Spaghetti bolognaise + Pesto
Bolognaise (I cook it in one big pot and freeze in batches) is a favourite with our meat eating boy but not so popular with the 9 year old girl – try making home made pesto to either go with the bolognaise or as an alternative pasta topping. Its healthy and easy to make: Take a bunch of basil and pull of the leaves and put in your food processor, add a handful of grated Parmesan and a handful of pine nuts, a big dollop of good olive oil, pinch of salt and grind to your preferred fineness. Feel free to add garlic (my kids prefer it without), squeeze of lemon, a couple of caper and anchovies for a slightly different flavour.
Pork buns and steamers from the asian food grocer
This might seem like a cheater, however as fast frozen food goes its pretty good, the kids devour these, they are quick and easy to make (just steam in a bamboo steamer), and pretty cheap to buy too. Make sure you read the ingredients list and don’t be afraid to try the weird ones!
Fried rice
Another easy one and especially easy to vary. Cook about 3 cups of rice (to feed a family of 4-5) (we have a rice cooker but if you don’t – use the microwave), in a wok (or large fry pan), cook some chopped bacon and spring onion (try some roast duck from the asian grocer) add whatever chopped veg you have on hand – carrot, broccoli, capsicum, some frozen peas and fry for a few minutes. Take out and put aside. In a bowl crack a few eggs and beat up with some soysauce, add these to the wok and fry for a minute or so until half cooked then quickly add the rice and mix – the egg with continue to cook, add back your veg and bacon mix, season with soy sauce – cook for another minute and you are done.
Chicken dumpling soup
This takes a little bit of preparation but is worth it – make sure to make heaps of dumplings. Make a basic chicken broth with chicken legs or a whole chicken and onion, carrot and herbs. Strain the broth and set aside, take the meat off the chicken and break into small chunks and set aside. Peel some carrotsand chop into chunks. In a bowl mix a cup of flour with 2 beaten eggs and a dollop of milk, pinch of salt, until a gooey paste consistency. Put your broth back on to boil, add in your carrots and let cook for 10 mins, add in your chicken and a handful of peas or other veg and let simmer. Now make your dumplings by taking a spoonful of the mixture at a time and adding it to the simmering broth. Let simmer for another 10 mins, season to taste.
Snack dinner
I love this on a weekend or summer evening – another cheater dinner but everyone loves this and the kids feel like kings. Basically set out on platters a whole heap of yummy healthy snacks and serve with homemade lemonade. Snack ideas can include cheese and cold meat platters, cut up carrot and capsicum sticks, homemade dips such as hummus, fresh crusty bread or nice crackers, sauteed button mushrooms, tomato and basil, cut up fruit – whatever you have – oranges, apples, watermelon etc. The kids will take a little of everything and you can sit back knowing it didn’t take all night to prepare and there isn’t much washing up to do afterwards.
By Kathreen Ricketson of whipup.net
