Sunday 23 December 2012

Chameleon Crunch - bug feeding game

I loved the walking, talking, humming Chameleon, and more importantly so did the children!  It's for Ages 4+ and can be played by 2-4 players.  
The idea is that you feed the chameleon your bugs, and whoever has the most bugs in his mouth when he stops moving is the winner.   It can be tricky as some bugs can escape, so was a lot of fun!

You can buy the Chameleon Crunch for £19.99 from Amazon, Argos and Toys "R" Us.  I would point out that it does need 3xAA batteries which are not included.

Enjoy x

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Whac-A-Mole Molehill Mania Game

We were given Molehill Mania to play with.  It is designed for 2 players, for Ages 4+ , which is perfect for my 2.  Though as you can see below, Scarlett enjoyed playing with her friend :)
The rules are fairly simple, there are 5 blue, 5 green and 1 red mole.   You simply bash the sides with the mole-catching mallet to make them fly out, and the children have to collect them up.  As soon as 1 player has 6 moles then their mallet shows its full.   There are actually 3 levels of play.  You can make it more detailed in that each player has to find their own colours, but at the moment they are enjoying just being the first to get to 6!

We've decided that the winner shouts "King of the Molehill"!  Great fun, will be taking it to their cousins on Christmas day :)

You can buy Molehill Mania for £16.99.  It's available at Amazon, Argos and Toys R Us.

Enjoy x

Slow Cooked Caribbean Trout

Well it is in the slow cooker though only takes 90 mins to 2 hours, so a new take on the slow cooker for me.  The original recipe was for 4, but this is for 2 and I have ommited a red pepper cos I didn't have one, feel free to throw a sliced one in!
2 small trout, gutted, heads and fins removed and rinsed well with cold water (to remove the fins its easiest to use scissors)
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground coriander
2 tbsp olive oil
3 spring onions, thickly sliced
1 tomato roughly chopped
1 fat red chilli chopped (I kept seeds in, according to taste - you could try scotch bonnet)?
1 sprig of thyme
150ml fish stock
salt and pepper

Slash the trout on each side 2 or 3 times.  Mix the spices, salt and pepper on a plate, then coat the trout with the spices on both sides.

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the trout and fry until browned on both sides.  Transfer to the slow cooker, top and tailed to fit in one layer.

Add the remaining ingredients to the frying pan and bring to the boil.  Pour over the trout, cover with the lid and cook on high for 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Serve with warm bread to mop up the juices and we added some spinach too.

Enjoy x



Friday 21 December 2012

First Baby, second baby, third baby

My SIL, who has 3 children, gave me a cutting from a newspaper with this title.  It was 2003 and I was pregnant with Jasper who is now 8.   I found it randomly in my address book today, and now I have 2 it did make me chuckle, so I thought I'd share!
Scarlett, 2nd baby, that's OK right?
Maternity clothes
1st Baby:  you begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as it's confirmed you're pregnant.
2nd Baby: you wear your normal clothes for as long as possible.
3rd Baby: your maternity clothes now ARE your  normal clothes.

Preparing for the birth
1st Baby:  you practise your breathing religiously.
2nd Baby: you don't bother because the last time it didn't do a thing.
3rd Baby: you ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The first clothes
1st Baby:  you pre-wash, colour-coordinate and fold the baby clothes neatly.
2nd Baby: you make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd Baby: boys can wear pink, can't they?

Dummies
1st Baby:  if the dummy falls on the floor you go home to wash and boil it.
2nd Baby: you wash it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd Baby: you lick it to get the fluff off!

Activities
1st Baby:  you take your infant to Tumble Tots, Baby Swing and Baby Story Hour.
2nd Baby: you take your infant to Tumble Tots.
3rd Baby: you take your infant to the supermarket.

Going out
1st Baby:  the first time you leave your baby you call home five times.
2nd Baby: just before you walk out of the door you remember to  leave the sitter your number.
3rd Baby: instructions to sitter are.....to call you only if she sees blood.

Enjoy!
Annie x

Tuesday 18 December 2012

Mini Gingerbread House for Christmas

Update December 2014! Can no longer get the template on the site to download, so have used this one instead!

