parenting | Vegie Smugglers

Posts tagged parenting

Maybe we should get a baby… or a snake made from toilet rolls?

February 22, 2011 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged craft, parenting

It would seem that Mr Meat & Potatoes is feeling clucky. Everywhere he looks there are adorable toddlers that make him go ‘aaawwwwwwww’ in a perfect imitation of his 6-year-old sister who saves that sounds for puppies, kittens and anything pink.

In the playground today Mr M&P was eyeing off a cute little Japanese toddler. He said, “Maybe we should get a baby?” I was caught off guard and perhaps didn’t handle things too smoothly.

“No, Angelina,” I gasped, “no more babies – Mummy is too old (and over it) for more babies”.

He looked slightly crushed as the full realisation of a life as the youngest child sank in. No cute little Asian baby sister, no fun little brother in a Superman cape.

I tried to console him. “What about we go home and make a snake?”

He brightened considerably. If you can’t have another sibling, then a snake made out of loo rolls is a pretty good substitute.

a craft snake made from toilet rolls for boys

Colouring his cares away - Mr M&P finds consolation in some craft

And voila! My third child is born

Download a PDF of your third child (or pet loo-roll snake) here.

Comments (6) »

Love is… having someone to check you for nits

February 14, 2011 · Filed under All recipes, Food experiences, News · Tagged celebrations, dinner, parenting, recipe, tuna

Adult-only ingredients and wine? Check. Kids in bed early? Fingers crossed

It’s safe to say that my better half and I have never been overt romantics. We have our special moments, of course, but rarely the prearranged kind. So Valentines Day flowers and gifts has never really been our thing.

However, one night last year, my best-friend arrived home with a romantic brown paper bag full of presents that touched my heart and got me all teary – chocolates and a Tiffany’s box? No, it was nit treatments and a matching pair of his ‘n’ hers nit combs.

Even for us it was a pretty unromantic moment, but looking at him, home after hours out in the big bad world, earning all our money and then running our errands, I had never loved him more. Perhaps it was his commitment to our family through good times and bad that got me all ‘awwwww’ over it. Or maybe I was just pre-menstrual. I can’t remember. But I do know that I look at single parents and wonder just how they cope during the dreaded nit infestations, night terrors or emergency dashes to hospital.

I’m hugely grateful that I have a lovely partner. And to say thanks, this Valentine’s Day he’s getting something special. A little special romantic dinner pour deux.

Our relationship history is littered with memorable meals both in restaurants and at home. Possibly no dish means more to us than this Tuna & Mango Salsa recipe. I made it for him on our first proper dinner together after we moved into our first apartment (almost exactly 11 years ago). Apparently this dish smoothed over any apprehensions and made him think that maybe he’d made the right decision, after all.

So try it on your man (or woman). It’s easy, but special, and with the chilli and coriander, definitely an adult’s dinner. For this night of the year, feed the kids fish fingers and pop them into bed early. Hopefully they won’t re-emerge too many times, you’ve got some serious romancing to do…

Adapted from the Family Circle 1997, ‘Tex mex’ cookbook.

Coriander Tuna with mango salsa

1/2 cup coriander leaves
1 small red chilli, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp ginger, minced
1 tbsp olive oil

2 tuna steaks

Mango Salsa
1 mango, peeled, diced
½ small red onion, finely sliced
½ cup coriander, chopped
2 tbsp lime juice

Crush up the first five ingredients in a mortar and pestle until you have a paste (you can also do this in a blender). Smear it over the tuna steaks, cover and refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Combine all of the salsa ingredients together in a bowl.

Heat a char-grill pan, bbq or frying pan until really hot. Sear either side of the tuna for 3 minutes or so, until cooked to your liking (I like mine still raw in the middle).

Serve with the salsa, fresh salad and wine.

Tackling the ‘L’ word

January 27, 2011 · Filed under All recipes, Food experiences, News · Tagged feeding the family, kids, lunchbox, parenting, recipe

Dig through the plastics drawer and find that lid.

This morning, Miss Fruitarian spent quite some time explaining her extensive knowledge of cussing. All Year Ones (which she insists on being called even though it isn’t official until Monday) know that the ‘f’ word is fart, the ‘b’ word is bum and the ‘g’ word is god.

For me, the word that makes me the most uncomfortable is the ‘L’ word…. Lunchbox.

Like a scary movie, the l-word is back, along with homework, morning deadlines and the need to get your washing schedule planned so that you have enough clean uniforms to make it through the week (yes, I should just buy the extra tunic and save myself the hassle).

