A Luxury Valentine’s Pudding for grown-ups

Like many others I’ve always found the idea of making a chocolate fondant rather daunting – it has a reputation for being a bit of a challenge. For Valentine’s Day last year the temptation to make this gooey centred chocolate pudding was too much and I can happily say the end result was so delicious and much easier than I first thought! It’s a great way to impress dinner guests as it tastes gorgeous and looks very professional. The distinctive gooeyness is all about timing, other than this it’s a straightforward and simple recipe.  I have no doubt that the children would enjoy this recipe; however with Valentine’s Day coming up you may want to save it for after their bedtime!

You will need ramekins for this dessert.

Ingredients

(Serves 4)

100g Dark Chocolate (75% Cocoa Solids)

100g Butter

55g Golden caster Sugar

2 Large Eggs and an additional 2 egg yolks

1 teaspoons Vanilla extract

30g Plain Flour

Method

1. Line the ramekins with a small amount of butter and leave in the fridge till needed. I sometime also dust them with cocoa powder.
2. Place the chocolate (broken up) and butter into a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of simmering water for about 5 minutes or until the chocolate has melted. (Make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water.)
3. While the chocolate and butter are melting place the eggs and egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract into a large mixing bowl and whisk until the mixture has doubled in volume and looks quite thick.
4. Pour the melted chocolate mixture (making sure it’s cool) around the edge of the bowl (it’s easier to fold in from the edges) and sift in the flour – then fold in the mixture, but don’t rush this it needs to be done carefully.
5. Get the ramekins out of the fridge and spoon the mixture into each one leaving a bit of room at the top.
6. Leave the mixture to rest for approximately 20 minutes (you can however keep them in the fridge until you need them.)
7. Cook them at 200 °C for 14 minutes – the timing is very important, if you leave them in for too long you will have a nice chocolate sponge but without a luxurious gooey centre.
8. Place the ramekins on a plate and lightly tap the top with a spoon and carefully ease them out of their moulds.
9. Serve with cream or ice-cream. Enjoy!

Why not share this recipe with friends?

Written by Daisy Hartley, Social media intern for Cookery Doodle Doo.

The best coffee shops can be cosy little havens for parents, but boy do the cost of those lattes stack up! Just 2 chain coffee shop concoctions each week adds up to around £270 each year (and that’s without any sneaky extra treats or babycinos).

So it makes sense to save the pennies, get away from the crowds and the tax-dodging corporates and host a child-friendly and low-stress coffee morning yourself – at home.

3 Easy Steps To A Stress-Free Coffee Morning

1.       Just Great Coffee? Instant coffee can be a pretty unappealing brew and since this will be the focal point of the morning you’ll need something that doesn’t taste like gritty carpet scrapings. A cheap cafetiere can be a great way to get a decent flavour PLUS you will have a nice pot for people to refill themselves so you are not drumming your fingers on kettle duty the whole time. Don’t forget some basic tea and herbal alternatives too – if people want Bonga Bonga Berry tea from the outer Hebrides they can bring it themselves!

2.       Simple Kid’s Snacks and Toys. A selection of wholesome looking biscuits and platter of fruit will go down well with the children. Strawberries, blueberries, pineapple and melon are all great choices that can be prepared in advance without turning that unappetizing brown colour. For older children you could try serving with a dipping bowl of thick Greek yoghurt swirled with honey and some toothpicks to spear the fruit cubes. A box of baby-friendly toys placed in the centre of the room can be really helpful to distract little ones safely and save other mums from having to lug around too much extra stuff.

3.       Freshly Baked Muffins. I love those big blueberry studded muffins that coffee shops serve. They look and smell fantastic and with the right recipe, can be baked to perfection easily at home – even with the children helping!

Cookery Doodle Doo will show you how to bake a yummy batch on Saturday 16^th February at our children’s cooking class in Hove. You can book a space on Coffee Shop Muffins here.

Or, if you just can’t wait until then you can watch Katie baking these gorgeous Blueberry and Ricotta Muffins on Cookery Doodle Doo’s YouTube channel instead!

Healthy. Simple. Fun. 

