This Weeks Food War

I joined in with the rather brilliant 'Meal Planning Monday' a couple of weeks ago, but very unfortunately, I didn't have much luck with my plan. Two days into the week & my youngest was hospitalised with pneumonia. I stayed with her, of course, so all meals went out of the window whilst Daddy held the fort at home with the elder two.

 

So as we are all back to full health (almost), I thought I'd try again.

 

This weeks food war with my middle child will be;

 

Pasta with tomato & mascarpone sauce, garlic bread

Chilli marinated salmon, rice & salad (LOL!!! He will be going very hungry this day!)

Veal meatballs, 'German style' potatoes, red wine sauce & peas

Pasta with slow cooked beef ragu & 7 veg hidden in it!

'Fried' chicken, sweet corn pudding & baked sweet potatoes

Spiced lamb with ratatouille

Roast beef & all the trimmings! Rare!

Once more I plan all this food which every member of my family will happily eat- even my two year old- except my very fussy son.

 

Wish me luck!

 

 

Love Kitty x

 

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What my son will be refusing to eat this week.

I have the fussiest eater in the world. Fussyeater Supreme. Won't eat anything unless it is dry and crispy.

For the better part of his eating life (3.5 years) I have fought a constant, daily war. Here is this weeks battle;

 

Pinwheel Pizza made with fresh, homemade tomato sauce, fresh peppers & organic cheese. Served with 'Cajun' sweet potato wedges.

Butterbean & chorizo stew. This is my take on a Tana Ramsay original.

Prawns with chilli and cheese.

Fish pie - always fall back to Jamie Oliver's 'Fantastic Fish Pie'

Garlic Bread topped Ratatouille. This is a mix up of an old 'BBC vegetarian magazine' recipe for a sort of Mediterranean bean casserole, topped with herb bread. But my children are not massive bean fans so I am trying it with a simple ratatouille. Not that they like that much either!

'Scooby Pasta'. The one dish my son will eat more than 4 forkfuls of, without threats of bed/no pudding/no Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles etc. providing I take his portion, sprinkle with cheese & put under the grill til nearly burnt & nicely crispy. I should point out this is not that disgusting Heinz tinned crap. No, this is a lovingly made beef ragu, slow braised for 6 hours then served with regular pasta for us, scooby shaped pasta for the fussy one.

Roast lamb.

 

I have to say, I am not expecting him to eat any of this, with the exception of the 'scooby pasta'. But honestly, I have been bending over backwards to make individual, special meals for the little sod & he still never eats it, so my new technique is to give him the exact same as everyone else, and not break a sweat if he refuses to try it, or makes himself sick when it's placed in front of him (he will).

 

 

Wish me luck!

 

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Lunchbox Banana & Apple Loaf Cake

I am really not a fan of processed food. I try give my family lovely homemade food where possible. Lunch boxes are no exception! Every week I make what I call a 'dry cake' what I mean is, something that I can store in an airtight container & dish out whenever my lovelies need a nice, substantial snack. Yes, i know we have been taught by media & so called health professionals not to mention government campaigns to stop children eating sugar but quite frankly, I am much happier feeding my children someone that is natural & chemical/additive free, even if it is high in sugar(which again is natural! No nasties!).

This one has proven to be one of the most popular I make. It is very moist because of the bananas so it keeps really well. Also you can mix it up but throwing in a few 'extras'. This week I chopped a small bar of Green & Blacks dark chocolate & added that. I often add some chopped dates too, which give it a lovely caramely, toffee like hint & a chewy texture! Feel free to experiment, it really is a easy cake to make & you'll feel all warm & cosy inside knowing you've sent your kiddies off to school with a healthy, natural, energy boosting lunch!

This is what you'll need;

 

150g light muscavado sugar (granulated will do- you just won't get a slight caramel twang)

85g soft, unsalted butter

2 large free range eggs

4 medium sized ripe bananas, mashed

1 apple, peeled & grated

250g self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Cooking 40-45 mins, 10-15 prep. 10 good, thick slices, more if you like though!

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 180c/GM4 ( adjust for fans)

Grease a 2lb loaf tin

Cream together butter, sugar & eggs. This will look all split & repulsive, but stay with it.

Stir in mashed bananas & apple & sieve in the flour, cinnamon & salt.

Mix well, then tip into your tin, bake for 40-45 mins

Remove once cooked & allow to cool in the tin for 30mins or so, then remove & cool completely before slicing.

 

If you are adding any ' extras' as I have here, you would just stir them in with the flour, bananas & apple.

 

 

This is the last bit, the children demolished it hot from the oven. This is why I normally only bake in the evenings or during school!

 

Love Kitty x

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