Roasting Day!

This weekend, I realized I had run out of many of my baby food stock. I went to our grocery store and was excited to find a few new things to try out! I think, other than maybe deep frying, roasting is one of the best methods of cooking, and a lot better for you than the latter. It gives a depth of flavor to veggies and fruits that you just can't really achieve by steaming or boiling. I have to say, being able to put everything in the oven at once is a plus too! As I've said before, I normally freeze up the purees plain and later experiment with spices, as well as, mixing with other purees. 


Roasted Bananas:
3 very ripe bananas


Pre-heat the oven at 400 degrees. Peel bananas and cut off the ends, discard. Cut up in pieces small enough to fit in your blender or food processor. Line a baking dish or cookie sheet with wax paper and arrange the banana pieces. Roast until tender and caramelized. Place in the food processor or blender and process to desire consistency. Let it cool and freeze for up to 3 months. 


Roasted Peaches:
1 bag of frozen peaches (making sure there is no sugar added).
*We don't get fresh peaches here but if you have them in your local grocery store, you can use them =)


Pre-heat the oven at 400 degrees. Arrange the peach pieces in a baking dish or cookie sheet that has been lined with wax paper. Roast until tender. Place in the food processor or blender and process to desire consistency. Let it cool and freeze for up to 3 months.


Roasted Blueberries:
1 bag of blueberries (making sure there is no sugar added).
*Read note above


Pre-heat the oven at 400 degrees. Arrange blueberries in a baking dish or cookie sheet. If you use a cookie sheet, line it with wax paper. Roast until tender. Place in the food processor or blender and process to desire consistency.  Let it cool and freeze for up to 3 months.


Roasted Asian Pears:
You can also use regular pears. I haven't seen any regular pears in Okinawa so I use the Asian variety. To be honest, I prefer them. They have a nuttier taste, are firmer, and more juicy in my opinion.


2 Asian pears.


Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees. Peel, core and slice the pears. Place in a baking dish or a lined (wax paper) cookie sheet. Roast until tender. Place in a food processor or blender and process to desire consistency. Let it cool and freeze for up to 3 months.


Roasted Butternut Squash:
1 small butternut squash


Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees. Cut butternut squash in half. With a spoon, take out the seeds and stringy part of the pulp, discard or if you prefer, roast the seeds as well. Fill a baking dish with water, 1/4 of an inch. Place butternut squash halves with the pulp facing down. Roast until tender and until the skin is easily removed (25-30 min). With a spoon, take out the pulp. Place in a food processor or blender and process to desire consistency. Let it cool and freeze for up to 3 months.