After the recent surge of healthy school dinner campaigns outlining concerns over the food being served to children, school dinners have benefited from a long overdue transformation. Providing healthy lunches for children is now more essential than ever with the change in attitudes and knowledge towards food. This change has helped to identify the importance of healthy, balanced and nutritionally rich diets as it promotes better concentration, increased academic success and a general uplift in mood – just to list a few!

“Packing a healthy lunchbox can be a daily battle!”

 

So what should we be putting in those little boxes each day?  

The NHS has outlined that a healthy lunchbox should contain the following:

• Starchy foods. These are bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, and others.
• Protein foods. These are meat, fish, eggs, beans and others.
• A dairy item. This could be cheese or yoghurt.
• Vegetables or salad, and a portion of fruit.

Top 10 Healthy Children’s Lunchbox recipes

Planning ahead can help you to avoid getting stuck in a cheese and pickle rut! Being creative and healthy can be time-consuming so below is a list of our top 10 easy to prepare, creative and healthy kid’s lunchbox recipe ideas. Enjoy!

1. Couscous Salad

Couscous has become a popular alternative to rice and pasta originating from North Africa and it is very low in saturated fat. It’s easy to prepare with the bonus of being able to be creative with what’s in your fridge, you can use a variety of different vegetables and meats to make a delicious couscous dish.

2. Pasta Salad

Pasta Salads are an easy and quick recipe that’s always a favourite! Using tuna can be beneficial for children’s lunches as it is low in saturated fat, a very good source of protein and contains Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12.

3. Chicken Wrap

 A creative alternative to sandwiches, making your child’s lunchbox that little bit more fun! You can also use vegetarian alternatives in the wrap for example one of my favourites – Paneer cheese, which could be served with spinach or salad. Paneer can sometimes be a pain to get hold of so halloumi cheese is a great substitute.

4. Savoury Cupcakes

Savoury cupcakes are a good idea to get those fussy eaters into more adventurous foods as well as subtly giving them a good portion of vegetables. A good combination would be cheese and spinach, the recipe above uses feta but you could also try cheddar or parmesan. I also find using frozen spinach saves time and reduces waste (who hasn’t explored the fridge to find half a bag of soggy leaves) plus – it tastes every bit as good as fresh once baked.

5. Jellies

For children’s pack lunches it may be an idea to make smaller jellies in mini Tupper-wear boxes with lids. Make a batch on a Sunday and you can have yummy fruity jellies all week. Add tinned peaches or fresh blueberries or any softer fruits to a basic raspberry jelly mix or dissolve your own gelatine or agar (a veggie jelly substitute made from seaweed) into fresh juice instead. Just avoid pineapple as this fruit can prevent the jelly from setting and developing a nice wobble!

6. Spanish omelette

A dish consisting of a thick egg omelette made with onions and potatoes fried in olive oil, but you can add vegetables or meats to make it more flavoursome and give your child some of their 5 a day. Making smaller portions might be easier to store in your child’s lunchbox, you could even use cutter to make some fun shapes!

 7. Vegetable crisps

Most children are familiar with potato crisps but using other vegetables can be colourful, tasty and that bit healthier. You could serve with a homemade hummus dip.

8. Spring rolls

A fun alternative to sandwiches with the added bonus of getting your child to have a variety of vegetables that are not always considered ‘child friendly’! The above recipe uses prawns which are a great source of protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids but you can make them with meat – chicken or duck and there is always the option to just use vegetables – always delicious!

9. Cheese straws

Cheesy pastry straws, lovely on their own but can be great for dipping! Like with the savoury cupcakes I think it would be idea to add ingredients such as spinach to add some colour and flavour to the dish, as well as making it a slightly healthier option!

10. Chicken Kebabs

Marinated chicken and vegetables cooked on skewers – as enjoyable to make as to eat! I would use a variety of vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms and courgettes to go with the chicken; it makes it more colourful and fun to eat! Paneer or halloumi cheese or tofu would be a great substitute for the chicken.

