The boys and I massively love our food, so I had some glimmer of hope that they’d remain pretty open-minded about trying Quorn out for the first time at a cookery class hosted by the Kids Cookery School (KCS). KCS is quite a unique school indeed! The charity aims to teach kids culinary skills that they can take away with them for the rest of their lives, as well as build on their palate, so that children are more confident in trying out healthy ingredients as well. So, I enthusiastically accepted the offer to take my kids along to a cookery class all about substituting Quorn into every day children’s favourites like pizza and burgers. We opted to attend the morning session, as my husband was appointed as the professional photographer for the event and we were the first of the blogger families to arrive at the KCS in Acton.
We sat in the waiting area and chatted to the Quorn, PR and KCS team, whilst the boys borrowed an impressive array of crayons, so they could create some pieces of art to hang on the KCS wall.
It was a special day for our little family too, as it was my little one’s 4th birthday, so Aidan was experiencing a particularly fun birthday of cooking Quorn meals for his family. He had enjoyed a great sports party the Saturday before, so Aidan was quite happy to keep the birthday surprises rolling in.
After half an hour, we realised we were the only ones attending the morning session, as most of the families could only make it to the afternoon. This meant that Aron and Aidan were going to receive a very special private cookery lesson from Chef John, the Head Chef, who really is super talented with the kids. As we headed over to the kitchen area to get the boys started on making some delicious Quorn recipes, I could see Chef John and Chef Oliver busy preparing all the ingredients for the cookery lesson.
The kitchen was warm and inviting with lots of colourful and informative posters about teaching the children a little bit about the food they were cooking and how eating a balanced diet would benefit their health in general.
Little bit about the Kids Cookery School
The KCS is a registered charity that aims to provide children and young people with the skills and knowledge needed to make healthy food choices for themselves. KCS teaches around 2,500 students each year on how to cook and eat healthy food. The kitchen is based in Acton, West London, where the majority of their practical cookery projects take place. They’re so much in demand that they’ve actually gone mobile, so they can come to any school in the borough of London or at any other chosen venue within the vicinity. It’s great to see that they’re so enthusiastic and passionate about teaching children and young people how to cook for a healthier future. For more details on booking the KCS for any events, please visit their website here.
Time to get cooking with Quorn
I handed the boys over to the very capable hands of Chef John and Chef Oliver, as I tucked into an impressive display of Quorn food dishes in the adult corner nearby. As a new lover of Quorn, I had no problem trying out all the different Quorn dishes on the table and, in fact, I actually found them all to be super delicious!
The Quorn team had cooked up the following:
Quorn Sausage Rolls
Quorn Sausages
Quorn Scotch Eggs
Deliciously marinaded Quorn Chicken pieces
Quorn Beef, Chicken and Ham Sandwiches
Introductory cooking games to ease the children into cooking
The boys sat down at the opposite end of the kitchen table to Chef John, donning a bespoke Quorn apron and freshly washed hands.
Chef John started the lesson by teaching the boys all about measurements (i.e. tablespoons versus teaspoons) and rather expertly engaged the boys on the importance of eating a 5-a-day diet of fruits and vegetables.
The boys then enjoyed a ‘fruit versus veg’ quiz, where they had to guess the fruit or vegetable hidden under a tablecloth and match them to their respective family. Aron correctly guessed the first item to be a tomato and Chef John challenged Aron to work out whether the tomato was a fruit or a vegetable. Aron wasn’t too sure of the answer, so Chef John explained that the seeds in the tomato make it a fruit.
Round two and the boys were asked again whether they could guess what the item was. Aron correctly guessed that there was a bell pepper hidden underneath and that it was a fruit because it had seeds, which hadn’t occurred to me before. I always thought of a bell pepper as a vegetable!
Round three and Aidan correctly guessed that there was an apple under the tea towel. Chef John continued to teach the boys about the differences between a fruit and a vegetable and that the apple was a fruit like the banana because it lived up in the trees and not underground. Aron also guessed a lemon and that it was a fruit and Aidan correctly found broccoli and believed it to be a vegetable because it didn’t contain any seeds. I wasn’t that surprised as Aidan weirdly loves broccoli, especially when it’s smothered in cheese.
Making the Quorn Pizzas
The first lesson was on making a fresh Quorn pizza, complete with pizza dough made from scratch and topped with lots of awesome veggie goodness and, of course, Quorn. Whilst I was sipping my tea and tucking into my Quorn lunch, the boys actively engaged in the pizza-making process and thoroughly enjoyed messing around with the pizza dough.
They seemed to be quite overwhelmed with the amount of pizza toppings available, but I could see that they enjoyed looking at a very colourful and inviting pizza, as opposed to the bog standard cheese and tomato they normally opt for. I was also pleasantly surprised that they actually enjoyed biting into their pizza creations, which contained a tower of freshly made tomato sauce, spring onions, sweetcorn, peppers, garlic, Quorn chicken, beef, and ham. They did look so tasty!
Quorn Burgers
The boys stared on making the burger buns as their Quorn burgers were cooking in the oven. Aron is not a meat eater, so I was interested to see whether he would try the Quorn alternative.
Once the bread roils were cooked and ready, the boys enjoyed garnishing their burgers with pepper, tomatoes and cucumber.
They, of course, were invited to try out their own Quorn burgers, which they also thoroughly enjoyed too.
