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Children Don't Always Hurry for Curry

Some of my readers have written to say that their children actually like curry. That was true for me when I was a child but my children are another story. When I prepare curry at home, they become suspicious. The pungent smell is the first thing they notice. Then the sight of something new is enough for them to say "I don't like it!" Of course my standard reply is, "How do you know if you haven't tried it?" I once read that it can take up to 20 exposures for a child to try a new food. At our dinner table, our children get a small serving of everything. Sometimes after 20 tries, they even like it.

Orange Curry Pork
Time to table: 30 minutes
Serves 2 adults and 2 children

1 medium size yam, about 1 pound
1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
Salt for seasoning
1 pound boneless center cut pork chops
Olive oil spray

GROWN-UPS
1/2 medium size onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
1 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
2 teaspoons curry powder
1-2 bottled or canned jalapeños, chopped
Garnish: fresh chopped cilantro

Peel the yam, cut into small 1-inch pieces, toss with the orange juice concentrate and season with salt. Microwave in a covered dish at full power for 4-5 minutes until tender.

Trim the pork of visible fat and cut into small pieces. Season with salt. Lightly coat a non-stick skillet with olive oil spray and heat for 2 minutes over high heat. Stir fry the pork for 4-5 minutes or until cooked through. Transfer to another dish. Reduce heat to medium, add the onion, garlic, ginger and mustard seeds. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onions are soft. Add the curry powder and jalapeños. Transfer half of the pork and sweet potatoes back to the skillet. Stir until well combined and heated through.

For the grown-ups, serve the curry garnished with fresh cilantro. For the children, thread the remaining pork on skewers and serve the yams on the side.

GROWN-UPS
Calories 370; Calories from fat 60; Total fat 7g; Saturated fat 2g;
Cholesterol 80mg; Sodium 90mg; Carbohydrate 46g; Dietary fiber 6g; Sugars 10g; Protein 30g

CHILDREN
Calories 330; Calories from fat 50; Total fat 6g; Saturated fat 2g;
Cholesterol 80mg; Sodium 60mg; Carbohydrate 38g; Dietary fiber 5g; Sugars 7 g; Protein 29g

Kristene Fortier, author of The Whole Family Cookbook lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. Send questions or tips to pickykids@aol.com and while online visit www.healthykitchen.com. Save 20% on your copy of The Whole Family Cookbook: Two-Tiered Meals to Please Both Parents and Kids, by Kristene Fortier, ($14.95 Birch Lane Press) by calling 800-857-5600. You must request the discount when orders are placed.