A month ago, I posted some of the foods my little baby-led-weaner had enjoyed over a few weeks. Here are some new favorites as she hits her 9 month birthday!

Peach Slices with Oatmeal

Cut a very soft peach into slices. Dip into prepared iron-fortified infant oatmeal and serve!

Avocado and Black Beans

Combine 2 tablespoons mashed avocado for every 2 tablespoons mashed canned black beans.

Lentils

Combine 1 cup lentils and 2 and 1/2 cups water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 45 minutes. (Note: This is, hands-down, Veronika’s favorite food. She eats them by the fistful, which makes a spectacular mess, but I’m so glad she loves them!).

Kasha

Bring 2 cups water and 1 tablespoon olive oil to a boil. Add 1 cup kasha. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until very tender. Cool before serving.

Note: You can also stir in 2 tablespoons peach puree and 2 tablespoons pear puree for every 2 tablespoons kasha, if the grain alone is too dry for your baby.

Roasted Apples and Carrots

Peel 1 apple and 1 carrot, and cut into 2-inch sticks. Arrange on a baking dish coated with cooking spray; cover and cook at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes, until tender.

Two-Potato Boil

Peel and cube 1 russet potato and 1 sweet potato. Cover with water and boil for 20 minutes, until very tender. Drizzle with 1 teaspoon canola oil. You can serve these as cubes on the tray, or mash them up slightly with your fingers before placing on baby’s plate.

Tofu, Papaya, and Nutmeg

This particular recipe felt like Veronika’s first gourmet meal! Slice 2 ounces firm tofu into strips, and top each with a dollop of mashed papaya.

Sprinkle with a pinch of nutmeg.

Peach Raspberry Mash

Place 2 tablespoons thawed or fresh raspberries in a bowl and mash slightly. Spoon in 2 tablespoons peach puree.

Orzo and Sweet Peas

Cook 1/4 cup orzo pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse under cool water. For every 2 tablespoons orzo, stir in about 2 tablespoons pea puree.

Peaches and Quinoa

Stir 1 tablespoon peach puree into every 1 tablespoon cooked quinoa for a break from an oatmeal breakfast rut!

Split Peas

In a saucepan, combine 2 cups water and 1 cup split peas. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes, until very tender. Add water when reheating if the peas have thickened.

Potato and Plum Mash

Peel 1 russet potato and cut into matchsticks. Cover with water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Add 1 peeled and chopped fresh plum. Continue to cook for 10 to 20 minutes, until the potato is very tender. The plum will completely break down and infuse the potato with sweet, fruity flavor.

There are two ways you can serve this; either with the potato sticks as a finger food, or mashed up a bit on the tray for your baby to eat by the handful. Veronika prefers the latter!

Baked Apricots and Apples

This one is great for breakfast. Peel and thinly slice 1 apple; bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. With about 5 minutes left, add 2 peeled and thinly sliced apricots.

Parsnip Sticks with Pumpkin

Peel 2 parsnips and cut into thin strips. Cover with water and bring to a boil; continue to cook for 10 minutes, until tender.

Dip into canned pumpkin puree to serve.

Tofu with Cherries and Rice

This one makes a rounded-out little meal!

Cut firm tofu into matchstick pieces your baby can pick up. Cook brown rice according to package directions. Meanwhile, bake fresh cherries at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes, until tender.

Serve all three components on the tray; alternatively, puree the cherries and dip the tofu pieces into this cherry sauce.

Island Breakfast Cereal

In a bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons prepared infant barley cereal, 2 tablespoons mashed papaya, and 2 tablespoons mango puree.

Papaya and Banana Mash

Stir together 2 tablespoons mashed papaya and 2 tablespoons mashed banana.

Spinach and Potato Puree

Bake 1 peeled russet potato until tender (or microwave for about 5 minutes) and mash until smooth. Meanwhile, cook 1 cup fresh spinach in boiling water for about 2 minutes. Transfer the potato and spinach to a food processor and process until smooth.

One last note about eating at this age: it’s all still mostly practice, so don’t worry if it seems like more is winding up on the floor or smeared on your baby’s thighs than in his or her mouth!

Also, don’t give up if a food is rejected at first. Research shows that it can take up to 20 tries before a baby will enjoy a food. Have fun and be playful: to wit, by making cauliflower and mashed potato sheep on baby’s tray before letting the messy fun begin.

Either way, the above “recipes” give lots of room to touch, taste, smell, mash about, and learn to enjoy.