The morning cookery class was wrapping up for a break, in time to prepare for the afternoon session. But, as we had to wait for my husband, who was photographing both the AM and PM sessions, we had about four hours to kill. So, I took the boys to the local Acton park, which is a brilliant park if you ever want to burn your kids’ energy because there are tons of playground equipment available for kids of all ages. Unfortunately, it was a rather turbulent and particularly common April day (sun, wind and a little bit of rain), so we strolled back to the KCS, where we met the other blogger families, who were deep in session with the Quorn team about special diets and nutritional information on Quorn. There was another great lunch laid out on the table and, as the boys and I were so famished after our three-hour park workout, we very much enjoyed a healthy and quite filling Quorn lunch. The boys even tried Quorn sausage rolls and sandwiches, as well as their favoured carrot and cucumber sticks.
diets were when we were kids, yet it was plain to see that our unanimous objective is to provide our own kids with a varied and balanced diet, so they grow up with a healthy affiliation towards food in general.
A little bit about Quorn
I’ve had the privilege of being able to attend a Quorn Summer BBQ Event, a Quorn cookery class (for adults), create lots of great recipes using Quorn (including my Quorn Mince Sausage Rolls and Quorn Meatballs and ‘Getti (Spaghetti)) and write about Quorn and its health benefits in general. So, I feel like I have a good idea of why Quorn is such a great addition (if not, substitution) to meat in our diet. Quorn is made from a plant protein called Mycoprotein that replicates the texture and taste of meat. Mycoprotein is a great source of protein and dietary fibre and it’s low in saturated fat, so it helps maintain healthy bones and cholesterol levels.
What we learned from the Kids Cookery School about Quorn and cooking in general
I was secretly proud that my 4 and 5-year-old boys knew so much about food, especially fruit and veg. They are not super fussy eaters and I believe this is partly because I encouraged baby led weaning from six months old and always placed everything on their plate, whether they liked it or not, with the hope that they’d eventually eat it. That’s true of some food, not all. I still can’t get them to eat avocado…
As well as Chef John, we also got to meet the rest of the team over at KCS; Fiona Hamilton-Fairley, who is the CEO & Principal, Irene Mensa-Bonsu who is Operations Manager and Fiona’s PA, and Oliver Knowles, who volunteers as a young Junior Chef in between his University studies. It’s clear to see that they are all passionate about helping the kids cook, which transpires clearly to the atmosphere of the kitchen.
Quorn products are so versatile that you can pretty much substitute any meat recipe with a Quorn alternative and it tastes just as good.
If you encourage your kids to make the food, they are more inclined to be experimental and try out their own creations, even if its drowning in lots of veg and Quorn food. The boys loved their pizza and burgers and we got to enjoy x 2 of both when we got home. I was thoroughly impressed myself, both the pizza and burgers were bursting with flavour and far healthier for kid and adults to eat than greasy cheese and tomato pizza.
The boys took away with them some very valuable cookery lessons from KCS, like the differentiation between fruit and veg, how to make a pizza dough and how to enjoy a great meat-free burger, which is so much healthier than the fat ladened beef mince burger that’s packed with fat and cholesterol.
There’s a brilliant new recipe book out, which includes lots of awesome recipes on how to cook with Quorn – I want it!
P.S – It was Aidan’s 4th birthday so to celebrate in style, the Quorn and PR team very thoughtfully brought a delicious chocolate cake, complete with candles to celebrate the occasion. What a lovely gesture, thank you so much!
On the whole, we had such a brilliantly fun and informative day and tried lots of delicious Quorn food in the process. I’m mostly happy that the boys actually learned something valuable at this event. They are far more eager to help in the kitchen now and are open to trying more ingredients on their pizzas, which is great. I did try to introduce kale to their pizza, however, that’s just a step too far for them. We’ll get there…
*Disclaimer – The Quorn team and Kids Cookery School invited the boys and I to a Quorn Cookery Class to learn about cooking Quorn with kids. All experiences and opinions of the Quorn event are 100% our own. *
5-ingredient sweet and zesty roast chicken recipe with all the trimmings in under 2 hours!
We Brits love our traditional Sunday roasts and our golden turkeys at Christmas time. But, I’ve always wanted to provide a full roast dinner for the boys during the week, to send their tummies into a blissful sleep before another busy day at school. So, armed with my new beautiful – and very English style – Doris & Co roasting items (more on those below) and a 1.8kg whole chicken, I set about creating a roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings and with just enough time to chat before the scheduled bedtime routine – all squeezed in just under 2 hours!
Sweet and Zesty Roast Chicken Dinner with all the trimmings
Inspired by the Zesty Roast Chicken recipe from Lewis of Radlett butchers
Here’s how:
Ingredients
1.8kg/4lb Whole Chicken – serves 4
2 large sweet potatoes
2 lemons
4 carrots
2 cloves of garlic
Optional extras
Stuffing – I used Kent’s Kitchen Ready-made Cranberry & Orange Stuffing, to complement the sweet and zesty chicken
Gravy – I used ready-made gravy, but you can make your own using the chicken’s giblets, 1 chopped red onion, 2 OXO beef/chicken cubes and a couple of tablespoons of the chicken’s cooked juices. It only takes a few minutes, so make it when the chicken is resting under the foil.
For seasoning
Sunflower oil
Sprig of rosemary
Salt and Pepper
50g Butter (room temperature)
1 clove garlic or garlic granules
Method
1/ Preheat your oven to 190C/170F/Gas Mark 5
2/ Heat up the oil in your roasting tin whilst you squeeze lemon all over the chicken.
