Family favourite meals? (P4T)

[Rumblingtum]

HNY! I'm feeling a bit glum and low. Got the January blues big time. Trying to focus on some
positive, achievable things.

I'm looking for inspiration for ideas for family meals. 4 children aged 9-13. Let's say they aren't massively fussy in that they'll eat 9/10 meals I serve up (moaning quite a bit though) but I tend to go quite safe- your normal beef mince dishes, chicken and chorizo rice, sausage casserole and beige food (once a week). I'm so bored of cooking the same meals week in week out or racking my brains for ideas to use ingredients they like in different ways.

OH is vegetarian and works away a lot so generally it's a different meal for us and falls to me for cooking. I work late 3 days per week so it needs to be a quick meal those days.

One child can't eat potato products (makes him gag) so ideally I do him a portion of pasta to go with his main (he's really tiny so needs the carbs).

Any ideas? What's your fail safe family meals?

When I googled/looked in the J. O 'Family Meals' books, it's all 'pistachio and herb crusted baked cod with spinach and mung bean lentil surprise' which I'm afraid would be a waste of time and money.

Thanks in advance.

Sandsnake if you're grating veg in then courgette is a good one. In savory dishes it bulks up, and soaks up flavour. In Sweet dishes it adds moistness. So versatile.

Just made this. Quick and simple. They ate it!

nishkitchen.com/creamy-tomato-tuna-pasta/

Yeah, sometimes you just think 'why bother' when you shop, spend time cooking and they all moan.

What is beige food by the way?

DS went through a loving beige food phase. Potatoes/bread/pasta based food.

Thankfully that was a short lived phase!

Homemade
mac & cheese with chips
Butternut squash & chickpea curry
Italian meatballs with spaghetti
Rump steak fajitas
Chilli
Lasagna
Mushroom stroganoff
Sherpards pie
Fish pie
Stoves
Mince and Tatties
Breaded fish chips & peas

Dh and I like fajitas, but the kids don't like spicy foods. So, when we have fajitas, I roast a chicken portion in foil, cut it into thin slices and serve with new potatos, grated cheese, tomatos, cucumber and pepper and a wrap cut into quarters so the kids can make a fajita but a plain one. I also make mine with halloumi as im veggie. Another favourite is pastry pizza, which is literally a sheet of ready rolled puff pastry with tomato puree, cheese and whatever else they fancy on top. I usually do dh's with chicken and chorizo, mine with lots of veggies and the kids with ham, sweetcorn and mushrooms on. I cut my bit of pastry off to cook away from the meaty ones but bung it in the oven together. I also make calzone the same way - I use the pizza base mixes from Tesco that you add water too. Fill dh's with meat and veggies, mine with veggies and just make a plain cheese pizza for the kids. I work full time so rely on quick things or stuff I can whack in the slow cooker. Speaking of which, the beef cassarole spice mix (I think it is a Coleman's type one) for the slow cooker is a big hit with my lot too. I hold my hands up and admit Im not exactly cooking from scratch, but it is balanced and the best I can do as a working mum.

Mine go mad for macaroni cheese with cut up hotdogs and peas in it.

@Nanalisa60
You have Stovies on your list!!! Has this at a wedding about 4 years ago (in Scotland obvs) and I love it - please can you post a recipe? I would love to be able to make this at home so delicious!

@Rumblingtum I feel your pain! I find myself running out of ideas - mine are older now but I still try to mix it up a bit if I can. One favourite we have is Hairy Bikers Spanish Chicken - you basically throw in chicken thighs, chorizo, potatoes ( chopped small) peppers, onions and tomatoes, a few herbs, roast in the oven all in one dish- it’s very popular in our house. Other things- fajitas- HM chicken goujon with salad- steak sandwich ( in crusty bread) - slow cooked pork / ribs in HM bbq sauce- slow cooked ham/gammon .

@bitmynail any chance of posting the smoked fish in cheesy sauce recipe.. it sounds yummy x