Seed to Feed Me: March 2014

Monday, 24 March 2014

RECIPE FOR FAIRY CAKES

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It was Georges' second birthday recently, and so I wanted to bake some little fairy cakes for him to take into nursery.

I went online to buy some two today rice paper cake toppers. They all had different designs on them from puppies to robots and made the cakes look really individual. They looked great and the kids (and carers) enjoyed them.

Makes approx 24 cakes.

Ingredients

200 g/7 oz caster sugar
200 g/7 oz self raising flour
1 tea spoon baking powder
3 medium eggs
200 g/7 oz margarine
Vanilla essence
2 tablespoons milk
Individual cake cases

For the topping:
140 g/ 5 oz Icing sugar
100 ml water
Rice paper cake toppers

Method

Heat the oven to 190 degrees/gas mark 5.

Place the cake cases into two dotted baking trays.

Place the margarine and sugar into a bowl and cream together until smooth. Add the eggs, flour, baking powder, milk and vanilla essence and mix thoroughly.

Spoon the mixture into the cake cases, approximately 1 desert spoon per case. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the cakes spring back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

Decorate by mixing the icing sugar with water to create a thick paste and spoon over the cakes. Add the rice paper toppers and press down gently so that they are in firm contact with the icing sugar. They have a tendency to curl up and so I go back five minutes late and push them back down with the back of a spoon.

Party cakes ready. Just add kids….

For related articles click onto:

Banana loaf recipes

Birthday cake recipe

Black Forest cake
Carrot cake recipe

Cherry pie

Chocolate Cheesecake

Christmas cake

Christmas mince pies
Christmas puddings

Coffee and walnut cake

Ginger Bread House

Gooseberry crumble

How to make Christmas cake

Pumpkin cheesecake recipe

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Recipe for apple crumble

Recipe for blackcurrant cheesecake

Recipe for bread and butter pudding

Recipe for cherry pie

Recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake

Recipe for chocolate orange cheesecake
Recipe for Egg Custard

Recipe for English Apple pie

Recipe for fairy cakes

Recipe for pumpkin pie

Recipe for rhubarb crumble

Recipe for shortbread

Recipe for strawberry cheesecake

Recipe for strawberry jam

Recipe for Tiramisu

Recipe for victoria sponge

BIRTHDAY CAKE RECIPE

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

It was my sons birthday recently - I cant believe he is two! So we threw him a little birthday party and I wanted to make him a cake. I often find shop bought cakes too sweet whilst larger, bespoke cakes can often seem a little dry.

I had been looking at cake designs in order to select a cake to make. He adores Peppa Pig so I decided to make him a cake with Peppa and George on it. I bought rice paper cake topper for the cake which was great, although I did make the cake a little small and had to adapt the design a little. My top tip - measure your cake tin to ensure it fits your cake topper!

Ingredients
200 g/7 oz caster sugar

200 g/7 oz self raising flour

1 tea spoon baking powder

3 medium eggs

200 g/7 oz margarine

Vanilla essence

2 tablespoons milk

For the filling:

140 g/ 5 oz Icing sugar

100 g/ 3.5 oz Butter

Vanilla essence

Strawberry Jam

For the top:

Peppa pig rice paper cake topper
140 g / 5 oz Icing sugar
100 ml water

Method

Heat the oven to 190 degrees/gas mark 5. Grease two cake tins and line with baking paper.

Place the margarine and sugar into a bowl and cream together until smooth. Add the eggs, flour, baking powder, milk and vanilla essence and mix thoroughly. Divide the mixture evenly into the cake tins and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Cook until the cake springs back when lightly pressed. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

To prepare the filling, cream together the butter and icing sugar adding 5 drops of vanilla essence. Spread this butter icing onto the underside of one of the sponges and jam onto the top of the other sponge and sandwich together.

Decorate the top by mixing together the water and icing sugar to form a thick paste and spreading on top of the cake. Carefully position the cake topper over the icing.

For related articles click onto:

Banana loaf recipes

Birthday cake recipe

Black Forest cake
Carrot cake recipe

Cherry pie

Chocolate Cheesecake

Christmas cake

Christmas mince pies
Christmas puddings

Coffee and walnut cake

Ginger Bread House

Gooseberry crumble

How to make Christmas cake

Pumpkin cheesecake recipe

Raspberry pie

Recipe for apple crumble

Recipe for blackcurrant cheesecake

Recipe for bread and butter pudding

Recipe for cherry pie

Recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake

Recipe for Egg Custard

Recipe for English Apple pie

Recipe for fairy cakes

Recipe for pumpkin pie

Recipe for rhubarb crumble

Recipe for shortbread

Recipe for strawberry cheesecake

Recipe for strawberry jam

Recipe for Tiramisu

Recipe for victoria sponge

Monday, 17 March 2014

WHAT IS TONSILLITIS?

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My poor little boy has just been diagnosed with tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils). Tonsillitis can make children very unwell, especially if it spreads and infects the ears too.

George was very ill with a high temperature of 41, as well as developing breathing problems. A short stay in hospital has sorted him out and he is now on a course of antibiotics. I know he is getting better as he is getting louder and misbehaving!

But why do children develop tonsillitis? Actually some adults contract it too. The tonsils are two small glands located at the back of the throat behind the tongue. They act as a barrier against infection by isolating any infection and preventing it from spreading further into the body. This is why it is common in children, as their immune system is still developing. The tonsils lose this ability when the immune system fully develops hence why adults are rarely affected.

