How to feel like a Good Mom if you only have 20 minutes

Since I opened my new offices a few weeks ago and my life went from manic to OMIFUCKINGGOD, a number of unusual things have happened:

1. I have been inspired (probably because of time pressure) to set some boundaries with some family members that have relentlessly sucked the lifeblood out of me for too long. No more I say. NO MORE!

2. I have had a flirtation with tequila that rendered me rather disorderly, shaking my booty to Prince, barefoot on the DJ box, yelling for another 'voddi shot'. Can you spell 'trailer trash?'

3. I have completely ignored the nutritional needs of my children, so much so that I've been giving them each 3 Barney vitamins in the mornings to compensate. Nice.

Fraught with guilt because of the aforementioned triangle of sins, I decided to take at least one item in hand and make amends. I selected my children. (partly because I love them crazily and partly because we've run out of fish fingers and I have no choice now)

I needed a solution that would meet the following criteria:

1. Can be done now. (I'm all about instant gratification) This means no complicated recipes that require white truffle oil, seaweed or the breastmilk of a gnat.
2. Excellent ROI. One cooking session = Lots of eating sessions. (ie. must be suitable for home freezing)
3. Delicious. So delicious that both of them will eat it with gusto. I'm so over nagging.
4. Homemade and healthy, with a huge serving of veggies.
5. Can be actioned in 20 minutes or less.

Enter Jessica Seinfeld's 'Deceptively Delicious' cookbook, where the crafty little minx hides pureed veggies in children's meals. This evening, inspired by Jerry's naughty missus, I cooked the most insanely delicious macaroni cheese, FULL of pureed butternut.

Bite me Woolworths.

Now before you brand me a loser for getting excited about a healthy macaroni recipe, let me take you through the maths:

- no shopping - all of the ingredients were in my fridge
- 20 minutes from start to finish, including packing, labelling and freezing
- 8 meals for my children that I don't have to feel guilty about and that I don't have to cluck around like a cracked-out rooster to try and get them to eat

Post me if you want to recipe and I shall duly email. Or buy the book. You can use it to cook nutritious, yummy meals for your kids...or you can use it to bash yourself repeatedly over the head at 17h30.

Your call.

Bon appetit!