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Original poster

Cooking with Ems!!

72 replies

Lizzer · 16/05/2001 13:10

Ems, It worked, it worked! It was delicious in fact! I was a bit worried at the prospect of buying the meat as I'm a pre-packaged type of gal usually -I was like 'mmmm... some of your finest neck fillet please' I think they thought I was nuts (not far wrong then!) The rest was a doddle as you said! It was so nice! I waited til after the nice weather had gone (cos you feel more like salads and stuff on hot days don't you) which didn't take too long did it! We had it for tea last night, yummy! Still some left actually.... My daughter loved it too, she's got a nasty cold at the moment so it was lovely and warming for her. I'm so impressed, have you anymore recipes up your sleeves....??!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lizzer · 10/06/2001 21:16

Hi Ems, forgot to tell you how the liver went... actually she liked it, I blender-ed it and she had it with mash. I was amazed, but I'm so glad you mentioned it cos it's so cheap and good for her, would never thought of it myself - I can't say I like it though! I will be buying it again...
Oh and I had horrid, nasty virus last week so I instructed my Mum how to make your casserole for me - comfort food or what!

Anymore recipes up your sleeves Ems....?!

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Ems · 12/06/2001 20:20

Hi Lizzer, glad she liked the liver. I do have another recipe, but need to wait until I've gone shopping to find out the name of one of the ingredients!!! Its a chicken and beany one.

Getting off the healthy food subject I saw a yummy recipe that I will be making this weekend (saw it in a weightwatchers book!?)

150g marshmallows
25g cocoa powder
15g butter
125g rice crispies

Place marshmallows in a bowl over a pan of simmering water with the cocoa and butter, heat, stir until its all smooth. Stir in crispies. Divide between 20 individual cases and chill for 1 hour. They will store in container for up to 7 days.

Yummeeeee.

(PS: Just incase any WW followers want to know, they are worth 1 point each!)

Original poster
Lizzer · 12/06/2001 22:09

Hi Ems - if cocoa, marshmallows and butter feature on the weight watchers diet I want to know about it NOW!! Can you really eat such delights?! I'm one for dieting by deprivation only, rivita and cottage cheese would be what I consider a snack -no wonder I head straight for the choc when I'm feeling out of sorts. I need some dieting inspriration, going to check out slimming world website so will look up weight watchers too...
Mmmm chickeny beany thing sounds good too, Nigella...!!

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Original poster
Lizzer · 19/07/2001 13:06

Hi Ems, not really a cooking related question this time (but if you've any recipes for me I'd love to try them!)

I was just wanting to know how your little one is and if you've been getting as many tantrums as me! I witnessed her first proper, full-on, very public one on Tuesday, it was really tough. I was in a cafe and had ordered her some icecream as a treat, but there was something she was trying to tell me by pointing and saying things which I didn't have a clue what they were. She just got louder and louder, everyone was looking and waitresses kept flying over saying "is she alright?" (like-obviously not!) and bringing toys that she would fling across the room. I was so much in shock that I think I handled it pretty well! All that was in my head was 'don't shout- don't make a scene- keep calm' and it actually worked, eventually. I tried every trick in every book, ignore, distract, take outside, hold child tight, bribery....! It was quite comical actually, obvious 1st time Mum trying to remember everything I'd read on child behaviour!! Got round her in the end by looking at her in the eyes and talking non-stop about all sorts of drivel in one long stream of words "ooo, did we go to the park yesterday, yes and what did we see?Did we see a duck what did the duck say did it say quack quack and then we played on the swings didn't we and then...."!!!!!! She stopped screaming and started listening til she was just sobbing slightly - oh the relief!! I bet every person in the place was thinking no wonder the child's upset her mother is a fruit-cake! I was dead proud of myself for not shouting or bawling - though I'm sure it'll happen when I'm v stressed one day...

Anyway, how are you and thanks for all the weight loss encouragement, by the way...

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Ems · 19/07/2001 18:44

Hello, I'm fine. Sounds like you coped admirably with the tantrum! You just have to forget that you're in public and that people are looking. I havent had any major public tantrums with him as yet, he is very cross and stroppy and has horrible shrieks, which surprise people.

His other habit is if some nice stranger says Hello, in the post office for example, he shrieks at them and nods his head no-no.