Well I thought I was being smart buying Gingerbread House kits when I saw them a few weeks ago.  I know they run out pretty quickly so happy as.
However, my husband decided to give it a go, whilst I was at our first QPR win of the season (hoorah), but it ended up in the bin - I didn't ask, but he's not the most patience of men.......

Back to square 1 then.  After a quick google, and advice from a neighbour (thank you @liziscooking) I discovered a recipe here
I must admit that a few attempts failed, but as I hadn't realised this was for 4 houses (rooky error) I had enough dough to carry on and get 2 out of it.

I think I would still prefer to give the kit a go, but very pleased with my first attempt (well apart from the odd failed bits in between).

Hope the kids appreciate it, Merry Christmas everyone :)

Annie x

Tuesday 11 December 2012

Portable North Pole Message from Santa

We've been receiving special messages from Santa for the last couple of years.   The children are so excited to see their personalised message, and it really sets the scene for the countdown to the big day.

This year, on their fifth anniversary, they are adding even more ways to receive the messages, "little ones can receive personalised video messages and phone calls from Santa now direct to computers, smartphones and tablets.   They also now have Santa's e-shop and I can offer you 10% discount off all PNP merchandise with this code: BLOG10BK

For more information see here I particularly think it's fab that PNP has pledged to donate 5% of all personalised product sales to participating Children's Hospital foundations.

Go take a look at www.portablenorthpole.com it's great fun, and it doesn't have to be a message just for children by the way :)

Enjoy!
Annie x


Sunday 9 December 2012

Slow Cooker Pork and Clam Cataplana

I cooked this as part of my secret mission and a cook off for Booths, it was delicious :)

Slow Cooked Pork and Clam Cataplana Serves 2

Although this is a Portugese recipe, it came to mind as this Summer we spent time foraging for Clams from the sea bed in Noirmoutier France.

450g Pork Tenderloin, cut into 1inch cubes
1tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves chipped
Half a 400g tin whole tomatoes
Dash of hot sauce (I used Dunn River)
500g Clams scrubbed, discard any that do not close
- when tapped! I kept mine in cold water so they filter
Bunch of parsley, leaves chopped

For The Marinade
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp olive oil
200ml dry white wine
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Put all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix.   Pour over the pork, cover and refrigerate for 2-12 hours, depending on time permitting.   Stir occasionally.

Preheat slow cooker, if required (no idea if mine requires it but always turn on as I start to prep)!  I digress!
Lift the meat from the marinade with a slotted spoon (reserve the marinade).  Heat the oil in a casserole dish over a medium heat, add the pork and brown well on all sides.   Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Reduce the heat and add the onion and garlic to the the casserole.   Cover and cook gently until the onion is softening.  Add the tomatoes, hot sauce and pork.   Pour in the marinade and stir.   Transfer everything to the slow cooker, cover with the lid and cook on auto/low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.   Add the clams for the last 20 minutes of cooking, or until all the clams are open (discard any that do not open).   Transfer to a bowl, remove the bay leaf, sprinkle with the parsley and serve with crusty bread and lemon (if you like lemon, I'm not a fan)!

Yummy :)

Annie x

Thursday 6 December 2012

Family Days Out - A day trip to London


Jasper reading the Kids Club Pack
We, like a lot of families, love planning Family Days Out.  We were so excited therefore to be picked to experience a day in London, courtesy of MoneySupermarket.com - a great place to go to look for money-off vouchers and days out vouchers!

We were given a family ticket for The Original Tour, the hop-on hop-off open top bus tour with commentary.  Not only that, but we also made full use of the free boat trip up the Thames, AND *excited face* a free Jack The Ripper tour - something that has been on our radar for a long time!

We started the day by getting the tube into Marble Arch to pick up our tour.  The guides are very informative and, having chosen the live audio tour, we were on and rolling in around 5 mins.  The kids got stuck into their free Kids Club Pack, whilst we listened to the commentary.  In hindsight we should have chosen the audio tour, which we did on the way back, as the kids donned their headphones and paid a lot more attention!

We decided to head to Westminster Pier to grab some lunch and pick up the boat.  Some of the facts we learned along the way were....