3/ Pop the remains, along with some rosemary and a couple of garlic cloves inside the chicken.
4/ Place the chicken in the middle of the roasting tin, within the hot oil.
5/ Grate 1 clove garlic or use 1 teaspoon of garlic granules and add to the butter, along with a pinch of salt and pepper.
6/ Brush all over the chicken, with a pastry brush, including the legs.
7/ You will be roasting the chicken in the centre of the oven for a total of 1 ½ hours, basting with the butter and juices in the roasting tin every 20 minutes.
8/ Whilst roasting for the first 20 minutes, prepare your vegetables
9/ Add the carrots and onions with the chicken at 40 minutes (2nd baste) and cover with the juices.
10/ Add the sweet potatoes in at 1 hour (3rd baste) and cover with the juices. You can add more oil and season with salt and pepper at this point, if needed.
11/ Time to prepare the stuffing, Follow the packet instructions if you are using ready-made. For Kent’s Kitchen’s version, it was as simple as adding boiling hot water, leaving the granules to stand in the measuring jug for a bit and then forming them into balls.
12/ At 1 hour 20 minutes (4th baste), add the stuffing balls around the chicken and cook for a further 10 minutes. Check the chicken is cooked at 1 hour 30 minutes to see whether its juices are running clear. If not, it’s not cooked yet. Baste for a 5th time and then put it back in for another 10 minutes. You’ve got to make sure that chicken is cooked thoroughly!
13/ Once cooked at around 1 ½ hours, remove from the oven and place on your roasting dish.
14/ Cover with foil and rest the chicken for around 10 minutes to make the chicken meat juicier.
15/ Grab a couple of tablespoons of the chicken juices and add to a measuring jug to make the gravy (if using).
16/ Crank up the oven to 220C/200F/GM 7 and cook the remaining ingredients for around 15 minutes until they are all crisp.
17/ Serve with broccoli, green beans or any mixed vegetables (optional)
Here were my timings for cooking the roast on a school night.
15:50 – Place chicken in the oven
16:10 – Baste at 20 minutes
16:30 – Baste at 40 minutes, add the carrots and onions.
16:50 – Baste at 1 hour, add the sweet potato, salt and pepper and prepare the stuffing balls, if using
17:10 – Baste at 1 hour 20 and add the stuffing balls to the vegetables in the roasting dish. Cook for a further 10 minutes
17:20 – Check the chicken at 1 hour 30 minutes. If not cooked, baste again for the 5th time and cook for a further 10 minutes. Keep cooking and checking every 10 minutes, until the juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through.
17:30 – Remove from the oven and place on a roasting dish. Cover in tin foil and rest for ten minutes. Cook the remaining vegetables at 220C for another 15 minutes.
17:45 – Serve with other mixed vegetables and gravy, if using.
Any ideas on how to make a quick roast dinner for the family? Please leave your tips below.
A great afternoon tea for two at Le Restaurant de PAUL in Covent Garden
It’s not easy for a busy mum to find three hours out of her hectic schedule to enjoy a great spot of Afternoon Tea with her best friend. But, thankfully, PAUL in Covent Garden throws a fabulous Afternoon Tea for two and Motherhood Diaries was invited to attend and review the selection of artisan bakery that PAUL is so famously well known for.
A little bit about PAUL
PAUL is a French artisan bakery that originates from a family of agricultural workers in the Artois region of Northern France. In 1889, Charlemagne Mayot and his wife opened a small bakery located in rue de la Mackellerie in Croix, near Lille. PAUL branched out of France, towards Barcelona in 1985 and incorporated a tearoom/restaurant alongside the bakery. Today, PAUL continues to be a family owned company, built on the foundations of time-honoured product methods, which have been passed down through five generations. PAUL is shared in more than 25 countries today and in 2012, PAUL opened its first bakeries in Singapore and Moscow.
Afternoon Tea at Le Restaurant de PAUL in Covent Garden
I arrived an hour earlier than the allocated time for Afternoon Tea, at 2.30pm, and entered a hugely bustling and overflowing bakery, draped in different food delights, ranging from Bread and Sandwiches to Viennoiserie and Pâtisserie. Weaving through the relatively small front-end bakery/café, I found a petite French woman dressed in black and assumed her to be the manager, as she stood out from a healthy number of staff dressed in chef white colours. She was very accommodating and, although I was an hour early, she found a seat for me in the tearoom/restaurant at the back of the café, which was only slightly larger in comparison.
As I was studying the beautiful French imagery on the walls, an enthusiastic waiter hovered over to offer me a drink, for which I opted for a Cappuccino and an Americano for when my absent friend arrived.
I had some spare time to sip my chocolate-sweetened Cappuccino before the afternoon tea portion began, so I made full use of the free Wi-Fi and signed up for PAUL’s loyalty card, which works a little bit like a payment card, i.e. 1 point = £1. Also, for every 9th stamp you get, you can enjoy a free food or drink item of your choice.
