Toad in The Hole

Toad in the Hole

 

 

   Toad in the hole has always been one of my favourite dishes and proves to be a firm family favourite. Right, I have a confession, I cannot make homemade batter to save my life so I use Asda smart price batter mix and at only 7p a packet and you only have to add a beaten egg and 200ml cold water, it is a great time and money saver. Yes I am aware of added ingredients, but it won't hurt every now and again if you are short of time and money.

  

 

   This dish will provide, protein, carbohydrate, vitamin C and fibre amongst other things.

 

 

 

Tyler's Personal Portion

 

 

 

Ingredients

• Battermix (7p, Asda)
• 6 Sausages  (89p, 12 pack, Lidl)
• Oil (89p, Lidl)
• 1 can Baked Beans (17p, Aldi)

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 220 degrees
2. Drizzle oil into a small roasting pan and place in the oven
3. Fry sausages until a light brown
4. Make up your batter mix, or your homemade batter if you have greater apt for these types of things
5. Remove the pan from the oven and pour in the batter mix.
6. Put the sausages in the pan too and space out evenly.
7. Start cooking the beans 5 minutes or so before the end of the oven cooking time
8. Cook for 20 - 30 minutes.
9. Take out and cut up and serve with baked beans

 

 

Mummy size portion, daddy wouldn't let me take a picture of his, he thinks it's unhealthy for me to be obsessed with photographing food. I majorly disagree.

 

 

 



What Little Monster Made of it

 

Well, well, well! I have never seen his plate clear so quick. Ate the batter first, sausage second and beans last. All by hand as we are having some fork issues at the moment. A nice strawberry rice pudding to follow and all was well. Not much else to say really, was eaten, seemed to be enjoyed, cheap and quick enough for success!

 

 

 

 

Wrap it up Pizzas

This week, after almost a full two weeks of barely any appetite, my little one is finally eating, and boy has he made a come back with his appetite! This recipe started off his eating again and as it was the first time I had ever done it, I was rather nervous.
Mind you, what is not to love about a cheap, fun, creative, alternative, quick meal that provides protein, a little vitamin c, vitamin d, calcium, fibre and carbohydrate?

Wrap it up Wraps

 

I used turkey and green beans.

 

Prep time: 10 minutes for washing and chopping veg.

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

 

• 1 white wrap, if your child is over 1 year of age, you can use wholemeal wraps
• 1 or 2 tbsp. of tomato puree
• 3oz mild grated cheese
• Whatever, meat and vegetables you want

 

The approximate cost of this should be around £1. Cheap ingredients and easy to make, perfect.

 

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

 

1. Prepare what ever meat or veg you are using, I used some chopped green beans and strips of Bernard Matthews Turkey.
2. Lay your wrap flat on a baking tray while pre-heating the oven to 180 degrees.
3. Smooth the tomato puree over the wrap with the back of a metal spoon leaving an inch clear around the edges. This is so it is easier to pick up after cooking and while eating.
4. Scatter the grated cheese over the pureed area.
5. Add the meat or vegetables. If using both add the meat first and they will more than likely take up a larger surface area.
6. Put in the oven for 10 minutes.
7. Take out and slice into triangles like an actual pizza!

 

 

Mummy and Tyler portions.

 

What The Little Monster Made of It

 

 

 

Well, he was not that interested at first but once I got him to taste it, he loved it and gobbled the first slice straight up, the second however, he threw at me and it landed cheese side down on my jeans, lovely. Grease stain was epic.

 

 

Mummy liked hers but a bit sweet for my liking, will be trying with pitta breads at some point next week to appeal to my more savoury tastes. The green beans added a nice crunch though.

 

 

I made Tyler's daddy a meat feast one and he gobbled it up too, these boys and cheese, I tell you, makes any meal easy. Daddy required a full wrap to himself though.

 

 

Coming up soon: banana custard, top tiny hand snacks, toad in the hole.





