The Fearsome Beastie by Giles Paley-Phillips – Children’s Book Review The Fearsome Beastie book review.
Lunchbox # 113 – Hairy Egg & Pancakes Lunchbox # 113 (for almost 6 year old girl) hard boiled egg with jelly sting hair and face drawn with edible marker pieces of pancake plum tomato cherries seedles green grapes raisins yogurt (not pictured) tropical juice drink (not pictured) Everything placed in glittery EZ-Freeze lunchbox with a freezable lid and placed inside insulated Charlie […]
Wedding Traditions & Superstitions Wedding traditions and superstitions vary from culture to culture but some always remain the same…
Potato & Leek Chicken with Dill – 6-7 months + INGREDIENTS 100g chicken breast 300g potato 100g carrot 4 cm piece of leek 150g apple (for sweetness) 1 tbs chopped dill enough boiling water to cover the food 1 tsp olive oil METHOD Place all ingredients, except dill, in a small pot and cook covered over medium fire until all vegetables are soft and chicken […]
Baby Apple Crumble – 7 months + INGREDIENTS medium apple – about 150g (peeled and cubed) 1 tsp instant baby rice flakes (Organix First Wholegrain Baby Rice) 1 baby biscuit – about 5g (I used Heinz Biscotti Organic) METHOD Steam apple with a little bit of water, either in a small pot with lid or in microwavable steamer. Mash it with fork […]
Chicken with Tomato and Basil – 6 months + INGREDIENTS ½ chicken breast – about 100g (diced) couple of baby potatoes – about 100g (peeled and chopped) couple of fresh basil leaves 2 medium tomatoes – about 100g (halved) or tinned tomatoes 50g green beans – I used dwarf beans (trimmed) 1 small apple – about 10og (peeled and cored) 1 cup of boiling […]
Creamy Cauliflower, Potato & Chicken – 4-6 months + INGREDIENTS ½ chicken breast – about 100g (diced) 1 small carrot – about 50g (peeled and sliced) 100g piece of cauliflower few baby potatoes – about 50g (peeled and chopped) 3 tbs instant baby rice flakes 2 cups of water 2½ tsp baby’s usual milk powder to add later EQUIPMENT hand blender small pot with […]
“Five Minute Bread” by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoë François – Book Review “Five Minute Bread” is an absolutely brilliant book about truly revolutionary bread making method by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François who have had written already before couple of bread books together. The book has been published in UK by Ebury. I’m amazed how fast and easy bread making can be and a little bit angry […]
Smooth Chicken with Apple & Marjoram – 4-6 months + INGREDIENTS ½ chicken breast – about 100g (diced) 2 small carrots – about 100g (peeled and sliced) couple of baby potatoes – about 100g (peeled and chopped) 2 pinches of dried marjoram – optional 3 tbs instant baby rice flakes 1 cup of boiling water 2½ tsp baby’s usual milk powder to add later EQUIPMENT […]
Creamy Apple Dessert – 4-6 months + INGREDIENTS 1 medium apple – about 100g (peeled & chopped) few tbs of boiling water 1 tbs instant plain baby rice flakes (stage 1, from 4 months) 1 tsp baby’s usual milk powder EQUIPMENT mini food masher or fork METHOD Cook or steam apples until they are soft and there is almost no more water […]
Cheese, Wine & Food Pairings There is plenty of varieties of cheese and wine so choosing the right pair can be a little tricky…
4th Anniversary Giveaway (CLOSED) – Announcing the Winners Thank you Everyone for all those nice comments and wishes. From those who left messages I have chosen 4 winners between who I will share pictured above goodies. Decision who it should be was made by random number generator from MA.TT. Congratulations #9 – Nik, #12 – Nicole O., #3 – Franci and #11 – […]
Ryvita Crackers – Made for Cheese I just tried new Ryvita crackers for cheese which are excellent. They go very well with all kind of cheese, chutneys and fruits. I like especially combination of the “black pepper” crackers with blue stilton cheese and grapes. Also mix of “golden rye” crackers with double gloucester cheese and chutney is exceptional. And what your […]
Coffee & Vanilla’s 4th Anniversary & Giveaway (CLOSED) Can you believe that todays is C&V’s 4th Anniversary?! Due to our latest addition to the family I haven’t been around as often as I would want to be but soon I hope to have again a little bit more time to cook and bake. With a new blog’s year I want to start calorie […]
Bento 4 Japan Please, join Bent4Japan to help rise the founds. How you can help: Donating money through JustGiving or FirstGiving pages. Buying bento gear on eBay marked with Bento 4 Japan tag. For other ways to help check Bento4Japan headquarters website.
