Beef–it’s what’s for dinner. Or at least that’s what the slogan says. As an excellent source of iron and protein, beef can be your baby’s dinner, too. The easiest way to incorporate beef into your baby’s diet is by taking some of your own meal (a bit of roast beef, a piece of hamburger, etc.) and run it through the blender or food processor. If your own meal is too spicy or you want to make up something special just for baby, these recipes are a good place to start.

Cheeseburger and Fries
This recipe combines the classic tastes of a cheeseburger dinner–minus the fat and sugar found in a typical diner or fast food joint.
Ingredients
4 ounces lean ground beef
2 medium potatoes, cooked and cubed
2 tablespoons tomato sauce
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions
Brown ground beef and drain off excess grease. To get rid of even more grease, rinse the meat in hot water.
Add cooked beef and all other ingredients to the blender and puree until desired consistency is reached. Add water, breastmilk, or formula to thin as needed.

Pot Roast Dinner
Depending upon how heavily you season your own meals, you could simply puree the components from your own pot roast dinner and feed it to your baby. If you need something a bit blander, this recipe will serve the purpose well.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1/4 medium white or yellow onion
1 cup cubed beef roast
1 large carrot, sliced
1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
1 clove garlic, peeled and cut in half
Pinch of salt
Dash of pepper
Directions
Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add remaining ingredients and return to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring once. Check potatoes and beef for doneness and cook until tender. Drain water and remove garlic if desired. Add remaining ingredients to blender and puree to desired consistency. Add water, breastmilk, or formula to thin as needed.

Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is already a good consistency for older babies and can easily be pureed for younger babies. For a quick baby-friendly shepherd’s pie, this is a good recipe. Feel free to substitute the vegetables of your choice to suit your baby’s tastes.
Ingredients
1/2 cup prepared mashed potatoes
1/2 cup browned lean ground beef
1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots, steamed
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 tablespoons milk
Dash of black pepper
Directions
Combine all ingredients in blender and puree until desired consistency is reached.

Beef Santa Fe
This dish combines several Tex-Mex ingredients without any spiciness.
Ingredients
8 ounces lean beef (any kind–roast, ground, steak, etc.)
1/2 cup canned black beans, rinsed
1/4 cup fresh or frozen corn, steamed
2 Tablespoons chopped onions
2 Tablesppons chopped bell pepper
Directions
Sautee onions and peppers in a scant amount of vegetable oil. Add beef to peppers and onions and cook until browned. Add all ingredients to blender and puree until desired consistency is reached. Add water, breastmilk, or formula to thin as needed.

In case you missed it, The Frugal Baby’s 1,000 fan giveaway has begun on Facebook. There are some great prizes like cloth wipes, gift cards, Usborne books, and lots more. Be sure to check it out and enter soon–it will only be open through April 24th.

Mommy’s Money Saving Obsession is holding their Welcome Spring Follower Appreciation Celebration now but it ends TODAY at noon. The Frugal Baby has sponsored a Baby Einstein CD so be sure to get over there and enter if you haven’t already!

Also, Just Married with Coupons is holding their 10K Fan Fiesta right now and The Frugal Baby has sponsored a prize. It’s a Melissa and Doug puzzle for toddlers. That giveaway will end when they reach 10,000 fans so be sure to enter soon.

Finally, Fabulous Family Reviews and Giveaways will be holding their 5,000 Fan Appreciate Celebration as soon as they hit 5,000 fans. The Frugal Baby has sponsored a Snack-Trap Bowl in that giveaway so get over there and “like” their page.

“Eat your peas,” I must have heard my mother say a zillion times as a kid. I didn’t like peas then and I don’t particularly care for them now. This is unfortunate because peas pack an impressive nutritional punch. They are a great source of Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B1, Vitamin A, Folate, and fiber, to name a few nutrients. As an added bonus, many babies love their sweet taste and soft texture.

Below you will find easy ways to prepare peas for your little one. Keep in mind that plain pureed peas can be added to any number of foods for a variety of tastes.

Keema Matar
This Indian-style dish offers plenty of flavor and nutrients with none of the spice associated with traditional Keema Matar.
Ingredients
4 ounces cooked lamb, cubed*
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas, steamed
Dash of garlic powder
Dash of onion powder
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender and puree to desired consistency. Add water, breastmilk, or formula as needed to thin the puree.

*If lamb is not a staple in your family’s diet, you could use beef instead.

