Puddings for Children - help!

[DontCallMeDaughter]

I have an old friend I haven't seen for years and years coming over for lunch next week with his wife their two children (6 & 3)... I'm going to make lasagne but I also want to do a pudding and I have no idea what to do for children that age... I'd usually do a pavlova or eton mess for a lunch time pudding (something with fruit in it!) but do kids eat that?? My dd is only 20mo and she's still in the "eat anything"... I could do a chocolate mousse and serve it with fruit... but I don't know his wife very well and don't want her to come over all judgey if I serve something horribly inappropriate...

Thoughts?

My 2 love pavlova but what about making mini individual ones for them with the option of a dollop of ice cream and some strawberries. My mum used to make fabulous meringues and my favourite childhood treat was 2 sandwiched together with whipped cream.

if you have chocolate sauce to drizzle then if all else fails they can have ice cream and chocolate sauce. if all else fails a pack of ice lollies in the freezer will suit most fussy eaters.

I'd do what you normally do, eton mess, pavlova or choc mousse and have fruit and yoghurt available for the kids....if she is unhappy with the choice she will be completely and you'll be judged regardless and happy to see the back of her!

I agree- as long as there are berries they should be happy. And vanilla ice cream is always good too.

I've never known a child refuse a miniature square of choc brownie, with strawberries and ice cream...

Do a pavalva, put mixed fruit on top and reserve some as fruit salad incase they will shrivel up and turn into a yob if they encounter any unrefined sugar. Have some biscuits in the cupboard in case they are wierd like dd1 and don't eat fruit. I wouldn't expect people to anticipate dd's hatred of fruit. You could txt and check that they don't have any special dietary requirements. If they say no then just serve what you want to.

Take two cans of pear halves and place dome side up in an oven proof dish. Pour over about 1/3-1/2 a can of the juice. Make a choc sponge batter
4oz butter
4oz sugar
2 eggs
3oz s/r flour
1oz cocoa powder

Pour over pears. Bake for 20 -30 mins til sponge is cooked but still gooey in middle. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Increase quantities as needed to fit dish.

As others have said, go with your Eton mess or pavlova. Maybe make sure you have yoghurt, ice cream and fruit e.g. Bananas/apples in to offer as alternatives. I'd always ask guests anyway ( adults or children) if there's anything they don't eat. We had friends over once whose kids didn't like the main course but they loved the beans in toast alternative :-)

Ok brilliant - thank you everyone. I'm going to do individual meringues and then serve with cream, yoghurt and a couple of different fruits and let everyone build their own pudding - I think we have some chocolate sauce in the fridge as well. Sounds really good fun. We have some milk pop things in the freezer so they can be back up puddings too.