LIFESTYLE NEWS - Restaurants are closed, takeaway outlets are closed and even the hot food or "deli" sections of supermarkets have shut during the lockdown.
At most supermarkets one cannot even buy a pie.
This puts added pressure on families when it comes to meal preparation. Also, everyone except for those working in "essential services" is at home, so there are more hungry tummies to feed, more regularly than usual.
Having children and - even more challenging - teenage boys at home constantly, can be especially challenging in terms of energy, planning and financial resources.
Although driving around is discouraged during the lockdown, parents might find they are shopping even more than usual, or buying more at a time, to try to keep up with their family's food intake.
The flip side of the coin is that if one has money to buy food during the lockdown, one should be extremely grateful.
Here is a "lockdown recipe" provided by Capsicum Culinary Studio, a national chef school. It asked its chef lecturers to come up with some easy dishes, perfect for the whole family during the lockdown.
You can double the recipe and reheat and eat, as and when you get hungry.
Cheesy potato and herb bake
Ingredients:
- Potatoes - 3 large
- Herbs fresh or dried - 20grams
- Oil - 10ml
- White sauce - 600ml (see recipe below)
- Garlic - 3 cloves
- Salt and pepper – 6 grams each
- Cheese -100 grams (any cheese that melts well)
- Smoked paprika – 6 grams (optional)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 160 C.
- Thinly slice garlic and set aside.
- Cut potatoes into medium-sized cubes, season with salt and pepper and then toss into oil with herbs and thinly sliced garlic.
- Once potatoes are fully coated place into baking dish and place into the oven to crisp up.
- Warm up white sauce.
- Remove potatoes once golden in colour and pour over white making sure they are fully coated.
- Grate over cheese until fully covered
- Turn oven up to 200 C and place bake inside, bake for 20-25 minutes until completely golden and potatoes are soft.
- Top with herbs before serving.
White sauce recipe
Ingredients:
- Milk - 1 litre (warm)
- Salt and pepper- 6 gram of each
- Flour - 200grams
- Butter - 200grams
- Finely chopped onion - 150grams (optional)
Method:
- Add butter to a pot on medium heat and melt (be careful not to burn).
- Once butter is melted, add flour and whisk until fully incorporated cook for about 8 minute if this is not done the sauce texture will be grainy because the flour has not been cooked out.
- Once the flour and butter paste (called a roux) is ready, add in your warm milk into four stages doing consistent whisking so that it mixes well and you get a smooth thick texture.
- Season with salt and pepper add more seasoning if needed to taste.
- Sauce should be done once its thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
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