I’m a busy mom and swear by 5-ingredient family meals that only take 5 minutes to prepare
WITH the summer holidays just around the corner, life for parents is getting busier.
As you juggle work with childcare and expensive days out, you may also be concerned about the cost of feeding your little ones.
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If so, help is at hand in the form of Grace Mortimer’s brilliant, budget-friendly recipes.
What started as a test to see if she could turn five main ingredients into nutritious meals resulted in enough recipes for a cookbook, My Family Meals, out August 29.
Grace also has an Instagram page, @MyFirstMeals.
She says: “I’m not a professional chef, I’m a busy mum who’s often running around the kitchen to the sounds of, ‘Can I have something to eat? I’m hungry!’
“What could be a greater reward than throwing together something that turns out to be a great meal that everyone enjoys and that seemingly came out of nowhere?
“My recipes don’t require any special equipment and can usually be prepared in multiple batches, meaning there is little to no waste.
“I hate throwing food away. It feels like I’m throwing money in the trash.”
Here, Grace gives Kirsty Spence her five tastiest recipes.
- My Family Meals by Grace Mortimer (£20, HQ), out 29 August. Photos: Haarala Hamilton
Chicken and spinach alfredo
Servings: 4
Preparation time: 5 min., Cooking time: 20 min.
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Grace says, “Trying new meals increases your chances of having adventurous little foodies in your family.”
YOU NEED:
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken fillets, diced
- 300 ml whipped cream
- 2 handfuls of grated parmesan cheese
- 250g pasta shapes
- 100 g spinach leaves
- sunflower oil
METHODHeat a dash of oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the chicken fillets until golden brown.
Then add the cream and half of the Parmesan cheese and turn the heat down.
In the meantime, cook the pasta according to the instructions on the package and drain.
Once the pasta is cooked, add it to the chicken, along with the spinach and remaining Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Turn off the heat and let it sit for a few minutes, so that the Parmesan cheese can melt and the spinach can soften slightly.
Add spices to taste.
Sausage and hash brown pie
Servings: 4
Preparation time: 5 min., Cooking time: 1 hour
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Grace says: “In the midst of the chaos of life, I find something deeply therapeutic about cooking.
“If you’ve had a rough day and just want a hug in a bowl, look no further.”
YOU NEED:
- 8 sausages, halved lengthwise
- 1 leek, sliced
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 150 g garlic and herb rolled cheese
- 12 frozen hash browns
- sunflower oil
METHOD: Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C (fan oven)/gas mark 6.
Place the sausages in a large baking dish and drizzle with a little oil.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the sausages begin to brown.
Remove from oven and throw leek and onion on top. Spoon cheese into holes and place hash browns on top.
Bake for 40 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown.
Baking pizza
Servings: 4
Preparation time: 5 min., Preparation time: 15 min.
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Grace says: “This is the kind of dish I make in the evening when I really don’t feel like making anything!”
“It’s quick, easy and delicious.
“Plus, if you have any old bread lying around that you would waste, this is a great way to use it up.”
YOU NEED:
- 250 ml passata
- 1 egg, beaten
- 4 slices of bread, cut into cubes
- Handful of sliced chorizo
- 2 handfuls of grated cheese
METHODPreheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/gas mark 7.
Mix the passata and egg in a jug.
Place the bread in an oven dish, sprinkle the chorizo over it, pour the tomato sauce over it and mix well.
Cover with the grated cheese and bake for 15 minutes. Done!
Ham and zucchini pie
For 4 persons
Preparation time: 15 min., Cooking time: 40 min.
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Grace says: “I think this is my favourite recipe from the book.
“It doesn’t look like much when it goes into the oven, but it comes out as a dish full of golden, crispy, cheesy goodness with layers of savory zucchini and sweet ham mixed in.
“It’s the kind of meal that cheers everyone up a little bit.”
YOU NEED:
- 125 g breadcrumbs
- Handful of grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 courgettes, cut lengthwise into thin strips
- 100 g ham in slices
- 125 g mozzarella ball
- Olive oil
METHODPreheat the oven to 200°C/180°C (fan oven)/gas mark 6.
Place the breadcrumbs on a plate, add the Parmesan cheese and mix everything well.
Cover each slice of zucchini with the breadcrumb mixture by placing it on a plate and pressing it down. Then turn the slices over and press down again.
Place 3-4 slices of zucchini on the bottom of an oven dish.
Then place 3-4 slices of ham on top.
Tear a few pieces of mozzarella into pieces and stuff them into the openings (don’t worry if the openings aren’t completely filled).
Then add another layer of zucchini, followed by ham, mozzarella, and so on.
Finally, sprinkle the remaining breadcrumbs over the whole thing, drizzle with a little oil and place the dish in the oven for 40 minutes.
Take it out and you can serve it.
Cajun Salmon Casserole
For 4 persons
Preparation time: 5 min., Cooking time: 45 min.
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Grace says: “This is something I make over and over again. It’s easy, delicious and looks amazing.
“One tray to wash up and everyone has had a hearty meal, which looks a lot more complicated to prepare than it was.”
YOU NEED:
- 750 g new potatoes
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 4 salmon fillets
- Handful of asparagus
- 130 g frozen peas, thawed
METHODPreheat the oven to 200°C/180°C (fan oven)/gas mark 6.
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning.
Mix everything well and then bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
While the potatoes are cooking, place the salmon in a bowl along with a little oil and the remaining Cajun seasoning to marinate.
After half an hour of cooking, add the salmon and asparagus to the bowl with the potatoes.
Place the whole thing in the oven for exactly 12 minutes and then remove it.
Pour the peas over it and you’re done.
