My Food Cupboard Rice Krispie Cake...

I love baking and the kids love to bake with me and I always find that it's the most simplest of recipes that go down the best.

One teatime treat that reminds me fondly of my childhood is Rice Krispie cakes. Now, whilst many will make them with melted chocolate for me they are too sweet that way (I know can barely believe I am saying it!) but over the years of trialling many recipes I think I have found the best way to make them!

I call this My Food Cupboard Rice Krispie Cake as I normally have all the ingredients knocking about it my cupboard!

What you'll need...

150g unsalted butter
150g golden syrup
1½ tbsp cocoa powder
Rice Krispies or supermarket brand (normally half or so of a small box)

How to make them...

1. On a low heat melt the butter and golden syrup in a pan until its all incorporated.

2. Once the butter and syrup has melted add the cocoa powder and whisk till you have a smooth brown sauce.

3. Add your Rice Krispies and stir until they are all covered in the chocolate.

4. Now, you can by all means use cupcake cases but I love to put it all into a loose bottomed cake tin. If you choose to do it this way simply tip it all in, press down and level off.

5. Pop into the fridge to firm up and cut into fat triangles!

As you can see I have melted some chocolate drizzled on top and finished off with Mini Eggs and Maltesers oh, the odd fluffy chick!

This is a really easy one to do with the kids and is my go to recipe when we have a last minute playdate and I am looking for a sweet afternoon treat!

Enjoy,

N x

Making Bath Bombs With Butlin's!

A couple of weeks ago we were contacted by our friends at Butlin's to help them celebrate British Science week.

Tom being the teacher that he is is always keen to find new and exciting ways of getting the kids involved in hands on learning.

Well, Butlin's have teamed up with the folk at the Royal Institution and L'Oreal UK and Ireland and kindly sent us this fun at home pack with everything we need to make our very own.....bath bombs!!

Now, we LOVE bath bombs. The boys had their first bath bombs in their Christmas Eve box this Christmas just gone and they we mesmerised. Now, as much as I love them they are a little eye watering on the purse strings with it not being unusual for one of the fizztastic beauties to set you back a couple of quid so the prospect of making some at home was right up our street.

So, we set about making them in the shapes of hearts and regular cupcake shape (my choice) and Lego men (the boys choice...naturally) and here is all you'll need to recreate the bath bombs in your own home.

See - look almost shop purchased, I promise they were not! 

What you'll need....

- 40g Sodium bicarbonate powder (Baking Soda to us normal folk)
- 20g Citric Acid powder
- Liquid colour (check that the colour does not stain your skin before using)
- Fragrance or essential oil (we picked lavender)
- Witch hazel (you can use water but I adore the smell)

You'll also need....
- mixing bowl
- whisk
- scales
- shape mould (we used the silicone ones)
- baking paper
- spray bottle for witch hazel or water

Don't worry at first I thought it all looked far too complicated and Breaking Bad for my liking but stick with me!

How to make a bath bomb...

1. Weigh out 40g Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Powder)

2. Add 20g Citric acid to the bowl

3. Use the whisk to gently wish and mix the powder ensuing to press out any lumps (you want a fine powder sandy consistency).

4. Add there or there abouts 3-4 drops of food colour and mix well. Don't add too much else it'll start to fizz.

5. Add a couple drops of the essential oil and mix again.

6. Squirt three squirts of the witch hazel and start to bring the mixture together with your hands.

7. Now, slowly and gently pack the mixture tight into your silicone mould and press firm down.
Really keep pressing so it's nice and compacted.

8. Now, lay out some baking paper and gently turn your bath bomb out onto the surface.

9. Leave the bath bomb for at least an hour to dry out. We have now left ours two weeks and they are just like the ones you get in Lush!

10. Run yourself a hot bath and submerge one of your little fizztastic beauties into the water and watch it bubble away!

Enjoy

x

Sunday Round Up....

Well, as another weekend draws to a close, the Yorkshire Puddings are in the oven,  I thought that I would just share with you some highlights from our week!

Earlier in the week was Pancake Day - always a fun event in our household. It's amazing how many pancakes small people and indeed big people can in fact eat! This week we made over 40 pancakes!!

Some popular posts on my blog have included my Cheats Bourbon Brownies and my Easiest Ever White Chocolate Easter Cheesecake which was featured over on LovedByParents where I've been sharing some of my recipes!

We are on the countdown to the Easter holidays in this house - WOO HOO!!! We are heading off to St. Ives for some much needed Cornish air and r'n'r. We are hoping to visit the Eden Project this year too with Charlie - have you been? Would love to know what you think!

On the menu this week for dinners we've got Cottage Pie (Slimming World friendly), "Nandos" style chicken with Mexican rice and wholemeal pittas, cheesy pizzas, Teriyaki chicken, homemade chips with fish and a take away Saturday night!

On the subject of dinners, last night we asked Charlie to pick our restaurant for dinner - and guess where he picked? McDonalds! So, off we ventured to the Cobham services for dinner. Strangely I suspect we were not the only parents treating the kids to tea out!

Who doesn't love a McFlurry!!

When we got home we made some Elephant Lanterns which were included in a pack from WWF UK who are encouraging people to get involved with Earth Hour. We had great fun making them!

All you need is tissue paper, PVA glue, plastic milk bottles, scissors and a small LED candle.

Anyways, off to tend to the Sunday Roast, have a great weekend!

Nathalie x