Live lunchtime webchat with Tana Ramsay, 1-2pm, Monday 13 October

GeraldineMumsnet · 2008-10-13T11:32:39+00:00

Tana will be online in half an hour to answer your questions about cooking and food for families, her new recipe book and anything else culinary you're burning to ask her. See you then...

TanaRamsay2008 · 13/10/2008 12:38

Testing

MamaG · 13/10/2008 12:46

Just culinary questions? OK

CountessDracula · 13/10/2008 12:46

do you have any good recipes for cod

Carmenere · 13/10/2008 12:47

There were quite a few sensible Q's on the other thread, perhaps MNHQ could transfer them over here?

MamaG · 13/10/2008 12:48

I'm always looking for packed lunch inspiration - any ideas?

DarrellRivers · 13/10/2008 12:48

So no questions about Gordon then?

CountessDracula · 13/10/2008 12:49

or his aubergine

PuzzleRocks · 13/10/2008 12:49

Hello Tana

How often do you cook for Gordon? And what does he honestly think of your ability?
Do your children prefer you or their Dad to cook?

MrsMattie · 13/10/2008 12:50

Hi Tana.

Do you ever fall back on freezer food - nuggets, pizza etc - or fast food for you and the kids? Does Gordon?

CountessDracula · 13/10/2008 12:51

What is your favorite family dish?

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 13/10/2008 12:51

We've sent Tana some advance questions from the other thread and asked her to post the question when she posts the answer, so hopefully we'll avoid all that checking back from the answer to see what the queston was stuff.

Indith · 13/10/2008 12:52

I want cheap biscuits. Am getting sick of fork biscuits and so is ds but anything with eggs in ends up more expensive to make than it is to buy a pack of digestives. So something tasty and cheaper to make than it is to buy please

cmotdibbler · 13/10/2008 12:52

Why is it that recipes designed to be cooked with children are always novelty or sweet ? Some ideas on normal, savoury things to cook with small children (ie ideally that are all prepared cold, and then chucked in the oven/pan all together so that you aren't continually stopping them doing things) would be great.

Also, I'd love it if recipes had suggestions on adapting to gluten/dairy/other allergen free ingredients.

TheArmadillo · 13/10/2008 12:53

Tana
your children are attending a party where the only food is over processed and full of additives (aka traditional party fare) would you
a) let them eat it - it's just a one off
b) try and steer them towards the less bad stuff
c) make em starve
d) take your own food aka doing a Jools Oliver.

secondly did you mind that Gordon wasn't present at any of your births or were you quite pleased to get him outta the way?

Thirdly what do you do if you get a fussy eater to tea who refuses to eat your meals. Do you let em starve or serve up something else. And do you comment on it after either to the parents or gossip with others.

gemmiegoatlegs · 13/10/2008 12:53

How do you manage with eating on the run, on days out with the kids etc?
Many of the family oriented places we go serve pretty awful food, something with chips or a sandwich with no vegetable portion - how do you feed your kids on days out?

TheArmadillo · 13/10/2008 12:54

Tana
your children are attending a party where the only food is over processed and full of additives (aka traditional party fare) would you
a) let them eat it - it's just a one off
b) try and steer them towards the less bad stuff
c) make em starve
d) take your own food aka doing a Jools Oliver.

secondly did you mind that Gordon wasn't present at any of your births or were you quite pleased to get him outta the way?

Thirdly what do you do if you get a fussy eater to tea who refuses to eat your meals. Do you let em starve or serve up something else. And do you comment on it after either to the parents or gossip with others.

gemmiegoatlegs · 13/10/2008 12:56

also, how many times would you try and offer a new food to a young child if they kept rejecting it? Would you keep trying ad infinitum or give up the ghost after a couple of refusals?

Do your kids ever refuse certain foods even?

MNHQ

GeraldineMumsnet · 13/10/2008 12:58

Thanks, Tana, for coming on. Lots of questions to kick off with, so over to you...

OP posts:

needmorecoffee · 13/10/2008 12:59

What recipes would you recommend for those on a very tight budget? Chefs seem to come up with such poncey ones no real people can afford.

TanaRamsay2008 · 13/10/2008 13:01

Hi,

Thank you for all your questions, ask away!

I have been answering some of your advance questions and shall post them below to get things started.

Tana x

DonDons · 13/10/2008 13:01

Cies · 13/10/2008 13:01

I posted this on the other thread, but maybe a bit late to be forwarded to you!

I'm going to lunch at GR at Claridges in a couple of weeks. What should I wear? Don't want to be too glam or too casual.

TanaRamsay2008 · 13/10/2008 13:01

By Cappuccino on Mon 13-Oct-08 12:09:50

I would like to know

how to make children stop sitting in front of their delicious home- made meal and saying "I don't like it" before they have had any
Tana - Be consistent and don?t cook anything else, children will never starve themselves! It makes mealtimes a bit of a battle field for a while but carry on and it makes it so worthwhile! Goodluck!
I would like ideas for meals I can make for the children which I can then dolly up for nights when I want to eat with dh and he is working late
Tana - This is something I do all the time ? things like bolognaise become chilli con carne (always have tabasco, Worchester sauce etc in your store cupboard ) but the majority of meals, especially one pot dishes become better when reheated.
Alternatively, make extra marinade and then simply have fish to pan fry to complete a meal.
I want to know what to make for lunches at weekends - I mean snack lunches, not roasts, can do roasts - because I never have any idea what to have and we all end up having poached egg on toast
Tana - We do lots of things like pasta salads, eg tuna, mayo & sweetcorn with cherry tomatoes, cucumber & little gem lettuce or soups made from all your leftovers are always a good winter warmer with cheesy toasted fingers.
I would like to know if she actually gets any time to herself in the evening and if so, does she fill it with edifying pursuits or does she have a glass of wine and some bits of chocolate and watch CSI really.
Tana ? I love that time when kids are in bed and chores are all done ? a glass of wine and either girlfriends over or quite TV time ? usually big bag of crisps instead of chocolate and if I really want to spoil myself some salsa dip.

Playmobil · 13/10/2008 13:03

Not culinary, but any ideas for creating a montessori type environment at home for my children on a budget please?

TanaRamsay2008 · 13/10/2008 13:03

mabanana
Tana, how do you answer critics who claim you aren't a real cook? Was Gordon joking when he said you couldn't cook? What's his favourite meal?
Tana - Gordon always says that and it terrifies him to see me chopping with his sharp knives because I am a domestic cook and have never been trained ? I cook everyday for our children and give them a varied diet but do not spend all day stressing about exotic dishes! Big difference in our style of cooking and I think that makes me a real cook!
Gordon?s favourite meal is steak and salad ? sometimes chips for a treat!
What do you eat when you are at home by yourself in the evenings?
Tana - I will eat the kids leftovers or if there is none beans on toast!
What's your best make-with-the-kids chocolate cake recipe? And what's your favourite method for making yummy icing?
Tana - I love making icing with orange juice or freshly squeezed lemon juice ? is great with a plain sponges to give them a citrus twist. Favourite cake to make is boys birthday chocolate cake from Family kitchen, the kids always put their action figure into the icing when it is still gooey!