Gastrodenome Gastrodenome@hotmail.com
19 July 2011
Nairobi — School holidays are here again. The challenge for most parents is how to keep their children busy, and also what to feed them.
I cannot help you with the first, but certainly can with the second.
Children are fussy eaters, and rightfully so – they develop taste and other senses such as smell and sight at this age.
These meals take a little time to prepare, yet are nutritious and appealing.
Breakfast
Banana porridge: cooking rolled oats with milk and banana gives it natural sweetness. Sultanas can also be sprinkled on top to add visual attraction and great tempting taste.
Gooey eggs: serve soft-boiled eggs in eggcups with strips of toasted bread (soldiers) or vegetable sticks, which are delicious when dipped in yoke.
Smoothie and toast: whip up a breakfast smoothie with milk, yoghurt and banana, berries or tinned peaches. Add a little wheat germ if you like. Serve the smoothie with toast.
Lunch
Beef Wraps
Serves 4 (2 adults and 2 children)
Preparation time: 10 min
Cooking time: 10 min
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
350 gm rump steak, thinly sliced across the grain (to keep the meat tender)
1 onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 red capsicum, halved, deseeded and sliced
100 gm snow peas, sliced
2 tbsp barbeque sauce
1 avocado, halved, deseeded and sliced
6 tortilla wrap
Method:
1. Heat a large frying pan over high heat.
2. Add half the oil and sear beef quickly until browned.
3. Remove from pan.
4. Add the remaining oil and onion to the pan, and stir for 2 minutes.
5. Add capsicum and snow peas, and stir for a further 2 minutes.
6. Add barbeque sauce, and stir to combine.
7. Return beef to pan, toss together and season if necessary.
8. Heat wraps briefly on a dry frying pan.
9. To assemble wraps, place spoonfuls of beef mixture vertically down the centre of the wrap and top with avocado slices.
Fold the bottom up then fold both sides in so they overlap in the centre to form a tortilla parcel.
If you are making rice for dinner, make sure you cook enough for the kids’ lunch the next day.
Serves 4
Preparation: 10 mins
Cooking time: 10 mins
Ingredients:
2 tbsp oil
2 eggs, lightly whisked
100 gm boneless chicken strips
1 carrot, grated
1 stick celery, finely chopped
¼ Chinese cabbage, shredded
2 cups cooked long grain rice
½ cup green peas
2 tbsp light soy sauce
2 tbsp tomato sauce
Method:
1. Heat a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Add half the oil and pour in whisked eggs.
3. Turning the wok in a swirling motion, run egg around the sides of the pan to make a thin omelette.
4. When cooked, turn omelette out onto a board, roll up, and cut into thin slices.
5. Reheat wok, and add remaining oil. Cook chicken strips in batches until cooked through. Remove from wok and set aside.
6. Reheat wok. Add carrot and celery, and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes. Add cabbage, stirring for a further 2 minutes.
7. Add rice, chicken, peas, soy sauce and tomato sauce to the wok. Toss until combined and heated through.
8. Spoon into serving bowls and top with sliced egg.
Easy Pizza
Show me a child who doesn’t like pizza and I will show you ten who do.
Serves 2 adults (1 pizza each) and 2 children (½ pizza each)
Preparation time: 5 min
Cooking time: 10 min
Ingredients:
3 large round pita breads (available in supermarkets)
¼ cup tomato paste
½ cup canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
½ red capsicum, thinly sliced
6 button mushrooms, thinly sliced
½ cup diced fresh or tinned pineapple
1 tomato, thinly sliced
½ cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Method:
1.Preheat oven to 200°C.
2.Place bread onto oven trays and spread with tomato paste. Arrange all other ingredients over the bread. Top with cheese.
3.Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until golden.
4.Remove from oven, and allow to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve.
Tip:
If your kids really love this easy pizza, you might want to increase the recipe amounts next time you make it.
This way, you can give them a few more slices, or have some left over for lunch the next day.
More ideas next week.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Healthy Meals Your Children Will Love