After about ten minutes, the manager came over and offered to move me to a more private and spacious area, tucked into the corner of the tearoom. The seating area was large enough to hang my coat on the side, allowing me more seating room. I people-watched for a while, whilst pondering whether PAUL was suitable for families, as my two boys would really appreciate the vast array of patisseries on display. As soon as I had the notion, a family of four entered with two young babies and sat beside me. At this point, my friend had also arrived and walked past the waitress, who was securing the two highchairs in an already seemingly tight space. I asked the waitress about what was on offer for kids and she advised that no separate kids’ menus were available and that, generally, they can choose anything from the ‘Aperitifi and Plateaux’ menu or the ‘Pre-Theatre and Plat Principaux’ menu.
My friend and I chatted briefly about the ‘La cave a vin de PAUL’ wine and artisan bread displayed provocatively in front of us, perhaps, to entice us to a little aperitif with our Afternoon Tea. As both of us were recovering from a cold, we opted to stay on hot beverages and water. However, you can choose a glass of Crémant Brut or Champagne Camille Saves with your Afternoon tea, which will cost £30.00 for two or £35.00 for two, respectively.
To the left of us, past the second partitioned restaurant area, we could see the chef’s kitchen, which was decorated with a display of wooden chopping boards and garlic and herbs, layered to mimic the authenticity of Paul’s French cuisine. Again, champagne and white wine were peeping out of the partitioned windows that separated us from the restaurant area and the kitchen.
Waiters were rushing past us with a beautiful selection of pastries and the smell of what I believed were French salads with the classic Vinaigrette dressing. And, the aroma of meat was also wafting in the air as ‘Burger Boeufs’ were being presented in bright white plates and garnished with some greenery. Adults and children alike were enjoying the sweet dessert menu of glaces, sorbets and cakes.
The menu at a busy central London setting is quite reasonable, with prices ranging from £10.95 for simple ‘végétariens’ salads, to £14.95 for the ‘burger trois fromages’. The extra 150g beef steak to complement the burger boeuf was a small £3.50 on top of the £12.95, which totalled to £16.45. And you’re getting the full shebang in this menu, with a total of 350g beef steak burger, which is 28 days dry and aged from the queen’s butcher, Donald Russell, and garnished with baby gem lettuce, tomato and gherkins. Not bad for a royal burger meal!
On to the Afternoon Tea
Both my friend and I were pleasantly surprised at the amount of food offered when the Afternoon Tea had arrived. We were served with the following:
2 x Grilled chicken, tomato, mustard mayonnaise and lettuce on white bread
2 x Brie and lettuce with butter on white bread
2 x Smoked salmon and cream cheese with lettuce on white bread
2 x Brioche drizzled with sugar rocks and served with clotted cream and strawberry jam
2 x Carrot cakes with walnut and cream cheese filling
2 x Strawberry and custard cream cakes with pistachio marzipan
1 x Coconut macaroon
1 x Caramel macaroon
Alongside our Afternoon Tea, we also ordered a large bottle of Evian water to help wash down the highly sweet treats.
At £25.00 for two, PAUL’s Afternoon Tea was fresh, flavoursome and not too overly sweet as some other Afternoon Teas I have experienced in the past. The sandwiches tasted fresh and light – my favourite was the chicken and mustard mayo, sandwiched in fresh spongy bread. The brioches were just lightly sweetened with sugar rocks on top and the clotted cream was a little on the thin side, but the rich strawberry jam made up for the taste. We finished off our highly decadent Afternoon Tea with a macaroon each. I opted for the caramel flavour and my friend enjoyed the coconut alternative, which she said was very sweet and tasty. The carrot cake zinged with the flavour of carrots but, at that point, we were nicely stuffed and could only stomach extra water to finish.
The staff were helpful, friendly and present, checking sporadically as to whether we needed any top-ups and not rushing us at all when 5.30pm came around. The manager was conversational and communicative, even though the café had been heaving for the entire 3 hours.
Perhaps, the Covent Garden branch could benefit with a larger space for their Afternoon Teas, as it seems to be doing so well with customers, and our waiter, although, understandably rushed off his feet, should pay extra care to how he picks up our drinks. My friend commented twice on the way the waiter handled her jar of hot water. He had picked the jar up, rather un-hygienically, by the spout. Having said that, we had a great time and enjoyed a full afternoon of glorious tea, which, I believe, is massively value for money and the perfect way to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily parenting duties – without breaking the bank!
Where’s your favourite place to go for Afternoon Tea? Leave us a comment with your experiences too.
Spending time on Sunday with the new look Sunday Times Magazine
Normally, my Sunday mornings consist of being reluctantly dragged out of bed by the kids to make breakfast post-haste, whilst I skim through my emails and sip my very strong cup of coffee. I rarely get time to do much else. But, on a particularly unusual day, Hubby had risen earlier with the boys and walked into town to buy me the latest Sunday Times. For, I was bestowed upon me the opportunity to read a real life paper version of the infamous broadsheet, something I hadn’t done in simply years! You see, I’m a 30-something ex-City worker with two super active boys and a laptop and smartphone (built like a mini tablet) that travel almost everywhere with me. Digitally, I’m on it. On paper? Not so much…
As I unwrapped and unfolded all the separate sections of The Sunday Times, two familiar thoughts sprang to mind:
(1) How many trees did they cut down to make just one Sunday Times?
(2) Who gets time to read all these sections in one day!?
During my uni and law school days, I remember buying The Times on Tuesday for the law section, but, only ever skim reading it. The rest I used to glance at and then store away, with the promise to myself that I would read them in bed before going to sleep. That time never came…
Magazines, however, I have time for. I see the world in full colour, so, naturally, I flock towards the magazine section of the weekend papers anyway.