Lunchbox # 112 – Sugar & Lemon Pancake Lunchbox # 112 (for 5 year old girl) sugar & lemon pancake (recipe here) plum tomato couple of Ryvita minis slices of apple (flower design made with mini cookie cutter) flapjack Munch Bunch Strawberry drinking yogurt Capri Sun apple juice drink (frozen to keep lunch cold for longer) antibacterial gel to wash hands before lunch […]
Pancakes with Sugar & Lemon Syrup INGREDIENTS 8 previously made or ready plain large thin pancakes ½ lemon juice 4 tbs golden caster sugar or a little bit more unsalted butter to re-fry pancakes METHOD Combine lemon juice and sugar and continue stirring until they are well mixed. Re-fry each pancake on butter, top with sugar & lemon syrup, fold and […]
Lunchbox # 111 – Pepperoni, Grapes & Frozen Juice Lunchbox # 111 (for 5 year old girl) half of brioche roll with butter, hearts made with edible pen cherry tomatoes and pepperoni slices clementine white and red grapes Munch Bunch Strawberry yogurt Capri Sun tropical juice drink (frozen to keep lunch cold for longer) antibacterial gel to wash hands before lunch (not pictured) paper […]
Moroccan Style Hummus with Caramelized Onions and Roasted Peppers Yummy, easy to prepare hummus recipe.
Lunchbox # 110 – Chocolate & Strawberries for Valentine’s Lunchbox # 110 (for 5 year old girl) brioche roll with Nutella & peanut butter, tied together with strawberry lace, hearts and “I love you” sign made with edible pen strawberries chocolate love bug pink marble egg and mini rabbit container with a little bit of salt Ribena strawberry juice drink (not pictured) Munch Bunch […]
Chinese Five Spice & Coconut Fish Curry INGREDIENTS 3 shallots or 1 onion (chopped finely) 3 tbs oil (I used rice oil) 500-600g fresh or frozen white fish fillets 3 cups of boiling water 100g (half bar) creamed coconut 1 tbs five spice seasoning 1 tsp curcuma / turmeric (for colour) 1 tsp chilli flakes (optional) sea salt – to taste 1 […]
Lunchbox # 109 – Strawberry Yogurt, Strawberry Juice & Strawberry Cookies Lunchbox # 109 (for 5 year old girl) buttered brioche roll with Leeddamer cheese, tied together with strawberry lace, hearts drawn with edible pen strawberry 2 plum tomatoes on leafy food picks piece of carrot cake mini cheese crackers plantain chips Lotte strawberry koala shaped cookie Ribena strawberry juice drink Munch Bunch drinking Strawberry yogurt […]
Melons and Salmonella Melons, especially those with porous skin (Cantaloupe / rock melon for instance) and some other fruits (such as Papaya) can contain salmonella on their skin. That is why they should be washed properly in soapy water before cutting not to spread it with the knife into the fruit. Not opened melons can be kept in […]
Easy Mushroom & Leek Risotto with Thyme INGREDIENTS 2 cups easy cook rice 350g mushrooms (sliced or chopped coarsly) 2 tbs olive oil 2 tbs unsalted butter 4 cups boiling water 2 vegetable cubes 1 large leek (chopped) ½ tbs dried thyme ½ tbs garlic powder ½ cup creme fraiche or soured cream 1 large or 2 smaller bell peppers (diced) few […]
Lunchbox # 108 – Cheese & Grapes, Kabanosy and Chocolate Koala Cookies Lunchbox # 108 (for 5 year old girl) buttered slices of baguette, tied together with strawberry lace grapes and Leeddamer cheese cubes on food picks pieces of kabanosy, 2 plum tomatoes sesame and poppy seed crackers, mini chocolate filled koala cookie Capri-Sun apple juice drink with a straw antibacterial gel to wash hands before lunch […]
“Spork” by Kyo Maclear – Children’s Book Review Couple of weeks ago I’ve been sent “Spork” – children’s book written by Kyo Maclear, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault and published by Kids Can Press. It is an inspiring interracial metaphor about Spork who is half spoon and half fork and who can’t find his place between other utensils in the kitchen because of being […]
Popping Candy Sparklers INGREDIENTS 200g chocolate bar (I used white chocolate) about 12 long bread sticks 1 tbs popping candy sprinkles METHOD Break chocolate into pieces and melt in small non-stick saucepan over low fire. Leave aside until it is very thick but still spreadable, stir in popping candy and then spread on about half length of each […]
Cranberry & Mozzarella Pastries INGREDIENTS 375g ready to roll puff pastry ½ cup leftover cranberry sauce (I used 10 Minute Cranberry & Orange Sauce) ¾ cup grated mozzarella or other cheese EQUIPMENT 1 large baking tray lined with Teflon sheet or baking paper METHOD Spread cranberry sauce on the top of the pastry, top with grated mozzarella and roll […]
