Please help, ideas for dinners, cheap and new.

SpoonyOh

@ Butterfly Brain: I don't want to sound critical, but a lot of men just don't 'get' postnatal depression. My partner didn't realise how low it makes you feel, he thought it was a crying phase. As for cooking, how many men know their way around a kitchen? Mine could only find the fridge and the bin until a few weeks ago (thank god for Jamie Oliver, he's found an interest in cookery now).
@ Narva: rather than trying anything too complicated, think of something you would eat now that isn't complicated, like chicken and rice. Think of a way to tart it up with different flavours. Put fresh rosemary and lemon juice into the rice whilst it's cooking - it's beautiful. Try wrapping your chicken in tinfoil to keep it moist, but put bacon and cheese on top, or perhaps cook it in a pan with a tin of chopped tomatoes and some balsamic vinegar?
As for your fussy daughter, my beloved psuedo-mum used to foster kids. She dealt with fussy eaters by giving them half an hour to eat their food. If it wasn't finished, it would go in the bin (an extreme measure for a lady who is loathe to waste food). The child wouldn't be fed anything else until the next meal. If you can be hard enough to do it, it's quite effective.

sandraroffey

when my kids were going through the fussy eater stage (and i have 5) i never made meal times a battle ground. if all they would eat was mash, beans and cheese, then thats what i gave them. what you have listed sounds perfectly fine to me - what does he want? gordon ramsey??? if he thinks your diet is rubbish, tell him to sort it!! post natal depression is a thing men wont ever have and dont even begin to understand, but if you have just a baby, he should be helping out with the cooking , shopping etc anyway!!!

cooking and the preparation of it, can be a great soother to your brain!! and the end result makes you feel good about yourself. and there are loads of really good, cheap meals to be found on here. and dont beat yourself up over minor slip-ups in the kitchen.

keep posting so we know how you are getting on. and good luck with the little one and please see your health visitor about yourself.xxxxx

Meadows

sandraroffey wrote: »

when my kids were going through the fussy eater stage (and i have 5) i never made meal times a battle ground. if all they would eat was mash, beans and cheese, then thats what i gave them. what you have listed sounds perfectly fine to me - what does he want? gordon ramsey??? if he thinks your diet is rubbish, tell him to sort it!! post natal depression is a thing men wont ever have and dont even begin to understand, but if you have just a baby, he should be helping out with the cooking , shopping etc anyway!!!

I totally agree with sandraroffey, go along with the fussy bit rather than fight it, it will pass. At one time my daughter would only want to eat chicken, so chicken she had, then it became mushrooms.

I don't like picky eaters but with kids it's a stage they go through so don't worry too much.

Can't your husband help you a little, if he thinks the food is boring! (which it doesn't seem to be, it sounds to me that you do try to vary meals). I know if I wasn't 100% my hubby would have quite happily cooked even if he'd been at work all day.



Chilli Crab Linguine with Vodka


Preparation: 10 minutes Cooking: 15 minutes

Serves 4

350 g (12 oz) dried linguine
2 tbls olive oil
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 small garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped
4 ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 tbls vodka (optional)
2 x 170g cans white crab meat, drained
4 tbls chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
Salt and fresh ground black pepper

1. Cook pasta in a large pan of boiling salted water to packet instructions
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying-pan and cook the garlic and chilli over a low to medium heat for 2 -3 minutes until beginning to soften, but not brown. Add the tomatoes, increase the heat and cook for 4 -5 minutes until pulpy.
3. Now stir in the vodka, if using, followed by the crab meat, and stir gently together. Season to taste.
4. Drain the pasta well and return to the pan. Add the sauce and the chopped parsley and stir loosely together. Divide between bowls and top with a good grinding of black pepper.

Tip: Don’t be tempted to get out the Parmesan, it really doesn’t suit the flavour of the crab.

A delicious delicate dish, if feeding youngsters, skip the vodka


Really easy to make and very tasty!