The Coco Pops effect

We have a family tradition that when it is your birthday, you can choose a new breakfast cereal to have.

This doesn't sound like much of a treat, I know, but it truly is something to look forward to. The rest of the year we eat Weetabix. Or Cornflakes, Rice Crispies, Muesli or Bran Flakes. Nothing very exciting; high in fibre and (most importantly) low in chocolate and sugar.

Once a year, we each get to choose Choco Hoops or Frosties or Coco Pops or Crunchy Nut or... blimey, I'm almost salivating at the thought!

So imagine the scene when my daughter came downstairs (late!) for breakfast and discovered an empty box. It had been her birthday: her choice. "What's happened to all the-?" she whined.

My son stopped with his spoon halfway to his mouth. We all knew the guilty culprit. Before I could say anything he said, "I'll go and sit at the bottom of the stairs."

And he did!

Now that's the most effective parental discipline I've had for a long time!

Cheesy, but true...

"I don't want cheese sandwich in my lunch," my daughter declares at breakfast, with a distressed look on her face.

I am surprised. She always has cheese; she likes cheese. She has never expressed a dislike of it in the past, although (unlike her brother, who hates the stuff and will only eat ham) she is usually willing to try other things.

"Oh?" I say. "Why not?"

"It makes me feel sick," and she rubs her tummy and leans forward with such pain and anguish that I am forced to believe it has truly upset her.

"Okay, do you want ham, like your brother?"

"No." (More stretching of face in agony.)

"Chicken?"

"No. I get a poorly tummy."

I am getting the picture. "So, what would you like in your sandwich?"

The face transforms instantly. She sits upright, a small smile on her face and a bright spark in her eyes.

"Chocolate spread, or honey!"

The stress of feeding myself

Last night I was in a rare and unusual situation. Both my children had been out at friends, so had been fed and came home declaring they were not hungry (I admit this changed within an hour, but that's hollow legs for you!). I knew my husband would be working late, so the only person to feed was ME!

6.15pm: I had no ideas. Ridiculous, really, given I find food for four on a daily basis. All of a sudden food for one seemed impossible.

Tempted as I was to resort to pizza (easy) or fish fingers (the way my child-catering brain works) I wanted to eat something that I wouldn't normally have - principally because what I like and what the children will eat tends to be a bit different. Now I had the option for spice, or health, or green ...

So I started with a Gin & Tonic and a packet of crisps.

And Twitter. Throwing it open to the twitterverse I wondered what others would suggest. I wasn't let down. @retreatsforyou came up with several lovely suggestions, and I was most taken by the simple concept of poached egg on toast. The children turn their noses up at eggs (I remember doing so as a child as well) and this would be easy to make. Furthermore I wouldn't have much washing up to do...

Full of excitement (or gin...) I went downstairs. I sliced the bread, then opened the fridge.

No eggs.

Briefly I considered beans on toast, but it didn't appeal any more than fish fingers had.

No worries: I remembered the leftover chicken. Sure, I'd had some in my sandwich at lunchtime, but chicken twice in one day wasn't going to kill me.

What I had forgotten was how little there was left. I debated making a curry, but this was beginning to sound like hard work. And, in all honesty, it would have been an onion curry with a hint of chicken.

Further fridge investigations revealed a tub full of cold potatoes. Of course! They'd gone with the chicken a couple of days ago. As had the cabbage, so in a flash of inspiration I thought I could make a souped up Bubble & Squeak - add some cheese, maybe pesto or salsa.

No cabbage. Husband had thrown those remains away.

Wanted an egg...

Finally chose to dice the potato, chop up a red pepper and fry them together with some salt and pepper. A handful of cashew nuts and a final sprinkling of cheese when in the bowl made for a delicious TV dinner meal. (My hips will try to ignore the gallons of oil that, accidentally, went in to this feast, such that I had to pour some away or risk instant heart-failure).

Not exactly healthy and certainly not cordon bleu, but quick, easy and even involved one of my five-a-day.

See! After an hour of debate, dilemma and alcohol, I can feed myself!

The evening epilogue ... I make myself a hot Ribena as a going-to-bed treat. Accidentally (honest - it was late...) I pour the children's squash into my mug instead. No problems! I realise, and tip it back into the bottle. All but the inevitable drip down the side, so I lick up the side of the mug. Double-strength squash. Yeuch!!! How sweet is that?

Of course, I can solve that problem too. The way to cure an unpleasant taste in the mouth must be chocolate. Right?