Advice for Remy, Day 27. Learn how to cook #2 (and appreciate that some of the simplest dishes will be the best). So after a few misfires with your evening meals of late, we’re finally beginning to learn the things you like and the things you don’t. You’re a big fan of sweet potato, most vegetables, dhal and Indian spices, fish (much to your parents’ disapproval) and even pork satay. You’re no so keen on tomatoey things, peppers and other staples of a Mediterranean diet (so we’ll cancel those reservations at that baby Italian restaurant). So today your mum made you a healthy macaroni cheese, and you bloody loved it. Not only that, but your mum loved it too, and this simple baby meal has now become one of her favourite actual meals. So it just goes to show that something doesn’t have to be all Jamie-Oliver-nutmeg-and-saffron to be good. So, try this one out for size - just don’t tell people it was originally a baby food recipe. Cook 250g macaroni until ready (or twice that amount if you’re a normal pasta-loving person), adding in 100g frozen peas and 2 grated courgettes 3 minutes from the end. Drain and set aside. Make a cheese sauce from 8 tsp plain flour, a pint of milk, 40g butter and 100g cheese (melt the butter, stir in the flour, slowly add the milk, whisk, thicken and add the cheese at the end). Add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to taste. Add the pasta and veg to the sauce (and season, if you’re not making it for babies) and put in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with more cheese and cook on 180C for 20 minutes or so. Voila - baby food fit for even the most discerning of adults.
