Kids recipies

Princess Ivy · 10-11-2005, 11:11 AM

My daughter is down to five meals that she will eat without pulling faces: meatballs, spigetti bolognaise, cottage pie, pancakes and macorroni cheese. my son will only eat chips and cheese, chicken nuggets and pizza. i'm at my wits end here! and so, i've decided to take matters in hand. i am undertaking to introduce a new recipie a week. my daughter, who loves to cook, will help me choose the recipie, then we'll go and buy the ingredients together. i will also include a healthy fruit pudding for afters as a bribe to my son. my problem is, there are so many childrens recipie books out there, and i just don't have time to go through them all. or, in more honesty, the money to do it.
i need simple things, that will be fun and easy for her to help with, and healthy, with simple flavours (these are kids we're talking about here). making a 'big cook/little cook' style food, only for kids because it comes in a funny shape, will not do it. they'll enjoy the shape and leave the food.
SO: recipies, or sugestions for good cook books, preferably aimed at children. (I've thought of the Jamie oliver book, but without he tends to use complex flavours, and i'd rather not shell out £5 without knowing it's suitable)

Leto · 10-11-2005, 11:59 AM

There's a Star Wars recipe cookbook, aimed for children :http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...44818?v=glance

Or if your daughter like pasta, you can invest in a cheap italian cooking book. Many italian recipes are easy to do and contain lots of veggies.

Princess Ivy · 10-11-2005, 12:55 PM

daughter is annoying me majorly! as i say, she makes faces at food! i guess it's been there for a while, but i've been ignoring it. to much else to worry about.
i'm a good cook, i have plenty of wholesome recipies, but all have a degree of complexity to them. I'm not looking for a gimiky book. just nice simple dishes. i've got quite a few italian ones, with risoto's and different pasta's and bakes. my hope is that if i get her a special one, that she can choose from, it will make the difference. also, hoping that a kids book will have some healthy pud's. fuit based, that i can bribe them with. EAT OR NO PUDDING type things. which is why i'm looking specifically at simple kids cookery. problem is i don't know who's are any good, and without samples, it's very difficult to make a descision.
bah, maybe i should just give up and let them 'supersize'
not really, that is just frustration talking. my son has once again demanded chips and cheese for lunch. and as he hasn't had breakfast (i gave him cereal, toast, fruit and yoghurt which he refused)i have to feed him.

Alexa · 10-13-2005, 01:20 AM

Try this with your daughter, Princess. I hope it's not so difficult.

Easy Lasagna

2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef or ground pork
1 8 ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 8 ounce can tomato paste
2 teaspoons dried basil, crushed
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
dash of sugar
1 bay leaf
6 lasagna noodles
1 egg, beaten
2 cups ricotta cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Heat oil in large skillet on medium high heat. Add garlic and onions and stir fry for about 1 minute. Add ground meat and stir until cooked. Drain the fat and return to stove. Stir in the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Add spices, bay leaf, and stir. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat, and remove bay leaf.

Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions and drain. Mix together in a bowl egg, ricotta cheese, and Parmesan cheese.

In a 9 1/2 X 12 inch casserole dish, begin by layering bottom with 3 cooked noodles. Next spread half the cheese mixture, then half the meat mixture, and repeat. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.

Bake in a 375F (190C) degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Serve while hot.

Make ahead of time: cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, then bake the next day by covering with foil. After 30 minutes, remove foil and continue baking for another 20 minutes.

Princess Ivy · 10-13-2005, 10:59 AM

thanks babe.

Leto · 10-13-2005, 11:14 AM

Have you tried tomato pie ? Both your kids should love it to make and to eat and it's easy :

The Kid part :
Take some premade pie (or pizza paste), unfold it in a plate and cover it with mustard (more precisely paint it with mustard - Dijon or regular english one both goes well), on top of it spray artistically pieces of bacon or tuna can, then make circles with slices of tomatoes (with mum or Zoe cutting the slices), they put some dryed herb - thyme, rosemary, origano, whatever you feel like - and cover with some slice Swiss cheese.
The mum part :
Put the pie in the oven for 20-25 minutes at 180-210° Celsius.

Serve with green salad (ask Zoe to do the dressing) and milk shake as a dessert.

Princess Ivy · 10-13-2005, 11:38 AM

good idea's will show them to madame and let her choose :wink:

Alexa · 10-14-2005, 02:33 AM

Check with her this link, too :wink::

http://chefmom.com/recipebox/Kids/Cooking_with_Kids/more4.htm

10-15-2005, 08:38 PM

Kids can be such faddy eaters...

I've found that getting good stuff sneakily into favourite food works wonders...

My son eats a lot of stews, so I can make sure he gets at least five veggies into him...

But from what you've said, it is gonna be difficult to get stuff in to the ones your kids will eat... Though homemade pizzas are a possibility...

I make my son, muffin based pizza...

Muffins, some tomato puree, a little pureed veg, then a strong cheese on top...

Princess Ivy · 10-16-2005, 12:57 PM

and he cooks to, is there no end to the greatness of our monster? (oops, sorry master)