Ideas, recipes and things to inspire when food is on the agenda
With Christmas on its way Food Journal #2 is a little festive. We’ve found some really cool gifts, an foodie advent calendar you’ll love, and a recipe to help you through this busy period. Bon appetit!
Pretty Pancakes
First up is this fantastic gift by the Stackable Pancake Co. Create your own edible Christmas Tree and add a touch of Christmas magic with colour changing pancake mix. Finish off with a dusting of snow for the perfect Christmas treat! In the box you’ll find colour changing mix, icing sugar, mini chocolate stars and one big white chocolate star. We think this is genius!
Taking the biscuit
Nothing says Christmas like the hours spent playing monopoly and arguing with the banker. Biscuiteers take on the traditional game is inspired. A perfect gift, or accompaniment to a game of monopoly. £55
Chilled Out
Slushies don’t have to be blue raspberry or bubblegum flavour. By using Chill Factor you can make slushies out of fruit juice too. Just pop the cup in the freezer and when ready, add juice and squeeze to make the slush. Pretty low mess maker too! £10.
No self-respecting toddler should be without some stylish dinnerware. BIBS Dinner Plate Set consists of a flat plate and a bowl with a complementary lid. The lid makes it easy to take the bowl with you on the go with snacks or other refreshments for you and your child. It also makes it easy to put it in the fridge to save leftovers from dinner. The lid can also be used as a non-slip base for the bowl, to ensure that the bowl stays on the table and does not end up on the floor. Brill!
Game, Set and Matcha
Not only is this advent calendar plastic free, it’s filled with pure grade matcha to give you the excuse to find a bit of calm.
Nut Job
Some of the most velvety and luxurious nut butters we’ve tried. Our fave is coconut, cardamom and cashew, but there are 6 others to choose from including rose and pistachio and maple, turmeric and cashew.
What about a fun Christmas recipe?
Our friends at the International Elf Service have created some really fun recipes to try at Christmas. These melted snowmen biscuits look fab, plus there are other recipes for star biscuits, peppermint bark and pizzas!
Melted Snowman Biscuits
Ingredients:
60g unsalted butter
60g caster sugar
1 small egg, beaten
¼ tsp vanilla extract
125g plain flour
Icing sugar
Water
Marshmallows
Jelly worms of various colours
Mini chocolate buttons
Edible ink pens, or icing pens
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C (Fan 160 °C) or Gas mark 4.
- Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
- Beat the butter and sugar together in a large bowl until the mixture is pale and creamy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Sift in the flour and mix to a form a dough.
- Shape the dough into a ball, flatten it slightly, wrap it in cling film and chill it in the fridge for about 40 minutes.
- On a lightly-floured flat surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about three millimetres. Using a 6 centimetre, or cm, round cookie cutter, stamp out 16 circles and place on the baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Bake the biscuits for about 12 minutes, or until they’re crisp and pale golden.
- Leave on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