Symptoms include a sore throat which hurts when swallowing, coughing, a headache and a high temperature of over 38C. Symptoms usually pass within 3-4 days but visit your doctor if symptoms last longer than 4 days or are so severe that eating and drinking is not possible or breathing difficulties develop.

I was unaware that there were two causes of tonsillitis; viral and bacterial. The viral version is much more common than the bacterial version (which he had), which is worse and often needs treatment with antibiotics.

Tonsillitis is spread easily so you will have to keep your child away from school or nursery until the symptoms have passed. You can treat the symptoms of tonsillitis by administering paracetamol or ibuprofen to help relieve pain, getting plenty of bed rest and encouraging your child to drink plenty of fluids. Antibiotics may be required if it is caused by a bacterial infection, especially if it spreads to the middle ear.

Removing the tonsils is now usually only recommended if you or your child has several severe episodes of tonsillitis over a long period, or if repeated episodes disrupt your normal activities.

For related articles click onto:
Allergies
Cold symptoms

Differences between vegetables and fruit

Foods to avoid during pregnancy
Gestational diabetes
Low GI foods
Salt
Superfoods
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What is a vegetable?
What is a food allergy?
What is a food intolerance?
What is tonsillitis?
What is the difference between a food intolerance and a food allergy?
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?
What is 5 A DAY?

5 A DAY PORTIONS

Thursday, 13 March 2014

SUN DRIED TOMATO AND HERB BREAD

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Once you get the hang of baking bread it is easy to adapt your recipes and make something a bit more exciting. I love sun dried tomatoes so this recipe is ideal for me and takes particularly yummy toasted with sliced cheese on top.

Ingredients
500 g /1 lb 2 oz strong white flour
25g sachet dried yeast
2 tablespoon oil
1 pinch sugar
75 g sundried tomatoes in oil, chopped
2 tablespoon chopped rosemary leaves
3 tablespoon chopped basil leaves
1 tablespoon salt
100 ml / 10 fl oz warm water

Method

Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Make a hollow and add the yeast, sundried tomatoes, herbs and sugar. Add the salt to the warm water and pour a little at a time into the mixing bowl, stirring together with a spoon, until all the flour is incorporated. Gently knead the mixture with your fingers until it forms a smooth dough.

Lightly oil a work surface and quickly knead the dough until it is stretchy and elastic. Put the dough back into the mixing bowl and cover with a damp tea towel. Keep at room temperature. Leave the mixture to rise for about an hour, until it has doubled in size.

Remove the dough from the bowl and shape. Knock back the dough to remove any air by kneading the dough on a lightly floured surface. Shape into two round loaves.

Place on a greased baking sheet, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for a further hour. It should double in size again during this time. Gently score the top of the loaf and cover lightly with flour.

Preheat the oven to 200 c/gas mark 6.

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until the bread has risen and is golden brown. Tap the bottom of the loaf to see if it sounds hollow, as this means it is cooked. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

For related articles click onto:

Recipe for home made olive bread

Recipe for Italian pizza

Recipe for Quiche Lorraine

Recipe for pancakes

Sun dried tomato and herb bread

Monday, 10 March 2014

HOW TO MAKE PINA COLADA

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

My other half has recently got into cocktails in a big way, although he insists on me making them! Pina colada is my favourite drink, and I could drink it all night. I stick the ingredients in the smoothie maker which gives it a really smooth taste but use ice cubes if you don't have one to hand. Enjoy!

Sunday, 9 March 2014

HOW TO MAKE TEQUILA SUNRISE

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

This cocktail always looks impressive with its trademark sunrise colouring. Its so easy to make, and so easy to drink.......

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

2 fl oz / 60 ml tequila
6 fl oz / 200 ml orange juice
Dash of grenadine
2 ice cubes

Method

Place the ice cubes into a glass.

Pour in the tequila and add the orange juice. Pour the grenadine into the glass.

Decorate with a slice of orange, cherry and a straw.

For related articles click onto:
How to make Harvey Wallbanger cocktails
How to make pina colada cocktails
How to make Tequila sunrise cocktails

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

HOW TO MAKE BREAD

Click here for the 'Seeds of Eaden' seed shop

Home baked bread is fantastic and it is so far superior to what you can buy in a shop. This recipe is for basic white bread, and can be easily adapted to suit your taste.

If you feel a bit intimidated by making your own loaf of bread then you can always adapt this recipe to make rolls. Its so simple that children will love to have a go too. We often make 'tortoise bread' from a large roll with smaller attached rolls for head and legs.

Ingredients

500 g /1 lb 2 oz strong white flour
25 g sachet dried yeast
40 g butter
2 tablespoon oil
1 pinch sugar

1 tablespoon salt
100 ml / 10 fl oz warm water

Method

Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl. Make a hollow and add the butter, yeast and sugar. Add the salt to the warm water and pour a little at a time into the mixing bowl, stirring together with a spoon, until all the flour is incorporated. Gently knead the mixture with your fingers until it forms a smooth dough.

Preheat the oven to 220 c/gas mark 7.

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until the bread has risen and is golden brown. Tap the bottom of the loaf to see if it sounds hollow, as this means it is cooked. Allow to cool on a wire rack.

For related articles click onto:

Recipe for home made olive bread

Recipe for Italian pizza

Recipe for Quiche Lorraine

Recipe for pancakes

Sun dried tomato and herb bread