Family Natters

Treat the kids this Christmas by following making this kids Christmas recipe.
Ingredients

shop-bought marshmellow covered in chcolate buns
bag of maltesers
bag of large chocolate buttons
icing ‘pen’
small bag of sweet jellies
appropriate scarf sweet (could be a longer one cut down to size)

Method

Melt some of the chocolate buttons by putting them in a bowl, then putting the bowl in […]

Here are ideas on how to make your child’s packed lunch nutritious, tasty and appealing.  The suggestions are in line with the UK’s School Food Trust which recently released a model packed lunch policy which asks that packed lunches should not include:

 snacks such as crisps
confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets
meat products […]

Halloween is not complete without ghoulishly decorated buns.

 Kids not only learn important early  maths and social skills from making Halloween buns, but have all the enjoyment of eating them too! 

With pre-schoolers use words such as  one, two, three, more, less, half, round, on top below and under; and let them weigh or measure out ingredients (if […]

Get your entire 5-a-day intake of veg with this one tasty dish. This recipe is idea if you wish to do the preparation at a different time to the cooking.  It’s special because of the golden potato, carrot and swede topping that, and the use of red wine.
Ingredients
1 onion
175g mushrooms
900g potatoes
225g carrots
450g swede
1 green pepper
1 aubergine
1 […]

You can’t have bonfire night without toffee apples.  This recipe is easy enough for children to follow.
Ingredients
6 red + green apples
6 lolly sticks
30g/1oz butter
2 tbsp golden syrup
225g/8oz granulated sugar
110ml/4fl oz water
Method
1. Push the wooden sticks halfway into the apples near the stalk.
2. Put the sugar and water in a  heavy duty pan and dissolve  over […]

If you are anaemic, want to be healthy or lose weight, this is the recipe for you.  It’s so tasty that James and I have been known to fight over the final helping.

Ingredients

2 bags or bunches of watercress

1 medium onion

2 chicken stock cubes

2 oz butter

1 tablespoon flour

1/4 pint milk

optional cream to garnish

 
Method

Chop the onion and sweat […]

Lots of kids I know are fussy eaters. Tom for instance just eats the same small range of foods. I usually end up bribing him to eat veg. by offering him a desert if he’ll eat so many mouthfuls.
The book Mange Tout boasts its 100% effective at changing children’s attitudes to fruit + veg. It […]

My Jambalaya requires only 1 pan, 9 easy-to-come-by ingredients and 15 minutes of preparation time. It is healthy wholemeal brown rice, tomatoes, onions, kidney beans, red peppers, peas plus (if you wish) the meat or fish of your choice. A Cajun favourite of mine that gives you your 5 portions of veg with easy.
Utensils
big frying pan […]