Gourmet Dinner Service

Why it’s good for mums
This recipe can introduce new foods not always seen as kid friendly, ie eggplant, fetta. This meal can also be bbq so Dad can help out.

Why it’s good for kids
Kids love dipping their food into another food and they will have lots of fun using toothpicks to ‘stab and dip’. Its also great finger food which is another way kids love to eat. It is also a meal where they can serve themselves.

Ingredients		Method
600g lamb fillet, cubed into bite size pieces 2-3 purchased dips of your choice, ie hummus, tzatziki, garlic or beetroot 1 eggplant, cubed 1-2 Lebanese cucumbers, cubed 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, halved 150g fetta or cheddar cheese, cubed 1 red capsicum, large dice Toothpicks Olives, pitted (optional) Turkish bread (optional)		Warm Turkish bread in oven with no alfoil to give a crunchy top. Slice into half lengthways and then fingers for easy dipping. Toss eggplant in a little oil olive and pan fry or bbq eggplant until brown. Keep warm. Pan fry or bbq lamb cubes for 2-3 mins

2. TIPS FOR MUM

Busy Mums
All the chopping can be done prior to dinner time or the night beforehand and refrigerated.

Tips
Don’t bring out all the Turkish bread at once as kids can easily fill up on the bread and won’t eat anything else.
Mum and Dad - you may not be as keen as dipping with toothpicks as the kids so only cube enough lamb for them.
My kids love making shapes with the toothpicks whilst they are eating so be patient.
Call fetta ‘cheese’. Sometimes you need to call food by the lowest denominator so they don't turn their noses up before they have tried it. Most kids love cheese and will readily accept different types of cheeses as just cheese.
If you think your child is too young to use toothpicks let them use their fingers.

Hiding vegetables
My kids love hommus and so to get them to eat the beetroot dip I tell them its ‘pink’ hommus and I call the garlic dip ‘white’ hommus. I call Tzatziki 'cucumber and yoghurt' dip. If they are not keen on hommus use fun names for the dips or name it after their favourite tv show or character.

Regardless of what they don’t like, the idea of using the toothpicks to ‘stab and dip’ will hopefully override their dislike of that food and get them to try it.

3. MAKING IT FUN

Creating a Scene
Serve lamb, dips, eggplant, cucumber, tomatoes, fetta, capsicum, olives, bread on a serving platter and place in the middle of the table. The different colours and shapes will appeal to kids. Depending on age of your kids you can have a bowl for the toothpicks or stick the toothpicks into the food as shown in the photo.

Game Time
Younger Kids - The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Read this very famous book to your kids a couple of times and then at dinnertime pretend they are the hungry caterpillar or a ‘kidderpillar’ who has to eats his way through his life cycle to emerge as a butterfly. This is a great way to introduce new foods and may well be the key to getting them to try the eggplant.

Older Kids - What’s it taste like?
This game should help increase the variety in your child’s diet. Serve a meal with a few favourite ‘accepted’ foods and include a previously rejected food. Every family member has to describe the taste and texture of the food on their plate. Start with one at a time and parents go first. You may be surprised how many foods can be added to your child’s repertoire from this game.

Hands on

Scooping the dips into serving bowls
Arrange the salad vegetables, olives + fetta on the platter whilst you are cooking the eggplant and lamb

4. ADULT FRIENDLY

2nd sitting

Cook lamb and eggplant as required.
Put aside bread and warm when needed

Spice it up

Greek Salad - Mix the salad ingredients (cucumber, tomatoes, fetta, capsicum, olives) together with diced red onion. Dress w 2 parts olive oil, 1 part lemon juice or red wine vinegar, crushed garlic, salt, pepper + parsley (optional).