a peek inside the fishbowl

* from camping.

I will have lots to share this week. In the meantime, pass the coffee!

It’s guest post week here at the Fishbowl and we’re wrapping things up with a mouthwatering post by Ottawa blogger Karie Dufour. Her blog is called Pub Patio Playdate,and if that seems familiar it might be because she was featured in Capital Parent a few issues ago. I was thrilled when she approached me about the topic of kid-friendly vegetarian dishes. I’m always looking for new recipes, and I’m sure many of you are too! Thanks for your post today Karie!

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I’ll eat, or at least try, anything… except olives.

But coming from a mostly meat and potatoes family my taste buds weren’t always so adventurous. It wasn’t until I met my partner, who was raised a vegetarian, that I really started to incorporate things like legumes, tofu and more “exotic” veggies into my meals, eventually converting to a mostly meat-free diet.

I’m lucky because, thanks to his mom, my partner is a great vegetarian cook. We have a little notebook-turned-cookbook at home that has all his favourite recipes, many from his childhood. We titled the book The Fat Vegetarian because although the recipes are all healthy; they’re not necessarily low fat due to the predominance of cheese. I’m a firm believer that almost everything tastes better with cheese! [Editors note: AGREED.]

Now that we have an active preschooler it’s become all the more important to prepare tasty and healthy food that’s packed with protein and somewhat kid-friendly. Combine that with some regular dinner guests and the question of what to make for supper can be tricky.

Here are two of our favourite go-to meals… both are cheesy, have been a hit with the little ones, and have even pleased some of our most meat-loving friends.

Sweet Potato Bean Dip Recipe

This is my own invention. It’s quick and easy and a great dish to bring to a summer potluck!

Ingredients:
1 diced tomato
1 can of black beans
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of coriander
4-5 sweet potatoes
1 cup of extra old cheddar cheese
1 250 ml container of sour cream
1 bag of multigrain tortilla chips

Instructions:
Poke holes in the potatoes with a fork, coat them with a bit of oil or butter and cook until soft. They’ll taste best if done in an oven or toaster oven, but if you’re pressed for time you can zap them in the microwave. Remove and discard the skins, mash the flesh and place it in a shallow serving dish.

Rinse the beans and put them in a pot with the oil, tomato, cumin and coriander. Heat on medium until hot.

Pour the warm bean mixture into the serving dish over the sweet potatoes. Layer the sour cream on top and then add the cheese on top of the sour cream. Eat the dip with your favourite multigrain tortilla chips as a snack or appetizer or serve it as a meal with a side salad.

The Best Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

This one was invented by my partner’s mom and is tasty comfort food. It takes more time but freezes well, so double the recipe!

Ingredients:
2 cups of dry lentils
1 chopped onion
4-6 bay leaves
1.5 tablespoons of tamari
1/2 cup of oil
1/3 cup of honey
6 tablespoons of vinegar
2/3 teaspoon of allspice
1/4 teaspoon of ginger
1/4 teaspoon of cloves
1/4 teaspoon of salt
5-6 Yukon Gold potatoes
300 grams of Havarti cheese
2 tablespoons of butter
2-3 tablespoons of milk
Paprika

Instructions:
Soak the lentils in 4 cups of water overnight.

After soaking, put the lentils in a large pot with the onion and bay leaves. Bring the pot to a boil and simmer until the lentils are almost tender (approximately 45 minutes).

Whisk together the tamari, oil, honey, vinegar, allspice, ginger, cloves and salt.

Put the cooked lentils into a casserole dish and add the sauce. Cover the dish and bake at 300F for 2 to 3 hours. Take the cover off for the last 30 minutes or so. If there is too much liquid, turn the heat up a bit.

Cook and mash the potatoes with the havarti cheese, butter and milk (optional). Spread the potatoes over the baked lentils in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle some paprika and grated cheese on top and bake at 350F for 30 to 45 minutes.

Serve with Strubs bread and butter pickles (the pickles are key) and a salad or steamed green veggies.

Bon appétit!

It’s guest post week here at the Fishbowl! Today’s post is by Dave Atkinson: writer, dad, homeschooler, and the Collective Wisdom parenting columnist on CBC Radio in the Maritimes. His blog is called Tomato Transplants and it always makes me smile. Dave’s last guest post STILL makes be laugh, and it’s been three years. Read it if you’d like a good chuckle.

Thank for your post today Dave! And if you can’t read the image clearly please click to embiggen.

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Monday morning. In the kitchen. I am scraping peanut butter across the face of a slice of toast. Four-year-old Alice walks in.

Alice: Daaaad. Will you play a game with me?

Me: I’d love to, but I have to walk out the door in about a minute to go to work. What are the big kids up to?

She slumps in her chair.

Alice: They’re doing something.

She brightens.

Alice: I can play with Darth Vader!

She scurries from the room.

****

Darth Vader arrived in our lives a few weeks ago. He is the first imaginary friend in our house to last more than a few hours. According to Alice, he is very gentle, very funny, and always willing to play whatever Alice wants. They love to go for walks. Alice holds her hand in a tight fist — grasping the gloved, bio-mechanical hand of her new best friend.

****

Alice is pouting.

Me: What’s wrong?

Alice: It’s almost bedtime. Darth Vader has to go home.

Me: Would he like to sleep over?

Alice: For real?

I nod.

Alice: Yaaaaaay!

****

When Darth Vader first showed up, he was the guy Alice would play with when her big brother and sister were busy. But hanging out with a Sith lord gives this little sister a certain cred she’s never had before. Suddenly, she has a power to wield. She’s cool.

****

Alice heads towards the back door.

Henry: Where are you going?

Alice: (casually) Oh, just outside with Darth Vader.

Jane: What are you guys doing?

Alice shrugs.

Alice: Oh, you know. Just going to have some adventures.

She turns to leave. Henry and Jane look at each other.

Henry: Can we come?

Alice pauses a moment. She sighs.

Alice: Fine.

*note: I hate to make excuses, but my normal scanner is on the fritz. The one I used today somehow changed Jane’s red shirt and Alice’s purple shirt to pink. We don’t dress them as matching Barbies! I promise.