We’ve been away for a few days and then had a weekend of birthdays which has meant being away from our usual way of eating. Today I had a chance to get back in the kitchen to cook…. I really fancied fish but after a few days away we had a rather bare fridge and veggie rack. BANG goes that idea, no potatoes. So I had to get creative. Finding some wheatfree breadcrumbs in the freezer I decided to remake fish pie. If I have ends of wheat free bread left or make a rather crumbly loaf I tend to whizz it into breadcrumbs and freeze for a later date. Tonight was date night.
I used frozen fish as that’s all I had but you could use fresh.
I love cooking, but there are days when I just need something I can throw in the oven and leave it to cook itself. Days when I really don’t have the energy to cook but know it’s even more important that I have a healthy dinner at that point. Know what I mean?
This recipe has saved me on several occasions. It is such a simple way to cook fish and yet it always comes out moist and and perfectly cooked, more importantly it is wolfed down by my kids! I cut the salmon into chunks and the baby finds it easy finger food.
Risotto, it’s a staple in our house. I love the way you can reinvent it each time you make it. Weaning baby 2 has also remined me how it’s completely suitable for everyone in the family. He has been loving risotto from his first taste of it at 6 months old. So if you want a meal you can cook that everyone will enjoy, try this out. This is real food and tasty food.
Today’s variation includes salmon for extra omega 3 goodness and monounsaturated fat. I always pack whatever we cook with plenty of veggies. The courgette was grated as my toddler “is not keen on courgettes mummy”…. but it also adds extra vegetables without you really noticing they are there.
Here is the 3 1/2 year olds portion… she like risotto alot.
And the husbands portion – hence all the cheese, the man is a cheese monster…
Salmon and Spring Vegetable Risotto
2014-05-14 22:34:53
Serves 4
Packed with vegetables and omega 3's, a super healthy, tasty dinner suitable for the whole family.
Heat the oil in a large pan and sweat the onions and carrots for a few minutes.
Now add the rice and stir to coat in the oil, leave for 2 minutes.
Add the wine, and stir, bring to a simmer on a medium heat.
When most of the wine has been cooked out add the stock, about 100ml at a time. Stir frequently whilst it cooks as this helps release the starch from the rice and stops it burning on the bottom, plus it gives you a good arm workout 😉
About half way through the stock additions add in the cubed salmon and grated courgette.
When you have added all the stock, it's time to add the milk and let it cook out too.
Now add the quark and grated parmesan.
Finally stir through the spinach and allow it to wilt, and season.
I’m on my quest to find ways to get oily fish into the family. Today I had a play around with making a rub for the fish, which myself and the hubby loved, the children found it a little spicy… which just meant the rub got scraped off their plates onto ours. Win Win. Next time I’ll put the rub on our portions and add some yoghurt to the kids ones 😉
What I love about these type of recipes is they can be prepared in advance and then it’s just a case of turning on the oven, putting it in and making sure you keep an eye on the clock. Try preparing this the night before and it will just take 40 minutes to cook in the oven the next evening. Maximum taste with minimal effort.
Ready to Cook
The other great thing about this recipe was the chunkiness of the veggies meant the baby was able to feed himself quite happily, leading to a whole load of mess but also happiness, and a bath.
Spicy Salmon Rub With Roasted Veggies
2014-05-01 22:00:06
Serves 4
A prepare ahead meal that is packed with omega 3's and provides 2 portions of vegetables.
Put the garlic, garam masala, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds for the rub into a large pestle and mortar. Now have fun giving it a good bash.
When it is ground into a paste add in the coriander and continue to bash.
Add the soy sauce as needed to loosen it.
Now spread onto the salmon.
Peel the carrots and onions. Chop all the vegetables into chunks and place into a roasting dish. Toss in the oil and place the salmon on the top. It can all now be covered and go into the fridge until you are going to cook it.
To cook: heat the oven to Gas Mark 5. Remove the salmon from the dish, place the vegetables only into the oven to roast for 30 minutes.
Now add the salmon on top of the vegetables and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Whilst the salmon is cooking get the kettle on and cook up some noodles to go with it.
My 3 year old has been watching, helping and cooking with me since she was a baby. Whether in a sling, a bumbo, highchair or stood on a stool she has always loved it. Mainly because she gets to eat it, and this girl is a true foodie. Given the choice of what to have for lunch she goes for things like Sushi, prawns and olives. She shuns childrens options like sausage and chips in favour of peppers stuffed with goats cheese. She also just loves to help chop, stir and get involved with mummy. So when the video camera wasn’t charged and I couldn’t work out how to get the tablet to balance somewhere and film us both I decided to just let her do the vlog. I must admit a certain level of motherly pride at this girl 😉
Miss K also loves fish fingers. Why? Because she loves fish but also because of a book we have where Charlie and Lola refer to them as “ocean niblets” from the supermarket under the sea. This book captured our imagaination around food. I don’t buy fish fingers, firstly I can’t eat them unless they are wheat free and secondly these take just minutes to make and the same time to cook so there is no need!
I love fish but I sometimes struggle to get it into our weekly menu as hubby isn’t that keen on it. Anything with bones, a head or tails is definitely not allowed on the table (prawns excepted) and anything too fishy is also a no go.
So here is my latest fishy offering and this one went down well. The hubby said I could make it again and gave a few mmmmm noises. The toddler gave me a clap and said “Well done Mummy”, high praise indeed 🙂
So why not give it a go and see how it fares with your family? Salmon is an oily fish providing omega 3’s and the vegetables will pack this meal up to provide 2 of your 5 a day.
This meal can be prepared in advance then put in the oven to cook through later on.
Salmon and Vegetable Bake
2013-11-16 18:58:35
Serves 3
A different way to serve up oily fish and veggies to your family.
