Christmas Recipes for Kids - Rudolph Pancakes

Because we're approaching Christmas (soon-ish) I thought that some Christmas-inspired recipes would be fun. And as we all know, with kids around, it's important to know about things early so that we can plan!

This recipe is super cute and requires only 20 minutes from beginning to table.

Rudolph Pancakes

Serves: 4 | Prep: 0:10 | Cook 0:10

Ingredients

• 1 cup (250ml) milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 4 rashers streaky bacon
• 4 white marshmallows
• 8 dark choc chips
• 4 strawberries

Method

1. Make a basic pancake batter by whisking together milk and egg in a large bowl. 
2. Sift over flour and whisk until smooth.
3. Melt 2 teaspoons butter in a large frying pan. 
4. Pour in batter to form one large circle, one smaller circle and two triangles for ears. Cook for a couple of minutes until bubbles form, flip and cook for a further minute until cooked through. Remove and keep warm. 
5. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
6. Cut bacon rashers in half and cook until crisp. 

To arrange Rudolph

• Place the large pancake on a plate. 
• Place smaller pancake on top. 
• Position rashers for antlers and the triangular pancakes for ears. 
• Decorate with marshmallow eyes and strawberry nose.
• Cut marshmallows in half. Press a choc chip into the centre of each half.

(Source: http://www.kidspot.com.au/)

Good example

Recipe - Banana Bread

I've decided to add Recipes as one of the pages that run across the top of this page because as parents we always need to provide food for our children, but, unless you're a Jamie Oliver in the kitchen, thinking about what to prepare for them, in ideally a short amount of time, can prove to be a challenge. 

I definitely 'suffer' from this, added to the fact that I don't particularly enjoy cooking because of the amount of time that it takes, any recipes that are quick and tasty get a thumbs up from me. 

I'm starting with a simple yummy one that can come in very useful when you suddenly realise that your bananas are losing their bright yellow colour (something that seems to happen all too often!)

Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 bananas
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 50 grams softened butter
• 1 ½ cups self-raising flour*
• ½ cup plain flour*
• ½ cup brown sugar*
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Grease a baking tray/muffin tray
3. Add all the dry ingredients* into a large bowl and mix well (you can use an electric mixer or do it by hand)
4. Add the milk, eggs, butter and bananas to the above and mix together
5. Place the mixture into the greased tray
6. Cook for 40-45 minutes

That's it! It's really simple and makes for a great snack for all the family.

Stranger Danger?

I had a strange episode this morning that left me wondering whether there are any guidelines for such events and did I do the right thing?

I was at the grocery store with my LO who was in his pushchair and in his usual boisterous manner was saying Hi to everyone who walked in. He also waved at some people and at one point he reached out for a man's hand who very graciously took it and shook my LO's hand and smiled at him, but this is where things took a turn, the man got out his camera phone to take a photo of my LO and I, upon seeing that, took a step forward and politely, while smiling, asked him not to take photos. He seemed surprised but put his camera away without any issues.

A lady who saw the entire thing told me 'You did right. I'd have done the same thing.' I told her that I didn't know who the man was and although he might have been the nicest person on earth, I had no way of knowing, to which she agreed.

I'm very wary because I know that there is an Internet underworld and kids are their currency of choice. It might seem overdramatic and I'm quite certain that the man in question wasn't part of any shady organisation (he'd have been very brazen if he was!), but we're living in a world where you just can't take chances.

What's your opinion on the matter? Would you have allowed a stranger to take a photo of your LO?

Places to take kids in Malta

Children need entertainment. They want to run around and have fun, play and explore, be free and be happy. So where can you go in Malta that is suitable for kids?

Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of places to take your children for a few hours of fun. Note that not all places are suitable for very young kids.

I haven't included places like 'the swings' because practically each town and village has a small play area available.

I'd love for this list to remain updated and hopefully get longer so please do email me with your suggestions and recommendations and if I think that they are suitable I'll definitely add them.

