Pear, Cranberry and Oatmeal Purée
If you follow me on Instagram, you probably remember that my youngest is an enthusiastic eater. There is almost nothing that he won’t devour, and he has likely tried all of the recipes that you find on this page, or in my pictures, at some point. Quinoa with harissa and chicken? Check. Thanksgiving leftover pie with stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey, Brussels sprouts and gravy? Check, but only if served with a giant dollop of cranberry sauce.
His favourite vegetable is broccoli; he eats coconut shrimp, calamari, and chicken enchiladas. He has even been known to swipe crostini from a plate, especially when it’s topped with fried halloumi. I have a few theories on why he’s such a great eater, ones that I’m still examining and testing, but I can confidently say that my boy loves a variety of food.
Pear & Cranberry Oatmeal Puree
This pear and cranberry oatmeal puree creation is just one of the many dishes we make that elicits enthusiasm from him. I’ve been preparing it since he first started eating solid food, when I puréed it to a thin and barely spoonable consistency, and now that’s he’s older with almost a full set of teeth, he’s still eating it for breakfast regularly. These days I leave it chunkier and just mash the pears with the back of a fork, but you can also blitz it just a little for those babies who are somewhere in between the new eater stage and where we are today.
Good to Know: Many brands of dried cranberries contain added sugar. For this oatmeal puree, I prefer Made in Nature Organic Cranberries, which are sweetened with apple juice.
Pear, Cranberry and Oatmeal Purée Recipe:
You’ll Need
- 2 small ripe pears, cored and chopped
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup water
Prep and Cook
- Combine pears, oats, cranberries, cinnamon, and water in a medium pot and bring to a boil
Cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the pears are tender and the oats softened - Place ingredients in a blender and blend until the mixture reaches your desired consistency
You may need to add a splash of water or milk for a smooth, thin puree
You can also make it chunky for older babies, or skip the blending and mash the pears with a fork for a more toddler-friendly cereal - Keep leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to three days
