Corn Sticks in Bell Pepper Sauce

Mix with water to form dough. Cook on a skillet until fully set and slightly browned.

Garlic adds depth to early meals without any salt. Finely mince or mash a small amount and cook it soft into purees, mashed vegetables, beans, or sauces. It is a seasoning rather than a finger food, so a little stirred through a dish is all a baby needs. Skip raw garlic and whole cloves at this stage.

Raw bell pepper is firm and the skin is tough, so cook it until very soft for the first months. Roast or steam strips until a fork slides through with no resistance, then peel off the skin. Serve warm as finger-length pieces a hand can hold, or blend into a smooth purée. Remove the seeds and white core.

Choose a ripe, soft tomato. Peel off the skin (it can bunch up and be hard to chew), scoop out the seedy core, and mash the flesh or stir it into a purée. If offering a piece to hold, give a soft finger-length strip of peeled flesh. Cherry and grape tomatoes are a round choking shape, so always quarter them lengthwise into small pieces and never serve them whole or halved.

Stir a small drizzle of olive oil into a smooth purée or soft mash to add calories and richness. Use it as a cooking fat for vegetables or grains, or fold a little into the finished food just before serving.