KIDS' & DADS' HELP-MUM COOK-IT-YOURSELF NOVEMBERMAS SUPPERS

 

HELP-MUM-GET-THROUGH CHRISTMAS 2023

Judging from the demands for these recipes every year at this time, kids & partners love to make - and eat! - family meals while Mom concentrates on the big event...

'I guess if I want any dinner, I'll have to do it myself!'

And, with no apologies, this post on helping the Chief Cook & Bottle Washer (usually but not necessarily Mum) get through the Christmas marathon resumes.

The recipes won't be difficult for Dad/partner/another relative to organise, with or without the kids' help.  And many of the recipes are budget-friendly or skinny or low/no sugar or make-ahead.  Or all of the above.  

Please note: prices do not reflect recent inflation; note the dates on the indidividual posts.

The dishes, surprisingly easy, have been road-tested on human guinea pigs of all ages with enthusiastic responses.  

STARTERS

Silky Noodles in Broth

Cheats' make-your-own Rustic Tomato Soup: easy protein-rich with pulses; frugal; anti-inflammatory, Triple Duty

Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup: classic & irresistible; wallet-friendly; vegan option. Not that long ago, this soup was the rage in Chinese restaurants.  Thick, luscious and nubbly, it was punctuated with succulent chicken and gorgeous threads of egg - exciting, tasty and richly satisfying.

Silky Noodles in Broth, Triple Duty: great use for leftovers, easy, quick, tasty; serve in sturdy bowls that don't tip over easily, with Chinese ceramic spoons if you have them.  For very small kids, serve warm, not hot; cut up noodles in manageable lengths and maybe serve with forks, like spaghetti

White Bean Soup, Creamy: money-saving dairy-free white bean soup; high protein; Triple Duty; wonderful in basic form but easily tweaked for sassy variations

Caponata: Mediterranean Aubergine Dip/Spread for kids' palates which older kids will love to make themselves; with  a hint of Sweet & Sour; stovetop; easy 




Hard-boiled eggs pillowed in White Sauce: childhood favourite; lower-fat; frugal; easily digested

 


SIDES/SALAD

Mediterranean Tomatoes: so simple; so sensational; so wallet-friendly

Apple & Cashew Nut Slaw: crunchy & sweet with a touch of maple syrup; so pretty looking kids will happily tuck into the fruit & veg 

Low-fat un-fried Rice: 'cleaner' version of Fried Rice  without the fat or expense; soft plump grains with lashings of peas & omelette; very simple prep; great with spare ribs 

Family Delight Baked Beans: Thrifty; nearly Sugar-free; better than you-know-who's and better for you; Triple Duty, Slow-Cooker; Vegan & kids'  option, prep & cook ahead; plenty of ideas on how to serve 

MAINS

Make Your Own Pizza

Stupendous Pizza Dough is easy-peasy & rests in the fridge overnight.  Make your own tomato sauce or zhuzz up tomato paste; choose mozarella, cheddar or other cheeses.  Fab variations include sausage (veggie or carnivore) with grapes & mozzarella; mushroom & cheddar; potato & pesto. Little hands love putting on the toppings.

Sausage & Grape Pizza

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Shortcut 1-Pot Macaroni Cheese: minimum effort, maximum enjoyment; quick & easy. Great for teenagers.  Add small balls of minced meat pached in water,  if you like.

 Bunless burgers with dark mushroom gravy:

 

Simple, much-loved North American classic; thrifty, easy, lower-fat; part prepped in advance

 

Lemon-Pepper Chicken Wings: Make-Ahead.  Originally intended for pensioners, these succulent wings became a treat for the entire family.  Chicken wings are a thrifty high-protein food but older folk often complain they are 'bony & tough'.  These are marinated overnight; rolled in flour mixed with lemon zest and pepper and baked with seriously tasty, succulent results.   Serve with cucumber slices, tomatoes and lettuce; make more than you think you'll need; they're great cold.

