Fish & Chips at the Beach Cafe

After making a beach in our living room yesterday Boy asked if we could eat our lunch on the beach.  I thought, 'why not?'

We made fish & chips together.  Here's how we made them.  Ingredients; potatoes, fish (the choice is yours but we used haddock loin), plain flour, egg, breadcrumbs (or crushed cornflakes), oil, salt and pepper.

First cut the potatoes into chips (we left the skins on).  Then place on a large baking tray and drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper.  Then into the oven at 180 degrees for about 25 mins.

Cut the fish into pieces and then coat first in flour, then in egg an finally in breadcrumbs.

Place on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 15-20 mins.

Then I served them on some greaseproof paper to give it an authentic feel (my own mother used to do this - making homemade versions of takeaway food and then wrapping it in paper!).

Then we sat on the beach to enjoy our tasty fish and chips.

We had a brilliant time.  The children were involved in buying the fish (we went to the fishmonger on the way home from the library), they helped to prepare the food, and they enjoyed eating the food too!  This kind of activity is great for building self esteem and teaching children important life skills like cooking.  It does take longer to involve them, but I think it's worth it.  It can also be particularly good for a child who is fussy with food.  Allowing them to 'own' the food preparation can be a great way of getting them to eat it too.  Making your own 'version' of a popular takeaway meal is so easy and you will always know what is in the food you have made together.  We have made pizza quite a bit in the past and chicken nuggets can be made in the same way as the fish in this recipe.

Boy said to me later 'Mummy, can we make a beach every day please!'  He's obviously enjoying this theme.  I need to get creative and come up with some more ideas for later in the week!