Style Magazine
I’ve always enjoyed reading the Style magazine because there’s something in it for everyone. I only really started taking care of my skin in my 30s, so in those four short years, I’ve been actively researching the best products available for an age-defying skincare experience. I can’t even begin to tell you the sheer amount of reviews of organic makeup I have looked at. Of course, it matters what you put in your insides too, so that it’s easier to treat your outside. But, the article about picking the right cleanser for your skin type touched upon the very basics of your skincare routine. I realized I was using the wrong cleanser completely, hence why I was breaking out all the time. I took a picture for my sisters and friends to have a good read.
I was also astounded to hear that the founder of the profoundly famous London designer empire, Browns, is turning 90 this Sunday. I felt a surge of pride as Mrs B shows women everywhere that we can, indeed, own a super successful business and have it all in a man’s world!
I’m still trying to figure out why Beth Ditto’s lesbian sexuality is typified, especially as the article is primarily about her new plus size clothing line. But, I suppose this is why my dad says that The Times can be, well, behind the times…
Culture Magazine
I must admit that I rarely read the Culture magazine and, generally, head to the back for the crossword. I spend so much time reading the Style magazine that I rarely end up getting time to read the Culture, which is double in size. But, of course, I made sure I tackled the crossword first (with a little help from my digital right hand (my mini tablet))
The New Sunday Times Magazine
It has been 54 years since The Times launched Britain’s first full-colour Sunday newspaper magazine. The Sunday Times Magazine has a new, edgy look (assisted by a new line-up of writers for today’s world) and could quite happily sit on the magazine aisle in any supermarket. I, initially, skim through the pages and I am instantly drawn to the article about Taylor Swift, which, I have to admit, is quite negative on the whole.
“Taylor Swift: Nightmare dressed like a daydream?”
Yikes! Eve Barlow gives us quite a detailed insight into pop’s most powerful woman and her new coterie of glamour girls, i.e. the #squad. Eve manages to squeeze into ‘Tay’s’ special circles only to be ousted quite quickly in response to a relatively sour review on one of her public performances. From there Eve rants about how the star’s entourage are fiercely protective over Tay and ensure that the shrewd and business savvy 24 year old keeps up her squeaky clean posterior, no matter the cost. Quite telling and, what I think, is a very honest insight into Taylor Swift’s world, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I also glance over the food section and spot a nice recipe on pulled pork burgers. I make a mental note to buy the ingredients to make these for my boys…
There’s a great article showing some beautiful wedding dresses from ASOS for only £200! My best friend is getting married in Tuscany this August, so I took some photos of the wedding dresses to send to her. Knowing her, I’m pretty sure she will spend a little more than £200 on her own wedding dress, but it’s nice to see that The Times caters for those who may not have as hefty budgets.
My thoughts on The Sunday Times and the new Sunday Times Magazine are:
The feel of reading an actual broadsheet paper is second to none, it reminds me of a simpler time. But, to save our flailing environment the digital version is just as readable, providing a niftier and more user friendly experience. I’ve never been good at looking like I know how to handle broadsheets anyway…
Reading the paper version made me realise how much I miss filling out crosswords.
The Sunday Times Magazine is a great addition to The Sunday Times. The content seems more current and on point. I really enjoyed reading the main article on Taylor Swift and Jamie Oliver’s Southend Chowder recipe (he’s a legend!)
It’s nice to see a selection of different recipes for the reader to choose from. They will be ripped out to make up part of my huge recipe scrapbook.
It’s also nice to see a Tech section in the magazine for us digital nerds. Perhaps, expand to more than just one A4 page, though, especially considering that all-things-tech is where the world is heading towards.
There is a rather harrowing article in the Sunday Times about the record amount of stillbirths recorded in various NHS hospitals in the UK. It is a great article because it raises awareness to parents about the general care and wellbeing they should experience during labour and birth. It would be very beneficial to have a parenting section in the The Sunday Times magazine, perhaps an Agony Aunt section or some facts about pregnancy and parenting – I’m available!
And, we could all benefit from more crossword/Sudoku/wordsearch puzzles in a full colour magazine, no? Just me then?
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As the days get colder and the nights are longer, it’s hard to get creative, as well with outdoor activities for our children. As much as I advocate daily fresh air for optimum health, if my child is sick or feeling run down, I’d prefer not to take them outside when it’s cold. The sun decides to play hide and seek a lot in the UK, especially in the winter, therefore our Vitamin D levels decrease, making us more vulnerable to illnesses too. So, how do we combat the season of flus and colds, keep warm, and still have fun with the kids this winter? Here’s how:
Indoor Treasure Hunts
Staying inside is the new outdoors! Global warming and various UK weather reports are dictating that it’s going to be a very cold winter this year for us Brits. So, take the great ‘Treasure Hunt’ activity indoors and place hidden objects with clues around the house instead. Anything from sweet packets to toys can be hidden strategically to keep the kids amused for hours.
Great Indoor Camping
Using the same concept as the indoor Treasure Hunt, camping can also be enjoyed at home. It may get a bit messy, but it’s as easy as flinging some large bedsheets over chairs and tables and you’ve built your kids a little fort. My boys absolutely love their camp, as they get to whisper little secrets to each other without mummy listening and they can eat their favourite snacks in the comfort of their own makeshift home.
