celebrations | Vegie Smugglers

Posts tagged celebrations

We love you dad!

September 2, 2010 · Filed under Craft for non-crafty parents, News · Tagged breakfast, celebrations, craft, parenting

It’s Father’s day in Australia this weekend. We don’t do much to celebrate in our house. Particularly since both kids are now toilet trained. That used to the best part of birthdays and special parent days – sending the child with the poo in his pants to your partner, knowing that you just weren’t going to have to deal with it. For his final hurrah last mother’s day, a 3-year-old Mr Meat & Potatoes decided to poo three times in the one day. The bliss! The joy! Escaping multiple sticky revolting messes and knowing that he was all cleaned out for the next day too.

So without nappy avoidance, it’s back to more traditional, servitude methods of celebrating my husband’s greatness. I’ll cook and clean and give him a day off. And I’ve made this week’s craft with a decidedly male bent. No dad will be able to resist these soccer players. They’ll immediately be down on the floor with their little champions screaming “ole ole ole ole”.

Ole ole ole ole! Fun for dads too!

Mr Meat & Potatoes is modelling here. The PDF of the Italian football team comes complete with the pitch and 11 players with two different finger hole sizes – one for dad and one for his little protégé. Keep in mind I’ve allowed for big fingers – you might need to cut the size of the circles to suit the digits of your loved ones.

Baggio has nothing on Mr Meat & Potatoes

And while they’re immersed in their blokey fun, why don’t you whip up these oaty banana pancakes for breakfast. Then later in the day, when they’ve moved to the couch to watch footy finals, you can present them with these healthy and tasty sausage rolls.

Don’t worry, just smile, grin and bear it. Life returns to normal tomorrow.
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Like this project? You can find it, along with 39 other boredom busters in the ‘Craft for non-crafty Parents’ e-book. There’s a stack of silly fun stuff, projects that encourage healthy eating and a bunch of worksheets covering preschool education and school readiness. You can buy it at the shop now!

128 pages, 40 projects, 85 pages of printables…

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What’s for pudding?

August 31, 2010 · Filed under All recipes, Sweets & treats · Tagged celebrations, chocolate, recipe, sweet treats, vegetables, vegies

I’ve been remiss and I apologise profusely. I’ve just realised that there isn’t a single sweetie on my blog! For someone with a tooth as sweet as mine that is unthinkable. So I’ll rectify it immediately with this chocolate & beetroot brownie recipe. Don’t be put off by the thought of vegie treats – I have people pestering me for this recipe, saying they prefer it to regular brownies. It is moist and delicious. The beetroot adds a depth of flavour and gives it a lovely pink tinge.

Let’s face it, it is still on the list of ‘sometimes’ foods, but at least if we’re going to eat chocolate we can ease our conscience a little.

Now I know you all cook in a Doris Day angora twin-set, so my advice is to pop on one of those cute frilly aprons and a pair of disposable kitchen gloves when you grate the beetroot. Grating it in a clean sink also makes the tidy up easier.

I just can't help myself, I've even got a healthy root in here.

Chocolate & beetroot brownies

Butter, for greasing
150g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
100g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
4 eggs
½ cup caster sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup plain flour
110g almond meal
½ cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
1 cup peeled and grated raw beetroot (use disposable gloves and wear an apron for this!)

Preheat the oven to 200C. Grease and line a lamington tin with baking paper.

Use the microwave on medium heat to melt the chocolate. Stir every 30 seconds until runny. Add the butter and mix through until melted, microwaving a little more if needed. Allow to cool slightly.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar. Add the vanilla. Sift the flour over the top. Add the almond meal, walnuts, beetroot and chocolate and fold through until just combined.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked through. Leave to cool in the pan before cutting into squares. Dust with icing sugar and serve with strawberries.

MAKES 15 BROWNIES

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The best mother’s day pancakes

May 6, 2010 · Filed under All recipes, News, Sweets & treats · Tagged breakfast, brunch, celebrations, family, food, fruit, kids, mother's day, parenting, recipe, treats

It’s Mother’s Day in Australia this Sunday. Time to ooohh and aaaaahhh over colourful bits of cardboard stuck together and a painted footprint trodden on a paper love heart. Time to dig coins out of my purse to give to Miss Fruitarian to spend on pot pouri at the school Mother’s Day stall.

Luckily this year, things are looking up. Miss Fruitarian has won a prize in the local council’s “my mum’s a star…” competition, which means she and I are off to a local playcentre to collect our mystery prize. I’m hoping for a lovely pamper pack, but might have to settle for a free entry voucher at a local ladies gym.

I asked what she had to do for the entry, and wondered if perhaps she had submitted the portrait she did of me a few weeks back which included every single wrinkle. I looked like a cross between a cabbage patch baby and a zebra. It would win the pity vote for sure.

Apparently it was just a 25 words or less thing, and she wrote that “she gives me big squeezy cuddles”. Which is nice, but considering the amount of time I put into catering for the family I would have hoped for more of an ode to my cooking. When I pursued this line of questioning, she looked at me a bit blankly “But Dad’s the good cook”.

Yes. Here’s why… Sunday mornings at our place are Dad’s tribute to all breakfasts sweet and salty. Just saying. Not complaining. At all. Because here’s a good example of something that Dad whips up quite often. And he does the dishes afterwards too, which means that every Sunday is Mother’s Day at our place….

Mum will really love you if you whip up a couple of these

Oaty Banana Pancakes

3/4 cup oats
1 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
3 tbsp caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 small banana, mashed
1 tbsp melted butter
Spray oil

Place the oats in a bowl and pour over the milk. Leave them to soak for 10-15 minutes (up to 30 minutes if you have time).
Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl.
Mix the sugar, egg, banana and butter through the oat mixture. Pour this mixture into the flour and mix gently. If you have time, leave the mixture to sit for 20-30 minutes, otherwise it can be used straight away.
Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Spray with oil. Add 1/3 cup amounts to the pan. Turn once bubbles appear and the pancake is golden. Each side takes 2-3 minutes.
Serve them with maple syrup and more fruit – diced rockmelon and strawberries are really fantastic.

Did you try these? How did they taste? I’d love to hear your feedback…

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