Baby Food

I'm trying to do a better job making Max and Claire's food.  Now that they are eating more, it is getting pretty expensive(to buy).  I have been buying the Plum Organics, Ella's Kitchen and a little bit of Gerber.
Last week I made chicken, sweet potatoes and carrots.  I have gotten good at making butternut squash and sweet potatoes...pretty easy!

But as many times as I have tried, I can't seem to get apples the right consistency.  I have baked them in the oven and I have steamed them.  The directions say it is one of the easiest to make.  What am I doing wrong?!
Yesterday I steamed apples and pears and even after steaming for 25 minutes, they were still pretty firm.

One of my favorites from Ella's Kitchen is a mixture of pumpkin and banana.  While at Earth Fare yesterday I was going to pick up a pumpkin - but they didn't have the pie pumpkins so I'll just have to wait on making that.

I have been slowly introducing more finger foods.  Our newest is toast and they love it!

What are some other good first finger foods?