Parents of picky eaters can find the process of introducing new foods very frustrating, especially when kids are not interested in trying anything.

Here’s a guessing game we tried, which was fun and welcomed by two such picky children.

Objective:

Your child’s objective is to guess the names of four fruits and vegetables he or she is trying, without being able to see them. Note: You may choose to include a prize if one or more of the guesses are right.

Method:

Take small pieces of four different fruits or vegetables and put them on a plate. Then cover the plate with a paper towel, napkin or clean cloth. Next, ask your child to close their eyes or blindfold their eyes, and place the first piece of food in their mouth. Ask him or her to guess the food (you may choose to give clues), and then record their guess. Ask if he or she likes the taste. Repeat with the remaining three pieces of food.

Then enjoy comparing their guesses to the actual fruits or vegetables together.

This is a game where everyone wins regardless of the guesses. Hopefully your child will discover a new fruit or vegetable he or she likes.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time for me to remind the people that I love how much they mean to me, especially my husband Daniel and my three kids Sabrina, Max and Dalia. Because I love to be creative in the kitchen … this Valentine’s Day I plan to provide them with a days worth of delicious and nutritious surprises throughout the day. Each surprise will have a Valentine’s touch!

Breakfast for my “Beloveds�

I will begin the day by making a large batch of our family’s favourite pancakes and then using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut them into hearts (heart-shaped cookie cutters can be found at your local dollar store). You can even use a frozen pancake or waffle, to save time! I will then top the pancakes with freshly sliced strawberries (frozen can be used too) and make a heart using a can of whipped cream.  A great way to start the day!

This is my favourite pancake recipe from my good friend Norene Gilletz’s cookbook “The Food Processor Bible�.

Buttermilk pancakes

Ingredients
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour*
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 ¼ cups buttermilk**
2 tbsp canola oil or melted butter
1 egg

Method:
1. In a food processor, using the steel blade, combine all of the dry ingredients and process for 3-4 seconds
2. Add the remaining ingredients and process for 6-8 seconds, until smooth.
3. Pour onto a lightly greased griddle or skillet and cook until bubble appear on the top side. Turn over and brown on the other side. (I use a ¼ cup measuring cup for pouring each pancake)

Yield: 12-14 pancakes

*The original recipe called for 1¼ cups all-purpose flour and I have substituted a ½ cup whole wheat flour to boost the nutrition
**If you do not have buttermilk on hand you can measure 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar into a measuring cup and add enough milk to make 1¼ cup.

Loving lunch!

A sandwich filled with tuna salad, deli slices or cream cheese, will be cut in the shape of a heart using the same cookie cutter used for the pancakes at breakfast. (Try keep the filling in the middle to minimize the part that is cut away).

Snack: Using a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter I will be cutting slices of cheddar and mozzarella cheese into heart shapes and providing crackers to accompany them.

Fruit:  Red fruits like strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, grapes.

Treat : Throw in a few “hugs and kisses” chocolates, or any other valentine’s treat (Max loves the special valentine’s mini Smarties boxes, which are perfect as they are nut-free)

And don’t forget a special note telling them to have a wonderful day and that you love them very much! If you find some Valentine’s Day stickers, those are always a nice addition too!

Dinner for my darlings…

For the main course itself, anything goes. However, there are still a few Valentine’s touches to be added…

Valentine Napkin Rings:
Make one for each family member using craft foam or construction paper, stick-on hearts and a stapler. Toilet paper tubes wrapped in red tissue will also do the trick.

Red Jello hearts (from the http://www.dltk-kids.com website)

Ingredients: 1 package Red Jello (strawberry, raspberry or cherry)

Directions:
1.  Prepare the Jello according to the Jello Jigglers recipe on the box.
2.  Pour into shallow pans and place in the refrigerator to set.
3.. When Jello is firm use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts.
4.  Serve and enjoy!

Every day we witness things that remind us how precious life is.
I believe in living life to the fullest and in not taking anything for granted.
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and don’t’ forget to let those people close to you know how much they mean to you!

Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy� - classes for kids that  offers them the opportunity to  experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art,  food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.

©Shelley Sefton 2010

February has our thoughts turning to romance with the approach of Valentine’s Day.  This year picture yourself romantically holding hands across a beautifully prepared meal while the flicker of candles light up your loved one’s smile.  Can you see it?  No?  Could be the two kids crawling under the table and your exhaustion from preparing the meal alone blurring your vision!

For some, preparing a meal at home has all the romance of a crowded bus stop.  But it doesn’t need to be if you take a different approach and look at it as a way to spend quality time with your loved one.  One of you not a cook?  Don’t worry, there are always simple things to do in the kitchen such as boiling water, setting the table or opening the wine! 

