My Neverfail Toddler Meal: Homestyle Bangers & Mash

I know Jessica Seinfeld lay claim to the whole Deceptively Delicious idea but I can assure you that spending five years menu planning for a child care centre saw me become very adept at adjusting recipes with an eye to adding as much nutritional value as possible.

One recipe that was always popular in the Centre and is a favourite with our toddler is this recipe for ‘Homestyle Bangers and Mash.’ Mums know that kids love sausages but I am often suspicious of what actually goes into your everyday pack of sausages from the supermarket. This simple way of making your own sausages (think ‘patties’ but rolled into little sausage shapes)means you needn’t worry. The other plus for this recipe is that it can be adapted in so many ways…but I am getting ahead of myself…here it is;

Homestyle Bangers & Mash

You will need:

• 500gm beef mince
• 1 onion, grated or finely chopped
• 1 carrot, grated
• 1 zucchini, grated
• 1T beef or vegetable stock powder
• 1T mixed herbs
• 1t crushed garlic
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup breadcrumbs

To make:

1. Mix all ingredients together. If too wet, add more breadcrumbs, if too dry, add another egg.
2. Shape into little sausages and cook in a little oil in a frypan or bake in a medium oven.
3. Serve with mashed potatoes or wrapped in bread with a little tomato sauce.

So that is it, simple. But wait, it gets better as you can really substitute anything from the pantry or vegetable crisper for the carrot and zucchini. I have tried;

• Mashed beans – baked beans work well, cannellini beans are also good
• Grated apple for a sweet twist
• Grated cheese for a savoury one
• Mashed potato
• Fresh parsley, finely chopped
• A tablespoon of tomato sauce or a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
• Steamed and pureed vegies – spinach is good, or pumpkin or sweet potato
• I have even ditched the beef and used tinned tuna or salmon with mashed potato

The key for substituting ingredients is just making sure the mix is wet enough to hold the sausage shape when being cooked.

The other great thing about these sausages is that you can make them up and freeze them (uncooked). Then its just a case of defrosting them (though not in the microwave as they’ll go mushy) and cooking them up.

What is your ‘neverfail’ kids meal? Leave a comment below to share.

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