Rabbit is the dish of the day.

My 3 year old loves eating rabbits. It started about 2 months ago, when during a difficult and fussy eating period I made him a special rabbit dish, served with a range of vegetables.

He now regularly requests rabbit. In fact as I woke up this morning, I could hear him harrassing 21st C Dad

"rabbit please daddy.....daddy, please can I have rabbit....."

I rolled over in bed and thought, poor 21st C Dad...what have I started.

Now before you think that the little one is heavily into eating the little fluffy bunnies and ponder on how unusual it is or even how dreadful, I have to at least put forward my line of defence.

You see, his preference for rabbit is agreed unusual, but honestly it isn't that dreadful.

No, it is healthy for a young child to have an interesting and varied diet, don't you think.

And I am sure that even the vegetarians among you will agree, that when served appropriately, rabbit is a good choice.

Before you pass judgement, I am happy to reveal his favourite dish as illustrated below. Apologies for the quality but he started nibbling the ears before I reached for the camera.

Father's Day Recipe

Take 2 small children.
Divide kids in half, to play to talents.

1 to paint an home-made card.
1 to write Happy Father's Day.

Add 1 cup of tea in bed
a present,
and a promise of quiet time.

Add a smoked salmon breakfast.
Lunch at the pub.
with Kid's art entertainment on tap.
Time for grown up chat.

Add some time for play.
Home for tea.
Bath-time splashing.
2 Bed-time stories.
Lots of "I love yous"
Night Night

AND THAT'S THE FATHER'S DAY PLAN

A 5 Year Old Recipe

Take one 5 year old who desperately wants to make his own sandwich.

add 2 slices of bread
some butter
smoked salmon
4 strawberries
pieces of ham
2 chocolate balls


That makes one ecstatic schoolboy, who can't wait to eat his smiley face creation, which includes starters, main course and dessert in one fell swoop.

Minty memories from Wales

Despite the very hot weather today I decided to cook the lamb roast that I bought during yesterday's visit to Wyken. I don't know why, but I suddenly felt compelled to make some mint sauce (this is not a habit which is why I am still a bit shocked).

I found our patch of fresh mint in the garden, which is still pretty small for a renowned invasive plant that has been growing there for three years, and took some leaves back into the kitchen for chopping.

Immediately I was taken back to my memories as a little girl chopping mint in my nan's kitchen in Wales. I can't remember how old I was, but I remember often helping her in the kitchen, shelling peas and slicing carrots that had just been picked from the garden, chopping sage for stuffing, or mixing the dough for Welsh cakes. However, my favourite job was always chopping the mint and helping her make the mint sauce. I still remember the worn out wooden chopping board and old fashioned knife to this very day.

So the recipe (all from memory, so it's fairly vague)...consisted of:

1 tablespoon of freshly chopped mint leaves
3 tablespoons of freshly boiled water
2 or 3 teaspoons of caster sugar
1 or 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to taste

and hey presto lovely mint sauce. Even my husband fell off his chair, not just by the fact that I'd made it, but also by the fact that it was "edible"!

Blue Skies and Banana Sandwiches

The Recipe
Take one sunny day
add four slices of bread
spread a little english butter
fill with 2 bananas (chopped)
cut in half


That makes 1 contented toddler and a very happy 21st CM

aaahhhh...bliss....