 





When the appetite goes...

   As a mum, I find it so worrying when Tyler goes off his food, and these past few weeks he has! The past two days he has had small meals and still only eaten half but it is better than nothing.
 
  The past TWO weeks or so, Tyler has eaten virtually nothing due to teething and a viral infection, amongst other reasons. And yes, his teeth are still playing up as his teeth still haven't cut at the sides or back and there is no end in sight. He is also restless, grumpy and no longer sleeping through. We are all very tired in the household that is run by Master Tyler.


   So, that's why my blog posts have been none existent or very scarce with not much detail or pictures for a while. I don't see them being any more frequent to be honest, not much improvement despite the viral infection being well and truly passed on to his mummy.


   The problem we had with the eating was that Tyler got grumpy quick while he had the infection, which meant he would not be in his high chair without getting restless, frustrated or down right hysterical. I tried sitting him on the sofa with sandwiches, but that still didn't work. What did get a little bit into his system? Snacks during his happy times playing. Few and far between was the play but he was happy when he was so it was then I offered him his juice and snacks.

   What is in a healthy snack that will provide him with some much needed energy? Here are the top snacks that actually tickled his taste buds and kept him going:

• dried apricots; fibre, vitamins, sugar (quick release energy)
• toast with jam; carbohydrate, sugar
• banana; potassium, fibre
• raisins; sugar, fibre
• babybells; calcium, fat

   Obviously I tried his regular meals as normal with failed attempts but the important thing I realised was to keep trying because if he ever did get his appetite back something filling and substantial would be there ready for when he was. This did pay off in the end, on occasions, we are still trying to get the appetite back properly.

   And I hear you ask, that is all very well and good for tackling a viral infection but what about teething? Ahah! Soft, cold and easy to eat are the keys to teething babies.

   What I make Tyler varies between omelette, ice cream, cold blueberries, cold strawberries, chili-less chilli con carne, soft flaky fish, sweet potato wedges, fromaige frais, bananas, carrot sticks (fridge) and baked beans would you believe!

   It is a tough time for any mum or dad not knowing what to do for the best apart from teething gel, teething rings, calpol and cuddles. Just remember that it is not forever and it will pass. Rise above the frustration, let the cleaning slide and just be on cuddle duty, you might even enjoy the closeness you can provide your little one.


I hope to get back to blogging son, I miss writing creative recipes very much.

Bolognaise

Bolognaise

 

 

Quick, healthy, filling, warming, cheap! You can use bolognaise with normal pasta or spaghetti. I reckon this will cost no more than £3 to feed the whole family. Alter the amounts of the ingredients to suit you.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• Pasata
• Chopped Carrots
• Chopped tomatoes
• Peas
• Lean Mince Beef
• Half a Chopped Onion

 

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

1. Prep the veg first.
2. Fry the mince with no oil or fat.
3. Add the veg to the frying pan.
4. Add the pasata.

 

 

Done :)

 

Tyler has always loved this dish, especially with pasta twirls because the bolognaise sticks to the twirls so easy, and makes a great tea that is easy to pick up. However, as you have probably noticed a lack of photos and a lack of a review from little monster. He has been teething, had a viral infection, a tummy bug then he was teething again. So food has not been high on his list of priorities unfortunately. Will detail this 'traumatic' experience in my following blog. 

Meat & Two Veg The Healthy Way

Turkey Dinner

 

If you know me, you will know that I am big on eating white meats as they are leaner and offer great health benefits! Turkey is 70% white meat and 30% dark meat, so what's not to love?

This meal offers a filling and warming evening meal without spending the whole morning roasting meat. This meal has only 15 minutes prep time and 30 minutes cooking time. So that's the time issue solved, and the warming issue? What is not to love about potatoes, meat and two veggies? Traditional and it fills you up with goodness.

The meal will provide protein, carbohydrate, fibre, good fats, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, folates and vitamin K.