Despite all the myths and expectations, I hate lunchboxes as much as every other mother in the country. They are a pain, particularly when you attend a teeny-tiny school with no canteen to fall back on. I’ve been paying keen attention to all the ideas in the media (particularly The Healthy Food Guide which also features a Vegie Smugglers excerpt this month) and it seems the same 10 ideas get shifted around and nuanced each January. Simple sandwiches (roll into pinwheels or use cookie cutters to make them cute), foods – apparently that start with ‘c’ – in sticks (cheese, carrot, capsicum, cucumber), the odd melon ball, dried fruit, savoury muffins and home-made muesli bars. Older kids can tackle a yoghurt. Avoid fruit juice. Freeze stuff in summer.

For mornings where you are motivated, you could try some of these combinations…

Beetroot dip/grated carrot/roast beef
Poached chicken/avocado/lemon
Canned tuna in springwater/corn kernels/cottage cheese
Ham/swiss cheese/pesto

So many ideas to make lunchtime fun. But so many ways to feel disappointed in yourself when for the 14th time in a row you pack a ham and cheese sandwich (crusts on, cut into two), a store-bought muesli bar and a bunch of grapes.

This is real-life, folks, nothing glossy. None of us have time so don’t sweat it. Particularly since the kids don’t care. They want the same boring whatever as what’s in their bestie’s box and they’re so busy talking they won’t eat most of it anyway. Then they’ll be off to run about like lunatics and play ‘dance school’ or (my favourite) ‘slap bottom’ and lunch won’t even be vaguely remembered.

The moral to my rant is to give them a good breakfast, healthy and varied dinners, lots of fruit for snacks and forget about the rest. Lunchbox stress is just another area where mothers are made to feel guilty. Do your best and then relax.

Comments (1) »

“Mummy you’re in the magazine!”

January 20, 2011 · Filed under News · Tagged kids, parenting

Vegie Smugglers article in super food ideas magazine

Can't be the mummy from OUR house...

Generally I try to avoid the supermarket with the kids as much as possible, but during the holidays have little choice but to drag them along. So the other day in between the bananas and checkout I showed them the ‘Vegie Smugglers’ blurb in Super Food Ideas. Massive squeals of excitement burst forth from Miss F and Mr M&P. They were so surprised to see me in a magazine that they caused a huge ruckus. ‘ssshhhhhh!!!!!’, I panicked, feeling like the Sally Field character in Soapdish, as if I’d set the whole scene up for a bit of supermarket glory.

But I have to admit that their excitement was cute. Especially since they think their mum is a bit of a layabout.

“Why don’t you work, mummy?” they ask as I place dinner down at the end of a day of shopping, cooking, photographing, illustrating, ironing, tidying, organising, publishing, cleaning and sticking bandaids on children.

Wryly, I grit my teeth, “Mummy works [slaves] at home”. I resist the 2-hour diatribe on the struggles of work/life balance, unsatisfying part-time work, unpaid labour and the demands of two little children.

It brought home that you can never win in this mothering malarky. The choice to work at home may have been primarily made to advantage them, but my career sacrifice will be lost on them (as it should be, it’s my choice after all).

Why such a malingering mum is in a major food magazine is lost on them too. In their minds it must just be a happy coincidence.

Perhaps they will try to figure that one out in a few years time.

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in”

January 18, 2011 · Filed under All recipes, Food experiences, News, Vegetarian, Vegie smuggling techniques · Tagged feeding the family, kids, parenting, vegies

Can you place the quote? That’s right! This week I am channelling Michael Corleone in the Godfather Part III. Why? A family blood-feud? No, just that these words were squealed (with an edge of small child hysteria) at my dinner table last week;

“Mummy, is this ONION?, you know I don’t like ONION!”.

What, little child!?! You don’t like onion? Since when??? Onion has been liberally used throughout most of our meals for the past few years, but suddenly this week, it is being identified and picked out of everything. Then with a face screwed up in disgust, the child is smearing half chewed chunks over the table and turning a peaceful family meal into a battle scene.

Just when I thought I was on the home straight of Vegie-Smuggling I realise that I still have many years of food fads to go.

What to do when these phases hit?
1. Keep calm. Don’t inflame the situation by arguing, particularly if you have one of those argumentative little lovelies who enjoy nothing more than a battle.
2. Stay in charge. Try to get your kids to eat it all up, assertively reminding them that they’ve eaten it before and loved it before.
3. Serve a similar dish again within a few days. See if the aversion was a once-off, or something you are going to have to deal with.

If it’s a definite new food problem, head back to your vegie-smuggling basics. If you’ve been cooking with nice big chunks of the culprit veg, go back to grating it for a while, or replace with a variation. For me, grating the onion or replacing it with spring onion has been enough to keep the last couple of nights calm (and the dinners still tasty).

Within a week or two, just go back to normal. Your lovely fickle offspring will (hopefully) have forgotten all about it. Kids are good like that. Unlike the Corleones.