Build a large jigsaw puzzle
Depending on the age of your children, jigsaw puzzles are the perfect way to pass the time. I tackle 200 to 1,000 pieces with my 3 and 4-year-old boys and, before we know it, the whole afternoon has gone and we’ve barely finished the puzzle. But, we’ve had an awesome time working, building and talking with each other. It’s a great chance to bond with your children if you’re normally super busy and rushing around doing other chores – like me!
Build an island with all the toys in their bedroom
This may be easier to do if you have boys who hold almost the entire Thomas & Friends track and train set (as my boys do). But, start them off with building the first few pieces and, if your kids are anything like mine, they will want to carry on by themselves and you can be left in peace to have a coffee, read your emails or pass the time with some LadyLuck or Spin and Win.
Movie afternoon
Sometimes, it’s just as nice to have a lazy day, cosying up together on the couch and watching some Disney movies with the kids. Having that time together is gold dust because pretty soon they’ll be heading to the cinema with their friends – and they certainly won’t want mum to join them when they’re teenagers!
There are tons of other ways you can spend time with the kids indoors, like having a pizza party, a reading afternoon, doing some arts and crafts and/or making music. Let the kids dictate what they’d like to do and then you can enforce by putting your adult stamp on it, so the time is spent effectively and efficiently. I.e. kids want to make some food, so draw up a simple recipe, prepare the ingredients and get messy!
If you have any other tips on how you spend time with the children during the winter months, please do share in the comments below.
Last summer, we holidayed in beautiful North Cyprus, and it was searing hot (around 35 – 40 degrees Celsius every day). I am normally in my element in that kind of heat, but finding closed toe shoes/sandals that can withstand circa 40-degree heat, even in the evening (maybe it’ll go down to 33/34), tends to be quite difficult. I’m not a fan of open toe shoes, partly because I don’t like showing my toes, but mainly because I find open toed shoes/sandals really uncomfortable. So, Brantano offered Motherhood Diaries the chance to review the Clarks Ballerina Shoes in a Size 5 over the summer holidays to see whether they were comfortable and easy to wear in extreme heat.
As well as a wide selection of bags and accessories, Brantano specialises in quality shoes for all the family, offering a great range of ladies shoes and men’s shoes. You can also find a wide selection of men’s boots and ladies boots and their kids’ collection includes school shoes, trainers, boots and more. Brantano stock footwear from favourite brands including Clarks shoes, Skechers and Hush Puppies.
“These classic black leather ballerina shoes are perfect for school, college or work and come in a wider fit. With its classic design and simple bow detailing, these shoes look great while CushionSoft cushioning sits underfoot to ensure ultimate comfort.”
Product Information
Wide Fit Carousel Ride
Product Number
2614418411
Gender
Ladies
Brand
Clarks
Upper Material
Leather
Colour
Black
Fit
Wide
My feet are very wide, especially in the summer when they expand due to the heat. So, I always look for a ‘wide fit’ style when purchasing any kind of shoe. These Clarks summer shoes definitely accommodated my swollen feet during and I found them simple to walk in. They’re very soft and durable.
I attended a very fancy outdoor nightclub in Kireniya and my feet were so swollen from the heat that I wasn’t able to wear my heels anymore. I, therefore, opted to wear the Clarks ballerinas and I was so grateful for thinking ahead. We ended up standing the entire night and we didn’t get home until 5 am, so we were all exhausted. My sisters’ feet were bruised and beaten from standing and dancing, yet I had absolutely no trouble with mine because I was wearing one of the most comfortable shoes I’d ever owned in my closet.
However, one day of walking on rubble and stone at the historical North Cypriot Salamis Ruins and the black leather had started to chip off and give way. Totally my fault as these Clarks wide fit shoes is not made for hiking on stone. But, I managed to get some good wear out of them and would definitely look to buy something similar to these again. I felt like I was literally wearing nothing on my feet – super comfortable and so soft.
What did I like most about the Clarks Wide Fit Carousel Ride Ballerina Shoes?
When wearing these Clarks slip on shoes, it feels like you’re walking in bare feet. The wide fit accompanied my swollen feet and I didn’t take these shoes off for almost the entire two weeks in North Cyprus, bar the last day when I battered them during my walk through Salamis Ruins.
What to watch out for:
The price is steep at £35.00, but as long as you don’t go hiking with these Clarks ballerina shoes then you’ll get good long wear out of them.
Rating:
5 out of 5 – No marks off for being destroyed by the hike through Salamis Ruins as that was totally my fault. So, full marks to these super comfortable and awesomely versatile shoes. I wore them on the plane ride to North Cyprus, during the day while I was out and about in the blistering heat, dancing and standing at a fancy nightclub, and hiking through stone and rubble (d’oh). Apart from the hike, they lasted the entire time. I would definitely take them with me to North Cyprus again!
10 Insanely Stuffed and Healthy Avocado Recipes You May Not Be Aware Of
Ten of the most insanely stuffed avocado recipes that you may not have had the pleasure of trying. Enjoy!
Avocado is a pear-shaped green fruit with bumpy skin. It’s an incredibly healthy fruit, loaded with nutrients including 20 different vitamins and minerals. It is high in healthy fats and thus it doesn’t contain any cholesterol or sodium. It is also rich in fibre (7% in weight) which is known to reduce blood sugar spikes, aid in weight loss and lower the risk of many diseases. People who consume avocado often tend to be healthier than those who eat it rarely. By healthier, I mean they take in a higher percentage of nutrients and are half as likely to have metabolic syndrome, a known risk factor for diabetes and heart diseases. Avocados also contain antioxidants such as lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are important for eye health. They reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.