Wow. I did not realise how good this meal actually was for you until I started researching what each ingredient provides.

 

Key Fact: Most of the vitamin C in potatoes is in or close to the skin. So, when  peeling, avoid excessive de-skinning. Basically don't take chunks out of the potatoes at the same time.

 

 

Benefits of Eating Turkey

 

 

• High in protein
• Low in Fat
• Good source of iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus and vitamin B6
• Can lower cholesterol if eaten regularly
• Contains the amino acid 'Tryptophan' which produces serotonin and this strengthens the immune system

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 3 Turkey Breast Steaks (£1.29 on offer, Lidl)
• 5 tbsp. Peas (£1, Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Carrots (£1, Iceland)
• 3 Medium White Potatoes (£3 bag, Iceland)
• Chicken Gravy Granules (£1, £land)

 

The Not-so Nitty Gritty

 

 

1. Peel and chop potatoes into quarters and leave on the boil for half an hour.
2. Prepare your turkey steaks by removing excess fat and pre-heat the grill to full power.
3. After the potatoes have been boiling for 15 minutes, put the turkey under the grill and leave there for 15 minutes and turn half way through.
4. Boil the peas and carrots.
5. Use the vegetable water left from the peas and carrots after cooking, add gravy granules as the packet tells you. This will add more goodness to the meal as some key vitamins get lost during the boiling process.
6. Serve when everything is ready.

 

 

What Little Monster Thought

 

   He loved it so much, really got his appetite going again. Even consumed a whole custard pot. He ate the turkey that had been cut up first, he does love meat but soon moved onto his potatoes and veg. He seemed to enjoy the gravy too.

   Mummy and daddy really enjoyed this meal, no idea how I pulled it off as I had a slight bit of concussion from where that little monkey smashed a vase over my head! But all went down well and mummy and daddy had raspberry steamed pudding afterwards, really should have cut Tyler in on this but he got his custard out the kitchen for me so, I let him have custard instead.

 

 

Coming up Soon..... homemade banana custard, spaghetti bolognaise and more, keep up to date by liking the facebook page www.facebook.com/feedingforthefuture or simply add your e-mail address to the subscribe box above.

 

Happy eating and don't forget I love to see the pictures and hear feedback. Apologies for no pictures this time but we sat down to eat straight away and I was starving as I hadn't had an appetite all day. 



The Many Wonders Of Bagels

The Day of The Bagel

 

I love bagels! As does Tyler, more the pitty, means less for mummy :(

Anyway, I fully believe bagels can be used as a breakfast and a sandwich alternative for dinner times! I buy a different type of bagel depending on which shopping week it is. Cinnamon and raisin, sesame seed topped or just a lovely plain bagel. I have found bagels are easier for Tyler to eat if toasted under the grill, if I don't, he finds them a bit chewy and gets bored quickly.

 

 

Breakfast: Cinnamon & Raisin Bagel

 

 

   Yes, cinnamon and raisin bagels are lovely just toasted with a bit of butter,  but don't forget we need to get those tiny mouths interested in fruit. So after slicing a bagel in half, (Tyler had half and I had the other), I toasted the bagels outside up first then the other. Then just simply butter the insides and add a couple of raisins to the tops.

 

 

   Tyler loved his (and mummy did too) and promptly picked and ate the raisins off the bagel first! As this was the first time I had tried them with him I was surprised but delighted at the same time as they are an easy and healthy lunchbox snack when he's at school.

 

ps. no photo of consumption as Tyler had breakfast in bed with daddy and as daddy was only wearing his pj bottoms, he felt a wee bit self-conscious!

 

Result: SUCCESS!

 

 

Lunch: Sesame Seed Bagel with Pink Salmon & Green Beans

 

 

 

   Sesame seeds are great for our diets as they provide a bit of roughage for our digestive systems. I will not explain in finer detail what that means, I'm sure your imaginations can work out some sort of image. No, no image. Don't imagine.

