As opposed to canned chickpeas, pumpkin is one of those foods that you want to make fresh. The color will be brighter, and the flavors will be much more vibrant.

• Remove the seeds, and cut the pumpkin off the shell. Cut into small cubes.

• Place pumpkin cubes into a baking dish with a small amount of water. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour, or until tender.

• Let cool, and then place pumpkin into food processor or blender, and purée until smooth. Add liquid if needed.

Strainers and Cheesecloth

Baby food can be strained in any number of ways. A colander or wire strainer is a good choice, and can be easily sanitized for future use. Cheesecloth can also be used for straining, especially if you're making soup or something with a lot of thick liquid. To sterilize cheesecloth after use, you'll need to boil it for 20 minutes.