Learning to super size again for the hungry hungry hippos

Although technically I am an only child, I grew up in mother's household and ended up being 1 of 5 children in the house.  So with 7 of us around the dinner table, I learnt to cook BIG meals.  But when I moved out at age 18, I had to radically reteach myself to cook small meals. 

Now the winds of change have blown again and with the duo well into normal foods, I'm having to teach myself to super size meals again... and knock out a few at a hit too.  And keeping up with my horde of remorseless eating machines is a full time job onto itself.  Thank heavens I love cooking like I do !

So today thanks to some wonderful sleeping midgets, I managed to cook some quick and easy family meals.

Veggie slice (my adulterated version of a humble zucchini slice)

10 eggs
2 cups self raising flour
550gm zucchini, grated
200gm carrot, grated
1 cup corn kernels (I use frozen)
1 cup peas (again frozen)
1 ½ brown onion, finely chopped
400gm bacon, sliced
2 cups tasty cheese, grated

Grease a lasagne tray and preheat oven to 180° fan forced.

Beat eggs and add in sifted flour until combined.  Add each of the remaining ingredients, mixing until combined before adding next (get better egg mix coating this way)

Pour into tray and bake in oven for 30mins or until brown on top and set in the middle.

Note : this is lovely served warm, but for little people, allow to cool completely and refrigerate.  Sliced into finger size pieces makes a fantastic finger food.

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Cottage Pie (inspired by my mother, my laziness and those 4 ingredient ladies)

1 pkt french onion soup mix
1 kg beef mince
3 cups frozen vegetable mix
1 kg potatoes, something like Desiree - a good mashing variety
grated cheese enough to cover potato mash

Brown mince (drain off fat if there's excess), add soup mix and frozen mixed veg.  Pour mince mix into casserole dish.  Preheat oven to 180° fan forced.

Peel, dice, boil and mash potatoes.  Spoon mash on top of meat, sprinkle grated cheese and bake until cheese melted and browned (approx 10 mins)
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Then I gave myself a bit of a pantry challenge (thanks Ready Steady Cook for the inspiration) and attempted a newbie which I couldn't help but tinker with...  Bean and tomato sausage hotpot which we had with polenta.  Again, cooked a double batch of the polenta, refrigerated half in a greased lamington tray and cut into finger sized pieces make more great finger food for little peoples.  I'm going to dabble with adding veggies / flavour to the polenta and see what comes of it.

Sadly the horde of hungry hungry hippos attacked all of the above before I could take any pretty photos... grrrr....  But all the finger foods and freezable meals will serve us well as we are about to  embark upon the outlaws belated xmas 4 day clan gathering.  And if you've read my previous post, this will be all kinds of joy for me.


So Jan 4, 2011 : today's gratitude comes from my husband who thanked me for being organised (for a recent change) and my forward planning.  It's so nice to hear that, he doesn't have to say but when he did, I almost blushed- go figure !?!