Your say…

What do you think of our recipe ideas? Join the conversation and share your favourite lunchbox recipes with us on our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

Cookery Doodle Doo are looking for a Marketing and Social Media intern for a 3 month placement stating in January.

If you are a motivated student or recent graduate this would be a great opportunity to:
- Boost your CV by getting relevant marketing experience and references
- Learn about social media, blogging, video marketing in business
- Enjoy working with a creative and growing company

Cookery Doodle Doo organise children’s cooking classes and parties across Sussex. We have some exciting plans this year which mean that we are looking for additional marketing support at this busy time.

This is an unpaid placement, but for the right candidate is a chance to learn and develop some marketable skills while also having fun.

This placement is not about your tea-making technique – a genuine love of food, writing, marketing and social media will all be relevant to the role and we’ll make sure you get a chance to show off your skills.

Previous interns have contributed to some great blogs on this website  - check out our guides to foodie first aid, Halloween recipes, seasonal foraging as well as building their knowledge of SEO, social media and even creating their own online CV with our support.

To apply please email your CV along with a paragraph telling us a bit about yourself. The deadline for applications is Friday 1st Feb and the role will be based in Hove. Please write to Katie info@cookerydoodledoo.net or phone 07588692955 for more information.

Christmas is coming and what little boy (or girl) doesn’t enjoy making an edible Robot?

Just using a few simple ingredients and taking the same principles of making a traditional gingerbread house, you can make a friendly Biscuit-Bot for them to decorate and cover with sweeties.

Enjoy!

PRESS RELEASE

19^th September 2012

Children Eat Dinosaurs Live at Children’s Food Festival

Local children enjoyed a variety of challenging foodie events including eating Dinosaur Pies as part of the Brighton Food Festival.

Thousands of children attended free workshops provided by local companies and volunteers between 8-16^th September.

Children’s party company Cookery Doodle Doo performed a live food show on Hove Lawns on Sunday. Children created pre-historic landscapes while Katie Elfer from Cookery Doodle Doo made 3D Dinosaur Pie Puppets on stage which the children then decorated.

Pete, Dad of Charlie (4) said “This has been amazing fun, the kids are really into dinosaurs at the moment and we’ll definitely look at making these for the next birthday party.”

The company also provided free shark-themed workshops where children were encouraged to wear snorkels and immerse themselves in an underwater adventure while using hairdryers and edible play-dough to get creative decorating freshly-baked cookies.

Katie Elfer, Director said ”It’s been great fun researching and planning for the children’s food workshops this year. I honestly never thought that practicing front-crawl in a snorkel around my living room would be part of the job, but it’s this sort of meticulous testing and enthusiasm that means we get great feedback at the parties. We wanted it to be the most fun possible for the kids”

Ends.

Notes to editors

1) Photos are attached, more available on request OR

1) Low resolution photos are attached, high res versions available on request.

For more information please contact event organiser Katie Elfer:

M: Katie on 07588692955

E: info@cookerydoodledoo.net

W: www.cookerydoodledoo.com

Twitter: @cookerydoodledo

Please see photos below.

Ends.

For more information please contact event organiser Katie Elfer:

M: Katie on 07588692955

E: info@cookerydoodledoo.net

W: www.cookerydoodledoo.com

Twitter: @cookerydoodledo

Information about the event organisers, Cookery Doodle Doo

Cookery Doodle Doo are a Brighton based company who organise cookery classes and parties for children and young people in the city. They recently presented live food shows at the Brighton Food Festival and were shortlisted for a ‘Business Mums Award’.

Launched in 2011, their unique approach to cooking utilises everything from hamster-balls to edible puppets to entertain and educate children.

More information can be found on their website: www.cookerydoodledoo.com

Children In The Kitchen: A Recipe For Disaster?

You soon discover with children they want to know everything; what is in the cupboards, what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and more often than not, what you’re cooking. Children in the kitchen is going to be fun and exciting but also a hazardous event. However when you know what to look out for, along with what are the most common accidents in the kitchen, then you will soon find that these common accidents can be avoided when using basic first aid.

Here are our 5 most common things to watch out for and some top tips in case you or your children are in a sticky situation! So the only thing you need to worry about is how good the food is going to taste.