 

Tuna Casserole with Crispy Potato Chip Topping: popular favourite that kids (and kidults) hoover up without realising how good it is for them; easy peasy; option for stovetop version

Sausage Hash: kid/ults love this delicious frugal, healthy dish which uses up leftover protein; the big draw is the crispy-edged 'taters ; option for fish & other meats 

Honey & Garlic Salmon Rice: tasty carb-rich meal boosts energy in freezing weather

7-minute Protein Fried Noodles: triple duty; vegetarian & carnivore options

 

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

Chilli Hot Dogs: 

American fun-food, drive-in classic but vegan








Thai Larb (hot spicy mince) a la 67: Vegan,
quick cook, low fat, wallet-friendly, meat option

Tantalising Cheats' Tortilla Espagnol: 

All-time cheap & cheerful, quick & easy favourite.  Stonkingly delicious Spanish-style baked onion & potato omelette, using chips from the local chippie. (Support our fish'n chips shops!) Or try frozen chips OR even make from scratch with raw potatoes .

SAUCES/DIPS

Lower-sugar Sweet Chilli Dipping Sauce: 

Low-sugar Sweet Chilli
Dipping Sauce

amazing flavours totally unlike bottled chilli sauces; ambrosial whatever your age, excellent paired with crispy but not greasy Un-fried Crispy Chinese Dumplings:

Instant Jam/Compote: easy-peasy, minimum sugar; almost instant; terrific on toast; use up fresh or frozen berries

Orange & Sesame Marinade for meat & fish 
( all the above recipes in Sauces/Dips)

QUICK BREADS

World's Easiest Cheese Muffins?

Just 4 ingredients in one bowl, prepped in 5 minutes = fabulously cheesy muffins for soups, stews or breakfast; egg-free

Buttermilk Pancakes (from across the pond): fabulous; batter sits overnight; pancakes are thick and tender; make enough for mum to have on a tray in bed




Cinnamon Rolls, No-Knead: terrific no-sweat treat made the night before baking; so many people have made these yummy buns an annual Christmas morning breakfast

TREATS/DESSERT

Peachy Fruit Sponge: with the help of supermarked tinned fruit, ever-so-quick & tasty;  sponge batter is baked to tender, fluffy perfection on top of the tinned fruit & juice and served hot/warm; easy

Savoury Party Popcorn: Easy-peasy; make it yourself on the stovetop; saves loads of money and tastes delicious; various toppings; lower-salt, healthier

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies: crisp, slightly chewy cookies with an appealling texture; high in fibre (slowing down the absorption of sugar and helping  digestion); orange zest replaces vanilla.  Slightly healthier.  If there are children in the household, this recipe is perfect for encouraging/teaching kids to bake. 

Healthier Caramel Apple Sauce: kids can help prepare but not cook; fresh fruit & spices temper sweetness; guinea pigs called it a 'taste explosion'.  Serve over ice cream, stirred through yoghurt or with apple pie. 

Orange Surprise Mini Cakes: They look like fried egg buns but are nothing of the sort!  They're a iry fluffy Vegetarian with Vegan option mini cakes; butter & egg free  with a surprise juicy filling

Kids' cooking: Skinnier Chocolatella Mini-Volcano Cakes:  Double-Chocolate & Mini-Volcanoes are stuffed with cream whipped with chocolate & hazelnutspread; they're Skinnier - lower-fat/sugar/preservative - and portions are kept small.  One for a rainy wet day stuck inside (having bought the ingredients in advance) and will bring much pleasure to kiddy bakers.

FREEZE AHEAD CHRISTMAS GOODIES

How to...Prep & Freeze Fancy Sandwiches for Kidults & Tea

Peppermint Candy Swirl Cookies: kid-friendly both to eat and to make; 2-stage bake 

Pfeffernusse: German Chocolate Nut kisses: glorious spiced chocolate balls of loveliness  that are both cake-like and dense, in a nice way!  Makes dozens & dozens that freeze well and can be baked in batches throughout the season!

These recipes have been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.