In my last article I delivered 7 reasons why cooking and baking with your child can be beneficial and I’ve tried to encourage you to try it.
This time I want to give you some easy, traditional English and American treats you can try out with the small assistant by your side.
This time I want to give you some easy, traditional English and American treats you can try out with the small assistant by your side.
1) Snowball truffles
Snowball truffles are a great and easy idea to make. Even if outside there’s no snow you can have such a small alternative at home
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
200ml double cream (PL: śmietana kremówka)
200g good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)
200g desiccated coconut (PL: wiórki kokosowe)
Method:
1. Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring just up to the boil.
2. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a large bowl.
3. Pour over the boiling cream, then stir until the chocolate and cream are well blended and smooth.
4. Cool, then set aside in the fridge until the mixture is solid, about 2 hours.
5. Scoop out teaspoons of the mixture and roll into small walnut-size balls with your hands.
6. Sprinkle the coconut onto a plate and roll the truffle in the coconut until evenly covered.
7. Will keep in a cool place for 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
200ml double cream (PL: śmietana kremówka)
200g good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids)
200g desiccated coconut (PL: wiórki kokosowe)
Method:
1. Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring just up to the boil.
2. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a large bowl.
3. Pour over the boiling cream, then stir until the chocolate and cream are well blended and smooth.
4. Cool, then set aside in the fridge until the mixture is solid, about 2 hours.
5. Scoop out teaspoons of the mixture and roll into small walnut-size balls with your hands.
6. Sprinkle the coconut onto a plate and roll the truffle in the coconut until evenly covered.
7. Will keep in a cool place for 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
Source: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4940/snowball-truffles
2) The Gingerbread Man
The Gingerbread Man is a typical kind of cookie made for Christmas time. However it can be baked in any time to keep the special atmosphere of the holiday. Thanks to its ingredients it fills our homes with an inimitable smell, which makes us more happy and relaxed.
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
140g unsalted butter
100g dark muscovado sugar (PL: cukier trzcinowy)
3 tbsp (tablespoon) golden syrup (PL: syrop cukrowy) or honey
350g flour
1 tsp (teaspoon) bicarbonate of soda (PL: soda oczyszczona)
2 tsp (teaspoon) ground ginger
1 tsp (teaspoon) ground cinnamon
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
2 balls stem ginger from a jar, chopped
To decorate: (optional)
50g icing sugar
A few glacé cherries (we used undyed)
2 balls stem ginger
Method:
1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment.
3. Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a pan.
4. Mix flour, soda, spices and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
5. Stir in the butter mix and chopped ginger to make a stiff dough.
6. Wait until cool enough to handle, then roll out dough to about 5mm thick.
7. Stamp out gingerbread men, re-rolling and pressing the trimmings back together and rolling again.
8. Lift onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes until golden.
9. Cool 10 minutes on the sheets, then lift onto cooling racks.
10. To decorate, mix icing sugar with a few drops of water until thick and smooth.
11. Halve then slice cherries thinly to make smiles, and cut ginger into small squares.
12. Spoon icing into a food bag, snip off the tiniest bit from one corner, and then squeeze eyes and buttons, and a tiny smile onto 1 man at a time.
13. Stick on a cherry smile and ginger buttons. Repeat; leave to set.
Will keep up to 1 week in an airtight tin.
Total time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
140g unsalted butter
100g dark muscovado sugar (PL: cukier trzcinowy)
3 tbsp (tablespoon) golden syrup (PL: syrop cukrowy) or honey
350g flour
1 tsp (teaspoon) bicarbonate of soda (PL: soda oczyszczona)
2 tsp (teaspoon) ground ginger
1 tsp (teaspoon) ground cinnamon
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
2 balls stem ginger from a jar, chopped
To decorate: (optional)
50g icing sugar
A few glacé cherries (we used undyed)
2 balls stem ginger
Method:
1. Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with baking parchment.
3. Melt butter, sugar and syrup in a pan.
4. Mix flour, soda, spices and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
5. Stir in the butter mix and chopped ginger to make a stiff dough.
6. Wait until cool enough to handle, then roll out dough to about 5mm thick.
7. Stamp out gingerbread men, re-rolling and pressing the trimmings back together and rolling again.
8. Lift onto baking sheets. Bake for 12 minutes until golden.
9. Cool 10 minutes on the sheets, then lift onto cooling racks.
10. To decorate, mix icing sugar with a few drops of water until thick and smooth.
11. Halve then slice cherries thinly to make smiles, and cut ginger into small squares.
12. Spoon icing into a food bag, snip off the tiniest bit from one corner, and then squeeze eyes and buttons, and a tiny smile onto 1 man at a time.
13. Stick on a cherry smile and ginger buttons. Repeat; leave to set.
Will keep up to 1 week in an airtight tin.
