Chow for the Chubster: baked fruit

Baked fruit

I found this post here and thought it sounded like a great way to get extra fruit into my little man.  It can be hard to find good kiddie chow sometimes, and these recipes are great because you can chop the fruit up for finger food, puree it if you are into that whole 'mushed baby food' thing or serve it with a variety of things for adults and older kids too.  The site suggests serving it with frozen yogurt, oat meal or even cake, but they are all good on their own too.

BAKED PEACHES, NECTARINES and PLUMS

• Turn on the oven to 400(F),
• Halve the fruit if using peaches, pears, or nectarines and plums
• Do not peel
• Add 1-2 inches of water to a baking pan,
• Place fruits "face down" and bake at 400F for approx. 40 minutes or until skin puckers. 
• If you use this method for pears, bake for 20 minutes or until skin puckers
• Once baked, slip off the skins if you desire and enjoy warm

BAKED APPLES

• Core a few apples (leave peel on),
• Wipe center inside with butter if desired or add a wee bit of water to the inside
• Sprinkle some cinnamon if desired
• Add raisins and a wee dash of brown sugar if desired too. 
• Place apples upright in a baking pan filled with 2-3 inches of water (more water than with peaches as peaches are more shallow) -
• Bake at 400 for approx. 40 minutes or until skin puckers and/or fruit begins to bubble.

BAKED BANANAS and PEARS

• peel and cut bananas or pears in half length-wise
• then place on baking sheet lightly spread with olive oil -
• You choose the temp and keep a watch.  We use 400 for approx 10 minutes. 
• Pears are generally more soft so keep a watch as they may bake up faster than you realize.
• Sprinkle bananas and/or pears with some cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg if desired

Bananas are also yummy when fried in a dash of butter on the stove top - sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with honey if age appropriate.   Pears are very yummy when lightly fried with a touch of vanilla.