Gourmet Dinner Service

Why it’s good for mums
This dinner can potentially get your child eating 4 vegetables in one meal. Please don’t let the long list of ingredients put you off, it doesn’t mean a lot of effort. Alternatively save it for a weekend.

Why it’s good for kids
Kids think its fun to dip or scoop their food into another food. In this dinner kids can dip their chicken nuggets into the avocado dip.

Ingredients		Method
4 skinless chicken breasts 1/4 cup olive oil Juice 1/2 lemon or 1 lime 1 teaspoons ground coriander 1 teaspoons cumin 1/2 teaspoon allspice 2 teaspoons brown sugar or honey Salt + pepper Avocado Dip 2 ripe avocadoes Salt + pepper Lemon juice to taste Warm Rice + Corn Salad 1 cup rice 2 cups corn kernels (fresh, frozen or tinned) 2-3 zucchinis, grated 425 g tin of chick peas, drained (optional) 1/3 cup coriander, finely chopped (optional) 3 tablespoons of olive oil		Cut the kids chicken into nugget size chunks Combine olive oil, lemon juice, spices, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Toss over chicken. Marinate for 30 mins or as long as you are able. Mash avocado and combine with salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Place into 4 small bowls for individual dipping. Cook the rice in boiling salted water for 9 mins. Add corn (fresh or frozen) and zucchini to the rice and cook for another minute until tender. Drain. Tip rice into serving bowl. Add chickpeas, coriander and olive oil and toss. Fan fry, grill or bbq adult chicken for approx 5-7 minutes each side, kids nuggets should take 3-4 mins each side

2. TIPS FOR MUM

Busy Mums
Chicken can be marinated overnight or omit the marinade all together.

Tips
You can cook the rice in a rice cooker. Follow your usual instructions and add the corn and zucchini a minute before rice is fully cooked.You can additional vegetable of your choice to the rice salad.

Hiding vegetables
If the kids won’t eat greens peel the zucchini before grating and it will blend in with the rice. If they don’t like corn substitute it for a vegetable they do like, ie carrot, capsicum or cucumber would all work well in this salad.

If your kids don’t like any vegetables, chose three different types to put into the rice salad and cut in bigger pieces so they can be picked out. When they start the ‘whinge’ or the ‘yuck’ negotiate that they don’t have to eat all three but have to eat one or two vegetables and they can pick out the one(s) they don’t like. This tactic allows them to think they have won the vegie battle.

3. MAKING IT FUN

Creating a Scene
With the rice and corn salad, place a rice mould in the middle of the plate. Use oiled measuring cups to make the rice mould. Use different size measuring cups depending on the child’s appetite ie ¼ cup for a 2 year old. Place the chicken nuggets on top. To make the head scoop the avocado dip with a spoon to make a roundish ball. Place carrot sticks to make the legs, neck and mouth. The eye is halve a pitted olive or use a sultana.

Game Time
What food am I? - Everyone has to guess what kind of food you are by describing or pretending to be that food. For example, I’m red but my cousins are green or yellow. I can be stuffed or put on top of a pizza or into casseroles. I’m also great to eat raw.” Hopefully everyone will be able guess capsicum. For younger children you might be a chicken and you might say “I lay eggs and this is the noise I make – cluck, cluck.” Alternatively just make the noise of an animal and the kids have to guess what you are.

Hands on

Whisk marinade ingredients together
Toss chicken in marinade
Mash avocadoes with a fork
Toss chick peas, coriander and olive oil thru rice
Older kids can also:
- Measure ingredients
- Grate zucchini
- Open tins with tin opener

When tossing ingredients let the kids use their hands as it’s easier for them and much more fun.

4. ADULT FRIENDLY

2nd sitting

Don’t cook adult chicken until needed
Sprinkle lemon juice over the guacamole to prevent browning. Toss thru before serving.
Warm rice salad in microwave.

Spice it up

Avocado Dip - Serve the kids portion and then spice up with Tabasco to taste. You may also like to add finely diced red onion and diced tomato

Chicken Marinade - Marinate children’s + adult chicken separately and add 2t chilli to marinade for adults

Warm Rice + Corn Salad - Add 3 chopped spring onions and or coriander leaves to salad