Wednesday 11 November is St Martin’s Day. In many Dutch towns, children go from door to door after dark with a lantern and a song, carrying a bag that gets heavier along the way. Mila and Ties have been talking about it for days. For you, it mostly means a school night when dinner has to be early and everyone comes home cold.
Eat early and keep it easy
If you’re walking along, you don’t want to be at the stove just before you leave. So pick something that’s ready when the coats go on. Classic roasted parsnip soup takes 55 minutes, but most of that is the oven doing the work. Make it in the afternoon or the day before and warm it through gently.
Put a plate of Margherita pizza pinwheels next to it. Tomato, mozzarella and basil rolled up in pizza dough, ready in 40 minutes and easy to share, even with one eye on the lantern.
Something warm for after the walk
When they come home with cold hands, it’s hard to beat sticky toffee pudding: a soft date sponge with glossy butterscotch sauce, served warm. Allow 65 minutes, and bake it before you head out. Warm it up when you’re back, and the whole house will know.
At the door, go for something wrapped
At your own table, you know who eats what. With the children on your doorstep, you don’t. So hand out something wrapped at the door, and their parents can read the label. The recipes above are for home.
All three are vegetarian, but do take note: the pudding contains gluten, egg and milk, the pinwheels gluten and milk, and the soup milk. Is someone eating with you who has an allergy? Always read the labels on what you buy.
How to plan it in Umeli
Just say what you need: “Something warm and easy for four, ready before we head out.” Put your choice on the week menu, and the ingredients go on your shopping list. Tap what you already have at home. The list is shared, so whoever passes the shop first can pick it up.
Happy St Martin’s Day. And save some pudding for whoever gets home last.