Most of his crossness is definitely down to his stupid mother not understanding what he's trying to tell her, because apparently its really obvious! But like you, stick an animal noise in there and you're usually OK.

I'll think of some more recipes when I'm feeling creative, feeling pretty lethargic at the mo. Went shopping today and instead of an egg sandwich from M&S, I got him one of those little pasta/chicken salads with fork and he LOVED it.

He's off yoggies at the mo, so any quick pud recipes gratefully received. Byeee.

Emsiewill · 19/07/2001 19:09

Not really a pud recipe, but a sort of mix between a pud and a drink - probably preaching to the converted, but just in case...1 banana, 1 scoop ice-cream (or crushed ice if you prefer), and 1 pint milk. Wizz with handheld blender-thingy, or in food processor, and yum - I love it and so do the kids!! Having said that, When I made it recently, my 4 year old said "I don't like your banana milkshake - it's got bits in it, I like the one from the shop" (ie full of rubbish, not a real banana in sight).

Original poster
Lizzer · 19/07/2001 19:39

Ems, you're not going to believe this but my daughter is off yoghurts too! She decided this last week but still asks for them only for them to sit there on the table untouched. She really likes bought-from-the-shops milkshake so I'll try that recipe, Emsiewill - and hope she's too young to notice the difference! Have you tried rice pudding or sago as an alternative?

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Jodee · 19/07/2001 20:22

Can I ask what you all feed your children at dinnertime (ie lunchtime for grownups)? Up to a few weeks back I was giving ds a hot meal at dinner and also at tea, but he has now started walking and also has been out of his normal routine for the past 2 weeks while we were on holiday. I would usually give him his dinner at 12 and straight to a nap but he has been so tired from just walking around the house he won't eat anything, or maybe just a banana. I tried today feeding him at 11.30 but he didn't want anything, so I gave him a banana again when he woke at 2 from his nap. I've tried him on sandwiches, but they just get thrown on the floor. He has a pretty large hot meal at 5pm so I'm not too worried that he isn't eating enough, I just wondered what the 'norm' was (if there is such a thing!) for dinner(lunch) times with people? (I'm waffling as usual ... )

Ems · 20/07/2001 13:40

Hi Jodee, lunchtime is sometimes pasta for us, with either grated jarlsberg cheese on it, or a sauce I make up with lots of bits in, small tin tomatoes, peas, mushrooms and sometimes those little bacon bits. He enjoys all this because he eats it all with his fingers.

Other times we have bread and dairylea or bread and houmus, crisps, raisins, simple fare!

Today we had fried egg on toast with teddy bear crisps to dip in the egg. And some fingers of cheese. If all else fails and I havent been shopping for yonks, its baked beans on toast.

I made a yummy spanish omelette last weekend for family lunch and he really enjoyed that, the key is lots of 'bits' I think, especially mushrooms at the mo - they are the in thing.

My little one is just recovering from an ear infection so is shattered before lunchtime (usually noon) so he has been going to bed at 11, hence we have been having a late lunch too. He's fine with that and still has his main meal at 5ish.

Jodee · 23/07/2001 11:36

Hi Ems, thanks for replying. I do like the sound of Spanish omelette, but no way could I knock it up just before lunchtime, I think I will try it one evening and give it to him the next day; and maybe give eggs another go, they were treated with such disgust when I attempted them a few months back. Your little one sounds like he will give anything a go, what an obliging little chap!
PS - never heard of Jarlsberg cheese, what's it like?

Ems · 23/07/2001 18:17

It's yummy, mild and sweet, and we have it because we call it mousy cheese, full of holes!

Spanish Omelette does tend to be a weekend thing, when hubby can entertain mad toddler. But it is very nice next day reheated (or even cold). Even better with some ketchup on the side.

Batters · 26/07/2001 15:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ems · 26/07/2001 17:31

Hi Batters

the cake I usually make is a simple Victoria Sandwich and then jazz it up depending on the birthday person.

100g soft butter
100g caster sugar
2 standard eggs
100g sifted self-raising flour

2 x 7in (18cm) tins, greased + g. paper on the bottom.

Oven 180/350/Gas 4

  • Cream butter and sugar together

  • Beat in whole eggs, one at a time adding a tblsp of flour with each

  • Fold in remaing flour with metal spoon

  • Put in tins and smooth tops with knife

  • Bake in centre of oven for 25-30 mins. Leave in tins for 2-3 mins and then turn out onto wire rack.

