Browsing Category

Kids in the Kitchen

Baking/ Chocolate/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix/ Snacks/ Thermomix

Milo Dog Cookies

These dog cookies are for human consumption (not canine consumption 😉 ) to celebrate this year’s Chinese New Year – Year of the Dog!

Despite being Chinese/Malaysian, I don’t make rice or do much Chinese cooking (I leave that to my mum!) but I thought I would make some cookies in celebration of the Year of the Dog with the help of my 3 year old half Asian twin boys to teach them a little bit about their Chinese heritage.

These are perfect for the Year of the Dog celebrations, but would also be really cute in lunchboxes or for a kids party! This is a variation of my Milo Cookies.

Add chocolate chips to bowl

– blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7.

Add butter, sugar and egg to bowl

– mix 1 minute/Speed 5.

Add plain flour, self raising flour, Milo and milk

– mix 20 seconds/Speed 6. Scrape down.

Mix a further 20 seconds/Speed 6.

Knead – 2 minutes/kneading function/MC off.

Roll into teaspoon sized balls

and decorate with Milo cereal, sprinkles and chocolate chips (as pictured).

Bake for 8 – 10 minutes.

Milo Dog Cookies

Print Recipe
Serves: approx. 56 cookies

Ingredients

  • 100 grams dark chocolate chips
  • 250 grams butter (softened)
  • 50 grams sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 310 grams plain flour
  • 90 grams self raising flour
  • 110 grams Milo
  • 60 grams milk
  • To decorate:
  • *Milo cereal
  • *Sprinkles
  • *Dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1

METHOD (Thermomix):

2

Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

3

Add chocolate chips to bowl - blitz 5 seconds/Speed 7.

4

Add butter, sugar and egg to bowl - mix 1 minute/Speed 5.

5

Add plain flour, self raising flour, Milo and milk - mix 20 seconds/Speed 6. Scrape down.

6

Mix a further 20 seconds/Speed 6.

7

Knead - 2 minutes/kneading function/MC off.

8

Roll into teaspoon sized balls and decorate with Milo cereal, sprinkles and chocolate chips (as pictured).

9

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes.

10

METHOD (Electric Mixer):

11

Preheat oven to 170 degrees.

12

Crush chocolate chips in a blender, food processor, or chop finely/grate (from block form if easier).

13

Add crushed chocolate, butter, sugar and egg into a large bowl - beat until mixture is combined/creamed.

14

Add plain flour, self raising flour, Milo and milk - mix until ingredients are combined.

15

Knead (either with a stand mixer attachment or by hand) for approx. 2 minutes.

16

Roll into teaspoon sized balls and decorate with Milo cereal, sprinkles and chocolate chips (as pictured).

17

Bake for 8 - 10 minutes.

Notes

*Once cooled, store in an air tight container. **You can use flaked almonds instead of Milo Cereal for the ears. ***You can use the round sprinkles for the eyes instead of the long sprinkles. ****You can use smarties or milk/white chocolate chips for the nose to make diff coloured dogs.

February 10, 2018 By
0
Baking/ Cake/ Cheesecake/ Chocolate/ Christmas/ Dessert/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Sweets/ Thermomix

Christmas Gift and Food Ideas

With Christmas fast approaching, here is my all-in-one Christmas Gift and Party Ideas Guide for a one stop shop with all the links!

I have noted if they are Thermomix or Non Thermomix recipes (for those who don’t have a Thermomix) but also if you have a Thermomix and want to multi task you could make things without a Thermomix if your Thermomix is busy!!