Cheesy Peasy Rice
Pediatricians usually give the okay on dairy foods for older babies (8 or 9 months of age) with no history of allergies. If your baby can’t eat dairy yet, simply omit the cottage cheese from this recipe.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas, steamed
1/2 cup cooked rice
1/2 cup cottage cheese
Dash of onion powder
Dash of black pepper
Directions
Add peas, rice, onion powder, and black pepper to blender and puree to desired consistency. If puree is hot, allow to cool before mixing in cottage cheese, either by hand or in the blender.

Peachy Peas
Surprisingly, peaches work well with the mild flavor of green peas for a sweet but nutritional treat.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas, steamed
2 peaches, peeled, pitted, and diced
Dash of nutmeg or cinnamon
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender and puree to desired consistency. Add water, breastmilk, or formula as needed to thin the puree.

Savory Peas
This simple recipe adds a little extra flavor to ordinary peas.
Ingredients
1 cup fresh or frozen green peas, steamed
1/4 cup chopped leeks
Dash of black pepper
Directions
Cook the peas and the leeks together in a steamer basket or by simmering in a few tablespoons of water. Add all ingredients to blender and puree to desired consistency. Add water, breastmilk, or formula as needed to thin the puree.

Garden Variety Dinner
With a bit of chicken for protein, this puree combines a variety of vegetables for a big dose of nutrition.
Ingredients
1/4 cup fresh or frozen green peas, steamed
1/4 cup diced fresh or frozen carrots, steamed
4 asparagus spears, steamed
1/4 cup chopped fresh or frozen cauliflower, steamed
1 small red potato, cooked and cubed
6 ounces of chicken, cooked and cubed
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Dash of black pepper
Directions
Add all ingredients to blender and puree to desired consistency. Add water, breastmilk, or formula as needed to thin the puree.

How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? Around here, it is sunny and warm. You know what that means–it’s diaper drying season!

There is no better way to dry your cloth diapers than by hanging them out in the sun to dry. Sure, it takes a little more effort than throwing them in the dryer, but the benefits are tremendous:

1. You’ll save money on your electricity bill by not running the dryer.
2. The sun will whiten and brighten your diapers, eliminating the need for harsh bleach.
3. The sun and the fresh air will deodorize your diapers.
4. Avoiding the dryer will lengthen the life of your cloth diapers.

And of course, you can dry your diapers outside at any time of the year. But there’s just nothing like a warm sunny day to get your diapers their freshest and brightest.

Tomorrow we are hitting the road and heading for Florida. Ten hours in a minivan with a toddler and a preschooler. Sounds like fun, no?

We are excited, though. The kids have never been to the beach and my husband and I could use a few stress-free days away from it all. That being said, there’s always a certain amount of stress involved with a vacation because of the money involved. But, being the frugal family that we are, we are employing a few methods to make this trip as inexpensive as possible.

1. First, we are nixing the drive-thru. We’ll be on the road for at least two meals each way and we could easily spend $15-$20 per meal on the four of us at a fast food restaurant. Instead, we are packing up a cooler with sandwich makings, fruit, drinks, etc. Then, when it’s time to eat, we will stop at a rest stop for a picnic. The kids can get out and run around and we’ll all get some fresh air. Not only is this a cheaper option but it’s healthier and more fun, too.
2. Along the same lines, we are also packing snacks and drinks for the road. This is much cheaper than buying snacks at a truck stop or gas station!
3. Next, instead of getting a hotel right on the beach, we opted for one just a few blocks away. By giving up the ocean view, we saved a bundle of money.
4. We also chose a hotel that offered an in-room microwave and mini fridge. This will allow us to bring our own breakfast and lunch food. We could have opted for a room with a kitchenette, but the extra cost didn’t make sense economically. We would have spent more on the room with the kitchenette plus the food we would need to cook, than we will on eating our dinners out each night.
5. While planning the trip, we cashed in a lot of rewards. We had rewards from credit card points and loyalty programs and even from online rewards programs. As a result, we are getting two free nights at the hotel, a free dinner out, and a free tank of gas. This was a huge benefit to the road trip budget.

Those were the major things we are doing to save money on this trip. Here are some other ways to save money. Some of them may or may not work for you and your family but hopefully you can find a few to help you save.