Attard

• The President's Kitchen Garden - St. Anthony Street
• San Anton Gardens

Bahar ic-Caghaq

• Splash & Fun Water Park (open beginning May - beginning October)
• Mediterraneo Marine Park

Birzebbugia

• Playmobil Funpark - Industrial Estate, Hal Far

Bugibba

• Quattro Play Kids Cafe - Gifen Street
• Malta Bugibba Water Park - Promenade (summer only)

Burmarrad

• Bird Park Malta - Triq l-Imdawra

Fgura

• Jumperoo - Gallarija Shopping Complex

Marsascala

• Sant Antnin Family Park

Mellieha

• Popeye Village - Anchor Bay

Mosta

• Ludi Recreation Centre - Eucharistic Congress Street

Qawra

• Malta National Aquarium

St Julians/Paceville

• Eden Superbowl - St George's Bay
• Funland - St George's Street

Ta' Qali

• BoV Adventure Park
• Ta' Qali National Park
• Petting Farm

Bugibba Water Park

Please feel free to email me with other places - none of these are paid listings.

Second-hand clothes for kids

I recently bought my LO a huge bundle of clothes for €50 - a bargain! 

The only 'catch'? They're second-hand. 

Now I don't have a problem buying second-hand clothes for kids because they only wear them for 3/6/12 months at the most and then they simply grow out of them. Plus, with children's clothes being somewhat pricey added to the fact that they need so many changes - nursery, potty training, ice-cream, you name it - I honestly think that it just makes financial sense.

I've always gratefully accepted any clothes that were handed down to me and actively search the Facebook groups for good quality, good condition clothes at good prices. Some people price their items too high in my opinion - I think that items should be at least 70-80% less than what you originally paid for them. You're not going to get your money back anytime soon but you will get some money back, and you'll also get space back, which definitely starts lacking when children's stuff starts to take over the room.

How do you feel about buying second-hand clothes? What about other items like toys or accessories? Have you ever tried selling any of your LO's things? Were you successful?

I'd love to hear your opinion about this. I really think that we're lacking in this regard in Malta, and I wonder if it's due to social pressures.

This is a glimpse of the bundle that I bought

Review - Maltamum Party at Quattro, Bugibba

On Saturday I took my LO to the Maltamum party which was being held at Quattro in Bugibba. I was curious about going to Quattro because I had seen its Facebook page and it looked very inviting... and I am pleased to say that it really was. 

It took me a while to find because I don't know my way around Bugibba very well, but then I realised just how easy it really is (it's round the corner from the cinema, effectively) and I was pleasantly surprised at how much parking there was. 

Upon entering the place the first thing you see are jars of old-fashioned sweets - yum! There's a colourful bar area with seating available, and there are also a couple of tables al fresco, but the main attraction lies towards the back of the establishment where there is a large soft play area that is divided into two sections - one is for toddlers and the other is for the slightly older kids. Having said that, the kids tend to mix in each section and it's all very safe. 

Should your toddler venture into the 'older kids' area just keep an eye out for the other kids because they can be rough. Case in point, I saw a boy who pushed my LO down the slide! Thankfully he slid down easily and wasn't at all bothered, but I was, because I saw it happen and saw that the boy did it purposely (Grrr!) Thankfully it was the only incident in the two hours that I was there, and there were quite a few children around so I think that counts as successful :)

The soft play area at Quattro, Bugibba (Malta)

You will need socks for your LO and yourself if you do go into the soft play area. I didn't know this when I went but Quattro are well prepared for this eventuality and sell both baby and adult socks for €1 a pair.

The staff at Quattro are very helpful and friendly which is always such a relief, and they have a very decent menu with plenty of food options that kids will like, and at reasonable prices. With regard to the pricing for playtime, because this was a Maltamum party, entrance was free, but I will definitely go back and then I'll be able to tell you more about that. 

The party in itself was fun and well organised and I think that Quattro was the ideal place for that kind of event. The goody bag at the end was a very sweet touch - literally - as it was a bag of smarties and candy. I'm not too sure how I'd have felt about that had my LO been older and able to 'appreciate' the goodies. It seemed like the ideal set-up for a sugar rush from hell vs. a tantrum from hell if you try to take them away. Thankfully I was able to avoid that by giving him one single marshmallow and then putting the bag away without any reaction. 

Thank you to Elisaveta from Maltamum for the lovely party and I look forward to going to Quattro again for some more fun play!