To help create a romantic and fun atmosphere in the kitchen here are a few tips to help get you on your romantic journey.

• Banish the bright lights.  Dim the switch, choose the under the counter lights or light candles to help with the relaxed mood.
• Prepare a special drink to enjoy together while cooking.  My recipe for Sgroppino below is a perfect starter with fresh oysters.  Give the non-cook the task of keeping these flowing!
• Play a collection of your favourite and most memorable songs to reminisce about together.
• Feed the kids early and rent their favourite movie for them to watch; it should buy you a few hours at least! • Keep your menu simple and easy to prepare.  Cooking together should be fun and enjoyable, now is not the time to try complicated recipes.  Chicken Piccata and Creamy Brown Sugar Strawberries are simple yet delicious.

Sgroppino
Serves 2

Ingredients:
• 1 cup (250ml) of chilled Prosecco (or any sparkling wine)
• 2 tbsp chilled Vodka
• 1/3 cup frozen lemon sorbet (or gelato)
• ¼ tsp chopped fresh mint leaves
 
1. Pour the Prosecco and vodka into 2 champagne flutes dividing equally.
2. Spoon a scoop of the sorbet into each flute.
3. Top with fresh mint and serve immediately.

Freshly Shucked Oysters and Mignonette
Serves 2
Notes:   If you don’t want to shuck the oysters, pick shucked ones up from your local seafood store on your way home and keep them on a plate of ice in the back of your fridge until ready to eat.

Ingredients:
• 12 freshly shucked oysters on the half shell
• Lemon wedges, to serve
• 1 shallot, finely diced
• 125ml (1/2 cup) red wine vinegar

1. For the Mignonette sauce, stir the shallot and vinegar together in a small bowl.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  (Note: the sauce can be prepared the night before and kept in the refrigerator to let the flavours infuse.)
2. Serve the oysters with the lemon wedges and the sauce for drizzling.  Enjoy these casually in the kitchen with the Sgroppino while you are preparing the main meal.

Chicken Piccata
Serves 2
Notes:  To butterfly a chicken breast, lay the breast on a cutting board.  Using the edge of a sharp knife parallel to the cutting board, begin cutting down the length of the side of the breast. Carefully slice the breast in half widthwise almost to the other edge. Keep that edge intact and open the breast along the “fold.”

Ingredients:
• 1 skinless, boneless chicken breast, butterflied and then cut in half
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 65ml (¼ cup) fresh lemon juice
• 125ml (½ cup) chicken stock
• 2 tablespoons capers (from jar), brine rinsed off
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
1. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place the flour on a plate and dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
2. In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes or until chicken is browned.  Turn chicken over and cook for 3 minutes.  Remove, transfer to plate, cover to keep warm. 
3. Into the same pan, add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Season to taste. Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.
4. Serve with rice, roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables or green salad.

Creamy Brown Sugar Strawberries
Serves 2

Ingredients:
• 12 large strawberries, cleaned with stem still attached
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup brown sugar

1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and vanilla.
2. To serve, using the stems as handles, dip the strawberries in the sour cream and then into the brown sugar.  Enjoy! 

Nadine Hughes is the creator and owner of, The Cook’s Companion and The Menu Companion, through which she offers kitchen consultations, menu planning services as well as private cooking classes for adults and teens throughout Southern Ontario. She is also an award winning author.  Pick up a copy of her latest cookbook “The Groove Mamma Goes Gourmet – Easy Ways To Put The Fun Back Into Entertaining� (awarded Best Canadian Entertaining Cookbook at the 2009 Gourmand Cookbook Awards) for $7.98 at www.groovemamma.com

©Nadine Hughes 2010
 

I have been meeting with the same group of seven wonderful women once a month for almost ten years at our Gourmet Club. We have experienced boyfriends, break-ups, engagements, weddings and babies together. We alternate homes, choose a theme, and each bring a part of the meal (along with the recipe if we remember).

At first, the best part of meeting was adding to our personal recipe collections, as many of us were virtual strangers. Now while the food is still great, the real pleasure is catching up, laughing and enjoying a night out together. 

I look forward to our Gourmet Club each month, and wanted to share some of the many themes we have enjoyed, to make it easy for you to create your own fun night out. If the term ‘gourmet’ sounds too intimidating, simply call it a ‘potluck’ or ‘dinner’ club.

Themes:

Colour
Holiday
Letter (i.e. Starts with ‘C’)
Cold
Spicy
Sweet
Picnic
BBQ
Brunch
Cookbook Author
Fruit
Fresh Herbs
Dessert Night
5 Ingredients or Less
20 Minutes or Less
Raw foods

Bon Appetit!