   Anyway, getting carried away with me little self there! I used canned pink salmon on this occasion, with chopped raw green beans (perfectly safe to eat, just wash thoroughly). Oh, and spread cheese on the bagel to help things go down a little more smoothly.

   This idea you get calcium, protein, fibre, vitamins and maybe omega-3? Unsure about the last one to be honest but fish is good for you anyway, and is leaner than red meats. Also, low in fat (if you use the light spread cheese for mummy and daddy's bagel, use full fat for babies).

 

   As with the last bagel idea, I sliced the bagels in half and toasted the outsides first, then the insides. Spread a thin layer of spread cheese on then drained the salmon and place evenly around the bagel. Next, chop the green beans, I removed the ends of mine because they were quite stringy for some reason! Scatter then green beans on top of the salmon and you have a healthy and delicious lunch!

 

 

 

   Ty ty was rather wary of the sesame seeds once he had put the  bagel into his mouth. He took it straight back out for inspection, as normal - but it still makes me laugh! After picking a few seeds off and realised they were so tiny they wouldn't make a difference, he continued eating and polished the lot off! He did eat the salmon and green beans first, but he likes to take apart his food.

 

Result: SUCCESS!

 

 

 

 

Breakfast/Lunch: Cheese, Sausage & Tomato Bagel

 

 

 

   It is like a cooked breakfast on a bagel, what's not to love? It is also substantial enough for a lunch! Brill! Oh, and did I mention what this little beauty provides? No? Well, Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin D, Fibre, Protein and good fats from the cheese! Lovely jubbly.

 

NOTE: unfortunately when I came to do this recipe, I had ran out of tomatoes and sausages! So it is an egg bagel... Tyler still loved it.

 

   I used a plain bagel for this one,  and as with the other two, halved and toasted in the same way. I did this before cooking the sausage and heating the tomatoes. So, yes, I fried the sausages while heating tinned tomatoes on the hob. You can use, fresh tomato if you prefer obviously. Oh by the way, Lidl do some great sausages that are around 78% meat which is brilliant, and only £1.89 a pack. Well worth the money compared to cheaper sausages that can contain as little as 5% meat. I diverted again, ah, anyway! I use the slices of dairy lea cheese and place on the bagel while it is still warm so it melts slightly.

  Once the sausage and tomatoes are cooked, add them on top of the bagel and serve to that little monster. This tastes amazing by the way!

 

 

 

   Tyler loved this one. But I can't help but think he wouldn't have enjoyed it even more if I had the sausages, tomatoes and cheese! Dosey mummy didn't do the shopping right and now there is no more money in the shopping pot until Friday! Let me know how you lot get on.

 

Result: SUCCESS

 

Idea? Maybe try bacon medallions.

 





Cottage Pie

Cottage Pie

 

I know you all probably have cottage pie mastered to a fine art now you are a fully fledged family, but here's how I did it if there is anything you would like to take from it.

Also provides carbs, fibre, protein and key vitamins. Oh, and only cost me about £2 to make for me, Nick & Tyler!

 

 

Pre-oven. And already looks fab!

 

 

 

Ingredients

 

• Half a Pack of Lean Mince Beef (Lidl)
• 4 Medium-Size White Potatoes (Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Baby Carrots (Iceland)
• 5 tbsp. Petite Pois (Iceland)
• Half a Diced Onion (Lidl)
• 1 tbsp. Butter
• 1 tsp Beef Gravy Granules
• 5 tbsp. Beef Gravy Granules

 

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

 

