Summer……A time for simplicity when everyone is making the most of the fair weather. Also the kids are at home and wanting to eat and the last thing we want to do is to spend too much time in the kitchen. With that in mind though, we still need our children to have a decent tasty meal, so they can recharge after a busy day at camp or just playing non stop.

I bought some Popsicle molds from the dollar store a number of weeks back for a school presentation I do every year to promote healthy eating, but had forgotten they were stashed in the cupboard until Ella spotted them the last week. We have been making all different kinds of popsicles together ever since.

I find that children love simple flavours that have a yummy look to them and have a fun element. When I am cooking for my friend’s children I usually fall back on an old stand by - The Omelette. Children like eggs and they can be a perfect addition to any meal. This really easy and tasty recipe can be made in just a few minutes and will go perfect with toast in the morning for breakfast or a salad for lunch and grilled vegetable and corn on the cob for dinner. The one I make is usually a gooey cheesy omelette with ham but any ingredient can be added to mix it up a bit.

As a Chef and Dad, I can sometimes, well actually most of the time be pretty restrictive when it comes to what I let my children eat. Maybe it was the summer sun, the sea air or the glow from the campfire that caused me to lapse or perhaps it was just the right time to introduce the twins to Smores. After a gorgeous sunny day on the beach with Jana, the kids and the Lacasses, we decided it would be fun to have a spontaneous camp out on “Dead Man’s Beach”, the kids agreed!

Sometimes even my fridge gets pretty bare, and whipping up dinner for the family can get a little challenging. I thought I had pulled a rabbit out of my hat the other night, creating a delicious dinner from what looked like an empty refrigerator; I was thoroughly pleased with myself. Once the kids had finished their meal, they asked what was for dessert. Dessert, I gasped, I hadn’t thought about dessert. Usually we’ll have some fruit, yogourt or maybe a cookie (if they manage to finish their supper that is!) "Let me have a look," I said.