Recipes

With family and friends coming over for the pre-Christmas dinners, Kids Friendly NZ decided we would put together some tasty ideas for you to try.

Remember it is always a good idea to try these out on the family before you cook them for your guests. The savoury pikelets can be made with the kids.

Savoury pikelets

2 size 7 eggs

1 cup milk

1 Tblspn caster sugar

3 Tblspn chopped parsley

1 tspn baking soda

1 tspn dill seeds

2 tspn cream tartar

1 Tblspn chopped chives

Salt and pepper

1 1/2 cups flour

Beat eggs and sugar until very thick. Sift together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. If baking soda and cream of tartar are unavailable use 3 teaspoons of baking powder.

Mix eggs and milk together, then fold in the flour mixture to the eggs. Add the seasonings.

Cook in batches in a slightly greased, hot pan. To make small bite-size pikelets, use a teaspoon to drip small amounts of mixture on to the pan.

Toppings:

• Creme fraiche, sour cream or cream cheese

• Smoked mussels chopped finely with mayonnaise and parsley

• Poached scallops, chopped finely with mayonnaise and chives

• Slices of smoked salmon with caviar

• Fresh oysters with lemon rind

Paprika Roast Tomatoes

2 x 250gm punnets vine tomatoes

1 shallot, thinly sliced or a red onion, thinly sliced

2 tspn smoked paprika

salt and pepper

rocket leaves to serve

olive oil

Place tomatoes, still on the vine, onto a baking tray. Sprinkle with slices of shallot or red onion. Drizzle tomatoes with olive oil and season with paprika, salt and pepper.

Cook in an oven at 100^oC for several hours. If in a hurry raise the temperature to 130^oC and cook for 2 hours. Serve on a bed of rocket leaves.

Lamb rack

1 small or 1/2 a large rack per person

mustard (your choice)

Preheat your oven to about 250^oC or 200^oC fan-forced. Liberally smear racks of lamb with mustard and arrange on a roasting dish. Cover and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, remove from the oven and rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.