Advent Calendar Activity Ideas

Gift Tags/Labels/Name Tags

Table Centrepiece

Hamper Ideas

Dessert/’Bring a Plate’ Ideas

NO BAKE:

BAKE:

Savoury

Drinks

November 27, 2016 By
0
Christmas/ Craft/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix/ Thermomix/ Twins

Advent Calendar for 2 year olds

It’s the most WONDERFUL TIME of the year!!! I’ve always loved Christmas and now it is so exciting to share it with the boys! Now that they are 2, this is the first year they can start appreciating it! Instead of chocolates/lollies for the 25 day countdown to Christmas, this is my 25 days of Christmas advent Calendar activities suitable for 2 year old old toddlers (and the family)!! Last year I also had a list for when the boys were 1 year olds!

advent4

advent6-2

1. Take photos with Santa

2. Paint Christmas ornaments

I bought this $5 Christmas plaster set from Kmart which the boys will love! http://www.kmart.com.au/product/christmas-plaster-set—pack-of-17/1030801

3. Finger paint Christmas cards/wrapping paper

4. Make & play with a Christmas Tree Ball sorter

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/28640147608206029/

5. Make Reindeer paper plates

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/41587996536037932/

6. Make salt dough hand print Christmas ornaments

Non Thermomix – http://www.mommymoment.ca/2013/04/salt-dough-handprint.html

Thermomix – http://www.trtlmt.com.au/salt-dough/

advent1

7. Sing and dance to Christmas carols

8. Take Christmas themed photos at home

advent7

9. Make homemade muffins for the first time!

20 Second Crunchy Lemon Muffins (made in a big bowl so they can stir it themselves!)

20 Second Crunchy Lemon Muffins

10. Check out Christmas displays at a shopping centre (i.e. Myer/DJ’s in the city!)

11. Make popsicle stick Christmas Tree ornaments

https://au.pinterest.com/pin/351912451187976/

12. Have a picnic in the backyard with Christmas themed food

13. Go the beach and make sandcastles

14. Make little canvas paintings for presents – use painters tape, and tape a shape/initial on a canvas, and finger print on top – when dry, peel off the painters tape!

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/painters-tape-art/

15. Help mummy make and decorate Red Velvet Cupcakes

Red Velvet Cupcakes – Recipe for with or without a Thermomix

advent2

16. Make easy ‘snow globes’ for presents

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/snow-globe-crafts/

17. Make Christmas shapes out of red and green playdough + Doterra ‘Holiday Joy’ 

ThermoFun – Kids Everyday Essentials – Playdough

18. Help mummy decorate a Gingerbread house for the first time

advent

(this was mummy’s last year before any creative help from the kiddies!)

19. Run in the sprinklers 

advent8

20. Check out Christmas Lights!!

21. Make Christmas feet Reindeer

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/reindeer-footprint/

advent3

22. Tree/star shaped pumpkin pancakes for breakfast

Pumpkin Pancakes

23. Make Chocolate Chip Cookies for Santa (ready for Christmas Eve)

Healthy Choc Chip Cookies

24. Watch a Christmas themed movie as a family with popcorn AND set up Santa’s snacks!

http://www.kidspot.com.au/MySpot-escapes-The-best-Christmas-movies-of-all-time+6494+178+article.htm

25. Take family photos in front of the tree and open presents!!

 

November 15, 2016 By
0
Baking/ Dessert/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Thermomix

Baked Lamington Drops

I LOOOOVE lamingtons! I have made them the traditional way once, but that was the one and only time as the dunking in the chocolate was way too fussy for me! These are an easier alternative with the same amazing lamington taste! This is also perfect to bake with the kids as they are really easy to shape and roll in the coconut!

 
 
Add dark chocolate, butter and brown sugar to bowl
 Melt 5 minutes/50 degrees/Speed 2 and scrape down
 
 
Add plain flour, self raising flour, coconut and egg
 
 
 Mix 10 seconds/Speed 5
 
 
Shape into teaspoon sized balls… 
 
…and roll in desiccated coconut
 
Bake for 7 minutes or until coconut is slightly browned
 
 
Baked Lamington Drops – enjoy!

Baked Lamington Drops

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 150 grams dark chocolate chips
  • 125 grams butter
  • 50 grams brown sugar
  • 170 grams plain flour
  • 30 grams self raising flour
  • 50 grams desiccated coconut
  • 1 egg
  • + 50 grams (1/2 cup) desiccated coconut to roll in

Instructions

1

Preheat oven to 170 degrees and line baking trays.

