When I first dabbled in the Deceptively Delicious cookbook I created a freezer-full of purees, from butternut squash to pineapple to broccoli (the last one was definitely not my family’s favorite). At the time my baby was too young to eat solid food, but once she hit about six months I fed her some of those homemade purees and she gobbled them up! (Good thing since my family quickly grew tired of deceptively delicious, and often not so delicious, meals.) My only regret was not venturing more into the world of homemade baby food, but perhaps if I’d had a resource like Williams-Sonoma’s new Cooking for Baby cookbook I would have tried again.

Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes takes a more simplistic approach to making your own baby food but still allows you to create meals full of flavor and freshness. The book is organized into age-specific chapters, which is perfect for someone like me whose hand needs holding the whole pureed way. With fresh and wholesome ingredients you’ll find recipes perfect for your six-month-old (cereal grains and simple vegetable and fruit purees) or growing toddler (chunkier foods and eventually real meals).

Cooking for Baby’s 80 recipes are accompanied by colorful photos and helpful advice. You can start your own puree adventure for only $20 at Williams-Sonoma.com.

Do you have a favorite baby food guide or cookbook to recommend to readers? Share it here! - Emily H.