This was my first vegie-smuggling recipe!

Cheesy Pots

This recipe is one I return to again and again as a fail-proof dinner that smuggles nearly anything.

2½ cups of any fresh vegetables, chopped super-fine or grated. I use peas, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrot and canned corn.
50g ham, diced (optional)

Cheese sauce
40g butter
2 tbsp plain flour
1½ cups milk, warmed
125g cheddar cheese, grated
Salt & black pepper

Preheat oven to 180C.
Microwave or steam each of the vegies separately until just starting to soften. Mix them together with ham, if using, and distribute evenly among overproof dishes.

For the cheese sauce, heat the butter in a non-stick saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the flour and use a wooden spoon to stir for 2 minutes. Gradually add the warm milk. It is important to do it gradually and stir constantly. The mixture will thicken into a paste before smoothing back out into a glossy sauce.

Bring sauce to the boil, remove from the heat and add the cheese. Stir until melted. Season to taste.

Divide sauce evenly among the ovenproof dishes. Place on an oven tray and bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbling and golden.

MAKES 5 CUPS (divide between ovenproof dishes to suit your family).

Comments (14) »

One chew per minute – the Friday night problem

November 25, 2010 · Filed under All recipes, Food experiences · Tagged dinner, feeding the family, parenting, recipe

Have you noticed that the kids chew more slowly as the week progresses? On Monday, the mouth moves in a sprightly manner and you can confidently give cutlets and meals requiring complicated utensil work. You can serve them lasagna, soup or stir-frys.

By Wednesday, the gloss is wearing off. After ballet and a few days of heavy duty learning, the meals are needing to be simpler. Pasta with meatballs is a good choice. Quesadillas also work well.

But by Friday night? They’ve played after school, been to swimming, and carried library books, science homework and various notes and invitations. They’ve talked and played and laughed and skipped until their legs won’t work and I’ve had to practically carry them from the car to the house.

Before they totally run out of puff, I get them washed and into their pajamas. Then the TV comes on. Movie night and simple food. Really simple food. Preferably something that melts in the mouth as chewing is now a hugely tricky undertaking.

Parents are tired too, so meals need to be easy to cook as well as eat. All of these recipes are for simple things at the end of the week.

Here you go little ones, something simple to hold (and chew occasionally) before we pop you into bed. It’s been a big week.

Try the salmon pikelets (easy to hold and munch)

Sausage rolls can even be eaten whilst reclining!

Rissoles with yummy stuff smuggled inside!

Just a rissole with a bit of sauce will do on a Friday night.

Comments (2) »

This is Major Tom to ground control

November 17, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, ideas, parenting

Can you hear me Major Tom?

Sharing your childlike sense of fun and wonder with your kids gets no easier than this simple print and play dashboard. Non-vehicle specific, but probably best for cardboard spaceships, this A4 sheet guarantees smooth passage to deep space. For me, it fits perfectly on the back of an empty Vegie Smugglers box (thanks all for recent purchases!).

Download and print out the PDF, stick it onto any upturned box and you’re done. Of course, if you want to get a bit fancy about it, you can add bottle tops (no, not beer bottle tops), gaffe tape, pipe cleaner levers, toy keys, plastic knobs and a stack of stickers.

Next, leave your delighted kiddie playing happily and go grab yourself a coffee and congratulate yourself on your parenting genius!

128 pages, 40 projects, 85 pages of printables…

Comments (1) »

‘tis the season…

November 15, 2010 · Filed under All recipes, News, Vegetarian · Tagged celebrations, feeding the family, kids, parenting, recipe, vegetables

…for tacky concerts tra la la la laaaaaa la la la la.

December fast approaches and around town the extracurricular schools are competing to convince the parents of their students that all the money forked out throughout the year was worthwhile (and therefore we’ll see you again next year). There are concerts, art exhibitions and martial arts displays bombarding thousands of poor parents who are already brain and schedule overloaded as the logistics of Christmas looms.

This is Miss Fruitarian’s first end of year concert. And I am in a state of shock. When I chose the local ballet school, it was on the grounds of proximity, parking and convenience. I had seen the snazzy-troupes-in-fluorescent-lycra pictures in the foyer, but was sure the whole escapade wouldn’t be too bad.

The notes started arriving mid-year. ‘Save the dates’ for concerts, rehearsals and photo days. Scary amounts for costume deposits were mentioned. I started to feel scared.

Reality hit in earnest two weeks ago with the arrival of a skimpy costume covered in metallic polka dots. With matching headband and bike pants that cost me a small fortune. Miss F is delighted with it all and I don’t want to taint her happiness with my own misgivings. But I am wondering what it is in our culture that has turned a simple dance concert into a Jon-Benet Ramsey tribute night? Why the curled hair, red lipstick and tacky costumes?