2

Add dark chocolate, butter and brown sugar to bowl - melt 5 minutes/50 degrees/Speed 2. Scrape down.

3

Add plain flour, self raising flour, coconut and egg - mix 10 seconds/Speed 5.

4

Shape into teaspoon sized balls and roll in desiccated coconut.

5

Bake for 7 minutes or until coconut is slightly browned.

May 13, 2016 By
0
Chocolate/ Healthy/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix/ Snacks/ Sweets/ Thermomix/ Twins

Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs (NF)

These are healthy nut free and refined sugar free Easter eggs which are a great alternative to the traditional chocolate Easter eggs, great for the whole family!!!! They are great for the Easter egg hunt, Easter presents for both kids at school and for adults, and are a perfect kids in the kitchen activity!
I’ve been working on a healthy Golden Gaytime for my husband as that is his No. 1 icecream flavour (I have been making him a Golden Gaytime Icecream Cake for his birthday every year).
I have made this nut free so it is lunch box friendly. The rice bubbles for the Golden Gaytime ‘crunch’, vanilla bean paste and maple syrup to get the caramel flavour, and cocoa powder for the chocolate. These are DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!
 
Note that the cocoa/cacoa powder is quite bitter which goes really well with the sweet ‘egg’ part and together makes it taste like it had a hint of dark chocolate. If the bitterness bothers you, you could coat in a drinking chocolate (with added sugar), blitzed up choc chips, dessicated coconut or leave it coating free 🙂
To wrap them up into ‘Easter Eggs’, I used the cheapest aluminium foil I could find from Coles, as it is nice and thin – the stuff I normally use from Costco is a lot thicker and doesn’t wrap as nicely around the egg shape (Coles Smartbuy foil – about $1.10 for 10m – bargain!), and I bought a $2 pack of 100 Easter stickers from the reject shop.
You can make these as bliss balls (when it’s not Easter) for healthy Golden Gaytime treats! You can also use my other bliss ball recipes and roll them into an egg shape like this too! However, the taste and crunch in these Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs will definitely be a winner with the kids!!!
Add all ingredients (except for rice bubbles) in bowl
Mix 15 seconds/Speed 8
Add rice bubbles
Mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse
Spoon out a tablespoon of mixture
And shape/roll/press into an egg shape
Roll in cacoa/cocoa powder
Place in fridge to firm up for at least 1 hour
Cut small squares of cheap aluminium foil
Wrap Egg inside the foil and press the foil around the shape so it’s nice and firm
Press foil around the egg
Secure the end of the foil with stickers and decorate with more stickers 🙂
Repeat the above for all of the eggs
Enjoy giving them for presents, eating at home, or using them for a healthy Easter Egg hunt!! Check out Ethan and Harley with their first (practice) Easter Egg hunt:

Healthy Golden Gaytime Easter Eggs (NF)

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 100 grams oats
  • 160 grams medjool dates (pitted)
  • 10 grams chia seeds
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
  • 10 grams maple syrup
  • 40 grams coconut oil
  • 25 grams rice bubbles/puffed rice
  • Cacoa or cocoa powder to roll eggs in

Instructions

1

METHOD (Thermomix):

2

Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil.

3

Mix 15 seconds/Speed 8.

4

Add the rice bubbles and mix 15 seconds/Speed 2/Reverse.

5

Use a spoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an egg shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

6

Roll the egg in cacoa/cocoa powder and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

7

Once the egg's have firmed up, wrap in pieces of aluminium foil and decorate with Easter stickers (optional). You can wrap with aluminium foil straight after making them, but I find it easier once they have firmed up.

8

METHOD (Blender/Food Processor):

9

Add the oats, dates, chia seeds, vanilla, maple syrup and coconut oil.

10

Mix until all the ingredients are combined.

11

Add the rice bubbles and do a quick turbo mix, you may need to further mix with a spoon/spatula - try not to blend it too much as you may lose the rice bubble crunch!

12

Use a spoon to measure out a spoonful of mixture and roll/shape into an egg shape (make sure to get excess rice bubbles from the bottom of the bowl so that you get an even mixture)

13

Roll the egg in cacoa/cocoa powder and place in fridge to set for at least an hour.

