Easy and Fun Recipe: Homemade Cottage Cheese

My daughter recently watched a television program about making cottage cheese and she became very interested in wanting to make her own. A few minutes on the internet and we found dozens of recipes and how- to's.  The recipe we followed was from Val Harrison at Allotment.org.uk. I was curious and hesitant to try the cottage cheese but I must say it tasted good!

Here's what you need:                                            

2 pints of skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.               

2 tablespoons of lemon or white vinegar. (we used lemon)

Pinch of salt

saucepan

wooden spoon

sift or sieve

Here's what you need to do: 

• Pour the milk into the sauce pan and heat until hot but not boiling.
• Stir occasionally and cool down for a few minutes
• Add 2 tablespoons of lemon or white vinegar
• Stir and watch the milk separate into curds and whey
• After cooling put the mixture into your sifter to catch the curds
• Discard the whey
• Transfer the curds into a small bowl and add a pinch of salt

Dorinda's shop, Raising Green Kids, offers eco-friendly products for your family. Follow her on Facebook and twitter and at her blog.

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Kids In The Kitchen

Here in Australia Masterchef has just been on tv. Masterchef is a show where home cooks are given challenges and cook up a feast.
It is hugely popular and has encouraged parents and kids to get back into the kitchen and cook real food from fresh local ingredients from scratch.

Getting your children involved in preparing and cooking food is a wonderful chance to teach them some necessary life skills and loads of fun for them too. Use the time in the kitchen together to teach practical skills such as safety, hygiene and to identify healthy foods. Get the kids to read the food labels and see what ingredients the kids recognise.  Discuss what additives and colours are and what the numbers mean in the ingredients list. Ask them what foods on the labels they know are healthy and where the foods come from.

Children are much more likely to eat food they have helped prepare themselves too.  Try one of the very simple recipes below.  They are fantastic recipes even for very fussy eaters.

Grape Caterpillars

Ingredients:

300g green grapes

short wooden skewers

1 x 50g tube writing fudge, white chocolate

mini milk chocolate bits

Method

Step 1. Remove grapes from stalks, wash and dry well.

Step 2. Thread grapes onto skewers.

Step 3. Trim points from skewers with scissors.

Step 4. Dot writing icing onto the back of the coated chocolate chips and place as eyes on each 
caterpillar.

Chickpea Dip

 

Ingredients:

420g tin chickpeas, strained

1/2 cup Italian parsley leaves

zest and juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tbs warm water

Method:

In a food processor/blender, add chickpeas, parsley, zest and lemon juice and blend until combined, approximately 30 seconds.

Remove lid and push the mixture down from the sides, add salt and pepper.

Replace lid, turn on again and drizzle in the oil. Continue to run for 30 seconds to combine. While the motor is still running, add water.

Once the mixture is thoroughly blended, remove and store in fridge for up to 7 days.

Just as fun as actual cooking and eating is pretending to cook and for kids to use their imagination in play. Take a look at some of the items below from talented Etsy kids team members.

Crotchet Tea Set by Cuddlebugkids

Wooden Eggs by Cakeinthemorn

Recycled Tshirt Corn by Nuetome

Strawberry Play Food Set by Creativewishes 

Written by Mel from Creative Wishes, Handmade Toys For Creative Play
Creative Wishes Blog
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Fun Snacks this Summer

This summer I have seen so many creative ideas to make fun creative foods for kids. Fruit and vegetables, breakfast, lunch and snacks! Here are some of our favorites, enjoy!

Berry Fish Bread from Funny Food Recipes

Peanut Butter Banana Split Sandwich from Inspired RD

Carrot & Zucchini Bars from MOMables

Rainbow Fruit Kebabs from Sumptuous Spoonfuls

Lemon Squares from Babble (plus other deserts)

UFO Banana Bagel from Spoonful

Peachy Parrot from Kitchen Fun with my 3 Sons

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Olympic Breakfast

If your house is like mine, the Olympics have been the only thing on our television for the last 10 days. We’re enjoying watching the athletes compete, learning about new sports, and celebrating the victories. Today, my son told me water polo is his favorite Olympic sport. Random, but he does love to swim and play in the pool.

These scones are super easy and a fun breakfast or snack while you watch the games. Scones are served with afternoon tea in Britain, with clotted cream and jam. Cheers!

Scones and Nearly Clotted Cream

Scones

Mix together

2c flour
3t baking powder
1/2t salt
2T sugar

Cut in

1/4c softened butter

Mix in

3/4c milk
1 beaten egg

Roll to a 1-inch thick circle. Transfer to baking sheet and cut into 6-8 wedges but don’t separate. (This time I cut them into 16 because I made them to share.) Bake 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Serve with nearly clotted cream (below) and jam.

 Nearly Clotted Cream

Combine

1c sour cream
1t brown sugar
1t vanilla

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