Recipes for Louise Walters’s kids!

Louise Walters’s novel ‘Mrs Sinclair’s Suitcase’ is published by Hodder and Stoughton in February 2014.

In honour of the lovely writer and supermum, Louise Walters, here are some tasty yet healthy recipes for her kids. They are quick and easy to make too, so more time for writing novels, Louise!

MEDIEVAL VEGETABLE SOUP

Poppy’s Year 1 teacher made this soup for their Medieval Day last year and Poppy loved it so much, we got the recipe. It’s dead simple, yet really tasty & healthy too. You can freeze it in batches for a quick tea or weekend lunch.

2 carrots

1 large leek

1 large potato (or 1 medium & 2 small)

1 pint of vegetable stock

Olive oil

• Chop leeks & fry gently in a little oil till soft.
• Add chopped carrots & diced potatoes. Stir in.
• Add 1 pint of stock, bring to boil, then simmer till all veg are soft.
• Blitz until totally smooth – add a little boiled water if too thick. Serve with bread fingers spread with soft cheese.

RICEY SPICY

 My mum used to make something like this for us when we were little. I make my own version for Poppy, but the name is all Grandma’s! It’s not actually spicy at all, but it is yummy.

• First  wash Easy-Cook rice in cold water in a sieve. Then boil up the rice in vegetable stock, until cooked. Drain if any liquid left over. (Using stock makes it taste really good without the need for oil.)
• Meanwhile, hard-boil an egg & steam some carrots & frozen peas.
• While still hot/warm, put the rice in a bowl and stir in the following:
• tuna
• sweetcorn
• diced carrots & peas
• chopped cucumber

and pile the whole lot into serving bowls.

• Chop up the boiled egg into chunks & serve on top of the rice.
• You could  add any veg your children like and even serve it cold. If they don’t like tuna, try chopped up veggie sausage instead & perhaps omit the egg. (But the tuna does give it a lovely creamy consistency.)

I hope your kids like them!