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. Peel and chop potatoes into 8 pieces each, the smaller the better. This will allow them to cook faster as the starch is broken down easier in the centres.
3. Boil the potatoes and leave them for approximately 15 minutes.
4. Brown the mince and as just colour is just about to change, add the onion and 1 tsp of beef gravy granules.
5. Add the carrots and peas at this point too. (I used frozen veg as I had no plans of reheating)
6. Cook the mince, regularly turning and stirring, for a further 5 - 10 minutes.
7. Put the mince and veg in a Pyrex (or similar) dish. Make up the gravy with the 5 tbsp. of granules and add boiling water, make it quite thick. Then coat the mince with the gravy.
8. Drain the potatoes, add the butter and mash.
9. Spread the mash over the mince then run the prongs of a fork over the top of the mash and when it goes in the oven it will crisp up and add to the texture,
10. Place in the oven for 15 - 20 minutes.
11. Serve.

 

 

 

Side View

 

 

Tyler's personal portion.

 

 

What Little Monster Thought

 

Well this dish was a success all round. Daddy said the only problem was, was that there wasn't enough. He does have a big appetite though! Tyler loved using his hands and getting messy. I did encourage him to use his spoon but it didn't go to well when he flung it at mummy! But, he ate the lot. And as he has been teething, I am more than happy with that result!

 

 

 

Mummy, Tyler and Daddy Portions!



 

 





Marmalade Veg Rolls

Marmalade Veg Rolls

 

 

Who doesn't love fresh chopped veggies rolled in ham, one not so guilty pleasure, and adding marmalade makes the veg all the better (and sweeter)! You can pretty much use any veg you or your baby likes, even use it to try out your little one with new foods as the marmalade makes it very pleasing to the pallet and half the battle of getting kids to eat new foods is getting used to the texture.

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 2 slices of Ham
• 1 tbsp. marmalade
• 25g chopped red pepper
• 25g chopped aubergine
• 25g chopped courgette

 

 

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

 

1. Chop & weigh the veggies.
2. Fry in a little drizzle of oil for approx. 5 minutes.
3. Add the marmalade to the frying pan and stir in well.
4. Lay the pieces of ham out flat and place lines of chopped veg down the centre of the ham and roll up. Put the left over veg over the top of the ham rolls otherwise the can look quite boring.

 

 

 

 



What Little Monster Thought

 

 

He was very cautious at first. I think that was because he isn't used to having whole slices of ham, I usually slice it thin for sandwiches or omelettes. But afterwards he got into it, but ate most of the veg first before resorting to that pink thing. Messy though, his hands were so sticky afterwards and the carpet was so bad I had to get the carpet cleaner out, he was having a throwy day on this particular day.

What would I change? I would just use pittas to case the vegetables for Tyler because the pinkness of his ham confused him.

 

 

Let me know how you all get on and what you change :) But I strongly suggest putting the marmalade in the veg. So sweet :)

 





Leighton's Fighting Fit Dinner

Leighton's Fight

 

Leighton is a little boy who was diagnosed with Juvenile Monocyclictic  Leukaemia (JMML) at only eight months old. He has been in and out of treatment ever since and I have recently been keeping up with his progress and his mummy's brave efforts. It is remarkable that someone so young has so much strength and I thought "What can little old me do to help this little man?".

 

 

 

The idea I came up with, if I do a blog post making a recipe with Leighton's favourite foods in the link it to his facebook page, I could raise awareness of JMML and encourage people to buy his wrist bands to raise money, particularly for the Birmingham Children's Hospital which his Mum, Zoe, Is doing a tandem sky dive for. Good luck.

 So let's give this local lad (Worcester) a little hand.  

 

 

And as September is national Childhood Cancer Month, why not try this little lad's recipe or send a donation. His Mum has the most respect from me for fundraising and taking care of her son at the same time. A true inspiration for mums and it put a lot of things in prospective for me.

