Woolworths_Taste__January_2019

82 TASTE JAN/FEB 2019

1 .Startplanningearly
Igivemyselfabigheadstart.In
NovemberI’dalreadyboughttheschool
uniformsandbooks!Inthelastweek
oftheholidaysIwakethekidsatthe
normaltimeforschool,sothey’renot
crying and complaining when it’s time
togetupwhentermstarts.Ihavetoget
threelittlepeopleoutofbed,soIgive
myself time – otherwise it’s painful!

2 .Don’tfightoverbreakfast
W hat’s my breakfast plan? It’s more like
what’stheirbreakfastplan!Ijusttry
tomakeitashealthyaspossible.They
hatecerealandwantcookedporridge.
Ialwaysadvocateforoats,buttheywill
tell me “Enough oats now! We want

papa”–maizemealporridge–that’s

theirfavourite.Itrydifferentwaysof

cookingit–incoconutmilkorcream,

Isometimesaddturmeric–theylove

thatbecauseit’syellow.Theyalsoloveit

withpeanutbutterandtheylikecoconut

oil instead of butter. I do whatever I can

toextendtheirpalates.Athomewealso

haveTastyWheatandMaltabella–which

is made from sorghum and is grainier,

so that’s not their favourite.

3. Eat breakfast yourself

It’sthemotherthing–theenergyreally

goestothechildrenandIgrabwhatever

Ican.Imakehome-madegojiberry

muesli on Sundays and I take some

toworkinajarwithyoghurt.OrI’ll

makeasmoothieandputitinaflask.

4 .Fordinner,getcreative

with your empty fridge

Themostamazingrecipescomewhen

I’mbusiestandI’vegotnothinginthe

fridge.Iusethosemomentstodrawout

mycreativity.Once,Ijusthadgreen

beans,mushroomsandginger.Isautéed

the mushrooms with garlic, ginger and

soya sauce, added the green beans and

cookedthemfor7minutes.It’snow

astaplesidedishathome.Iserveitwith

marinatedroastchickenandcouscous.

5 .Mealpreplikeamom

Whatreallyworkswellismytakeon

lasagne,whichisanentiremealinone.

There are layers of mince, creamed

spinach and butternut. I find that the

kids really love it because the veg is not

ontheside–wesneakitin!Imakeit

ontheweekend,cutitintoportions

andfreezethem.IalsomakeBolognese

andpumpitupwithveggies.Puréed

butternutorgreensworkwell.

6 .Keepyourpantrystocked

Ialwayshavegarlicandginger,and

Ilovecannedfood.I’mneverwithout

asupplyofbeans–redkidneybeansfor

salads, baked beans and cannellini beans,

andaselectionofcannedfish–lotsof

tuna, salmon and pilchards. I still make

my mother’s recipe for fish cakes using

pilchards.Andthenofcoursetomato

paste,cannedtomatoes,pasta,riceand

grains. You can make a meal from the

pantry, even when there’s nothing in

the fridge.

7 .Investinlunchboxfillers

My children love peanut butter but for

safetyreasonsforkidswithnutallergies,

theirschooldoesn’tallowthemtobring

anything containing nuts – not even

macadamiaorBrazilnuts.Sowedo

cheese spread on sandwiches, fish or

chickengoujons,orIuseleftoverWoolies

rotisseriechicken.IknowIcouldmake

it,butIjustdon’thavethetime!It’sso

convenient–Iuseitforlunchboxes,or

whenthekidscomebackfromschool

they’ll have chicken with some carrots

or cucumber. For veggies, I give them

cherrytomatoes,carrotsticks–myson

Lonwabolikesthickeronessohecan

crunchonthem.Idon’tbotherwithwhat

Iknowtheywon’teatbecauseitgoesto

waste.Butwehavelotsofconversations

around vegetables and why they’re good

for them.@sibamtongana

FAMILY BREAKFASTS

COCONUT-AND-PEANUT

BUTTER MIELIE MEAL

“I like this as a tasty and filling breakfast

for grown-ups and children.”

Serves 4

EASY

GREAT VALUE

Preparation: 10 minutes

Cooking: 30 minutes

water1.5 litres, plus 1 cup

saltapinch

coconut milk1x400mlcan

Woolworths super maize meal170 g

For the topping:

peanut butter4T

coconut oil4T

coconut flakes4T

pumpkin seeds4T

honey 4 t (or to taste), for drizzling

1 Bring1.5litreswater,thesaltandcoconut

milk to the boil. Mix 1 cup cold water with INTERVIEW

KATHARINE POPE

Head to ourYouTube channel to see Siba demo

her kids’favourite porridge, and see more of her

back-to-reality recipes come alive.

IGOBACKTOWORK.

IT’SACRAZYTIME!

HERE’SHOWISURVIVE

THE FIRST FEW WEEKS.

FOOD RESOLUTIONS