PLEASE inspire me.. what should I do for ds's supper tonight? so so so so bored of pasta & sauce...

[Spink]

he is 2.3 yrs and I always seem to be giving him some kind of pasta sauce variation. Time for something new!
It has to be quick to make (I've got a 5 month old too so can't be too long in the kitchen) and eggs are a big NO.
Any ideas yummily received

[Spink]

Cherrychoc it is so odd - it was the saucy things like spag bol, or meals like fish or cottage pie which ds turned his nose up at if reheated when they'd been frozen. Maybe it is his special talent to identify pre-cooked meals..
Sadly eggs have never been a hit, though I might try Maveta's recipe and see if I can get him interested that way - gloopy yolk HAS to be a winner doesn't it??

Gossip - I have brilliant risotto book somewhere, time to dig it out I think! Do they freeze ok??

[GossipMonger]

Mini meatballs in tomato sauce with rice

'Red rice' which is bits n pieces n leftovers all cooked together with rice and tomato sauce. Cheese on top and grilled.

tuna and borlotti beans served with chunky bread.

Risottos are always popular in our house almost as much as soup

Meal planning is the key.

[CherryChoc]

Also, things on toast - I like sardines Add extra ingredients to make things more substantial - I put tinned tomatoes on the side if having scrambled egg, maybe add a rasher of bacon/some mushrooms to fried egg, sausages with baked beans, sliced apple under the cheese on cheese on toast (or tomato, or onion)

Mini pizzas, you can freeze the dough.

[CherryChoc]

Omelettes can be quite substantial, try putting in previously boiled or mashed potatoes, bits of sausage, etc, to make it more interesting/filling.

I only ever freeze stuff like spag bol/stews/chicken supreme, saucy kind of things, they look just the same when reheated so not really sure what you mean there, are you freezing and reheating meat + 2 veg kind of meals?

[Spink]

thanks so much everyone, I'll put a big list together from all your suggestions and start meal planning - think that'll make it a bit easier than hoping for inspiration 1/2 an hour before dinnertime every day!
Looks like batch cooking might be worth going back to - but I wanted to ask - can anyone else's dc's recognise a reheated frozen meal? I stopped batch cooking a while ago cos ds would always reject the reheated stuff, even if he had happily eaten it when it was fresh.. any ideas why?? was SO frustrating when I discovered something he loved, only to have it pushed away unless it was freshly made I'll try again, might've just been a phase

[BlueChampagne]

Can you do it the other way round, and make a proper meal for him with enough leftovers for you too?

Curry and rice
Risotto
Pizza
Stir fry with rice/noodles
Soup & bread/baked spuds
sausages and mash

[amidaiwish]

yummm overmydeadbody

[Overmydeadbody]

Also make a fish pie like this but with mashed sweet potato on top instead of the mashed swede.

[Overmydeadbody]

I make a delicious chicken pie that's very quick to make:

cut up chicken breast into small cubes, sautee until cooked in a little butter.

Make a white sauce flavoured with a grating of nutmeg and mix this into the chicken peices.

Meanwhile cook some potatoes and swede (equal amounts) and mash together.

Put chicken and sauce into pie dish, top with the mash and bake in the oven until the top is golden.

I serve it with steamed broccoli or peas, but they could be added to the white sauce instead.

[amidaiwish]

plus the usual pasta with sweetcorn and tuna

pasta with broccoli and cheese sauce (baked) and fish fingers

salmon fish cakes - mix mash potato, salmon and peas into little patties and bake. breadcrumbs if i have them but fine without.

[orangina]

(rice, not ride)

[amidaiwish]

roast a chicken

give chicken with some veg night one ( i try and have little portions of gravy in freezer to take out)

chicken with roasted peppers and any other veg in fajita wraps night two

night three - put chicken in a pie dish, add gravy or chicken stock, add chopped cooked carrots or any other veg, top with mashed potato and bake.

jacket potato with a medley of tuna, cheese, grated carrot etc..

make a bolognaise sauce and freeze in portions. spag bol one night, lasagne (using little dish cheese sauce) another night etc.

waitrose organic frozen chicken fillets and veg

poach a salmon in some milk, flake, put in ceramic dish, add any veg, some cheese sauce (little dish again) top with mash potato and bake

waitrose organic margarita pizza (frozen) top with tuna, sweetcorn, some grated cheese and bake.

errr think that's about my lot.

[orangina]

Also, I make a lamb stew in the slow cooker, then freeze it in smallish portions to defrost for dc meals.... serve w couscous or ride or mash.

[orangina]

cauliflower cheese? broccoli cheese? can throw in a bit of ham as well.....

[orangina]

shepherds pie? fish pie? salmon baked in the oven with potatos and veg? soup? Is he old enough for roast chicken drumsticks (and potatoes and veg)?

[WhatFreshHellIsThis]

we just steam it in a metal sieve Maveta, just plonk it on top of the rice pan, if that helps!

[AitchTwoOh]

it sounds delicious. i do love a fried egg.

[Maveta]

some great ideas here, am loving the steamed salmon idea, think i´ll have to get a steamer...

the egg - we fry it (is that bad??) though you could poach it if you like I guess, you want the yolk to be all yummy and runny though and it all mixes up into a pretty revolting looking mix but is a huge hit. And a pretty staple meal for kids around here as far as i gather. I do sneak spinach and other things into the tomato sauce when dh is looking the other way (sacrilege!)

[AitchTwoOh]

oh yes btw if no avos in house then grated cucumber squeezed and then added to greek yog and a bit of nutmeg is another good sauce.

[AitchTwoOh]

also most supermarkets do half-decent breaded chicken now, no additives etc. i keep that sort of thing in the freezer, we have those in pittas with toms lettuce and cucumber yoghurt etc. it's a good snacky tea with olives and nibbly things.

[AitchTwoOh]

nothing elaborate, just avo and a squish of lemon and some smushed garlic. me and dh attend to our tabasco and spring onion needs separately as dd1 prefers without.

i wish to point out that the lazy micro meal is for when dh and i are having a takeaway and wish for it all to be OVER asap. dinner, i mean.

[Spink]

3 new posts while I was typing that!
Yay thank you, all great ideas

[AitchTwoOh]

oh osh yes salmon, that's out ultimate quickie meal. i am revoltin though and buy those fillets that are pre-packed frozen from m and s. you can just puncture the plastic (i KNOW, i'm so not a hippy) and the salmon self-steams in the micro. i then do some pots and peas in the micro while the salmon is cooling. LAZY.

[Spink]

ah, good good. He likes carrot, actually - well - he likes chewing it but not so much the swallowing.
I'm trying not to put vegetable pressure on ds and just offer stuff and then not react too much however it goes. Avocado used to be a sure-fire hit but he is really off it. How do you make your guac? maybe that'll float his boat..

[luvaduck]

cous cous with steamed veg all mashed together

make a big risotto - eg leek and mushroom and freeze portions for later

annabel karmel ( i know i know - but this is good quick option when in a hurry) does a nice ready meal to heat up with chicken and rice without any crap in

cheese on toast with steamed veg