The best thing about avocados is that they can be eaten in any way – from plain to baked – and used in all sorts of amazing recipes. Below are ten insanely stuffed and healthy avocado recipes:
1. Avocado stuffed with quinoa with tomatoes and cheese
Preheat the [easyazon_link identifier=”B01LZUEARP” locale=”UK” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”motherho-21″ cart=”y” cloak=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]oven[/easyazon_link] to 375 degrees. This recipe ensures nothing goes to waste, and everything is utilised well. You will need and two avocados, a diced tomato, two cups of cooked quinoa, a cup of feta cheese that is crumbled and salt and pepper. Slice the avocados in two halves and gently make crisscrosses in the flesh. Ensure not to cut the outer skin. Scoop the avocado pieces into a bowl, leaving the outer flesh like a bowl. Pour in the cooked quinoa and tomatoes into the pieces and mix evenly. Don’t mix vigorously unless you want it creamier. Fill the avocado shells with the mixture and add the cheese on top. Cook in the oven for ten to twelve minutes until all the cheese has melted. Add some salt and pepper to taste, and then serve immediately.
2. Avocado stuffed with tomato salad
This meal is easy to make and tastes amazing. Simple combine together two chopped tomatoes, 2/3 cup of crumbled feta cheese, two teaspoons of olive oil and parsley, a teaspoon each of red wine vinegar and oregano, 1/3 cup of chopped red onions and salt and pepper to taste. Then spoon the mixture into halved avocados that are pitted and peeled. Serve instantly.
3. Avocado with Bacon
The tantalising taste will simply make you crave more. Into one-half of the avocado, sprinkle some chopped bacon, balsamic vinegar and sea salt. It’s easy to make and calls for an excellent snack instead of junk food.
4. Avocado stuffed with boiled egg
Place two halves of an avocado into a baking pan. You may scoop some of the flesh out to create some more space. Crack an egg into each pit (allowing the white part to spill out). Add your favourite seasoning and salt to taste. Bake until the top is golden. Quite a treat for breakfast.
5. BLT stuffed avocados
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Combine sliced tomatoes, spinach leaves, cooked crumbled bacon, mayonnaise, cubed French bread, and some salt to taste. Cut an avocado into halves. Rub the outside of the halves with some fresh lemon juice. Place onto a non-stick baking sheet and stuff them with as much mixture as they can hold. Place in the oven and let cook until the filling has turned light golden brown.
6. Quinoa stuffed avocado
This healthy snack consists of avocado stuffed with quinoa salad. To make the salad, use quinoa, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, red onion and corn. Then stuff the pits of the avocado with the salad. Place in the oven to bake. It makes a great meal for vegetarians.
7. Strawberry salsa stuffed avocado
This cooling taste of strawberry salsa is a great addition for summer time or hot weekends. To make the strawberry salsa, combine strawberries, green onions, lime juice, jalapenos and mint. Stuff half an avocado with the mixture.
8. Avocado salsa
Add some breadcrumbs, lemon juice, garlic, basil and Parmesan cheese to your salsa. Stuff the halves of avocado with this mixture. Then, sprinkle some salt and pepper to taste. Bake in the [easyazon_link identifier=”B01553F52E” locale=”UK” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”motherho-21″ cart=”y” cloak=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]oven[/easyazon_link] until cooked.
9. Smoky lentils stuffed avocado
Lentils are a great source of protein. When combining with the avocado nutrients, you will just be bursting with health. Mix lentils with some homemade tomato sauce. Stuff avocado halves with the mixture and bake for about eighteen minutes.
10. Grilled avocado with herbs
All you require is an avocado, some herbs, cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, pine nuts and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all other ingredients except the avocado. Then stuff the avocado with the mixture. The avocado should be grilled.
Conclusion
Ways of using avocados in snacks are just limitless. Try the above recipes and if you come up with your own, please comment in the box below with your recipe suggestions.
I hope you enjoy the health benefits of eating [easyazon_link identifier=”B003O3JUJ2″ locale=”UK” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”motherho-21″ cart=”y” cloak=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]avocados[/easyazon_link]!
Did you like this post? Check out more recipes here!
Bernard Matthews Lunchbox Challenge – 3 awesome recipes by kids for kids
We mums think we know what our children want and need to put in their lunchboxes. But, what if we left them to their own accord and they came up with some recipes using the ingredients that’s placed in front of them? Well, that’s what Motherhood Diaries did, with thanks to Bernard Matthews for offering their cooked meats range for our awesome recipes. Bernard Matthews’ 100% British turkey products are designed to help busy mums save time, money and effort in the kitchen without compromising on taste and they’re super versatile, so you can add them to almost any savoury dish. They’ve also come up with more appealing brand packages, which the kids enjoyed studying. So, with that said, the boys and I came up with three recipes that would fit perfectly in their lunchboxes – or any time of the day!