Source: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/68611/double-ginger-gingerbread-men
3) Fudge
Fudge is a typical American confectionery, very common to the Polish sweets called “krówka”. There are many types of fudge with lots of different ingredients depending on personal preferences. This time I present the easiest type of this treat. Try it out and compare. Than let us know what’s better: fudge or maybe our national “krówka” ;)
Total time: 10 minutes plus time to cool down
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated white sugar
½ cup milk
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
1 tsp (teaspoon) vanilla extract
Method:
1. Grease an 8x8-inch (20x20 cm) baking pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring sugar and milk to a boil.
3. Allow to boil for about 2½ minutes, stirring regularly, and then remove from heat.
4. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and stir until smooth.
5. Pour the mixture into the pan and allow to cool until set. Slice into 1-inch (2,5 cm) squares.
Total time: 10 minutes plus time to cool down
Ingredients:
2 cups granulated white sugar
½ cup milk
1 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
1 tsp (teaspoon) vanilla extract
Method:
1. Grease an 8x8-inch (20x20 cm) baking pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring sugar and milk to a boil.
3. Allow to boil for about 2½ minutes, stirring regularly, and then remove from heat.
4. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and stir until smooth.
5. Pour the mixture into the pan and allow to cool until set. Slice into 1-inch (2,5 cm) squares.
Source: http://communitytable.com/237303/lorilange/the-easiest-peanut-butter-fudge-recipe-ever/
4) Christmas Pudding Rice Cake
Christmas pudding is the English dish traditionally served as part of the Christmas dinner. This time I want to provide you with much easier recipe that can be prepared with your child.
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
50g rice pops (PL: ryż preparowany)
30g raisins, chopped
50g butter
100g milk chocolate, broken into pieces
2 tbsp. (tablespoon) crunchy peanut butter
30g mini marshmallows (optional)
80g white chocolate
Ready-made icing holly leaves (optional)
Method:
1. Put the rice pops and raisins into a bowl.
2. Put the butter, milk chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallows into a small saucepan.
3. Place on a medium to low heat and stir until the chocolate and butter have melted but the marshmallows are just beginning to melt.
4. Pour onto the rice pops and stir until well coated.
5. Line an egg cup with cling film.
6. Press about a tablespoon of the mixture into the egg cup.
7. Press firmly and then remove, peel off the cling film and place the pudding into a cake case, flat-side down.
8. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
9. Chill until firm.
10. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water.
11. Spoon a little chocolate over the top of each pudding.
12. Top with icing holly leaves.
Total time: 35 minutes
Ingredients:
50g rice pops (PL: ryż preparowany)
30g raisins, chopped
50g butter
100g milk chocolate, broken into pieces
2 tbsp. (tablespoon) crunchy peanut butter
30g mini marshmallows (optional)
80g white chocolate
Ready-made icing holly leaves (optional)
Method:
1. Put the rice pops and raisins into a bowl.
2. Put the butter, milk chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallows into a small saucepan.
3. Place on a medium to low heat and stir until the chocolate and butter have melted but the marshmallows are just beginning to melt.
4. Pour onto the rice pops and stir until well coated.
5. Line an egg cup with cling film.
6. Press about a tablespoon of the mixture into the egg cup.
7. Press firmly and then remove, peel off the cling film and place the pudding into a cake case, flat-side down.
8. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
9. Chill until firm.
10. Melt the white chocolate in the microwave or in bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water.
11. Spoon a little chocolate over the top of each pudding.
12. Top with icing holly leaves.
Source: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/christmas-pud-krispy-cakes
5) Yogurt and Berry Christmas Parfait Recipe
Parfaits are almost effortless treats that can be made with any mousse you prefer. With such ingredients they are very light and can be consumed as breakfast, dessert or a snack. Check this recipe and let us know which version is your favourite
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla flavour)
Fruit preserves
Red raspberries
Kiwi
Method:
1. In a small, clear glass container, spoon in alternate layers, starting with yogurt then a thin layer of preserves, then berries.
2. Finish with yogurt and top with a slice of kiwi.
Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla flavour)
Fruit preserves
Red raspberries
Kiwi
Method:
1. In a small, clear glass container, spoon in alternate layers, starting with yogurt then a thin layer of preserves, then berries.
2. Finish with yogurt and top with a slice of kiwi.
Source: http://www.parenting.com/article/yogurt-berry-parfait
I hope you’ll enjoy preparing all mentioned treats and both, you and your child, will have a lot of fun spending time in the kitchen and then relishing it :)
Autor: Anna
Absolwentka studiów licencjackich Pedagogika Przedszkolna i Wczesnoszkolna oraz studiów magisterskich ze specjalizacją Wczesne Nauczanie Języka Angielskiego na Uniwersytecie Warszawskim.