14

Once the egg's have firmed up, wrap in pieces of aluminium foil and decorate with Easter stickers (optional). You can wrap with aluminium foil straight after making them, but I find it easier once they have firmed up.

March 8, 2016 By
0
Cake/ Chocolate/ Christmas/ Dessert/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix/ Thermomix

Reindeer Cupcakes

These reindeer cupcakes are so cute and easy to make for the kids, or for  an activity for kids in the kitchen!
What you need:
  • Chocolate Cupcakes (x 12) – base
  • Chocolate buttercream icing – face background
  • Vanilla buttercream icing – eyes background
  • Mini pretzels (x 24) – horns
  • White Chocolate melts (x 12) – mouth background
  • Mini M & M’s (11 x brown ones, 1 x red one for Rudolph) – noses
  • Chocolate Chips (x 24) – eyes
  • Melted chocolate – melt a handful of chocolate chips in a ziplock bag placed in the microwave in 20 second intervals on high, squishing the chocolate together between your fingers in between microwaving, until all melted, then cut a small hole in the corner and pipe the mouth
 Assemble to look as the photo above and enjoy!!
This can be made with any cupcake and buttercream icing recipe or packet mix (kids will probably pick off the top chocolate bits and give their parents the rest to finish!). I recommend my Milo Fudge Cake recipe (made into cupcake) and Perfect Buttercream Icing (with 2 tablespoons cocoa).
November 26, 2015 By
0
Baby Food/ Breakfast/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Main Meal/ Non Thermomix/ Snacks/ Thermomix/ Twins

Finger Food Ideas for Babies and Toddlers

Here are my ‘tried and tested’ list of finger foods for my boys!
When Ethan and Harley started to want to eat themselves, I did a lot of online and book research for finger food ideas. My boys are HUGE for their age, and looove their food. They are not fussy (…most of the time) and have no food intolerances which makes it really easy for me to prepare their meals! My rule is to have the most colourful ‘tasting’ plate of foods so the boys experience a variety of different foods, textures, smells and flavours. I’ve read that a colourful plate of food is a nutritious one! So I make sure I cover lots of food colours in the meals the boys eat (except for when we are out and using the pram!). I’ve also read that the more variety of foods you give a baby when they are young, the less fussy they will be when they grow older (this isn’t tried and tested yet, so *fingers crossed*)!
 
Thermotwinning’s Finger Food Ideas for Babies and Toddlers
Koala sandwich with Mayvers Super Spread on a bed of baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, babybel cheese, steamed broccoli and carrot, strawberries (quartered), hard boiled egg, and pizza pockets 
The boys with their ‘pram friendly’ finger foods (i.e. nothing juicy or coloured like vegemite, tomatoes, berries, watermelon etc)
Dinosaur sandwich with cream cheese on a bed of baby spinach, cheese and crackers, dried apricots, freeze dried apple, and whole orange and poppyseed muffin with almond and chia seeds 
Another ‘pram friendly’ lunch box
Cheese and bacon rolls, sweet eating cucumber, tasty cheese, mini fruit balls, pear and crackers
BREAKFAST:

Pancakes/waffles – these are some that I make that freezes and reheats well:
– Pumpkin Pancakes (The boys fave!!)
– Sweet Potato Waffles 
– Berry Coconut Flour Pancakes 

Wholemeal sandwich, toast or Cruskits with the following spreads:
– Baby purees including fruit purees (instead of jam)
– Vegemite
– Mayvers Super Spread (can be found with the peanut butter section/organics section)
– Cream cheese
– Avocado
– Mashed banana
– Jam

Raisin Toast (there is a wholemeal version available) – freezes and reheats well

Scrambled eggs – in a bowl, add egg(s) (about 1 per child) + a splash of milk + a small handful of grated tasty cheese – microwave 1 minute on high, stir, then microwave 30 seconds at a time stirring in between until cooked. Leave to cool for a few minutes – the tasty cheese gives it some flavour and also helps the egg firm up so it is easier to grip (my husband’s trick! he makes it for the boys on the days I’m at work) – goes well with vegemite on toast!

