Aubergine Stuff

This is different to stuffed aubergine, which I also enjoy on occasion. The majority of what I cook is thrown together, and this definitely fits that description. It contained aubergine, red onion, lots of herbs, mushrooms, tomato, smoked sausage, and minty halloumi. I have never cooked with halloumi before, so that was my main point of interest.

We ate it with quinoa, which was another first. Pete said he didn't think he would call it a superfood, but still scoffed the lot with enthusiasm. I had seconds of aubergine, because I'm greedy. Pete is now making pancakes, and I am supposed to be helping.

Before adding the sausage and cheese, I took a portion out for Bernard to try tomorrow. His childminder and I are wondering if he is objecting to the lumpy texture of the food he has been offered lately, as we get crying, head-shaking, raspberries, and sleepy signs during the main course, but he usually perks up for pudding. This is the case even when the pudding is unsweetened natural yoghurt. Conversely, he eats jarfood, which is so smooth as to be textureless, with no protest whatsoever. So tonight he had smooth main course: tuna and potato mush, followed by yoghurt with melon bits. The melon was supposed to be more slushy, but the blender seemed to reduce it to chippings. Wrong sort of melon? Who knows. Anyway, he ate most of the tuna mush, and refused the melon.

Lentil & Spinach Dahl

Dahl should probably be thicker; I'm just using the term for any kind of lentil mush. I cooked the lentils this afternoon, with some onion, carrot and tomato puree, cumin seeds, thyme, garlic, and half a teaspoon of paprika.

I took a bowlful out for Bernard, and he had it with spinach, quinoa and creme fraiche for his tea. It was quite lumpy for him, but he seemed to like it. When I offered him a spoonful, he pushed his head right back into the high chair and gave it a hard stare, before agreeing to eat it. After a while, he decided to help out, by taking the spoon in one hand, wiping most of the food off it with the other hand, and then pushing the spoon into his mouth. Vast quantities of it made their way into his neckfolds and down his vest, despite using a bib and two muslins. I guess this is the way it's going to be, with lumpier food. At least purees congealed safely on his chin.

After Bernard was in bed, I heated up more spicy spices in some oil, and tipped the rest of the lentil mush in, along with half a tin of tomatoes. Served with rice and creme fraiche, and there is some left for tomorrow's lunch.