Family Cooking

I think one of the biggest challenges of being a parent is developing your childrens' taste in food, especially when both parents are working full-time. My two sons are nearly ten, and just turned six - what I would love to do is to see them try new foods and flavours. This is a lot more difficult than it sounds ! As my wife has recently gone part-time, and I am College for the Summer, there is a golden opportunity to try out lots of new ideas, but we're going to have to start with the basics.

This week we've been cooking food from Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstall's "The River Cottage Family Cookbook".

Wednesday: Spaghetti Bolognese

Success Factor: Fraser [6/10] Louis [2/10]
I thought this was a beautiful Ragu - slow-cooked, and full of flavour - perhaps just a little too much liquid (you add white wine, passata, stock, and milk to the sauce). Served with loads of grated Red Leicester Cheese.

Thursday: Salmon Fishcakes

Success Factor: Fraser [7/10] Louis [2/10]
Another tastey dish made purely with poached fresh salmon, and mashed potato (which I had put through a potato ricer) - lovely and fluffy. Served with French Fries.

Friday: Pizza

Success Factor: Fraser [10/10] Louis [10/10]
It's a firm family favourite; I just need to remember not to leave Ann's Kenwood Mixer, mixing on it's own - it vibrated itself off the worktop and onto the kitchen floor - still working, just.