* there are around 7000 pubs in London
* bearskin hats worn by the Royal Guards cost £5000 each
* if you are in London for the day you will be caught on camera around 300 times

Fun on the merry go round

Those of you who know me know I'm not a lover of boats, so of course the kids were very excited by "scared mummy" - how cruel they are!

Whilst strolling along the South Bank we discovered a spectacular German Christmas Market, complete with merry-go-rounds, French Crepes for the kids(?), Kangaroo Burger for Chris, and some hot chestnuts for me - jubbly me old China (sorry)!




Not my cup of tea, but definitely Chis's
Chris being Skippy!










There was also the most amazing Battle Of Britain monument, which tributes to the many that lost their lives in it.  Including a Pilot P/O R. A. L. Robb - a distant relative perhaps?
Amazing tribute...
A distant relative?
Scarlett oblivious to the meaning..

Traitors Gate
I managed to endure the boat trip and put my brave face on, but I will say it was actually very pleasant, it was a clear, crisp, blue skyed Winter's day, the sea was calm, the kids were excited and it did make me smile.   We also learned that Waterloo Bridge is known as "Ladies Bridge" as it was completed by ladies during the Second World War, when of course the menfolk were off fighting for King and Country!


Whilst cruising down the Thames we also saw a lot of the famous sites, The Shard, The Gherkin, Traitors Gate at the Tower of London amongst others.   We also saw the Lions Head with Rings in their mouths, the subject of the rhyme "if the lions are drinking, London is sinking" a reference to the height of the Thames.

Original Roman Wall round the City
It was whilst on the boat that I spotted the Free Jack the Ripper walking tour.  It started at 3pm which meant that after the boat, we could grab a quick drink in a local pub, then off to the meeting point.   It was just as amazing as we thought it would be, taking us around the streets where the Ripper would have walked, and showing us some places where the bodies were actually found.   We also saw some of the original Roman wall separating the City of London, which I never knew existed.

We even saw the home of the original "Fagin", a character called Ikey Solomon - OMG, being huge Oliver fans we were totally blown away.   We also saw the site of an original women's Workhouse - just terrible what some of these unfortunate women had to live through!

Whilst I'd love to tell you more about the walk I really don't want to spoil such a wonderful 90 minutes walking round Whitechapel, some of the theories were new to me too, with fab pics and scene setting by a passionate narrator!  A must if you can catch it!

London certainly delivered!

Here are a few more pics of our wonderful Capital :)

Boadicea ;)
Houses of Parliament
Emmeline Pankhurst
Replica of Shakespeare's Globe



Tower Bridge
Christmas lights in Oxford Street

What a fab day, will certainly look out for more money off vouchers for family days out!

Thanks you moneysupermarket.com

Annie x



Wednesday 5 December 2012

#BoothsCheers Secret Mission - A Cook Off #gameface

Tonight I am taking part in a #BoothsCheers secret mission, a cook off versus @KarenBurnsBooth shhh  The challenge was "to create some perfect party nibbles to match Booths St Emillion".  To be fair, having visited Karen's website lavenderandlovage.com  I'm not overly optimistic but hey, what's not to love about good food and wine :)

I originally thought, Chorizo in Red Wine, Lettuce Cups with Seared Beef and Sizzling Spicy Prawns, but at the last minute added a Slow Cooked Pork and Clam Cataplana.   As it will only be Chris and I seemed a waste to just add nibbles so going to use the nibbles as a starter (makes sense in my little head)!

And here we go :)















Slow Cooked Pork and Clam Cataplana Serves 2

Although this is a Portugese recipe, it came to mind as this Summer we spent time foraging for Clams from the sea bed in Noirmoutier France.

450g Pork Tenderloin, cut into 1inch cubes
1tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 garlic cloves chipped
Half a 400g tin whole tomatoes
Dash of hot sauce (I used Dunn River)
500g Clams scrubbed, discard any that do not close
- when tapped! I kept mine in cold water so they filter
Bunch of parsley, leaves chopped

For The Marinade
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp olive oil
200ml dry white wine
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Put all the marinade ingredients in a bowl and mix.   Pour over the pork, cover and refrigerate for 2-12 hours, depending on time permitting.   Stir occasionally.

