Cub Scout Sous Chef

He needed to plan some meals, and make some meals (dinner... coming up tonight). He enjoys it, and both of the kids have become boastfully proud of "Great Gramma Irene's Pancakes" which is awesome.

Throwback Thursday: 2011 Elf and E Cookies

Erik's favorite movie in 2011 (and one of his favorites still) was Prep & Landing, so when I saw this idea for elf cookies online, I had to put my spin on them! I used my favorite play-dough sugar cookie recipe for them, and made a template for the hat based on the round cutter I used for faces. Then, just used a sharp knife to cut out the hats. The kids loved helping with these, and we sent each guest to E's 5th birthday home with some of these cookies. I should make them again this year and keep an eye out for better candies to use for the night-vision goggles...  

Unfussy: Gramma's Corn Moussaka

I love this recipe, but haven't made it in a couple years. The last time I did, neither of the kids would eat it. This week, I blended the cottage cheese with the eggs in my food processor so that the topping was a cheesy baked layer without any cottage cheese lumps. I never did tell either of them (who despise cottage cheese) that it was in this casserole. 

Mads loved it, after being skeptical about trying it. Erik tried two solid bites, and gave it a thumbs-down vote. He says the tomato sauce tastes funny... not sure if it's the cinnamon in it or what. His loss. I also made them take salad, and practice how to decline salad (and that Erik could choose the apples and grapes in the salad and only a few lettuce leaves)... practicing for dinner at other people's houses. So, the boy had two bites, fruit from the salad, and his bread (served with dinner) for dinner. Good thing he's a light eater (although I think that is one of the things that helps him be choosy...), maybe when he's a always-hungry teenager he'll start eating anything even if it's not his favorite. 

Gramma's Corn Moussaka and Power Greens salad with fruit and lemon vinagrette

Unfussy: Variety

We were going to make Shepherd's pie (with leftover chicken) for dinner, but needed a quicker meal, so we did tacos.

I love letting the kids choose what they want, and offering up a good variety of delicious things. Even if (like Bread and Jam For Francis) Erik chooses only one corn tortilla with chicken, some carrots and a bunch of pear. His loss.

Fast Food: 3 mins. flat

Rocket, tomato, avocado, mahi mahi (leftovers from earlier this week), a splash of apple cider vinegar, a dash of sesame oil, and a grind of sea salt and pepper. Done. 

Unfussy: Eggplant Parmesan

I had a taste of this style of eggplant parm at my friend Claudia's house the other night as she was assembling it. The trick is to slice the eggplant thinly after soaking it in salted water to remove the bitterness from the seeds. 

Both kids liked it. Erik preferred it without the sauce, but Mads loved it entirely, and mom deemed it the best she's tasted. I didn't re-baked it smothered in sauce and cheese, but just topped them because we were short on time to get to a school function this evening. 

Eggplant Parmesan

Two large aubergines, peeled and sliced 1/8-1/4-inch thick and soaked in 2 Tbs. salt in water in a gallon-sized ziploc. I left ours overnight. 

3 eggs, beaten

2-3 cups panko crumbs or Italian breadcrumbs

Drain eggplant in colander, then squeeze dry. Dip in egg, then panko and bake on sprayed cookie sheet at 425-degrees F for at least 5 mins. per side. or until golden and crisp. 

Top with homemade marinara, fontina/mozzarella blend and parmesan, serve with whole wheat angel hair pasta. 

Unfussy: Chicken Saltimbocca

I let Erik choose dinner last night, and he picked Mac & Cheese, which Mads hates. So, I told him that we could have mac as a side and since he had no other ideas, I decided to make Saltimbocca and my favorite kale Caesar salad.

Mads loved the kale, and E loved the chicken. M didn't care for the prosciutto or the sage in the recipe. Everyone else loved it though.

Chicken Saltimbocca

2 chicken breasts sliced in half lengthwise (skinless, boneless)

12-14 sage leaves, chiffonade, then chop into small dice and mix into about 3 Tbs. butter

8 slices very thin prosciutto

Pound chicken flat between saran, spread each with 1/4 sage mixture, then top with two slices prosciutto. Cook in medium-hot pan, two at a time, prosciutto-side down to start. About 1.5 minutes per side.