My 3 favourite recipes for winter kids dinners in the Thermomix

One of my most popular posts is my Top 5 recipes for super easy kids meals in the thermomix. It's about a year since I first posted it that I though it was high time I did an update.  Finding the inspiration to make dinner for the kids EVERY SINGLE DAY can be quite tedious, so hopefully these might help.   Just in time for winter (well in the Southern end of the world anyway) here is a great selection of 'warm belly food' especially for kids.

1.  Vegetarian Chilli Con Carne

I have actually based this recipe on a Jamie Oliver old faithful, but I have replaced the mince with a whole heap of yummy veggies instead.  It's now one of our favourite dinners (although Mr D does complain that it is lacking in the 'chilli' department as it's very mild).  Can't please them all! Oh and it also makes the kitchen smell AMAZING when it's cooking.

Ingredients:
1 large onion
2 cloves of garlic
2 carrots (or 3 if they're small)
1 large red capsicum
2 sticks of celery
1/2 sweet potato
1 tbs olive oil
1/2-1 tsp chilli flakes/powder or a real chilli if you prefer (feel free to add more but my kids like it mild)
1 heaped tsp ground cumin
1 heaped tsp ground cinnamon
1 x 400g tin of chickpeas
1 x 400g tin tomatoes
1 x 400g tin red kidney beans
2 tbs balsamic vinegar
1 heaped tsp tomato paste
1 tsp rice malt syrup (or brown sugar)
2 tbs vegetable stock paste (I used a homemade one)
50g water

Put the onion, garlic, capsicum, celery, carrot and sweet potato into the thermomix and chop for 5 seconds on speed 6.  Add the oil, cinnamon, cumin and chilli flakes and cook for 5 minutes at varoma temperature on reverse speed 1.  Add the tomatoes, kidney beans, chick peas, stock paste, balsamic vinegar, sugar and tomato paste and cook for a further 18 minutes at 100 degrees on reverse speed soft.  I serve it with fluffy basmati rice and a dollop of creme fraishe (or plain yoghurt) on top.

2.  Sweet Chicken Curry

This is the only curry my kids eat (apart from butter chicken) and it couldn't be easier to whip up. It's a very mild dish too so you may want to add a bit of extra spice if you're going to feed the grown ups too.

Ingredients:
1 large apple (peeled and cored)
1 zucchini
2 carrots
1 tbsp fruit chutney (I use Mrs Balls Original which I get in the supermarket)
1 onion
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp curry powder
500 chicken breast cut into chunks
1 tbsp vegetable stock paste (I use a homemade one)
300g water
2 tbsp plain (or gluten free) flour
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp rice malt syrup (or honey or golden syrup)
1 heaped tbsp desiccated coconut

Place the apple in the thermomix and chop for 5 seconds on speed 4-5.  Scrape down the side and add the fruit chutney.  Mix together for 5 seconds on reverse speed 3.  Set aside in a separate bowl.  Add the zucchini and carrot and chop for 5 seconds on speed 5.  Set aside in a separate bowl.  Put the onion in the bowl and chop 3-5 seconds on speed 7.  Scrape down the sides and add the oil and curry powder and saute for 3 minutes on varoma reverse speed 1.  Add all the remaining ingredients except the apple and cook for 10 minutes on 100 degrees reverse speed soft. Add the apple and cook for a further 10 minutes on 90 degrees reverse speed soft.  Serve up with some coconut rice and enjoy.

3.  Sausage and Veggie Hot Pot

I love this dish and it's soo good on a really chilly winters night.  If there are any leftovers I blitz them in the thermomix on speed 9-10 for about 20 seconds until it's smooth and then freeze it.  It makes the perfect pasta sauce or tomato pizza base on those nights when you need something quick.  It is also freezable just as it is and the kids love it.

Ingredients:
500g sausages (of your choice, but I usually use beef)
120g diced bacon
500g veggies (I use carrot, zucchini, sweet potato and red capsicum)
1 clove of garlic
1 onion
1 x 400g tin cannelloni beans
1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp vegetable stock paste (I use a homemade one)
100g water
1 tsp sugar (or rice malt syrup)

Place the sausage under the grill and cook for approx. 15-20 minutes until they are cooked through.  Once they have cooled, cut them into 2cm thick slices and set aside.  Add the veggies and chop for 3-5 seconds on speed 5-6.  You don't want them to be chopped too finely, so start with 3 seconds and chop further if you need to.  Set them aside.  Add onion, and garlic and chop for 5 seconds on speed 5.   Add the bacon and olive oil and cook for 3-4 minutes at varoma temperature on reverse speed 1.  Add veggies, tomatoes, beans, tomato paste, sugar, stock and water.  Cook for 18 minutes on 100 degrees reverse speed soft.  Check that the veggies are soft (if not then cook for a further 3-5 minutes).  Add the sausage slices and mix on reverse speed 2 for 3-5 seconds. My kids love it served with lots of grated cheese.

So there you have it - my top 3.

If you have any other recipes I'd love to hear them.

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