good recipes for nanny to make

[Anonymous]

Now that the kids are in school, I asked my nanny if there's anything else she'd want to do during the day, and she offered to do some cooking (YAY!)

I think she knows how to cook, and while I would LOVE for her to make some foods from her native country/culture, I think she feels more comfortable, at least initially, if I leave her a recipe. She's worried we won't like the foods she is used to making (though I think she knows I would, but she is worried the kids won't like it, different spices than they are used to, etc.) She'll do the shopping and prepare it while I'm at work.

I like to cook, and sometimes I use recipes and sometimes I just wing it, but of course now that someone has offered to cook meals for me, I'm totally drawing a blank on what to ask her to make!

Does anyone have any good recipe ideas to share, or things their nanny cooks for them? Even if she does the shopping & the prep/chopping work, and I have to do some of the actual cooking when I get home, that would still be a helpful timesaver for me!

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny. In the past, I have cooked for my families. I rarely use recipes unless I see something in Food and Wine, Martha Stewart or Cooking Light. But, I do understand how she could be concerned. Kids can be picky when spices come in play.

I have made
Lasagna
Baked Ziti (both are good to assemble then pop in the oven)
Roasted chicken w/garlic, lemon and rosemary with potatoes
Pot Roast, Potatoes and Carrots in the Crock Pot(again easy to assemble in the AM)
Chorizo/Black Bean "mash" on kaiser rolls with goat cheese
Fish Tacos
Fajitas
Chicken Parm
Pork Shoulder in crock pot. Yummy sandwiches, sweet potato fries

[Anonymous]

I would bet some kids will be more curious/adventuresome with food from nanny, especially non-American dishes, than food from mom or dad - when I was little, I wanted to try pretty much everything our live-in housekeeper made for herself, including whole fried smelts (little fish) despite refusing fish at family dinners. The fact that it was someone else's special dish made it fascinating!
So, I would encourage your nanny to make some of her own favorites and present them to the kids as such.

[Anonymous]

OP,
Neat! Can't you test-taste takeout from a restaurant that makes what she might cook?

[Anonymous]

Just have her make something kid-friendly from her country that you like and have some plain pasta or bologna sandwich or whatever on hand for your kids if they get picky.

Might help to give her some parameters-ie chicken with rice or noodles, not too spicy.

[Anonymous]

I personally love casseroles.