• Travel with another family. If you have a vehicle large enough to accomodate another family, you can split the cost of gas with them. These days, that could save you a small fortune.
• Travel during off-peak seasons. Try to avoid times like spring break, Memorial Day, and summer. Not only will you save money on hotels during the off season, but there will be fewer tourists at your destination then, too.
• Go camping. If you have camping equipment, ditch the hotel and camp instead. Even a fully equippe camp ground will cost far less than a hotel room.
• Consider a hostel. If you thought hostels were only for college kids backpacking their way through Europe, think again. There are hostels all over the United States and some of them even offer private rooms at a fraction of the cost of a regular hotel.
• Eat locally. Small mom and pop diners and cafes generally offer substantial portions and low prices. You’ll pay far less than you would at a chain restaurant and get more food so you can stretch your dollar further by splitting a meal between two family members.
• Check gas prices. On a road trip, even a few cents per gallon can add up quickly. Check sites like Gas Buddy to find the cheapest gas prices on your route.
• Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gas you use. So slow down and enjoy the ride. Better yet, settle in at a nice speed and turn on the cruise control.
• Take advantage of free attractions. Research attractions in the area and take advantage of the free ones. Also, some paid attractions like zoos and museums offer free or discounted days. Check for these and plan your trip accordingly.
• Consider an AAA membership. The discounts you receive as a member may more than pay for the membership fees. Plus, you will enjoy peace of mind while you’re on the road.
• Get your oil changed. Be sure to have your car checked out before you hit the road including an oil change and tire inspection. Having your car running properly will save you money on gas and could help you avoid the expenses of breaking down while on the road.

I talk a lot about homemade stuff here on The Frugal Baby. I’ve covered homemade baby wipes, homemade baby food, homemade cloth diapers, homemade baby wraps, and even homemade birthday cakes. One thing I have never talked about is homemade baby formula. Why? Because until recently, I didn’t even realize that people still did that.

Turns out, a lot of people do. It seems that many of these people would have chosen to breastfeed but couldn’t for any number of reasons (adoption, mother’s illness, inability to lactate, etc.). Therefore, they decided to do, what they consider to be, the next best thing.

The recipes for homemade infant formula all call for natural/organic ingredients. Most of them also contain some harder-to-find ingredients. With that in mind, I don’t know how frugal it is to make your own formula. Compared to the cost of commercially prepared formula, however, it might be worth it to take a look. To clarify, I am not trying to suggest that homemade formula is or is not nutritionally sound. In fact, if you are going to try it, I would strongly recommend discussing it with your pediatrician first.

That having been said, here are links to some recipes for homemade baby formula. For more information, check out the book, Nourishing Traditions. And finally, if you make or have made your own infant formula, please let me know. I’d love to hear about it.

• Baby Formula Recipe from the Weston A. Price Foundation
• Homemade Formula Instructions with Photos
• Baby Formula Recipe with Testimonial
• Infant Formula Recipes by Age

I grew up in the New Madrid fault zone and while the area hadn’t experienced a major earthquake in generations, it was understood that a “big one” could strike at any time. Nevertheless, I think a lot of us were complacent about being prepared for that kind of event. I don’t know anyone who stockpiled food or water for such an emergency.

It seems, though, that the recent events in Japan have served as a wake-up call to many of us. People are becoming aware of the need for disaster preparedness and as a result, they are making those preparations.

Why do I bring this up on The Frugal Baby? Because those of us with babies and young children would be especially vulnerable in the event of a disaster. If you use formula to feed your infant, what would you do in a crisis if no formula was availalble? What would you do if there was no clean water to keep your young children hydrated? If you have a child with special dietary needs or medical conditions, how can you be sure you will have the supplies on hand to keep him or her healthy?

The odds are, most of us will never experience a disaster of that magnitude. But if you think it can’t happen, just ask the folks in Japan or even the people in the U.S. that survived Katrina. These things can and do happen and I, for one, want to make sure my family is prepared.

If you have not made any preparations, check out this free publication from FEMA: http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/. It covers the basics of getting prepared for natural disasters or other emergencies.

The good news is it doesn’t have to cost a lot to start getting prepared. Those of you who coupon, probably have a good start on an emergency stockpile without even trying! Regardless, picking up a few supplies here and there will hardly make a dent in your budget, but could literally make the difference between life and death.

Okay, that’s the end of this public service announcement. We will now resume our regularly scheduled frugal parenting.

Have you seen any of the Disney Nature movies? If not, you should check them out. They are beautifully made, educational, and entertaining for the whole family. We love them. That being said, DVDs and BluRays are expensive! We usually rent our movies from Redbox and we take advantage of free movie codes as often as possible.

Recently, though, we got an “invitation” to join the Disney Movie Club and the offer was too good to pass up. I usually avoid that kind of thing because if you are not very careful, you’ll lose money in the long run. But this offer netted us seven Disney movies for $20–shipped! We have to buy three more in the next two years but I figured it was worth it.