Sultana Bran Buds (link here) or similar type bite sized cereals (soaked in some milk to soften)

***With a spoon:

MAIN MEALS:

Wholemeal sandwich, toast or Cruskits with the following spreads:
– Baby purees including fruit purees (instead of jam) and savoury ‘main meal’ ones
– Vegemite
– Cream cheese
– Mayvers Super Spread (can be found with the peanut butter section/organics section)
– ‘The Laughing Cow’ cheese triangles – squished and spread 
– Cream cheese mixed with sardines (super nutritious but best left to eat at home as it‘s a bit on the nose!) my boys love this!
– Vegemite and sliced tasty cheese
– Avocado
– Mashed banana
– Jam 

Wholemeal Toast Cheesy Melts – I use one or some of these toppings and top it with a piece of sliced tasty cheese and pop it in the air fryer or grill for 5 minutes/180 degrees
– Tinned tuna
– Ham
– Scrambled eggs
– Tomatoes
– Tinned red salmon
– Avocado
– Bolognese sauce
– Gourmet sausages cut up into small pieces
– Roast/poached chicken (shredded)
– Leftover meat diced into small pieces

Pizza Pockets (link here) – freezes and reheats well

Pasta – any type, I usually use elbow pasta, macaroni or small sea shells as they are easy to pick up – freezes and reheats well. I generally use a cheesy white sauce base, vegetable puree, or tomato based sauce for the pasta sauce with the following fillings:
– Tinned red salmon
– Fresh salmon (de-skinned and de-boned)
– White fish like Ling or Barramundi (de-skinned and de-boned)
– Bacon/ham
– Chicken Thigh Fillets (they have more nutrients than breast fillets)
– Pork, chicken or Beef mince
– Peas
– Broccoli
– Sweet Potato
– Pumpkin
– Carrots
– Zucchini
– Frozen Veg i.e. peas and carrot
– Or cooked pasta with grated cheese melted on top (easy and not messy if you’re out!)

Some of the boys’ fave pasta recipes:

Meatballs – Any combo of chicken/pork/beef mince + hidden blitzed up veggies – freezes and reheats well

 
Salmon Patties – I use a recipe from the Thermomix Cooking for your Baby and Toddler book – however this is a great Salmon Rissole recipe – freezes and reheats well
 
Risotto or Pasta Muffin Cups – With any risotto or pasta recipe, just place in muffin tins and top with tasty or cheddar cheese, and bake for about 20 minutes/180 degrees until cheese is melted and golden. Skinnymixer’s Risotto Frittata is a great recipe – freezes and reheats well

Hot Dog Buns (Chinese Sausage Rolls) (link here) – freezes and defrosts well

Sushi – This is great for older babies if you’re out and need to takeaway something for them. My boys love the mini ones and make sure you don’t get the raw fillings, so I usually get avocado, tuna, cucumber, or egg ones. The sushi rice is really sticky so I find it really easy to clean up after them! You can make Sushi yourself – this is a great recipe – Thermobexta’s Egg and Avocado Sushi
 
Thermomumma’s Garlic, Cheese and Spinach Naan (link here) – freezes and reheats well
 
***With a spoon/fork:
VEGETABLES:

Sweet eating cucumbers (halved or quartered lengthwise) – these are mini cucumbers you can get at green grocers, Coles/Woolies and Aldi – usually in the refrigerated vegetable section with the lettuce

Cherry/grape tomatoes (halved lengthwise) – the boys fave are the Gold Sweet Eating Grape tomatoes (they are orange in colour) these are the ones from Coles, they are sweeter than normal Cherry tomatoes which can sometimes be quite tarte

Steamed carrots and green beans (cut in half, then quartered lengthwise) – Fill bowl with water just above the blades, place carrots into steaming basket (I usually make about 2 carrots and a handful of beans then place in fridge to use as needed), then steam 16 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1

Steamed Broccoli Trees – Fill bowl with water just above the blades, place carrots into steaming basket (I usually cut 1 lot of broccoli then place in fridge to use as needed), then steam 12 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1

