Actually, neither of my kids was ready for solids until earliest 8 or 9 months -- and I've met *lots* of moms who have had similar experiences. Plus, the AAP keeps moving the date to start solids later and later (a while back it was start cereal at 6 weeks, then they moved it to 4 months, and now it's 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding or formula). I know you you think she's ready, but isn't it a big red flag to you that her food has to be liquid-like consistency? It would be to me. Also, have you seen these recommended signs of developmental readiness for solids (in other words, instead of watching the calendar, watch your child for these signs of readiness):
[Taken from kellymom's site - link included after exerpt.]
* Baby can sit up well without support.
* Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
* Baby is ready and willing to chew.
* Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
* Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.
We often state that a sign of solids readiness is when baby exhibits a long-term increased demand to nurse (sometime around 6 months or later) that is unrelated to illness, teething pain, a change in routine or a growth spurt. However, it can be hard to judge whether baby’s increased nursing is related to readiness for solids. Many (if not most) 6-month-old babies are teething, growth spurting and experiencing many developmental changes that can lead to increased nursing – sometimes all at once! Make sure you look at all the signs of solids readiness as a whole, because increased nursing alone is not likely to be an accurate guide to baby’s readiness. [End of excerpt]
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html...
There's absolutely no harm in continuing to breastfeed or formula feed exclusively for longer. Or, if she's exhibiting all the signs of solids readiness listed on kellymom's site, perhaps she'd do much better w/ straight table food, taking bites of her choosing, and maybe you could ditch the pureed foods entirely -- the textures are so different, it's possible that she'd gag on purees and not on the other stuff. I've met lots of babies who refuse purees all together and really just want table food in its unadulterated form.
Best of luck - and you have lots of time!