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

[GeraldineMumsnet]

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...

Tana, Are you a mumsnetter?

What is the trashiest thing you eat?

and er... does Gordon have an unattached twin brother please?!

Minorbirdonelmstreet,

Lots of pasta, chicken and anything we like as you burn it off! I find I am hungry all day and constantly want to pick at things.
Most importantly you must eat breakfast and the best for energy before a big run is porridge.

Tana

Thanks, Tana.

DS2 is 10, and is on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet.
He would like to know if you can please give us a suitable recipe so that his birthday cake "doesn't taste of plasticine, like it did last year!".

(That's the last time I spend two hours hand piping chocolate icing onto a Scooby Doo cake for the likes of him).

Thanks.
I used to bf DS2 and fall asleep with him in bed with me!
Need to be stricter with returning my 2 back to bed. Unfortunately having a cuddle and returning them ends up in a long running battle and I end up sleeping on their floor or the 3 of us coming downstairs. They're 3.8 and 2.2 yrs.

Mankymummy,

Most difficult part of being a parent... Needing the patience of a saint! Trying to split myself four ways and have quality time for my husband let alone myself - sometimes I could scream!

The guilt you feel if you have not helped all with homework or done reading/spelling or forgotten a games kit is horrible - no one ever tells you that before you become a parent. Having a ten year old now who is getting to that sensitive age is like stepping on egg shells - you have to know when to listen!

Tana

Thanks Tana, Ready Brek rocks!

I'm a lost cause on breakfast. I make sure my kids eat well, but it's the one meal where I don't eat with them. I cannot stomach food in the morning. A cup of tea is all I'll have, then I'll be starving by 10am. But I really don't like cereals and cannot, just cannot face cooking, even if it's a boiled egg. It takes me up to an hour to recover from getting up!

Tana, did you take the kids to eat out a lot when they were little? Any London recommendations for young kids? Mine are 5 & 3. They both eat well but its really hard keeping DS (3) occupied. I am fed up of child friendly places but with shit food.

Pucca,

Try cheese sauce, always finds that works really well as it coats the cauliflower and crispy pancetta on the top adds to the disguise! Don't get in the habit of hiding it though, if you confess after a few occasions they tend to be quite proud that they have eaten it and will try it alone.

Tana

Nicky1313

I LOVE a takeaway, Indian is my favourite closely followed by Chinese. A treat is always allowed and so nice not to cook sometimes.

Tana

Good luck with that one Wags!

I love it when we deepfry parsnips with the chips and wait for one of the kids to munch the lovely long 'chip' in delight, only for their faces to scrunch up in horror when they realise what it is! Gets them every time!

Hi Tana

Can I ask what your favourite colour is?
We love the leek and fish pie recipe from your first book and also spag bol + Chilli. My 11 month old will eat these too

I'll be taking you and yours with me Pooka don't you worry

Wags,

Really only started going out with the kids when our youngest was the only one in a highchair as when the twins were also in highchairs it was like a mobile play group.... We would take them to most places and just take colouring books and pens with us as that always keeps them quiet - also take a bonus surprise of pack of stickers to bribe if they become restless!

tana

Tana - what do you eat (and drink) on christmas day?

Thanks Tana. Might take enough stickers to stick DS to his chair. Maybe that would work?

Cupchar

Very nice pack lunch, wish I had an apple tree!

Tana

ooo can I also ask.. Tana, how would you incentivise a child that doesn't like stickers, will say 'oh, I won't have the chocolate bar then' and is sarcastic about the naughty step...?
My ds 2 is 4.7 and knows his own mind

Tana - please please tell me that the pigs, chickens et al messed up your lovely garden and caused you no end of rows with Gordon. Otherwise DH will get his own way and we will be swamped with livestock.

Where is cupsoftea? She'll be sorry she missed this.

Thanks for the reply Tana.

Ohhhh bum!

I could soooooo do with some help with Ds1, I've run out of idea now and have tried everything!

Gutted I missed this.