Dr Sylvie AUBONNET, a nutritionist and author of “Mieux manger avec nos enfants” (Eating better with our children), has put together a festive menu with a few simple recipes that can be prepared by a 10-year-old child, either alone or with the help of an adult. This is an opportunity to teach your child to develop good eating habits!
Dr Sylvie AUBONNET
The menu and how to do it
I advise you to start by preparing the dessert, then the hot dish and finally the starter. If you don’t have much time or experience, choose to prepare 1 or 2 courses.
On the menu: strawberry, tomato and mozzarella salad, filet mignon au gratin and jacket potatoes, and delicious caramelised chocolate cake! The recipe is for 4 people.
Or if you want to introduce your children to the taste of fish, choose the recipe with salmon, a fish that is generally well appreciated by them.
Yum, yum… A wonderful festive occasion!
Shopping and cupboard list
Shopping. 300g of strawberries, 300g of cherry tomatoes (of different colours if possible), 150g of mozzarella balls, 1 filet mignon/ tenderloin, 100g of bacon or slices of bacon, 100g of grated cheese, 4 large potatoes, 300g of extra fine milk chocolate, 150g of butter, 3 eggs, parsley or herbs (optional).
From the cupboard. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, mustard, sugar, flour.
Chocolate cake
Ingredients. 300 gr of extra fine milk chocolate, 150 gr of butter, 150 gr of sugar, 3 eggs, 3 tablespoons of flour.
Melt the chocolate squares and the butter in pieces in a bain-marie (or in a microwave in a suitable bowl, 1 minute 30 seconds).
Mix well, add the sugar, flour and eggs.
Place the mixture in a buttered cake tin. And place the cake in a COLD oven, then heat it to 180° for 30 minutes.
The cake can be prepared the day before.
Jacket potatoes & Tenderloin au gratin
Start with the potatoes. Wash them well and place them whole in the oven at 180°; let them cook for an hour and 15 minutes.
Place the tenderloin on an ovenproof dish, spread with mustard, then add grated cheese and cover with bacon. Put the dish in the oven, it will cook for 40-50 minutes depending to its weight.
So, you put the meat dish in the oven about 30 minutes after the potatoes.
Starter: strawberry tomato and mozarella salad
Wash the tomatoes and strawberries, dry them in a clean cloth, cut the strawberries in 2, drain the mozzarella balls. Place everything in a salad bowl. Shortly before serving, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, 1.5 tablespoons of vinegar, then salt and pepper and mix. If desired, sprinkle with parsley or herbs.
Caution: It is important not to add the seasoning too far in advance, as the strawberries will no longer be appetizing.
Alternative: Salmon in foil with bacon
Preparation 10 minutes, cooking 12 minutes.
Shopping. 4 slices of fresh salmon, 8 slices of smoked bacon, 4 teaspoons of fresh cream, 4 sprigs of thyme (optional). Salt and freshly ground pepper.
Preheat the oven to 210°C. Cut out 4 squares of 25 cm each from a baking sheet. Place 1 piece of salmon, 1 teaspoon of fresh cream and 1 slice of bacon on each sheet. Place a second slice of bacon on top to form a cross! Add a little salt (not too much because of the bacon) and pepper. Add the thyme (optional) and close the wrapper tightly. Place in the oven and cook for about 12 minutes.
Before serving, check that the salmon is cooked: it should remain a little raw in the centre, which will make it softer and not dry.