The Magic Of A Family Meal  C.The family Afternoon Snack-Time:
The evening Teatime is a relaxing time for the family on weekends when the entire family is together for tea.Make it a funtime too with cookies, oaty biscuits, muffins, tarts with appetising toppings.However for weekdays, teatime is a hurried affair as the children need to complete their homework for the next day, and the homemeaker has to make dinner preparations, and the head of the family usually the father stays away at workplace.
Tea-time snacks:
Oaty Biscuits(serves 15): 
Ingredients:
60g polyunsaturated margarine; 3 tbsp brown sugar; 1 tsp vanilla essence; 1 egg; 1 cup rolled oats; 1/2 cup wholemeal self-raising flour(sifted and husks returned); 3 tbsp chopped pecans; 3 tbsp chopped dates; 3 tbsp wheat germ;
Pink Icing:
2 tsp polyunsaturated margarine; 3 tbsp hot water; 1 cup icing sugar(sifted); few drops pink food colouring.
Method:
Place margarine in a bowl and beat until light and fluffy.Add sugar and vanilla essence and beat to combine.Beat in eggStir in oats, flour, pecans, dates and wheat germ and mix well.Place spoonfuls of mixture on lightly greased baking trays and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.Transfer to wire racks to cool.To make icing, stir margarine into hot water until melted.Add icing sugar and beat until smooth.Colour with food colouring and place a little icing on each biscuit.
Mini Quiches(Serves 6):
Ingredients:
315g prepared wholemeal shortcrust pastry; 1 onion(finely chopped); 220g canned no-added-salt salmon(drained and flaked); 2 eggs(lightly beaten); 3/4 cup skim milk; 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg; 2 tsp chopped fresh dill; freshly ground black pepper; 60g grated reduced-fat cheddar cheese; 1 tbsp snipped fresh chives;
Method:
Line six 7.5 cm/3 inch flan tins with pastry.Cook onion in a nonstick frying pan over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until soft.Divide onion and salmon between flan cases.Combine eggs, milk, nutmeg, dill and black pepper to taste.Pour into flans, sprinkle with cheese and chives and bake for 20 minutes or until filling is firm.
Spinach And Ham Quiches:
Boil, steam or microwave 100g chopped spinach until tender.Divide 100g chopped reduced-fat-and-salt ham and 3 tbsp finely chopped red pepper between flan cases, then pour over egg mixture, top with cheese and chives and bake for 20 minutes. More Snacks More Tea-time Snacks ********************************************* D.Desserts:
Melon And Yogurt Cups(Serves 4):
Ingredients:
2 small rock melons(cantaloupes, halved and seeds removed); 2 nectarines(stoned removed and sliced); 155g strawberries(sliced); 155g black grapes;
Yogurt Dressing:
1 kiwifruit(roughly chopped); 1/4 cup low-fat natural yogurt; 1 tbsp honey;
Method:
To make dressing, place kiwifruit, yogurt and honey in a bowl and mix to combine.Place melon halves on individual serving plates.Fill with nectarines, strawberries and grapes.Spoon over dressing and chill.
Winter Dry fruit Compote(Serves 4):
Ingredients:
500g mixed dry fruit; 200ml fresh orange juice; half cinnamon stick; 6 cloves; 6 black peppercorns; yogurt to serve;
Method:
Tip the dried fruit, orange juice and whole spices into a microwavable bowl.Microwave on Hogh for 4-5 minutes, stirring halfway through until the juices become sticky and the fruits are plump.Leave the compote to stand for a minute and serve in bowls with spoonfuls of yogurt. More Desserts *********************************************  Previous | 