And why my passive acceptance of the situation? I did complain about the make-up requirements and was treated with disdain, told “they look too washed out on stage without red lipstick”. Other mothers seem fine with it all. Am I alone? My pathetic protest is to use lipgloss only and make plans for new activities next year. Which is a shame. Dancing has been good for Miss F’s coordination and confidence. And performing in front of an audience is good experience. But why all the pizzazz? What’s wrong with a bit of age-appropriate low-key pink tulle? My daughter is 6, and has so many years ahead of her to be a slut. I don’t need the sexploitation of women to be bombarding her just yet.

I look forward to gymnastics next year.

In an attempt to reclaim some innocence, here’s a healthy and cute pink dip to serve at your end of year celebrations.

Just a bit of innocent fun

Beetroot tzatziki

1 small cucumber
200ml plain Greek yoghurt
1-2 garlic cloves, crushed (to taste)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp red wine vinegar
Salt & black pepper
225g can sliced beetroot, drained

Water crackers and carrot sticks, to serve

Grate the cucumber. Drain excess liquid and then press with paper towel (this will stop your dip being too runny) and place in a bowl. Mix in the yoghurt, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. Season to taste.

Blitz the beetroot in a stick blender. If needed, add some of the yoghurt mixture to the blender to give the beetroot a nice smooth consistency.

Mix the beets into the yoghurt mixture (little girls like this stage), and mix until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve with water crackers, carrot sticks, green beans, breadsticks, falafels, grilled chicken strips for dipping – anything that takes your imagination. Also delicious on Turkish bread salad sandwiches.

MAKES 2 CUPS

Comments (3) »

Super silly but super fun

November 4, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents · Tagged craft, ideas, parenting

toilet roll craft with these cute little people

The best possible toilet humour with Ivana and Gary

At VS HQ, it’s an endless and relentless search for ways to help parents in every way possible.

In perhaps my greatest triumph, I’ve now found a way to grab a few moments of creative fun on the regular trip between the bathroom and the recycling bin.

Download the PDF loo roll dolls, colour, cut, roll around your discarded toilet rolls and sticky tape in place. Your kids will think you’re awesome and you’ll get a bit of a laugh yourself.

Craft doesn't get any easier than this!

Comments (2) »

Lunchbox lethargy and a good schoolyard chat

November 2, 2010 · Filed under All recipes, Food experiences, News, Sweets & treats, Vegie smuggling techniques · Tagged family, feeding the family, ideas, lunchbox, parenting, recipe, vegetables

I’m back into the groove of term 4 and the other morning I found myself in the schoolyard way past bell-time, gas-bagging away with my new collection of mum friends. None of us are shy about a chat, we talk kids, schools, educations, housing, ponder why our daughters are all such chatterboxes and we chat chat chat. We see the irony.

Conversation got onto the dreariness of our daily lunchbox scenarios – even I had to admit that my sandwich repetoire is getting a little stale. I’d started the year well, but now mostly opt for cheese, but fancy it up with chutney, mustard or avocado. There are the usual dried fruit options, the odd muesli bar and fruit, fruit and more fruit.

Soggy sandwiches are a major problem in our hot Australian conditions, even with the coolie brick. And then there’s the time factor and the fact that the lunchbox usually gets thrown together in less than 5 minutes.

So what can we do to break the dreariness?

Try and find 20 minutes at the beginning of the week to mix up or bake something interesting that you can dig into for the rest of the week. Try savoury muffins, salmon pikelets, beetroot dip (there’s a good recipe in the Vegie Smugglers cookbook), poach a chicken breast or just chop a batch of carrots and cucumber into interesting shapes.

Have a go at this home made muesli slice. It’s really quick and easy to make and you can modify it to suit the tastebuds of your family.

***Since I first posted this, I’ve gone on to create The Complete Lunchbox Planner, with 40 weeks of seasonal recipes to keep you inspired throughout the year.

Made by mum - not Uncle Toby

Home made muesli bars

Butter, for greasing
2½ cups rolled oats
½ cup desiccated (or shredded) coconut
1 cup Sultana Bran
½ cup All Bran
1½ cups dried fruit (I use chopped prunes, chopped apple and sultanas)
125g unsalted butter
¼ cup grapeseed oil
¼ cup honey
2 eggs, lightly whisked

Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line a lamingon tin with baking paper, allowing overhang on each of the long sides.

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the fruit and mix through well.
Place the butter, oil and honey in a small saucepan over low heat. Melt gently till the butter just melts and mix together. Add to the dry ingredients. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.

Press firmly into the pan (roll a glass over to apply even pressure) and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Leave in the pan to cool and refrigerate until set and firm before slicing into squares.

MAKES 15 SQUARES