Beef with Barley, Carrots and Mushrooms, Stage 3 Meals

Beef with Barley, Carrots and Mushrooms is a great Stage 3 meal for babies 10-12 months and up.  It combines many different yummy flavors and textures, plus it has an incredibly delicious aroma.  This meal is also loaded with nutrients.  It is rich in protein, vitamin B12, potassium, zinc, selenium, magnesium, fiber, niacin, vitamin A and riboflavin.

At this stage, your baby most likely has a few teeth he's been chomping away with already and the consistency of this meal will help his growing chewing skills. At this chunky texture, be sure to not give too big of a bite, just a little on every spoonful. If your baby is not ready for the consistency pictured, please place the meal in a food processor or blender and pulse until the proper consistency for your baby is achieved.

Before combining foods, make sure your baby has tried each one individually first.

What you'll need:
1/4 cup of pearl barley - rinsed thoroughly in a strainer under cold running water
1/4 lb of ground beef or beef tenderloin - if using beef tenderloin, chop into small pieces before cooking
1/4 cup of low sodium beef or chicken stock
1 carrot - washed, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup of crimini or portobello mushrooms - washed and chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh flat leaf parsley - washed and finely chopped  

*Bring 1 cup of purified water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add barley and let boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed and the barley is tender.  If necessary, add more purified water during the cooking process.

*Pour purified water into a pot until it is about 1 inch deep and bring to a boil over high heat. Place chopped carrots and mushrooms into a steamer basket and place the basket into the pot, be sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the basket. Cover with a tight fitting lid and steam for 5-7 minutes.

*While the barley and veggies are cooking, bring 1/4 cup of the stock to a boil over high heat in a small/medium skillet. Add the beef and let cook until no longer pink inside, about 2 minutes.  Move the beef around with the end of a spatula or wooden spoon while cooking.

*To serve, finely chop veggies and beef, mix with barley and top with a touch of the chopped parsley. If necessary, place the meal into a blender or food processor and pulse until the proper consistency for your baby is achieved.

*Store the extra in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

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