Centre: Bernard Matthews Turkey Breast Slices – 100g – RRP £1 or 140g – RRP £2
Top Centre: Bernard Matthews Chicken Breast Slices – 100g – RRP £1 or 140g – RRP £2
Centre Right: Bernard Matthews Turkey Ham – 120g – RRP £1 or 200g (Iceland only) – RRP £2
Bottom Right: Bernard Matthews BBQ Turkey Breast – 100g – RRP £1 or 140g (Asda only) – RRP £2
Bottom Left: Bernard Matthews Roast Turkey Breast Pieces – 100g – RRP £1 or 140g – RRP £2
Centre Left: Bernard Matthews Turkey Ham
Sweet Pasta Salad
(Inspired by Annabel Karmel)
The boys had a lot of fun making the video of them preparing the Bernard Matthews Sweet Pasta Salad Recipe. The written recipe is below, but you can the find the recipe video on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/NSQ_z8-8-lo
Ingredients
100g pasta
One packet Bernard Matthews Roast Turkey Breast
100g mixed beans
100g canned sweetcorn
10 cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
Handful spinach, chopped finely
For the dressing
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp runny honey
1 tbsp. soy sauce
1 ½ tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon
Method
Cook the pasta according to packet instructions
Cook the mixed beans according to packet instructions
Combine all dressing ingredients together and mix well
Prepare all ingredients as in the image above and hand over the reins to the kids!
Grab a large bowl for the cooked pasta and add the beans
Add all the other ingredients and mix well, including the Bernard Matthews Roast Turkey Breast
Add the combined dressing and mix well
Taste test!
There you have it! The sweet pasta salad with Bernard Matthews Roast Turkey Breast tasted absolutely delicious and the boys enjoyed second helpings at lunch!
And the pasta salad fits perfectly in their lunchboxes
Pizza Muffins
The written recipe is below, but please find the recipe video of the boys making pizza muffins on YouTube here:
https://youtu.be/B2wUoZVOQNo
Ingredients
Bernard Matthews Turkey Ham
Bernard Matthews Turkey Breast
2 pizza muffins, toasted and halved
Handful of basil
Can of sweetcorn
1 yellow bell pepper
2 slices of tinned pineapple
1 can of chopped tomatoes
Little bit of salt and pepper to taste
Block of cheese
Method
Prepare all ingredients and hand over to the kids to make their pizza muffins!
On two of the pizza muffins, you will be making ham and pineapple and the other two will contain the rest of the ingredients.
In the end, the boys started mixing all the ingredients up
Layer each pizza muffin with the tomato sauce
Add the chopped pineapple slices and Bernard Matthews Turkey Ham to two of the pizza muffins
Add Bernard Matthews Turkey Breast to the other two pizzas and top with sweetcorn, pepper and cheese
Pop into the oven to grill until the cheese is melted.
Add the basil 1 minute before
These pizza muffins looked amazing! The boys’ favourite were the ham and pineapple pizza muffins because of the sweet taste of pineapple. The Bernard Matthews Turkey ham and breast perfectly complemented the other ingredients and we all ended up enjoying these pizza muffins as a family – and we made 4 more that very afternoon!
Sweet Tortilla Wraps
Written recipe is below, but please find the video to the boys making the Sweet Sandwich Wraps here:
https://youtu.be/1Z-JBm2ACEM
Ingredients:
Pack of tortilla wraps
Packet of Bernard Matthews Turkey Breast Pieces
Packet of Bernard Matthews Chicken Breast Slices
Can of sweetcorn
Half a yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
Block of cheddar cheese
3 tbsp. of cranberry sauce
Method
Prepare all ingredients and hand over to the kids to start wrapping!
Lay the tortilla wrap on the plate and add all ingredients to your heart’s content
Finish with the cranberry sauce and wrap away!
Well done to the boys for making three delicious recipes using Bernard Matthew’s cooked meats range. What did your children come up with?
Baking Cocoa, Almond and Raisin Cookies with Clover – Recipe #nothingartificial
I am an avid baker, but the one thing I like to challenge myself to do with my desserts is substitute unhealthy ingredients for healthy ones. In this recipe, I have aimed to use as natural and as organic ingredients as possible, so that I can watch my boys (aged 3 and 4 years) enjoy these cookies with peace of mind. As I’m getting older, I’m becoming more aware of the nasties in food, including artificial ingredients and high sugar/salt content. So, I’m trying to educate my boys as best as possible that healthy food – and healthy ingredients in general – can taste just as great.
So, without further ado, I present to you a super healthy version of the raisin and nut cookie, substituting chocolate for cocoa powder, peanuts for almonds, white sugar for coconut palm sugar (and honey) and high saturated fatty butter for Clover, the healthiest non-artificial butter I could find (made from buttermilk and half the saturated fat). I hope you enjoy making these cookies for the family too.
Cocoa, Almond and Raisin Cookies Recipe
Inspired by food.com
Makes:
Around 30 cookies
Ingredients:
100g almonds, roughly chopped
100g Clover butter
50g coconut palm sugar
50g runny honey
1 egg
Pinch of salt
300g plain flour
½ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp. cocoa powder
Method:
Preheat the oven to 170C/350F
Cream the Clover butter, palm sugar, honey and egg until frothy
Add the baking soda and pinch of salt and gradually mix in half of the flour
Halfway, add the almonds and raisins and mix well
Add the cocoa powder and the rest of the flour, mixing well until a dough forms
Use your hands to gently knead the dough into the bowl, making sure that all ingredients have mixed well together.
Form little dough balls and flatten with the palm of your hands
Lay out on a paper-lined baking try and place in the oven to bake for 15-20 minutes
Enjoy slightly warm
These cookies taste awesome with milk!
*This sponsored post is in collaboration with Clover and TOTS100, but the recipe and all opinions are my own. *
