breast – 1/3 cup, cut into cubes
• Penne Pasta – ¼ cup, uncooked (I used whole wheat pasta)
• Golden Beets – ½ cup, peeled, cut into small cubes
• Acorn Squash – 1 cup, peeled, seeded, cut into cubes
• Peas – ¼ cup, fresh or frozen
• Fresh Parsley – 2 tablespoons, washed, chopped

Recommended Reading: Handling Raw Meat with Safety

Directions:

• Wash the vegetables and Chicken thoroughly.
• Place the ingredients into the pressure cooker (except the Parsley and Cheese). You can also use a small heavy saucepan. 
• Add about ½ cup of water.
• Cover and cook over medium heat for 3-4 whistles or until the vegetables are tender and the Chicken and Pasta completely cooks (about 20-25 minutes on low heat for saucepan).
• Add the Cheese, stir then let everything cool down completely. 
• Make the puree using the water in which the vegetables were cooked. Add the Parsley and puree using a blender or Nutri bullet. Keep adding 1-2 tablespoons of water till the puree is smooth enough for your baby.
• Serve for lunch or dinner and let them enjoy the goodness. You can keep the puree for up-to 2 days in the fridge.

 Try these Baby Food purees as well:

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