Preheat slow cooker, if required (no idea if mine requires it but always turn on as I start to prep)!  I digress!
Lift the meat from the marinade with a slotted spoon (reserve the marinade).  Heat the oil in a casserole dish over a medium heat, add the pork and brown well on all sides.   Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Reduce the heat and add the onion and garlic to the the casserole.   Cover and cook gently until the onion is softening.  Add the tomatoes, hot sauce and pork.   Pour in the marinade and stir.   Transfer everything to the slow cooker, cover with the lid and cook on auto/low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.   Add the clams for the last 20 minutes of cooking, or until all the clams are open (discard any that do not open).   Transfer to a bowl, remove the bay leaf, sprinkle with the parsley and serve with crusty bread and lemon (if you like lemon, I'm not a fan)!

And now for the actual nibbles........

Chorizo in Red Wine Best prepped at least 8hrs or if possible a day before!  Serves 6 as part of a tappas meal
A simple tapas style dish with few ingredients that will make a big impact....
200g chorizo sausage
200ml red wine
2tbsp of Brandy (optional)
Parsley to garnish
Serve with crusty bread

Using a fork, prick the chorizo in 3 or 4 places.  Place in a saucepan with the wine and brandy (if using), bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Transfer to a dish, cover and leave to marinate for at least 8 hours.

Remove from the dish, reserving the wine.  Remove the outer casing from the chorizo and cut the sausage into slices.  Place the slices in a large frying pan or flameproof serving dish, cover with the wine and cook over a high heat until most of the wine has evaporated.

Serve in the wine, piping hot, sprinkled with parsley and crusty bread for the juices.


Lettuce Cups with Seared Beef this quantity serves 4 but I have halved
Thought I'd lighten the menu up a little with some gorgeous and light lettuce wrappers with seared beef.   Particularly as the Sirloin Steak was on special at Morrisons and was less then £3 (should have got some more for the freezer doh)!

Sirloin steak around 300g
1tbsp Thai red curry paste (I prefer to use my own but time permitting)
1 tbsp Groundnut oil
4 small iceberg lettuce leaves

Cucumber relish Combine the following
1/4 cucumber finely diced
3 spring onion thinly sliced
1/2 red chilli deseeded and finely chopped (or to taste)
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp caster sugar
4 tsp finely chopped coriander

Marinate the steak in the Thai red curry paste for at least 30 minutes.  Heat the groundnut oil in a frying pan, brush the marinade off the steak and fry to your liking.  Thinly slice then toss the beef into the relish.  Spoon into the lettuce cups and serve.


Sizzling Chilli Prawns this quantity serves as part of a tapas meal, but I have halved
500g raw king prawns
1 small fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves
Pinch of paprika
Salt

Prepare the prawns, removing the dark vein from the back, run under cold water and pat dry.

Heat the olive oil in a heavy based frying pan until quite hot, then add the garlic and fry for 30 seconds.  Add the rest of the ingredients and fry for 2-3 minutes stirring constantly until the prawns turn pink and begin to curl.

Serve in a dish still sizzling.   Accompany with wooden cocktail sticks and chunks of crusty bread.

What an absolute treat, all served with the Booths Red St Emillion.   What another fun #BoothsCheers party it will be, join us at 7pn on twitter :)

Thank you Booths!

Annie x

Tuesday 4 December 2012

Uno Roboto

I was very happy to be invited to review Uno Roboto.   It is of course the classic Uno Card Game we know and love, but with the addition of a cheeky Robot who can mix things up a bit.

Before each game you can record the names of the players into the Robot, and some suggested forfeits, or you could add your own.   Then, as you play, Roboto will randomly surprise you with specific commands for specific players - it really adds to the original game.   

It is recommended as being suitable for Age 7+ however I have played it with my 5yo daughter who got it.   As opposed to a normal suit of cards, these are played via numbers or colours, or clearly marked symbols to dictate the next move.  Another big plus for me is that it is small enough to tidy away!!!!

Great fun and sure to be a family favourite!   (If I can convince Jasper not to cheat that is!!!!)

Roboto is £24.99 and stockists include Argos and Amazon

Annie x

Disclosure:  I was sent the Mattel Roboto Uno to review (and am very happy to be keeping it as the kids can't get enough :)