Children's Birthday Party ... how to keep it stress free!

Here are several of my handy hints to help keep your child’s birthday party stress free:

•  Invite your guests at least two weeks ahead of time (one week at the very latest – with a phone call, followed by an email).
•  Buy your child’s gift at least one month ahead of time (it is very stressful to be rushing around shops at the last minute).  NB: Don’t forget to buy or make a card too!
• Wrap your child’s gift at least 2 days before the event.  Younger children love tearing the paper off a big boxed gift (don’t fuss too much – just wrap some nice paper around the middle of a huge box, stick a big bow on the top and they will be delighted … my one year old son was happily helped into the box to play with his friend.
• Keep the food simple … birthday cake, fresh fruit, light snacks - something sweet, something savoury, plus a nice big plate of homemade egg sandwiches.  Cheese-on-wholewheat toast and home made cereal cookies (for enfants and toddlers) keeps them happy.
• Make the cake one week ahead of time and freeze (Pound Cake is great!).
• Sandwiches can be made right after dinner the night before the event, and kept in the refrigerator overnight – ensure you lay a damp paper towel on top of the sandwiches and cover completely with cling wrap to keep them airtight (Tip: boil the eggs while making dinner and let them cool).
• Hang the balloons and decorations the night before, when the house is quiet and everyone is asleep.
• 3.00pm is a great start time for an afternoon tea party (ensure your little one has an early afternoon nap around 12.30pm).
• 2 hours is sufficient time for a party (guests and children will be winding down around 5.00pm).
• Be prepared that your guests will arrive up to 30 minutes late!
• Cook the hot food ahead of time (pastries, savouries no more than half an hour before the party start time and keep them warm in a warmer drawer).  If you cook them when guests arrive it can be a big distraction, as you will find yourself running in and out of the kitchen.
• Be relaxed – have hubby or a friend handy with the camera (as you will be tied up making hot drinks, comforting your little one or helping them play with their friends, all while playing hostess to everyone).
• Remember to take a photo of your beloved with your child! (Don’t leave them holding the camera all night, and be disappointed there is no photograph of them!)
• On his 1^st Birthday my son gobbled down one piece of birthday cake, one cereal cookie, one piece of cheese on toast and one Cadbury Chocolate Finger plus a bottle of milk before happily going to bed by 5.30pm!

Enjoy!

Christmas Shortbread (for the bake sale season)

Christmas Shortbread

Shortbread was originally made with melted butter, giving it that shortness in texture.

Ingredients

250g butter (1 cup)

2 cups flour (high grade)

1 cup cornflour

1 cup icing sugar

   

Melt butter in a saucepan large enough to mix all ingredients.

Remove from heat.

(Add one or two drops of vanilla essence if desired).

Sift flour and cornflour and icing sugar into saucepan.

Mix well with a wooden spoon.

Knead dough for 1 minute or until well combined.

Roll or knead out to 1.5cm thickness.  Shape as wished.

Place on baking tray (lined with baking paper).

Prick with fork.

Bake at 150^oC for 20 minutes (or until lightly golden)

Makes: 24

A Quick Take from home ...

-1-

Last week Joey began crawling forward and he took a few steps behind his smiley faced push-along walker (all in the same week).

-2-
Let toddlers learn to walk barefoot ... it makes a huge difference as they learn to grip their toes to the floor to gain their balance (without the restriction of shoes and socks).

-3-
The Spirit of Christmas - begin by talking with your family now about the true meaning of giving.  Let them each choose to give to or do something special for just one family member each.

-4-

Choose carefully what or who you will be committed to, rather than being burdened by overcommitment.  Learn to say No.

-5-

When the sun shines ... go outside (especially in the North, where the winters are harsh!)

-6-
Give five hugs a day!

-7-

Celebrate the gift of life - this Saturday Joey turns ONE!

Pumpkin Soup

Autumn is the time for beginning to prepare hearty comfort food to keep warm and satisfied during cooler days.

Pumpkin Soup

1kg pumpkin (butternut or squash)
1 large onion
1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic (chopped finely)
3-4 cups of homemade chicken stock (low sodium), or alternatively use 2 teaspoons of powdered chicken stock and 1 teaspoon of green herb stock granules (if available) mixed with 3-4 cups of water
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
A dash of curry powder

Cut pumpkin into evenly shaped pieces.  Drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven at 375 C until tender.  Do not overcook.  Cool a little, then remove the skin from the pumpkin.  Saute the onion (in a medium sized soup pot) until translucent and add the garlic and roasted pumpkin.  Cover the pumpkin/onion mixture completely with the chicken stock.  Simmer gently for 20 minutes. When cool blend with a hand held stick-blender.  To serve: Reheat gently and add 1/4 cup of cream before serving.

Note: When sauteing the onion add 3 or 4 rashes of finely chopped bacon (without too much fat or rind) to give the soup added flavour.