Pasta Peas and Bacon

My children love pasta, and I love this because I can make it quickly in 10 mins for a week day evening meal.

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Serves: 4 children

Steps

1. Peel and slice the onion.
2. Grate the low fat cheese.
3. Put the onion fry gently in a saucepan with some olive oil and low fat margarine until soft and brown.
4. Add the bacon to the saucepan and fry until the bacon is cooked
5. Add the peas and cook gently for 5-6mins
6. In another saucepan, cook the pasta in boiling water until al dente (a little bit crunchy) and then drain the pasta
7. Add the bacon and peas to the cooked pasta.
8. Add milk and half the cheese.
9. Add the mixture to a greased oven proof dish, sprinkle with the remaining cheese
10. Cook in a pre heated oven for 15mins until golden brown.
11. Serve with a green salad

Homemade Vegetarian Burgers

Children love burgers! Here is a healthy version that my kids love, and both vegetarian or non vegetarian children enjoy eating these.

You can serve with home made tomato relish.

2 cans of red kidney beans

2 cans of butter beans

1 can of mixed beans

1 large onion

1 glove of garlic

85g (3oz) of fresh breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons of soy sauce

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

1 teaspoon dried thyme or mixed herbs

Tomato Relish

1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 jar tomato passata sauce
1 tablespoon muscovado sugar
1 tablespoon malt vinegar

Serves: 4 children

Steps

1. Drain the cans of beans
2. Break the toast into pieces and make into fine crumbs using a food processor
3. Peel and chop the onion and garlic.
4. Heat some oil in a frying pan and cook the onion, garlic, and thyme until soft and brown.
5. Add the beans and fry for 5 minutes
6. Transfer contents of frying pan into a food processor, add the breadcrumbs,  soy sauce and lemon juice, and pulse until well mixed.
7. Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and then form into a burger patty shape. Cover and store in the fridge for a few hours before using.
8. When ready to serve

Tomato Relish

1. Peel and chop the onion
2. Crush the clove of garlic
3. Heat oil in a pan and add the garlic and onion. Cook over a low heat until golden brown
4. Add to the pan the passata along with the sugar and vinegar.
5. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes
6. Take off the heat and allow to cool before serving

Homemade Chicken Nuggets

All Children love chicken nuggets. But I would rather have children eating these made with organic chicken than the shop bought manufactured chicken nuggets.

Children love to help you to make these.

You can serve with home made tomato sauce.

900g diced chicken
3 slices white / brown bread
1 egg
125ml milk
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of paprika

Tomato Sauce

1 onion
1 garlic clove
1 jar tomato passata sauce
1 tablespoon muscovado sugar
1 tablespoon malt vinegar

Serves: 4 children

Steps

1. Toast the bread until light brown
2. Break the toast into pieces and make into fine crumbs using a food processor
3. Add the garlic powder and paprika to the breadcrumbs
4. Put the breadcrumbs in a plastic freezer bag
5. Beat the egg and the milk in a bowl
6. Add the diced chicken to the bowl
7. Transfer the chicken pieces to the freezer bag containing the breadcrumbs and toss them to cover them evenly
8. Place the crumbed chicken pieces evenly on a baking tray.
9. Use a can of spray oil to give the chicken pieces a spray of oil.
10. Cook the chicken piece in a pre heated oven for 10 minutes until golden brown and crisp

Tomato Sauce

1. Peel and chop the onion
2. Crush the clove of garlic
3. Heat oil in a pan and add the garlic and onion. Cook over a low heat until golden brown
4. Add to the pan the passata along with the sugar and vinegar.
5. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes
6. Take off the heat and allow to cool before serving

MeatBalls

My kids love meatballs – but don’t love spagetti bolognaise. Which proves its all in the packaging!

2 onions
2 cans of tomatoes
1 garlic glove
1 teaspoon of dried mixed herbs
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 low salt stock cub

1 packet of spagetti

Cooking Time: 20 mins

Serves: 4 children

Steps

1. Slice the onion
2. Put the onion and garlic in a saucepan with some olive oil and cook until soft and brown
3. Add the mixed herbs and oregano to the saucepan and add the cans of tomato and the stock cube
4. Bring to boil and then simmer for about 30mins
5. While the tomato sauce is simmering, you can make the meatballs
6. Mix the pork and beef mince in a bowl along with the egg
7. Shape the mixture into small balls – about 3cm in size
8. Place the meatballs on a plate, cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge for about 20 minutes until the tomato sauce is cooked
9. Add the meatballs to the simmering tomato sauce and cook for 20 minutes
10. Cook the spagetti as per the packet instructions
11. Serve the pasta with the sauce and grated Parmesan in bowls

Chicken Curry

Most Children like a mild chicken curry. You can alter the amount of curry powder depending on how spicy you children like their chicken curry.

2 Boneless & Skinless Chicken thighs
2 onions
1 can of tomatoes
1 garlic glove
1 tablespoon of curry powder
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of tumeric

You can use a combination of whatever vegetables you have available

2 carrots
2 sweet potatoes or potatoes
1 pallet of geenbeans
1 red pepper
1 can of peas or 1 can of chicpeas
1 pint of water
1 low salt stock cub

Cooking Time: 0 mins

Serves: 4 children

Steps

1. Peel and slice the garlic, carrots and onion.
2. Put the onion and garlic in a saucepan with some olive oil and cook until soft and brown.
3. Add the tumeric, cumin and curry powder to the saucepan
4. Cut the chicken into strips about 5mm thick.
5. Add the chicken the saucepan and cook for 5-7mins.
6. Add the water and the stock cube and cook until vegetables and chicken are cooked and tender.
7. Serve with boiled rice or naan bread