Get creative with your daughter and try some of these practical and easy recipes created by Jeff-the-chef and his restaurant team  of dads from Eleven, at Kings St wharf, Sydney:

Meatballs (also works for sausages)

• Any grade of mince
• Grate 1 x carrot and 1 x zuchinni: then mix with mince
• 1 spoon of either molasses or maple syrup
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil
• Get the kids to grate and mix. Dad, you cook on a fry pan to your liking.
• Serve as a sandwich, make a sausage roll by baking  the sausage (already cooked) in filo pastry for 20 min, or eat plain
• Add dips like tommy sauce or healthy options such as hummus

Bolognaise sauce

• Use the above mince meatball recipe(add gared garlic, onion and capsicum)
• Add 1  tin of tomatoes then cook
• Add tommy sauce toisweeten
• Serve with pasta of your choice. Add garlic bread on the side

Lasagna

• Use mince from above
• Grab a box of lasagna sheets from supermarket
• Layer the sheets in a greased baking dish
• Alternatively add, mince and sheets until you get to the top
• Grate cheese (you can use cheddar, Parmesan or pizza cheese) in between the layers
• Bake for 40 min on 180 Celsius

TIP: For added Italian flavour  add smoked pork rashes, bacon or pork mince in with the mince recipe above

Pizzas

• Buy pizza bases or use Lebanese bread
• Top the pizza base with tomato  paste
• Add whatever you like, (use old vegies,  grate then apply)
• TIP: Check your local pizza shop menu for inspiration (theres bound to be one in your letter box)
• Add loads of cheese
• Best cooked on a pizza stone (you can buy one for around $10 – lasts for life)
• Bake in oven for 20 minutes

Pancakes (savory ; don’t add sugar or sweet : add sugar)

• 3 eggs
• 250 grams plain flour
• 0.5 litres of milk: add milk gradually
• TIP: rest mixture for 15 minutes to allow the gluten to buld up; makes ‘em damn good!
• Spray pan with canola oil to stop burning  ( has the goodness of  omega 3 and is cholestorel free)
• SAVOURY: add grated whatever you like, layer and stack for ideal presentation
• SWEET: add sugar, jam etc..
• TIP: Save pancakes in the fridge for up to 4 days. use for roll-ups in kids lunches

Vegie patties

• Mix grated vegies in a bowl
• Add 1 egg to bind mixture
• Roll in bread crumbs
• TIP: if mixture is too runny add extra vegies or breadcrumbs
• Fry to your liking
• Use tommy sauce, soy or sweet Thai chilli as dipping sauces

Schnitzels

Kids love the breadcrumbs, so have them to the coating per below:

• Buy schnitzel meat cuts from butcher or supermarket (or you can buy breaded cuts but then you leave the kids nothing to do).
• 2 eggs (beat in a bowl)
• 1 plate of plain flour
• 1 plate of bread crumbs
• Dip meat in flour, then flour then coat with crumbs (must be done in that order)
• Fry on a high heat