The Naptime Chef

Butternut Squash Puree for Harvest Dinner

Aimee Wimbush-Bourque is the editor of Simple Bites and the well-known blog Under the High Chair. She is also a culinary school graduate and busy mom of two. I never cease to be amazed at her fabulous inventive recipes and the techniques she employs to fit great food into her daily life. Today I invited her to share some stories about cooking with her kids and her recent harvest dinner. I loved hearing how she cooked her family meal over the course of several days and enjoyed it every step of the way. Note: For more of my interview with Aimee, and her amazing recipe for Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, come over to Babble and take a look.

Naptime Chef: Your boys are no longer infants but when they were, what kind of cooking methods did you employ to get table on the table every night?

Aimee: Parents of young children will agree that kids like to be right where the action is when they’re trying to make dinner. That’s right, directly underfoot. Now that I have two children of my own, it seems they appear at my elbow as soon as I pull out my Kitchen Aid. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

As parents, we have a responsibility to make eating about more than just putting food in our mouths.  Take the time to make the gathering and preparing of food, as well as the crucial sitting down together around the dinner table, central to eating.

First things first, however, be sure to teach your children the importance of kitchen safety and set boundaries early.

I have a few tricks that I employ when I need to get dinner on the table. Since the little ones wanted to be where I am, I don’t fight it (impossible anyway!) and often set them up to play in the corner of the kitchen.

They have one cupboard and one drawer that they are free to rifle through and ‘cook’ with the contents. I also occasionally set up ‘rice play’ – think mini indoor sandbox, but with post-dated rice, a few toy machines, and plenty of measuring spoons & cups.

If I’m canning or doing something that requires my full attention, I keep them occupied at the table with art supplies or play dough, and keep the youngest strapped into a booster seat so I can decide when he gets down!

I’ve also discovered that popsicles are my friends. My incredibly active 2 year old sits in his high chair for a full twenty minutes and enjoys a homemade popsicle. That usually gives me enough time to prep supper in the afternoon, if for some reason, he’s decided to skip his nap.

Hi! Cheerios recently produced this awesome short video by Good Bite bloggers. It is about the ways women spend time with their children to nourish their minds. This clip is wonderfully inspirational and totally worth a look. See it here on my Product Reviews page!

What’s Going on Today: Clear, cold day in Cooperstown during a visit to my parent’s.

Naptime Goals: Bake potatoes and prepare filling. Re-stuff potato skins and save to bake for dinner.

Tonight’s Menu: Turkey (Mom), Green Beans (Mom), Twice-Baked Potatoes (Me).

Parenting Lesson of the Day: Nothing replaces a good day with Mere-mere and Bampa!

My long weekend in Cooperstown was fantastic. We had great fun romping around town with the dogs, picking out pumpkins and bidding farewell to the ducks before they fly south. The weather was so-so, one day it actually snowed, but that didn’t matter. With the cool weather upon us we happily indulged in some cold-weather cooking. One night we had a traditional fall dinner we call our Thanksgiving warm-up. Turkey, potatoes, green beans and stuffing. We didn’t bother with all the fixings like cranberry jelly or soft dinner rolls, but that was fine with me. Truth be told, all I cared about was the potatoes.

Hand-me-down recipes are often the best of the bunch. Today Ellen Hanson is sharing one of her favorites, her mom’s unique recipe for Chicken Curry. These days Ellen leads the life of a busy New Yorker, heading up Ellen Hanson Designs, her own green and eco-sustainable design firm, and traveling around the country to work with clients. Despite her hectic schedule Ellen still makes time to fit great food into her daily life. As you’ll read, Ellen has fond memories of this delicious meal and still discusses it’s merits with her sister. It is perfect for a cozy dinner at home or for serving a crowd. In her post Ellen eloquently, and accurately, explains how this dish can easily be made in steps throughout the day while dealing with everyday household chaos. And, it brings with it the bonus of leftovers!

I learned this simple and flexible recipe from my Mom.  She has five kids of her own and we were always curious to try her latest dish from cooking class back in the 70’s.  In those days you couldn’t buy a rotisserie chicken, but that’s the secret update to this quick and easy meal.

Purchase an organic rotisserie chicken with no flavoring along with a couple of apples, an onion, and strained Greek yogurt.  First step- put your rice on with whatever method works best at your house, by the time it is ready your meal will be done.

While the kids are doing their homework (or their Lego creations), skin and cube both an apple and an onion. Toss them in a large saucepan along with a little vegetable oil. Saute on medium heat until they begin to soften, but not turn to mush.  If desired, add minced garlic and/or minced ginger. Sprinkle two teaspoons of curry powder and coat all ingredients thoroughly, then turn off the heat and fold in yogurt, salt, and pepper to taste.  You can hold the process at this point if you need to deal with other chaos in the house.

What’s Going on Today: Preparing for weekend trip to Cooperstown, cleaning up from morning brunch with friends.

Naptime Goals: Clean house, pack bags, work on book, prepare Bucatini sauce

Tonight’s Menu: Bucatini all’Amatriciana, Garlic Bread, Salad

Parenting Lesson of the Day: They don’t understand the idea of biting off more than they can chew.

We are heading up to Cooperstown for a long weekend and I am in house wrap-up mode. My husband will be here while we are gone, so I don’t need to clean out the whole place, but I like to leave things in good shape so he doesn’t have to worry about much. Since this will be our last meal together for a few days, tonight I’m going to to make one of his favorites, Bucatini all’Amatriciana.