Steamed Zucchini – Fill bowl with water just above the blades, place carrots into steaming basket (I usually cut 2 lots of zucchini then place in fridge to use as needed), then steam 9 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1

Sweet potato (roasted/air fried/steamed)

Pumpkin (roasted/air fried/steamed)

Potato (roasted/air fried/steamed)

Lettuce/spinach leaves (any type though I steer clear of the bitter ones like rocket)

Cooked peas – Fresh, frozen or dehydrated

Capsicum (Cut into sticks)

FRUIT:

Apples (quartered, cored, then each quarter cut into 3 wedges) I leave the skin on as it has a lot of vitamins/nutrition in it, or else there are ‘kid’s lunchbox’ apples which are smaller which my boys love to use their teeth and bite into!

Pears (quartered, cored, then each quarter cut into 3 wedges) I leave the skin on as above

Seedless Watermelon (cut into small pieces (one of the boys faves but I leave it for home as it is so messy!)

Blueberries

Strawberries (halved or quartered)

Grapes (halved lengthwise)

Bananas

White or Yellow Peaches

White or Yellow Nectarines

Mango

Kiwifruit

SNACKS/DESSERT:

BLISS BALLS:
(Fridge or freezer)

SLICES/BARS/BROWNIES:

(Freezes and defrosts well)

 

MUFFINS/CUPCAKES:
(Freezes and defrosts well)
 

COOKIES/BISCUITS:
(Freezes and defrosts well)

 

BREAD/CAKE:
(Freezes and defrosts well)

 

SWEETS:
(Keeps in fridge for a few weeks)

 

SAVOURY:


Hard Boiled Eggs – Fill bowl with water just above the blades, place eggs into steaming basket – cook 15 minutes/Varoma/Speed 1
Tasty or cheddar cheese – pre-sliced/cut into thin pieces
Cheese sticks (these are softer, I would wait to introduce it around 10 months as I found the boys would squish it in their hands and smoosh it everywhere before it got to their mouths)

Babybel Cheese

Deli meats – ham, turkey, Skinnymixers Lunchbox Chicken Loaf

Shredded chicken (poached, roasted)

Crackers – Jatz, Ritz etc

Arnott’s Shredded Wheatmeal biscuits

Fruit straps (100% dehydrated fruit) I have made them like the Strawberry Chips but they have a really short shelf life when homemade (when the boys are older and eat more it’ll better!) but my recent fave are Annie’s Fruit Straps as they are great to leave in the baby bag
Mini Fruit Balls (link here) – can be frozen and defrosted

Cruskits – These are a great alternative to the ‘baby section’ rice crackers which are sooooo $$$$$$ which I use for snacks when we go out

Dried apricots
 
Dried apples

Sultanas 

Tinned pineapple pieces

Freeze dried fruit (I buy mine from Costco, Bellamy’s Organic also have some)

Veggie Straws (I also buy these from Costco but you can get them from the heath food section)
Skinnymixer’s Cheesy Pumpkin Puffs (link here) – freezes and reheats well

***With a spoon:
DRINKS:
Getting into their pizza pockets!
Wholemeal toast cheesy melt with Bolognese sauce #nomnomnom
 
 
November 25, 2015 By
0
Christmas/ Dessert/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix

Cheat’s Gingerbread House

I make this every year and it is sooooooooooooo easy!!
I use Ikea’s $4.50 Gingerbread House Kit: http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/90218783/
And have decorated with homemade Royal Icing using this recipe:
I first spread royal icing on the base of a tray to form a ‘snow’ looking ground. I then used a piping bag and a small round piping nozzle to assemble the gingerbread house and pipe the patterns.
Whilst the icing was still wet, I decorated with silver cachous and Fruit Fizzers.
I also used Tiny Teddies at the front of the house, and green holly leaf sprinkles (you can find them around this time of year) to assemble a little tree.
This is soo easy and is so much fun to smash when it comes to dessert time! This is also great for an edible table centrepiece or as a homemade gift!
This is one that I made with just royal icing and silver cachous:
 gingerbread
November 17, 2015 By
0
Craft/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Thermomix/ Twins

