By Rachel Paxton

Hearty soups make great meals for babies and toddlers. These soups combine meat and vegetables into one easy meal, they are inexpensive to make, and they freeze well for later meals.

Beef Stew

• 1/3 c. flour
• 1 1/2 lb. stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 3 c. water
• 4 medium potatoes
• 3 medium carrots

Coat meat with flour and brown in oil. Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low all day. Other vegetables like green beans or peas can also be added.

Split Pea Soup

• 3 c. split peas, rinsed
• 1 c. ham, cut into small cubes
• 1 medium carrot, cut into small cubes
• 7 c. water
• 3 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

Place all ingredients in crock pot and cook on low all day.

After soups cool, blend in blender or food processor, adding more water if necessary for desired consistency. Blend soups until completely smooth for younger babies. These soups are suitable for babies 6 months and up who are eating a variety of solid foods and also for toddlers.

To freeze soups for later, pour into ice cube trays and freeze until solid. Transfer cubes to Ziploc freezer bags.

About the author: Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com