SAFETY NOTE… As a parent its always good to know that you can administer basic first aid, however if its a serious injury and you are unsure about what to do in a situation, contact 999 or seek advice from a medical professional in any cases.

1. Pepper/Chilli Burns.

Things to watch out for: Using pepper and chilli’s in the kitchen to spice up a recipe, is exciting however once these spicy ingredients touch the eye or a small cut, the chilli’s and peppers start to burn.

Top Tips: Wear gloves or even glasses, to stop the excess spices jumping into the eyes and cover any cuts that you or your child has with a water proof plaster.

Action To Take: The child my not be able to open their eyes, as this can be very painful. The thing to do is to flush your eye out with water until they can eventually open them – this could take 5-15 minutes. Bathing the area around the eye with a wet flannel may help if the child won’t let you put water in their eyes, or using an egg cup filled with luke-warm water to ‘tip’ into the eye can be more comfortable than splashing cold water in their face – no child likes that very much!

Chilli in the eye can be pretty miserable for all involved, so this is definitely one best avoided!

For more information for kitchen mishaps, have a look at My Morning Chocolate.

2. Opening cans.

Things to watch out for:  Be careful when opening cans as the can opener could slip – opened cans will be sharp; children and adults can find it easy to slice a finger.

Top Tips: Use a magnetic can opener to avoid any slip-ups when trying to tackle those tough tin openers. The magnet holds the lid instead of you trying to handle it which can be safer for little fingers.

Action To Take: If you end up cutting yourself on a tin can, apply pressure to stop the bleeding (a clean tea towel wrapped around the affected area can work if you don’t have bandages).  Keep the hand raised above the heart and if the cut is deep or the bleeding does not cease then seek medical attention immediately.

Take a look at NHS Cuts and Grazes for treating minor cuts.

3. Peas and other objects getting stuck up the nose.

Things to watch out for: Peas do not belong up the nose, nor do any other objects. But some times these things have to be tried and test in the mind of a child. So watch out.

Top Tips: Make sure your child knows that peas belong in the mouth and not up the nose, or any other small objects. Action should be taken immediately in situation like this.

Action To Take: When this does happen try making your child sneeze. If it isn’t to far up the nose then try and pick it out with some tweezers. If all fails, its time for a visit to the hospital.

For more guidance check out the Baby Centre, which has top tips and some stories.

4. Burns.  

 Thing to watch out for: Children could get burnt in all different way, grabbing metal handles of a hot pan, touching the surrounding areas of a stove, or even touching a hot stove, and reaching out and touching hot food and drinks.

Top Tips: Keep the hot pans and food to the back burner of the stove, so little hands can’t reach out.

Action To Take: Hold the burn under cold running water and keep there to cool for about 10 minutes. Do not place the area next to ice as this can cause damage to the skin. After 10 minutes, wrap the burn up with cling film. If the burn looks serious or affects an area of skin larger than the palm of your hand – get to a hospital straight away. 

For more information visit the NHS burns and scalds page.

5. Cuts with knifes and broken glass.

 Thing to watch out for: When using knives when there are children around, extra caution should always been taken, along with broken glass in the kitchen area.

Top Tips: Always point knifes them away from you and your fingers when cutting. If a glass has been broken sweep up with a brush and put it into a separate container and warn others about the accident in case there happen to be small pieces left. Use a sponge or a small cloth to collect the small pieces left behind and remove children from the area while you are clearing up the breakage.

Action To Take:If the cut does occur hold the injured area to reduce the blood flow, reducing loss of blood, and then cover with a plaster. However if the cut appears to be deep and serious, or there is glass in the foot or hand, do not attempt to remove the object but get to a hospital straight away.

For first aid advice on cuts and bleeding visit the St Johns Ambulance page.

Safety Note… As a parent its always good to know that you can administer basic first aid, however if its a serious injury and you are unsure about what to do in a situation, contact 999 or seek advice from a medical professional in any situation big or small.

