Cooking for school kids! European theme!

[~Wingnut~]

Ok I need help please :o)
I am the cook at a primary school and have been asked to suggest some recipes for a european week. I have searched about on google but can't seem to find many ideas (remember it has to be kid friendly and not too fussy as I have to cook for about 80-90 kids)

Another thing (sorry!) one of the days is possibly going to be a European themed picnic which the parents are to be invited to. It can be themed to any one of the 5 countries below.

I would love to hear all suggestions. The countries are;
Greece
Italy (already thought of pizza but other ideas greatly appreciated)
France
Spain &
Poland

The picnic one has us a bit flumoxed, so am looking forward to your suggestions.

Thank you all so much :o)

[spudqueen]

For the picnic you could have french bread and cheese, maybe with some grapes.

[~Wingnut~]

Thanx spudqueen :o)
Great idea! I think that's going to be the best one for the picnic but welcome any other ideas :o)

Thank you xx

[CheekyChops]

For a Greek picnic:

Olives
Greek Salad (tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese)
Taramasalata
Hummous
Tzatziki
Crusty bread
Greek yohurt with honey adn chopped nuts sprinkled on

Other yummy greek recipies:
Keftedes (greek meatballs)
Saganaki (fried cheese)
Souvlaki (kebabs)
Moussaka

[BBWCHATT]

Wingnut - this website has food from LOTS of different countries:

http://fooddownunder.com/

[~Wingnut~]

OOooo excellent! Thank you! It has given me a fab idea too!! I think I was being a bit one sided with my picnic idea, thinking of it in an individual picnic bag but your suggs have given me the idea of setting up a table outdoors and letting them help theirselves!! One to run by the teacher anyway :o)

Excellent ideas cheekychops and Brill link BBCHATT

Thank you! xxx

[BBWCHATT]

Greece - Food & Recipes:

http://www.sallys-place.com/food/ethnic_cusine /greece.htm

Italy - Food & Recipes

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112083/Italy/f ood.htm

France - Food & Recipes

http://www.lhj.com/recipe/searchResults.jhtml? start=1&searchType=browse&browseCat=French&res ultsType=recipe&adCategory=143&_requestid=2169 16

Spain - Food & Recipes

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/food/o rl-spain1806oct18,0,1053235.story?coll=orl-sho ppinghg-headlinesinthek

Poland - Food & Recipes

http://www.stephencooks.com/2006/02/polish_sty le_ba.html

[~Wingnut~]

They are great BBWCHATT Thank you, your a star! :o)

[Bohne]

You have so many picnic ideas, now, I thought I might start you off on the European week...

How about

Paella (Spain)
Ravioli (Italy)
Waffles (Belgium)
Cheese Fondue (Switzerland)
Stew (Ireland)
Onion Soup (France)
Cheese-Sp�tzle (Germany)
Bortscht/Beetroot Soup (Poland)

[filthiestfis]

Bohne those are all the stereotypical foods of each nation! Tsk!

[Bohne]

yes, on purpose...

I could name you others, but then wingnut would not be finished with cooking, she'd have to explain each dish to the students, too!

[BBWCHATT]

Wingnut - When you have finished European Week - if it isn't too much trouble - could you let us know what you selected and how things went please. I would enjoy knowing that.

BBWCHATT
The old lady in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Guys!!
Yes sure! It isn't until the end of May but I am due to get together with the teacher and my area manager soon to discuss what to make, so will keep you posted :o)

This time last year I was only the general kitchen assistant and we did one day of french food (I remember I piped the cream into the eclairs lol) this year it's for a whole week, 5 different countries and I'm cooking it!! Sleepless nights here I come! lol

Thank you so much again for your replies (& support) :o)

[teddybon]

Good luck - the children are fortunate to have a caring and creative cook. I appreciate how undervalued school cooks can be.

[~Wingnut~]

Aww bless you teddybon, that's really kind of you to say that :o)



.... Made me blush lol

[Bohne]

Not an answer to your question, but thought you might like to hear it anyway...
On the radio, yesterday, I heard praise for English School Food since thanks to Jamie Oliver (according to the report) it has changed from mostly fried and greasy to healthy food.
Apparently it took English pupils a few years to get used to and appreciate it, but in the meantime Germany's children overtook the English in being fat/obese...

So congratiulations...

:o)

[~Wingnut~]

Hi Bohne! :o)

Thanx for your reply! We started the healthy eating about 18 months before Jamie Oliver but he has certainly been a great impact on changing the way children eat. We're still not quite there yet but I know from the children at my school that their eating habits have changed (for the good) since this healthy menu, mind you that could just be because if they won't have any veg then I tell them they have to have to have the salad lol

I just wanted to say again thank you all. I have worked at the school for nearly 5 years but have only become the cook since just before Easter and I want to prove to them that I have the kids best interest and health at heart , I suppose that maybe I feel I have something to prove as I use to do more than my job but never got the credit, my turn to shine lol When I read comments like above it spurs me to carry on (corny I know sorry lol)