Cautionary Tales For Children
Wonderful witty poems great for reading to your children. The stories and rhymes will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Research has shown how important YOU are to your children and how as a dad the things you do, and keep on doing, really count, whether you live with them, or you are a single dad and are only able see them once a month, once a week or more, what you do really matters. This site is dedicated to all dads but will be of special relevance to the single dad. Remember, you are half the reason your children exist and they need you whether you live with them or not. As their dad, you have what it takes to make their lives successful and fulfilling no matter how often you see them. This site is about all the positive things that we as parents have to offer our children.
Ham-Cheese Pasta
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A very quick tasty alternative to a ready meal
Ingredients
Plain Flour
40g
Milk
600ml
Butter
50g
Mild cheddar cheese
100g
Dry pasta (shells, penne or twirls)
420g
Ham slices
10 (small)
A very quick tasty alternative to a ready meal, probably quicker to make and certainly a lot cheaper and better for you and your kids. his is a very flexible and robust recipe that is hard to get wrong. You don’t need ham for the top, because you can use bacon, or tuna, mushrooms or sweetcorn, and it can be made with a range of cheeses to suit any taste. . . .
Although no weighing scales are needed for this recipe, the weights and measures are given for your convenience.
This recipe should serve one adult and three hungry kids.
How to make it
Fill a large saucepan about 1/3 full with water and heat. You’ll need about a standard sized mug of pasta shells per person. When the water is on the boil add the pasta and turn the pan down to a simmer (a few bubbles but not fast boiling). Roll two or three slices of ham per person and slice crosswise into bits. . . .
Melt a large knob of butter in a small saucepan(weight is actually 50g but it only has to be about this much; the picture shows amount of butter needed on a dinner knife, a block about 50mm x 50mm x 20mm).
. . .Take the pan off the heat and add about half a standard sized mug of flour to the melted butter and mix until you have a thick paste. Add one mug of milk to the pan and mix in, till the mixture is smooth then return to the heat and add another mug of milk while mixing, reduce the heat and stir till the sauce thickens. Now turn the heat right down. . . .
Grate enough cheese to half fill a standard sized mug and add to the pan, keep on the heat, and stir until the cheese is melted in. Make sure the pasta is cooked (it should be softened but not too squishy) then drain off the water and add the cheese sauce, stir round to make sure the pasta is covered in sauce. Serve onto plates and sprinkle the ham pieces on top. If you like extra cheese, then grate some on top of the completed dish. . . .
You don’t have to stick to ham, grilled chicken pieces or chopped grilled crispy bacon are also lovely with Cheese Pasta.
The recipe instructions are so easy to follow, and they're quick to download.
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Cooking for your kids
Don’t always get a take out or just heat up a ready meal. You can cook simple tasty food really easily, it’s cheaper and much better for you and your kids will love it. If you cook your own meals you can customize them to your kids’ tastes and make food that they love and makes them feel special.
Kids love routine, so there is nothing wrong with having the same favourite meal every time they come to stay or visit, in fact it's likely to become a really nice routine that they look forward to. I do Baked Bean Con Carne on a Friday night, and my children often ask if it’s Bean Con Carne day.
They almost feel cheated if I change the menu. If you cook your own food you can afford to get the best ingredients, and if you cook more than you need then you can freeze it for next time, or in single portions for your own meals on other days when you don’t feel like cooking a meal.
Cooking for your kids is a good way to show them how capable you are and is a great way to introduce them to proper food which makes those special restaurant outings much easier all round.
So get out the apron, select your kids' favourite recipe, buy a few nice ingredients and cook something nice for your kids next time they come to stay.
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