Cheese Toasties

No seriously. Cheese Toasties. That’s right. I can’t get my son to eat sandwiches and my faded memories of grilled cheese sandwiches are 2 slices of white bread swimming in butter and Velveeta (shudder shudder). We had a play date this week with Mary and Caleb, and it’s always the way: you revisit old favorites with friends and bring the dishes back to your family menu. Well, maybe you’re a clever bunny and I’m a fluffy bunny, but I forgot about their moreish simplicity of melted cheese on bread. What’s more, you can posh them up with a rub of fresh garlic, a smattering of pesto, or quince chutney (ooh). Ooh, a spoon of Branston pickle in the mix might rock too. For kids, it’s smart to keep it simple, playing with high quality organic ingredients: 12 grain bread, mature cheddar, and unsalted butter (there’s enough sodium in the bread and cheese). For my friends that are asking “where’s the green stuff,” Remember, you can always put a little salad on the side, or if you’re kids are averse to all things green, try the kid’s green smoothie in the previous post. That’ll work a treat.   Cheese Toasties 12 slices of [...]

The Green Smoothie for Kids

Miracle of miracles: my son just had a 2 cups of raw kale and he’s smiling! Yup, no negotiations, no moaning, no groaning, just requests for “more smoothie please.” My son is most certainly not one of those amazing raw foodist kids we’ve all head about (but never actually met). I’m not saying that he doesn’t like vegetables, but honesty is the best policy: I smooth things out with a little olive oil, garlic, and a bit of sea salt, a tangy stir fry, or a veggies blended into Mama’s zesty tomato sauce. You know the score. Apart from the color, this drink is an easy sell: mangoes, bananas, and pineapple juice blended to hide the nutritious kale. I served this smoothie to Jake’s class this week and 20 kids asked for seconds! The Green Smoothie for Kids 4 cups raw kale, rinsed  and deveined 2 bananas, peeled 2 cups of mango juice (fresh or no sugar added brand) 1 cup pineapple (fresh or no sugar added brand) handful of ice cubes 1. Put all of the ingredients into a blender and whizz until smooth. Serves 2

Aubergine and Wild Mushroom Moussaka

Along with being a Mom, I’m also a student, taking 5 college classes: English Lit, Sociology, Biological Psychology, Math, and French. Don’t call me Wonder Woman, call me crazy: I’m Dog Tired. Feeling a little sorry for myself today, I made a rustic dish to make me feel like I was wrapping up in a cozy blanket of yummyness.  I couldn’t turn down the plump aubergines (eggplant) or the wild mushrooms at the market today, so went for  a nice veggie Moussaka. Served with a herb salad on the side and a glass of Malbec, hello, I was back in business! Eggplant and Mushroom Moussaka 2 medium aubergines (eggplant), sliced 4 tbs good olive oil 1 meium onion sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 lb wild mushrooms, roughly sliced 1 28 oz can of chopped tomatoes, drained 1 tbs balsamic vinegar 3 tbs fresh parsley, chopped 1 tbs dried marjoram and thyme 3 medium potatoes, cooked until tender, peeled and sliced 1cup grated cheddar cheese salt and pepper to season Bechamel Sauce 2 cups cows milk or Soy milk 2 oz ricotta cheese 3 tbs unsalted butter 3 tbs plain flour pinch of nutmeg sea salt and freshly ground black [...]

Fig and Date Flapjacks

Prepare yourself for a sweet treat that’s soft in the middle, with a moreish toffee crispness on the top and sides. If you’re fast enough, you might get your hands on one of those heavenly crunchy corner pieces! I’m not going to sing the recipe’s praises for keeping your waistline in check because once in a while I throw caution to the wind and live a little, albeit with something homegrown from my own kitchen rather than a flat tasting industrialized dessert. O.k., that may sound a tad judgemental, but you know what I mean. On the other hand, food that’s cooked with love and readymade comes with a premium pricetag, so why not do it yourself in less than 30 minutes and save money? That’s right, fancy pants, 30 minutes. Figs are in season, so buy a handful and get your groove on! There’s a wonderful organic garden program at my son’s school where the kids have a blast learning about the natural world and nutrition. Celebrating figs this month, Jake had a tasting with his class. A cleaver parent came up with the catch phrase, “don’t yuck my yum,” thereby pooh poohing the idea of bumming other kid’s trips [...]

Sag Paneer

We have Indian food at least once a week in our house, and I’m telling you, this is a cracking recipe. Not only because it requires little preparation, but also because it’s so good for you. If you don’t like Paneer (Indian cheese) or don’t have an Indian grocery store nearby, this dish is still divine. Try it with basmati rice and oooh, I can’t help myself: a nice bowl of Dal would go nicely with it. Argh, I know, we’re trying to save time, but I just have to slip the idea in. Just cuz. I can honestly say that I too have those days when I just want to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea, turn on the TV, and chill out without a thought of what to make for dinner each night. Don’t we all dream about having our own personal chef (a personal assistant would be nice as well) on our craziest days? When I finish my tea, come back to reality, and shimmy off the couch, I roll up my sleeves and cook simple yet satisfying dishes that save money and time. Sag Paneer Soaked Masala 1/2 cup water 1/2 tsp [...]