Back-to-school Bites

Introducing a feast for families! We’re thrilled to present a collection of delectable dinner recipes tailored for busy working parents with a hunger for both health and taste. From succulent Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken to the vibrant Cheesy Veggie Quesadillas, these dishes effortlessly marry balanced nutrition with speed and simplicity.

Set your table for a culinary journey that keeps your loved ones excited about wholesome dining, all while strengthening the bonds of togetherness. Discover the joy of sharing a meal that’s nourishing, easy, and oh-so-delicious.

Teriyaki Salmon With Broccoli

Ingredients

4 salmon fillets

1/4 cup teriyaki sauce

1 tbsp honey

1 tbsp olive oil

1 broccoli crown, cut into florets

Sesame seeds, for garnish

Sliced green onions, for garnish

Cooked quinoa, for serving

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

2. In a small bowl, mix teriyaki sauce and honey.

3. Place salmon fillets in a baking dish and brush them with the teriyaki mixture.

4. Bake the salmon in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

5. While the salmon is baking, steam or blanch the broccoli florets until tendercrisp.

6. In a separate skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the steamed broccoli and sauté for 2-3 minutes to enhance the flavour.

7. Serve the teriyaki salmon over cooked quinoa, accompanied by the sautéed broccoli. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Honey Mustard Glazed Chicken

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tbsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Fresh thyme leaves, for garnish

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

3. Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and brush them generously with the honey mustard mixture.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for about 2530 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the glaze is golden brown.

5. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and serve with your choice of steamed vegetables and whole grain rice.

Vegetarian Recipe: Veggie Stir-Fry

With Tofu Ingredients

1 block (14 oz) firm tofu, cubed

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp sesame oil

2 cups mixed vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, snap peas), sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

2 tablespoons hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

Cooked noodles or rice, for serving

Method

1. In a bowl, marinate tofu cubes in soy sauce and sesame oil for 15 minutes.

2. Heat a large skillet or wok over mediumhigh heat. Add marinated tofu and cook until golden brown on all sides. Remove tofu from the skillet and set aside.

3. In the same skillet, add a bit more sesame oil if needed. Add minced garlic and ginger, and stir-fry for about 1 minute.

4. Add mixed vegetables to the skillet and stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until they’re tender-crisp.

5. In a small bowl, whisk hoisin sauce and cornstarch together. Pour this mixture over the vegetables and stir to coat.

6. Add the cooked tofu back to the skillet and toss everything together.

7. Serve the veggie stir-fry over cooked noodles or rice.

Cheesy Veggie Quesadillas

Ingredients

4 large whole wheat tortillas

225g shredded cheddar cheese

150g mixed vegetables (peppers, corn, peas), finely diced

15g butter or olive oil

Method

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded cheddar cheese and mixed vegetables.

2. Lay out two of the whole wheat tortillas on a clean surface.

3. Divide the cheese and vegetable mixture evenly between the two tortillas, spreading it evenly on one half of each tortilla.

4. Fold the other half of each tortilla over the cheese and veggies to create a halfmoon shape.

5. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add a bit of butter or olive oil.

6. Place one quesadilla in the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until the tortilla is golden brown and the cheese is melted.

7. Repeat the process with the second quesadilla.

8. Remove the quesadillas from the skillet and let them cool for a minute before cutting each one into wedges.

9. Serve the cheesy veggie quesadillas with a side of salsa, guacamole, or sour cream for dipping.

The Accidental Manager

There’s a layer beneath the surface of the Junior Football experience… Essex parents, authors and ‘accidental managers’ S Compton and M Jones unveil the dark side of the violence, intimidation and corruption on pitches up and down the country…

Written by ‘Accidental Managers’ and parents from Essex, Billericay’s Simon Compton and Wickford’s Mark Jones, the book peels back the veneers of ‘overenthusiastic’ support from the side lines and the systems in place to present a stark and honest look at the environment at leagues up and down the country. It highlights the positives of how rewarding it can be to help children develop and improve, while shining a spotlight on the aspects that many would prefer to ignore.

About The Accidental Manager: The Uncomfortable Truth About Junior Football What really happens at junior football, away from the nice positive messages and sound bites from the clubs and leagues about equality, respect and fair play? What is the harsh reality of managing a junior football team, and what actually happens each Sunday around the football pitches up and down the country, whilst the children play? This book delves into real-life, first-hand accounts looking into the reality for the parents, the players, the clubs, the leagues and the officials.

The violence, intimidation, cheating, players being tapped up, politics and corruption.

‘“Mate can you do me a favour and come back to mine; he’s following me home.” We are now behind ‘Thug Dad’, but he had not spotted us. We pull up to some lights. Our parent is at the front, Thug Dad is behind him, followed by me. The boot pops open and out gets the dad. He walks to the back of his car where he has a set of golf clubs in the boot; he reaches to grab one of the clubs…’

This is the very uncomfortable truth about Junior Football.

S Compton and M Jones are everyday guys from Essex who fell into managing football teams for their sons (and friends) for many years, from children to young adults. Sharing their own love of football, they wanted to give their children the opportunity to play the beautiful game, and to improve and develop both off and on the pitch.

“

We have been involved in junior football for many years and have witnessed firsthand, appalling behaviour from adults which would not be allowed anywhere else in society – let alone a place for children,” say Compton and Jones.

“We were both part of the problem; accepted it as the norm as it has always been that way. On reflection we can see how wrong much of it is, and we want to raise awareness of the reality of junior football to the wider public so that changes can be made to protect children’s welfare, ensuring that future generations are able to enjoy the beautiful game. We also wanted to write about the fantastic side of junior football, the great experiences in working with children and helping them develop and improve.”

The Accidental Manager was released on 28th May and is available across all good book stores priced at £9.99.

What clubs can my children join?

With the school year at its end and the buds of new the school year starting to bloom, we thought it would be a great idea to share some clubs your kids might be interested in joining this September.

It’s not only important for kids to get as much exercise as possible, aiding with both their physical and mental health, it’s a great building block for learning important communication skills and building friendships along the way.

Of course you have the much-loved football clubs, rugby clubs, netball clubs and volleyball clubs, but there are also some out there that are not purely sport based, but just as much fun to be involved in.

Have you thought about coding clubs?

Coding Clubs are all about fun and creative computer programming for children. Kids can learn the basics of computer programming from people who are knowledgeable in STEM subjects. From creating animations to working games, learning new skills in the process, it’s a great way to introduce them to valuable knowledge for the future.

How about music and drama clubs?

Chess is one of the oldest games that we still play, dating back to over 1,500 years ago and there’s a reason it’s stuck around. From the countless techniques and skills learnt through the simple game of chess, it’s one of the most enjoyable games to learn; it can also help cognitive skills like memory, planning, and problem-solving.

Sports Clubs

There are a lot of talented musicians, singers and performers out there, and you need the right environment and teachers to thrive. If your child is showing a lot of talent or interest in music or drama, then why not introduce them to local music, singing and drama clubs? A lot of schools have after school lessons and music programmes that will be a huge benefit to their progression in music, from singing, to playing, production techniques and starring in shows.

As mentioned earlier, you have plenty of football, rugby, netball and volleyball clubs to choose from; which are all amazingly fun and a joy to take part in. There are also basketball clubs, hockey clubs, gymnastics clubs, ice-hockey clubs, roller-skating and skateboarding clubs, swimming clubs and cricket clubs to sign up to.

Many schools will have these clubs you can sign up to, but a quick Google or Facebook search will allow you to narrow down your closest and enable you to find out more.