baking – Mediocre Mum

Persil’s ‘Cook with the Kids’ Workshop and Food Fight!

Persil Cook with Kids Promise

I ,along with 88% of parents surveyed by the LMRMC, avoid baking with my daughter as it makes a mess. I find myself stressing out as flour is flicked out of the bowl, eggs shells follow the egg in the bowl and vegetable oil being vicariously poured into the measuring jug!

I’ve been to quite a few events in my time as a blogger but have to say this one with Persil UK was one of the best. When I read ‘Giant Food Fight’ in the email, I was all over it. It looked like great fun and not something I would ever do in my own house.

Persil is trying to encourage more parent to chill out, stop worrying about the mess and get cooking with their kids.

The kids had an opportunity to make their own pizzas, decorate a cupcake and then the fun began. They kitted them out in little Oompa–Loompa suits, goggles and then armed them with food ammunition, everything from custard to flour to bottles of squeezy ketchup. I think these photos say it all.

‘Every Kids’ Dream!’

Food Fight Fun - Spaghetti — Food Fight Fun – Spaghetti

The Photographer wasn't safe — The Photographer wasn’t safe

I was picking mushrooms and spaghetti out of her hair for ages and she smelled like ketchup for days, but she had such an amazing time I didn’t mind.

I promise to let the kids enjoy baking and making a mess in the kitchen

As a result of this I have pledged to stop worrying about the mess and start baking with her more. Last night we attempted to bake some Cranberry Chocolate Muffins. All we had to do was add egg, water and oil. Unfortunately, the numbers have been scrubbed off my cooker so I had to guess the temperature, unfortunately, they ended up being a bit burnt but still edible. At least I tried.

You up for the promise?

You can sign up to make the promise yourself by visiting Persil Cook with Kids. After signing up you can download a handy PDF with everything you need to get baking and making a mess with your kids. There is also a chance to win a kid-friendly-baking kit in a weekly prize draw and a kids party worth £500.

The Obligatory Egg Nests!

I don’t know what comes over me when it comes to holidays. I turn into someone kind of deranged domesticated super mum, crafting and cooking, which is so unlike me. Thank goodness for google.

Yesterday we dyed some Easter eggs and made some Cornflake Chocolate Egg Nests. We had to improvise as the corner shop didn’t have any mini eggs!

Hopefully, Easter is over soon as I peaked too early!

Makes 10-12

Ingredients

230g of milk chocolate
Cornflakes
M and M’s

Method

Break the chocolate up and melt in a metal bowl above a pan of boiling/ simmering water.
Remove the bowl from heat and mix in cornflakes. This involves a bit of guess work. Keep adding until you feel that it will still form into a nest.
Spoon the mixture into muffin cases. Press down and top with the M and M’s (eggs).
Put in the fridge for an hour or so until they harden.

My work here is done!

Lost for ideas….try a pick your own…

Don’t you just love summer holidays? Not! I’m only on day 3 and already on my knees. I don’t remember as a kid having such a fun filled agenda, my mum used to open the front door shoe us out and that was it for the rest of the day. Now I find myself busier than a party planner and getting paid diddly squat for it!

We have had a full on day, gymnastics followed by a picnic in the park but this afternoon we did something a bit different. We went to our local Pick your Own (not nose) and picked some strawberries and blackberries. I think they’ve missed a trick; they should really weigh the kids before and after and not the punnet as not many berries made it into the pots.

It was a lovely way to kill an hour! However, it dawned on me afterwards, ‘now what am I going to do with all this fruit?’ I’m no dab hand in the kitchen, a few people suggested making jam followed by scones. I nearly fell about laughing. Someone did suggest making wine with it and I was tempted. I already had a punnet of strawberries and raspberries in the fridge that were out of date, ready to be composted. My mate was going to make a crumble so I thought I’d give it a go as well.

It was really dead easy. I used the following recipe….

We had great fun! But now I know why I don’t bake just imagine we also made a trip to the shop especially for custard….

But her final words were….’I don’t like crumble!’

These kids don’t know they were born.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake!

OMG this was so much fun and so easy! I was planning on doing a bit of baking today with Madame, but as usual I fell at the first hurdle as I didn’t have the ingredients I needed to make brownies. What the hell is Vanilla Sugar anyhow? Anyway, the lovely @jinks67 suggested I Google 5 Minute Mug Cakes so I did and this was the result!

They were so simple a 3 year old could make them. Honestly, they weren’t too my liking, bear in mind I don’t normally eat chocolate, but Madame wolfed them down. I think they’d be much more inviting with a dollop of cream or vanilla ice-cream.

If you want to have a go here’s the recipe.