Slert

Slert...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Slert...

I'll give you a hint... it's something we eat.

It's something we eat after a meal...

It's something Helena asks for...

and it's healthy!!!

For those of you who've actually been around me and the kids, you'll know that we try pretty hard to keep their food intake fairly nutritious... at least when we can control it. Like I'm the one who bakes biscuits, slices or muffins with only 1/4 of the recipe's sugar call, substitutes applesauce instead of butter, and sticks flaxseeds into almost every baked item. We try to prepare and eat fairly nutritious foods at home because we figure we get our fill of other stuff while out and about at morning teas, birthday parties, life group, friends' houses... but really, could anyone imagine that I would purposely serve a 'dessert' after dinner? Well, about a month or so ago I realized that 'dessert' or "Slert" as Helena pronounced it, pulled a certain weight at the dinner table... as in if there was something coming after dinner, the kids were more focused and cooperative... and to actually withhold some kind of privilege really does go a long way for soliciting an empty plate. Ask Helena - she's experienced this one.

So now most nights we've got "Slert". I must admit, most of the time it's either canned peaches or fruit salad, a special fruit or even just toast with marmite... but on occasion, the kids will get a fruit crumble, a biscuit (aforementioned biscuits don't usually warrant as much cooperation) or one of our new special cooked treats. Thanks to a visit to a new friend the concept of "Slert" has really become a feature in my evening as she passed on a few gems that I thought I'd pass on as well.

1) "Semolina Custard"

Take 2 tablespoons of semolina and mix w/about 1/4c. milk or soymilk to make a paste. In a small saucepan, heat up 1c. milk/soymilk with vanilla (and/or chopped dates, dried apricots). Add semolina paste to thicken... and voila! Slert!!! You can use any of the following to sweeten: cinnamon, honey, brown sugar, applesauce, stewed fruit, canned fruit, yogurt... you get the idea!

2) "Sweet Couscous"

Mix 1c. milk/soymilk, 1 tablespoon couscous, 1 teaspoon sugar, dash of cinnamon in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add shredded coconut, seeds, nuts, and/or colorful sprinkles to serve and watch your kids lap up some last minute calcium and protein and grainy fillers to hold them over til breakfast.

3) "Creamed Rice with Dried Fruit Compote" (this one I took from a cookbook at her house but don't remember the name, is that totally wrong to share it?) And truth be told, we haven't tried this one yet... it's a bit more effort than the others.

Creamed rice: 4c. milk/soymilk, 1/3c sugar, 10 cm strip lemon rind, 1/3c white rice med grain, 2 tsp cornflour, 1 tbsp water, 2 egg yolks, 1/2 tsp vanilla - Bring to boil milk, lemon rind and sugar, stir in rice and reduce heat, cover and simmer 40 minutes (discard rind). Blend cornflour with water, stir in egg yolks. Then stir in heaped tbsp cooked rice into a bowl then all of it back into the rice mixture and stir over medium heat until boils and thickens. Let stand 15 minutes. Serve with compote.

Compote: 1/2c. dried pear, apple, prunes, dates - whatever you like 1/2 c each to make 1 and 1/2 cups fruit mix with 2c water and 2 tbsp honey - bring to a boil, reduce, simmer 15 minutes.



Anyone with any other family tested "Slert" options are welcome to comment... it's amazing how the kids will eat couscous in a wet form, but not as a delicious accompaniment to salmon... what's up with that?