fresh blueberries aren't in season, you can easily substitute frozen blueberries in this recipe. Frozen blueberries that are sold commercially are washed before freezing, so you won't need to rinse them before cooking. Only take out as many as you plan to use for cooking; return the rest to the freezer before they have time to thaw.

• Peel and core the apple, removing all seeds and skin. Cut into pieces and put into a saucepan.

• Wash blueberries and place into the saucepan with the apple. Cover with water and bring to a boil.

• Simmer for about 25 minutes, or until the apple and berries are completely tender.

• Put fruit into a food processor or blender. Purée until mixture is smooth, adding water, breastmilk, or formula as necessary.

• Pour the purée through a cheesecloth or fine strainer to remove any of the blueberry crowns.

Strained Berries

When cooking baby foods with berries, the meal will need to be strained before serving. Babies under a year shouldn't eat the small seeds from berries, because the seeds may be a choking hazard. A mesh strainer will do most of the work for you, but be sure the mesh is tight enough to catch the seeds.