Butterflies

Faced with the problems of feeding a family, the busy mum is often at her wit's end. Another meal looms and she hasn't an idea in her head. Or the children rush in from school, crying 'Mummy, I'm starving!# and they're due out again in ten minutes. What can she give them to keep the wolf at bay?

As a busy working mother herself, Wendy Craig went through it all when bringing up her own children, and has learnt many of the short cuts. Planning and organisation, she found, was half the battle, and having a basic collection of favourite, easily prepared recipes that appeal to all the family provides an important foundation on which to build. Cooking in bulk with the aid of a freezer, making the most of kitchen aids such as a pressure cooker, and - in moments of extra stress - never despising the sheer time-saving qualities of occasional convenience foods are common-sense ways of countering the demands of a young family.

So many mothers are worried by the food fads and fussy eating patterns of their children. Does it matter that they fill up on chips and hamburgers, that they won't touch eggs or don't like milk? A short section on the nutritional needs of growing children puts these problems into perspective, and allays many of the common anxieties.

The Busy Mum's Cookbook is packed with imaginative ideas for meals snacks and special occasions. For the mum in a hurry, rushing out to work, for the big family with varying needs, Wendy Craig's suggestions will tempt appetites and awaken new interest. Mum's cooking will taste better than ever before!

First published: Friday 30th September 1983