Cooking Is Fun...Honest!

I know that some people do not really enjoy cooking; it's just another household chore on the already long list. For me, cooking is fun and I enjoy it. Whenever possible I let Justine join in as, under supervision, it is safe and as long as they only do the bits that are less awkward for them, that's fine. For instance, stirring sauces and tossing vegetables when sautéing them in the wok are all things that Justine simply adores doing. We also made biscuits once and it was great. There will be mess, mind, but then that's part of the fun so let them make their mess and clean later. While you and the kids are making something do not bother about clearing away or wiping. Simply focus on getting the job done and keeping them safe all the way. Baking and cooking with kids is a great family bonding time and kids often will love to taste what they contributed to themselves rather that something you just present to them at tea time.
Now coming back to grown-up cooking. Most things take less time to make than many people think. Last week or week before that, I made stuffed marrow and it hardly took me an hour's preparation and though it takes a little over an hour's cooking, it is easy to make and yet so tasty. For those who like the idea of something like a lasagne with much less calories and still great taste, ask me for the recipe.

Maybe you have a sweet tooth and would rather bake a cake instead of cooking or baking something savoury. Here is something easy to make and tasty as anything: cupcakes! If you add some cream cheese frosting on it, you have a winner!

You want to have a very steady and no-fail recipe for the frosting because it can easily become runny and it would be no good for frosting anything at all. One tip: always use Philly as the other cheaper supermarket brands are not of the same quality and often hold too much in terms of water content.
I was born in Mauritius and our food there is very flavoursome and tasty. Since we are a multiracial country, we have all sorts of food and thus, Mauritian food can be anything from Biryani to Pilau rice to fried rice or even curry. One of the creole dishes popular with all the sections of the population is "Rougaille" and also "Bouillon Bredes". The first one is a type of tomato based sauce with any kind of meat in it and the second dish is a type of leafy vegetable soup; both are eaten with rice. Rice is the main staple in Mauritius. Below is a picture of Sausage "rougaille" and Bok Choi "bouillon bredes".

 

 

This below is a picture of my Pilau Rice, Mauritian style. We sometimes add eggs, beef and/or chicken to it.

 

OK now get cooking everyone!