This evening I took a dinnertime shortcut. Allow me to explain…

I find Friday afternoons to be the most challenging off all the days in the week. Children tend to be exhausted and hence emotional, and that’s before any of the after school activities have even started. They are also hungry and desperate to share the highs and lows of their day with anyone who’s listening (which is most often me). With four children at school, one at pre-school and a six week old serious about feeding, our afternoons are akin to motor sport racing – go, go go!

So to preserve my sense of calm and sanity I cheated with dinner. I served up a flavoursome multi-layered lasagne, with a resplendent, rich sauce and the top golden and glistening with melted mozzarella cheese. This satisfying dish was freshly made earlier today…it just wasn’t me doing the slicing, sauteeing, simmering and assembling for a change. Lisa from Locantro Fine Foods in Hunters Hill deserves the three cheers.Turning to a reliable supplier, especially one who sells home cooked meals, for those super busy times is a sensible way to feed the family and keep smiling. It just requires a little forward planning, a quick phone call and a late afternoon pick-up. 

As for the Oat, Date, Apricot and Chocolate Slice, this was whipped up yesterday morning as an after swimming snack. High in fibre with the goodness of rolled oats and full of flavour, it is an ideal eat-on-the-run option. My children took chunky portions to school with fresh fruit for morning tea. 

I am looking forward to sharing the recipe for my melt and mix, Oat, Date, Apricot and Chocolate Slice with readers of my blog, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. My newborn is singing out – very loudly – for his dinner.