Ratatatouille for kids

by Kim Steele @ easy-french-food.com
(France)

1 DVD: Ratatouille

1/4 cup olive oil
2 onions, slivered
3 bell peppers, cut into one inch squares(try different colors)
2 eggplants, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 zucchini, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
2 pounds tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
salt and pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Ramekins (those are cute little custard cups)
parmesan cheese

Watch the DVD with your kids. This magical movie not only makes you want to eat, it makes you want to cook too!

Cook with your kids. It is a tried and proven fact that they will want to eat what they've fixed. I've seen my kids rave over sea biscuits (that's flour and water dried out in the oven). Plus do you really want your kids to grow up not knowing what a zucchini looks like?

Heat olive oil in a heavy soup pot on medium heat. Sliver onions and add to oil.

While the onions cook, chop the bell peppers and add them to the pot, stirring well.

Chop the eggplants and add to the pot, stirring well to coat the eggplant with oil. At this point all the olive oil will have soaked into the eggplant, so you need to stir often to keep things from burning until they soften some.

Chop the zucchini and stir it in once the eggplant has softened a bit.

Chop the garlic and add to the vegetables, stirring well.

Chop the tomatoes and add them.

Mince the thyme and add it along with salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and cook two minutes.

Turn down heat and cover the pot. Simmer until everything is soft and well blended - about 40 minutes.

Stir in basil and remove from heat.

Now comes the special kid pleasing part: Spoon the ratatatouile into ramekins, stop with parmesan cheese, and bake in the oven until the cheese is golden.

Everyone gets their own special serving. This works on adults too!

Makes about 8 servings.

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