Not only was this a good way to add to our own BluRay collection but at less than $3 a piece, we got a couple of really inexpensive birthday presents for other children!

Now, this club works like any other in that they offer you a “featured selection” every month or so. If you do not respond (you can do it online) to tell them you don’t want the movie, they will send it to you anyway. So you have to be disciplined enough to keep up with it. But they send emails each month with a reminder to respond to the featured selection one way or the other which makes it easier.

Oh, and in addition to Disney animated films (new releases and classics) and documentaries like the Disney Nature films, the club also offers episodes of Disney Channel original shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins–so there really is something for everyone.

Apples make a great early food for babies. They are sweet and mild, they are a good source of fiber and vitamin C, and they are inexpensive. Because of their mild flavor, they blend very well with many other foods.

Below are some recipes for making your own apple baby food. Be sure to check the ingredients in each recipe to make sure they are appropriate for your baby’s age and dietary needs. Also note that you can use any variety of apples that you’d like, but I would suggest staying away from Granny Smith apples because they are more tart than sweet.
Just Apples
Ingredients
5 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples and juice/water into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Freeze unused apple puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

Orchard Delight
Ingredients
3 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1 peach, peeled, pitted, and cut into chunks
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples and juice/water into a blender or food processor. Add peaches and blend until smooth.
Freeze unused puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

Harvest Pie (my babies loved this one!)
Ingredients
3 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1/2 cup canned pumpkin  
Dash of cinnamon
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples and juice/water into a blender or food processor. Add pumpkin and cinnamon and blend until smooth.
Freeze unused puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

Apple Yogurt
Ingredients
1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples and juice/water into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Allow apple puree to cool and then mix it in with the yogurt.
Freeze unused puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

Apples and Pork
Ingredients
2 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1/2 cup cooked pork, cubed
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples and juice/water into a blender or food processor. Add pork and blend until smooth. Add water, breastmilk, or formula to reach desired consistency.
Freeze unused puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

Sweet Rice
Ingredients
1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
1 cup cooked rice (brown or white)
1 tablespoon raisins
1/4 cup water
Directions
Bring water to boil in a saucepan.
Add apples and raisins to the saucepan. Cover and reduce heat. 
Simmer until apples are soft.
Pour apples, raisins, and juice/water into a blender or food processor. Add rice and blend until smooth.
Freeze unused puree in ice cube trays or baby food storage containers.

On Saturday I wrote about reusing some of the things that we might ordinarily cast off as trash. One of the ideas I mentioned was for crayon muffins. You just take your broken crayon pieces and melt them in muffin tins for chunky, multi-colored crayons. I have done this with my kids before and it is a fun project.

Yesterday, I decided to try to get a little more creative. I thought I would try using metal cookie cutters on cookie sheets as molds for these crayons. So instead of the muffin shape, we would end up with whatever shape cookie cutter we used. I decided to make Easter/spring crayons. So I lined a cookie sheet with foil, set out the cutters, and misted it all with cooking spray.

I picked through the crayon bin and pulled out the broken pieces of spring colors: light green, yellow, pink, purple, and light blue. The kids had a great time peeling off the remaining labels. I soon found out, though, that I was not going to have enough crayon pieces for all four cookie cutters. So I let my toddler pick one shape and my preschooler pick another. We filled those with the crayon pieces.

I worried that the cookie cutters wouldn’t lie flush on the cookie sheet so I put another cookie sheet on top of the cutters to hold them down. I then popped the whole thing into a 275 degree oven and set the timer for six minutes. When the timer went off, I peeked inside the oven and saw that some of the melted wax had seeped out from under the bunny cookie cutter in spite of my efforts to keep that from happening. As a result, the bunny crayon was too thin and ended up cracking when I removed it from the cookie cutter. Nevertheless, here are the finished products:

These did not come out the way I had planned so I am going to try them again. This time, I will use a homemade double boiler (tin can in a pot of water) to melt the crayons and I will pour them into the cookie cutters as I hold the cutters flush against the pan. The crayons begin to harden so quickly that this should work without a problem. As an alternative, you could also make these in silicone molds in a variety of shapes. Also, if I am trying to make pastel crayons, I will stick to much lighter colors than I did in this attempt.

Even though these weren’t a complete success, my children and I had fun doing this project as a family. The kids got to sort colors, hone their fine motor skills by peeling labels, and learn a little science by watching the effect of the heat on the wax. Educational family fun….what more could you ask for?