Meals that I can cook QUICKLY (am happy to prepare bits night before and leave in fridge) with cross boys bashing about the place during the witching hour before dinner/tea/supper or whatever you call it

[LongDistanceClara]

That's it, really.

Lasagne
pasta with pesto or a 100 different sauces
If they eat fish, trout/salmon etc fillet will cook in the oven in 15 minutes
omelettes

fresh pasta , takes 5 minutes to cook, with a big handful of frozen petit pois thrown in for a minute, serve with grated parmesan on top

scrambled eggs on toast

wholemeal pitta filled with grated cheese , in the toaster ...make sure no holes in the pitta bread!

wraps filled with tuna, chopped cucumber and tomato

Just seen the age of your dc. Used to have the same witching hour. dd would strap herself to my legs, usually when I was holding the knife to chop up anything. It deos getter better {grin]

stir fry - have prepped all your veg earlier/day before, only takes 15 mins. add noodles, and done!

to chop up vegetables I meant...

Ah, yes, DS2 likes to hold my legs too. Or have headbutt contests with DS1... I often cook dinner with them standing at the stairgate across the kitchen door having pushing contests (which they think are funny, but scare me with their rowdiness!).

(Tis Hunker with a namechange, btw)

hello hunker ! nice name

can you get them involved in the cooking at all.....or is that way too dangerous?

PMSL JFB Thought I'd try being a trucker for a bit...

Not at all capable when it comes to cooking. Esp not atm as have elderly electric cooker that burns everything

Have gas cooker in the garage but no gas in the kitchen.

Will soon though...

LM, that's an idea - DS1 might be up for that - not sure what DS2 could do though - he's 16mo.

No, never get them involved in the cooking if you are already in a rush, they are going to slow things down !!

DS1 is 3.1 and DS2 is 16mo - DS1 is no trouble at all to occupy while I cook dinner - toys, TV, colouring, etc, etc. "Can I watch big steam engines, please, Mummy?" Yep, course you can, then dinner is a doddle.

DS2...just bothers and pesters and shoves DS1 then wails when DS1 gets (understandably!) cross with him.

DS1 loves fish (eats sardines fgs). DS2 likes fish, but prefers vegetables.

DS , from about aged 2, would don his little pinny and hold a spoon, and point it randomly at whatever was being cooked..or stand at the sink, washing carrots or potatos, endlessly !! which kept him busy

Believe me, if you have an oven and they like fish: olive oil, one clove of garlic, some herbs, trout fillet, gas mark four for 15 minutes. chop up some tomatoes/carrotts etc. 20 minutes and you are done!

Lm, that sounds so cute!!
16 months is a difficult age, dd used to drive me mad, the span of attention of an ant she had!

.

chicken stir fry

chop up chicken strips into bite sized lumps and pour soy sauce over (not too much if v young LOs eating) leave for 10 mins

slice afew spring onions and mushrooms

fry chicken
fry spring onions and mushrooms
add beansprouts if you fancy
cook noodles (really quick)
and eat

Tomato pasta
Make the sauce in advance and reheat:
chop up onion and garlic and fry off a bit
stick tin of tomatoes in
add some dried mixed herbs
bring to boil then simmer for about 40 mins until it look sort of chutney-ish
grate some parmesan cheese in
pour on cooked pasta

jamie oliver has some excellent fish recipe that cook easily in a little foil parcel too

oh yes and cod's tuna tomato balls
cant remember the real name but will fiind you a recipe

tuna tomato balls
just use normal tinned tomatoes though

I used to (when DD still had a nap) prepare a lot during naptime. But she has always from being the age of your DS2 stood on a chair next to me. So could you try that while DS1 occupies himself. I sometimes find that the children are best seperated at this point in the day.