You can never imagine your children will be off your hands for a single day, never mind all of the summer holidays. I remember when those seven weeks felt like an eternity. I spent my time with them going to the cinema, practising my skills at the paint-me pottery place, eating at the pizza joint, and then falling exhausted into bed at 7pm — and that was only day one! I lay there thinking how I was going to fill the other 53 days without going broke and insane. And what was I going to prepare for them to eat? I learned early on that I could tackle these problems by getting the children into the kitchen for a new activity, known as cooking.
So now I am watching my kids in disbelief as one discusses what she needs to trek across Thailand (surely not stilettos); one has been caught planning to take only one pair of pants to Israel (I have rectified this); and the youngest insists she needs her Ruth’s Princess Party dress for the camp disco.
So, to wish them bon voyage, here is their favourite farewell fare, which will speed them on their way along with my Princess motherly advice: for the eldest, don’t take anything from anyone; for the middle one, don’t think about enlisting; and for the youngest, don’t forget to apply sun cream, even if it is raining.
Serves 4
Guacamole ingredients
● 4 avocados (400g)
● 4 tablespoons lime juice
● 2 crushed garlic cloves
● 2 large skinless tomatoes, chopped
● 1 red onion, finely diced
● 1 red chilli, finely chopped
● Salt and pepper to taste
● 1 small bunch coriander, finely chopped
Method
● Blend all ingredients together to a desired consistency
Mexican Chicken ingredients
● 3 tablespoons chilli oil
● 5 peppers (colour of choice) sliced
● 2 crushed garlic cloves
● 1 large onion sliced
● 1 red onion, sliced
● 6 skinned tomatoes, quartered
● 600g sliced breast skinless chicken cut into strips
● 3 teaspoons of Cajun spice
● Salt and black pepper
Method
● Heat chilli oil and fry over peppers, onions and garlic until soft
● Add the tomatoes and then lay the chicken on top
● Season with Cajun spices, salt and pepper
● Fry until cooked