Quick and easy topping that mine love to do is melted Dairy Milk chocolate smeared over the top and then go crazy with the hundreds and thousands. (usually do this on a big tray to contain escaping millions, and then can pour back in).

Glace icing in loud yukky colours is always fun! 225g sifted icing sugar and 2 tblsp of hot water. My son always loves mixing this bit by bit to make smooth icing and then puts some drops of colour in. When its daubed on the cake it runs down the sides and looks nice.

In the middle put in jam or whipped up cream. Or Chocolate butter cream:

110g softened butter
200g sifted icing sugar
2 teasp of cold milk
50g melted and cooled plain chocolate

Beat butter until soft, gradually beat in sugar, alternatively with choc and milk. Pop it in the fridge to thicken up a bit.

Hope there's some simple ideas there!

Ems · 26/07/2001 17:35

Batters, forgot to mention, in some big supermarkets in the chocolate aisle (aaaagh, I dont go there anymore!!) you can sometimes get little bags of foil covered footballs, which you could pop on the top or foil covered cars.

Batters · 26/07/2001 20:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kmg · 29/07/2001 13:45

Nigella Lawson's recipe for a buttermilk birthday cake is fantastic. It is pretty easy to make, holds its shape well no matter what size/mould, and tastes, as you would expect, delicious. Far better than most normal cakes. Friends are still commenting on my youngest's birthday cake, which was three months' ago!

Wornout · 31/07/2001 13:25

kmg - What is the receipe though?

Debsb · 01/08/2001 11:51

Batters (or anyone else with a chocoholic hubbie), my kids and dhs favourite birthday cake is the cookie monster. Basically, bake normal sponge style cake in a pudding basin. Then cover it in melted chocolate, stick 2 choc mini rolls at the bottom for legs, 2 at the sides for arms, and roll out some white icing for the face (you can decorate it how you like, but a big red tongue seems to look good). Use some chocolate chip cookies broken up for the ears and feet and there you are.
Its a very good one for children to help with, as cookie monsters are supposed to be messy and there's plenty of yummy choc bowls to scrape out at the end (and all the bits of cookie and mini roll of course).

Ems · 07/08/2001 12:41

Hi Lizzer, you remember we were talking last month about the littlies not into yoggies? Mine has had some recently quite happily in disguise! I had some of M&S meringue nests, put the petit filous in it with a raspberry on the top.

He was so busy looking at the alien looking fruit, that he ate the rest. Loved the meringue bashed up, sugar content perhaps?!

Original poster
Lizzer · 07/08/2001 18:44

Na-hah, Ems! I like your way of thinking, if they won't eat it disguise it, ha ha! I will be trying something like that v soon, thanks for the tip! I'm getting a bit frustrated now actually, because dd is getting really picky with all her food, are you finding that at all? I prepare these masterpieces of dietary balanced and nutrionally sound food, and she eats a couple of bits off the plate and leaves the rest only to get hungry later on when we are out and she'll demand crisps or something. I don't mind that she's a 'snacky' eater, but I'm tearing my hair out trying to think of things to sling in the rucksack that are as tasty as crisps or sweet stuff and can hang around in there for a while until she decides she's hungry..? Help!!

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Bloss · 07/08/2001 20:01

Message withdrawn

Original poster
Lizzer · 08/08/2001 19:34

I get your point Bloss It's not like I'm feverishly trying to force food down her in case she wilts away! I just need tips on healthy snacks really - today I found pine kernels a big hit, much better than crisps which she seems to eat a lot of at the moment. I would be greatful for any other ideas, we've got raisins and those squishy fruit bars from the health food shop in the bag, but any more easy things to have to hand would be great...

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Wornout · 10/08/2001 10:47

Lizzer,
Have you tried M&S fruit loaf goes down extremley well with my extreeeeeeeeemly fussy 2 1/2 year old
can travel well as he will eat with out butter

Bloss · 10/08/2001 11:13

Message withdrawn

Wornout · 10/08/2001 14:20

I agree with Bloss. I know not a lot of people are in agreement with Annabel Karmel books but I think
she is quite good and you can always change the receipe slightly to suit your own childs taste.
Also dried bagel chips are quite good.