Chilli Con Carne (preparation time +/- 50 minutes)
Yes, we’re going the Mexican way. This is such an easy meal to prepare and my kids love it! The good thing is, you can’t go wrong with this dish, and that’s what we need, right?
Necessities:
Large casserole with a lid, such as the Le Creuset ‘Dutch Oven’
Vegetable Oil
1 large onion finely chopped
2 minced garlic cloves
1,5 teaspoons of ground cumin
1 teaspoon of smoked paprika (the mild one)
1/2 teaspoon of ginger powder (you can leave it out if you don’t have/like it)
1/4 teaspoon of ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 large table spoons of tomato puree
500 grams of ground beef
6-8 large carrots cut into cubes
4-6 large sticks of celery cut into cubes
1 canned tomatoes (try to buy the BPA-free cans)
2 canned kidney beans (rinsed and drained)
1 canned sweet corn (rinsed and drained)
Salt to taste
Optional:
Homemade Guacamole (my favourite):
3 ripe avocados, mashed
1 red chilli, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 or 2 tomato, cut into small cubes
1 bunch of coriander, finely chopped
juice of half a lime
How to prepare:
Put a little bit of vegetable oil in the casserole on medium heat
Fry the chopped union until soft and golden brown
Add the crushed garlic and fry for 1 minute
Add all the ground spices (e.g. cumin, smoked paprika, ginger, coriander, cinnamon) and fry for 1 minute
Add the tomato puree and fry for 1 minute
Put the ground beef in the pan and fry until completely cooked
Add the carrots and celery and fry for one minute
Add the canned tomatoes and close the lid and let it simmer until the carrots and celery are soft
When the carrots and celery are soft, add the kidney beans and cook them until warm, but don’t let them broil!
Now, your dish is almost ready. Add the corn and to finish the whole thing off, you can add some coriander leaves.
If you would like to serve it with guacamole, put all the ingredients for the guacamole in a large bowl, mix it well and put a few scoops on your plate of chilli con carne. Enjoy!
Pasta Bolognese, the easy way (preparation time +/- 60 minutes)
Every kid likes pasta, right? With this recipe you can give your children something they will probably love and it is packed with veggies. A win-win, if you ask me!
Necessities:
Large casserole with a lid, such as the Le Creuset ‘Dutch Oven’
Olive Oil
2-3 minced garlic cloves
1 teaspoon of dried oregano leaves
1 bay leaf
2 large tablespoons of tomato puree
500 grams of ground beef
6-8 large carrots cut into cubes
4-6 large sticks of celery cut into cubes
2 canned tomatoes (try to buy the BPA-free cans)
Salt and pepper to taste
Whole-wheat pasta, I always use penne since it is easier to eat for the children compared to spaghetti
Grated Parmesan cheese to put on top
How to prepare:
Put a little bit of olive oil in the casserole on medium heat
Add the crushed garlic and fry for 1 minute
Add the ground beef and fry until completely cooked
Add the tomato puree and fry for 1 minute
Add the carrots and celery and fry for one minute
Add the canned tomatoes, the dried oregano, the bay leaf and salt and pepper
Stir the sauce and close the lid. Let it simmer until the carrots and celery are completely soft.
In the meantime cook the pasta until soft
When the carrots and celery are soft the sauce is ready to be served.
Take the bay leaf out after cooking
I always stir the sauce through the pasta. It makes the dish look more appealing for children. Now, your dish is ready. Put some of the grated Parmesan cheese on top and serve. Enjoy!