Blackberries are a great ingredient to add to sweeten and excite things up, along with packing in one of your 5 a day. They are best picked towards the end of Summer until the beginning of Autumn when they are most ripe and juicy. Finding blackberries is easy, when you know what to look for. You will usually find them growing around and on bramble bushes, field hedgerows, along the borders and of course if you get seriously stuck – in Pick Your Own farms!

Here Are Some Handy Tips For Choosing That Perfect Blackberries.

• The best berries are the ones that are off the common trail footpaths and on rougher ground, these are for the more serious pickers.
• Be extra cautious when approaching blackberry bushes, as they are covered in thorns and you’re more than likely going to get scratched. Wearing thick gloves and long sleeves can help prevent children’s tears.
• The darker the berry the better it is, as it will be riper tasting just right. Try not to pick blackberries when they are red as they maybe un-ripe and taste rather bitter. If the berry easily pops off as you pull it then it is nice and ripe.
• Once picked eat them within a day or two or keep them within a cool dry place. Blackberries freeze well, so do not be afraid to freeze them if you want to save them for a rainy day. Spread a single layer of the unwashed berries on to a foil covered tray, just so they don’t stick together, and place into the freezer until solid.

Why not have a look and try out our brilliant Blackberry and White Chocolate Cupcake recipe below or visit our Top 20 Blackberry Recipes on our Pintrest board at http://pinterest.com/cookerydoodledo/blackberry-recipes/ 

This year is a big year for me. Not the biggest, but certainly bigger than I am happy about. I’ve taken to looking at those anxiety inducing ‘LISTS’ that suggest bungee jumping, running a marathon, eating a scotch bonnet in the bath, swimming with otters and so on. None of this very much appeals.

I do think that at life’s milestones there are certain activities which are expected, or at least if not expected then desirable to have perfected. Cooking yourself a decent meal must rate up there with teenage boys learning to wash effectively – failure to do so can lead to all sorts of unpleasant side effects.

It is a sad fact that parents are time-poor and children are living increasingly sedentary children lives. We are bombarded with the message that children need to eat healthily. It’s no surprise that this affects their wellbeing, but arguably it also impacts their confidence, finances and sense of independence later in life.

I remember aged 12 my first attempt at cooking myself a meat-free Christmas dinner – baked beans on packet noodles. Why on earth I decided to forgo the crunchy fluffy roast potatoes, rich gravied chestnuts and honey-sweet carrots is beyond me. I imagine at this age it was more a political stand than a foodie-one!

Thankfully, my cooking skills have moved on some way now and nothing gives me greater pleasure than showing my little boy the delights of well-cooked food. I like to think that by getting him rolling fresh pasta, bashing the heck out of yeasty dough or even stirring a rich warming stew I am setting him up with one of life’s most essential skills.

So while I may never swim with otters, I will write a new, more positive list here of the skills and recipes that my little boy and I can enjoy together as he grows up.

Top 10 Things to Cook Before You Are 10

1. Cook pasta and make a simple tomato sauce without a jar.
2. Dress a salad…because there is nothing worse than being served a wilting, naked salad.
3. Make a perfect cup of breakfast tea. At some point I will want pay back on all those early mornings and be brought tea in bed
4. Bake and decorate biscuits. Ok, so it isn’t terribly healthy but imagine the happiness it will bring on Mother’s Day/ Grannies Birthday to give freshly baked goodies
5. Make bread. It is shocking the amount of rubbish that gets added to most breads these days so show them how simple the real stuff can be. Nothing beats the homely smell and punching a kneading the dough is great therapy later in life.
6. Learn ‘The tricks’. By this I mean the nifty ways you have learnt to peel and chop a garlic clove, de-stone an avocado or peel an egg underwater.
7. Make soup. There are a million variations and there’s no better way to use up random veg or make a hearty meal with a few pence. An absolute must-have skill for the inevitable days when clothes, bands, booze and romantic pursuits start eating away at their finances.
8. Try something not strictly ‘child friendly’ e.g. olive/brussel sprout
9. Create a family pizza . Easy-peasy and a great way to explore different vegetables
10. Make jelly. You’re only a child once after all!

View our recipe instruction video for making these delicious Blueberry and Ricotta Muffins.