 

 

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/LeightonsFightJMML

Tandem Sky Dive Sponser Page:

http://www.doitforcharity.com/ZBrownrigg

PayPal for Wrist Bands:

lajbrownrigg@outlook.com

 

If you wish to purchase a wrist band they are £2 each plus £1 p&p for everyone you buy. And once you have made the payment please personal message your delivery details. The pictures below and right are of the wrist bands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Task

 

   Leighton, from what I have gathered, sometimes loose appetite during treatment, so when he does eat it has to be something he likes and knows is going to taste great. Mum has told me that grapes and broccoli have always been his favourites before and during treatment. And that he prefers softer foods as his teeth are currently sensitive. Then I have to consider my angle, tasty, lots of energy for treatment and playing and key vitamins to encourage growth and weight gain. Oh, and something quick and easy that mum can do after a long day. Easy you say? Well it's taken me near on a week thinking about this one so not as easy as it initially sounds.

 

My Conclusion

 

   Leighton likes broccoli? Then broccoli he shall have! I wish broccoli was one of my sons favourites. So, here it is ... main course: broccoli cheese with chunky wedges and for pudding mixed grapes and evaporated milk. Yes, I believe all fruit tastes amazing in evap milk. Personal weakness.

 

 

 

Broccoli Cheese & Wedges

 

Yes it is basically coliflour cheese without that white vegetable my son has a distinct hatred for. So this idea of mine has turned out pretty good for little Tyler. The broccoli contains loads of key vitamins and is also a great source of iron for keeping our little men strong. The sauce that will go over it will provide plenty of calcium and vitamin D as well as protein for muscle growth and muscle repair. The potato wedges are jam packed with carbohydrates to keep those mess makers going ten to the dozen as well as a surprising high amount of vitamin C!

 

 

Ingredients

 

• 5 tbsp. broccoli (Frozen £1 a bag, Iceland)
• 1 pint Whole Milk (£1, Iceland)
• 3oz Cheddar Cheese (£1, Iceland)
• 2 White Potatoes (Large 4kg bag, £3, Iceland)
• 1oz unsalted butter (£1, Iceland)
• 1oz plain flour (£1, Iceland)

 

 

The Not-So Nitty Gritty

 

 

First, for the cheese sauce. If keeping on the hob while the broccoli and wedges cook, stir regularly to avoid burning as cheese sauce burns as quick as it is made.

 

1. Melt the butter in the sauce pan and sift in the plain flour.
2. Stir in the milk gradually to slowly build up the texture.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Stir in the cheese, allow to melt and serve as soon as this step in done.

 

Now, for the main bit.

 

1. I am putting the broccoli into boiling water for longer than usual (10 minutes) as Leighton is better with softer foods at the minute.
2. That aside, I will peeled and cute into wedge shapes the white potatoes.
3. These need part boiling for 15 minutes.
4. Once the potatoes have been boiled put on a baking tray with a drizzle of oil and put in the oven at 180 degrees for approx. 15 minutes. Check after ten to be on the safe side.

 

 

And there is your main meal!

 

 

 

The Easy Peasy Pudding

 

 Get your red and white grapes, I would say 6 - 7 of each. If your little one is below 1 year they might prefer them pealing as they are easier to chew then, I always had to peel Tyler's, much to my frustration! Wash the grapes and dry off with kitchen towel.

Put the grapes in a small pudding bowl and add that lovely sweet evaporated milk. Then Serve, bliss!

Unfortunately, Tyler is off grapes at the moment.... so no picture and no review of that, but I love it!

 

 

What My Little Monster Made of It

 

Loved it! We ended up in a bit of mess with the cheese sauce, I might use a bit less on his plate next time but he ate all his greens for once! So I would class this meal a success as he has had good vitamins and minerals and he is full up for the night so he will sleep brilliantly.

 

 

 

 

More Information on JMML

 

JMML is serious chronic leukaemia (cancer of the blood) that mainly affects children under the age of 4 years old.

JMML only accounts for 1 - 2% of childhood leukaemias.

Most children with this condition are male.

Most children are diagnosed around the age of 2 years old.

 

 

 

Hope you like it Leighton!

Love From Hollie & Ty :)