Playdough

Both of the boys have been sick and it’s the first time one of them has been put on antibiotics (Harley 🙁 ) so thought I would treat them to their first playdough experience!
First time playing with Playdough!
There are many playdough recipes around, but this one caught my eye, since it was titled as ‘the best’ Thermomix playdough recipe by Fat Mum Slim, so I just had to try it!
For the non-Thermomixers, she has also put a link to a non cook/non Thermomix recipe too!
The recipe pretty much cooks up the mixture, cooking/dissolving a salt, water and cream of tartar mixture:
 Dissolved/heated salt, water and cream of tartar
Then you mix in some plain flour:
Added flour
And then mix in some oil. I chose coconut oil as I just looove the smell!
 Added Coconut Oil
I then added 1 teaspoon of liquid blue food colouring and kneaded it in the Thermomix as I wanted minimal ‘hands on’ effort especially with the food colouring – 3 minutes/kneading function.
Added 1 tsp of blue food colour
After 3 minutes/kneading function
I then used a spatula, and kneaded it with a handful of plain flour into small shaped balls for the boys to play with…and ‘tested’ it for them too 🙂
Playdough!
‘Testing’ it first
🙂
As they are still quite little, and eat everything they’re not supposed to, they did try to eat bits of it, but luckily it’s non toxic and all the ingredients are things that they have eaten in their ‘proper food’.
To avoid this, I pressed in cookie cutters for them to take off and press in – they are great at dismantling Duplo blocks/wooden blocks, so it is a different ‘sensory play’ for them to do it with playdough!
It felt amazing, silky and smooth and feels so nice coming out nice and warm from the Thermomix. I haven’t played with playdough for over 2 decades, but this will definitely be my ‘go to’ playdough recipe in the years to come as I cannot fault it in any way!
Yay for playdough!
Getting serious with it!
September 14, 2015 By
0
Cake/ Kids in the Kitchen/ Non Thermomix/ Thermomix

Fish Cupcakes

Well…there are not as fancy as the birthday cakes, but still these are very cute and an easy way to decorate cupcakes for kids in the kitchen, kids birthday, or even an adults birthday (these were more popular with my husbands workmates than the Magic Bean Cake and Sweet Potato Caramel Mudcakes which were too ‘healthy’ for them!)
I saw these on Pinterest so HAD to make them, as they were perfect for my boys nautical themed party.
The ones on Pinterest were quite colourful, they had a few different colours of fish (probably using the many colours in a smarties packet) but I wanted to keep it simple to go with the nautical theme colours, blue and red.
I bought single coloured smarties from the local party shop, and used sour strap lollies that I cut into triangles for the tails. These sour strap lollies can be bought from Coles/Woolies but I bought this pack for $1 at Kmart.
Red and Blue Smarties
Sour Straps
Sour Straps cut into triangles
These were made with the 30 second cupcake recipe:
And I used the buttercream icing recipe off the Thermomix TM5 Chip with half the amount of milk.
However, you could use any cupcake and buttercream icing recipe for these cupcakes – Thermomix/Non Thermomix/Packet Mix!!
I coloured the buttercream with Wiltons Gel Food Colouring – No-taste Red, and Royal Blue.
I covered the tops of the cupcakes with the buttercream with a small spatula.
I then placed the smarties from the right of the cupcake at a 45 degree angle using 1 smartie, then a line of 3 smarties, a line of 4 smarties, and finishing off with a line of 5 smarties. Then placed the triangle sour strap at the right, and 2 x smarties for the lips on the left.
I then finished off with the ‘eyes’ which I found in Coles/Woolies in the baking section.
Ice with buttercream icing then place smarties
Eye lollies
Fish Cupcakes
These are a very very easy and effective way to decorate cupcakes for kids or adults, BUT I found them to be pretty time consuming given that you have to place each smartie on individually!! So make sure you leave lots of time if you’re going to decorate these!
September 1, 2015 By
0