Meadow Kids Mini Stencils

My younger son loves colouring, painting and papercrafts. He doesn't need a second invitation to get creative. If I ask him if he wants to do some colouring, he is always enthusiastic about it. It's not surprising then that he was very eager to start working with Meadow Kids Mini Stencils (from Great Gizmos).

This attractive creative set comes in a sturdy box with 2 drawers. It looks quite durable, so we can keep all the contents together for a long time. The packaging design is cheerful and colourful, showing the stencil shapes you can find inside.
It includes 1 stencil book, 1 book of design sheets, a set of cards and envelopes, 5 colouring pencils and a pencil sharpener.

The stencil books consists of several pages of colourful plastic stencils. The designs vary from letters and symbols to common shapes, from farm to wild animals, from circus shapes to sea life.

Eddie was very excited to start crafting. The pencils are small and easy to work with, even for small hands.
The set is aimed at children aged 3+. Eddie is almost 5, and I think this is just the right age for holding the stencils firmly without an adult's help. Perhaps more advanced toddlers can do it too, but from our own experience, I remember Eddie enjoyed much chunkier stencils when he was little, and I think he might have struggled with these thin stencils at the age of 3. Saying that, all children are different, and this set could be enjoyed by a range of ages.

The designs are cute and small.
I love papercrafts myself, and try to encourage my kids to do papercrafts as often as possible (and spend less time watching TV or playing games on the ipad).
The set has a selection of cards and envelopes which you can decorate for any special occasion, be it a birthday, a Teacher's day, Mother's day, Father's day etc.

Eddie filled in a lot of pages in the design sheet booklet, but I couldn't take good photos of his artwork, as they looked quite pale. I asked him to do a couple of pages with the crayons so that they would look better in the photos, and he was happy to oblige. So, if you see some crayons in the images, these don't come with the set. But of course, once you have the set, you can work with any pens, pencils or crayons.
Unless you are very agile with the paintbrushes, I wouldn't use these stencils with the paint.
Stencils would need to be one per sheet for a good sponge stencilling, otherwise it will be very tricky to do a neat job.
You can do a design with a pencil, and then colour in with the paintbrush.
This set will provide your child with hours of creative fun, and will make a lovely gift.

Disclosure: We received this set for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Casdon Little Cooks Morphy Richards Kitchen Set

Judging by Eddie's vivacious classmates, role play with kitchen sets is very popular. They have several huge boxes in the classroom filled with kitchen utensils and food products, and I like the idea that both girls and boys enjoy these toys. Eddie likes to help me in the kitchen, but I don't let him use the coffee machine or a tea kettle for obvious reasons. Imagine his delight when he got his very own kitchen appliances to play with - a Casdon Little Cooks Morphy Richards Kitchen Set.

He couldn't wait to unwrap all the kitchen gadgets, and was enthusiastically showing me each one as it was taken out of the box. This bright and cheerful kitchen set includes replicas of Morphy Richards kitchen appliances like a coffee machine, a toaster and a kettle, plus two cups and saucers, two plates, cutlery and some food items - a sausage, an egg and bacon and two slices of toast.

All the replica appliances are bright in colour and made of plastic. The design is contemporary and minimalist. It is wonderfully true to life, right down to the last detail.
For example, the coffee machine could be filled with water, and it allows the water to pour into the coffee pot. "How cool is that", as appraised by my mini-tester. He loved opening all the lids, pouring a pretend tea and coffee for me.
The toaster has a realistic lever which allows you to put the toast in and push it down, just like in the real thing, and after a few seconds the toast pops up. I also love the fact that it doesn't require any batteries.
It's a lovely set for pretend imaginative play.
I particularly love the kettle, and just wish I had an original in my kitchen.

The only suggestion I could make to Cadson is to expand the range of foods that comes with this set. There is only 1 egg, 1 sausage and 1 slice of bacon, so when we both "wanted" let's say a sausage, we had to decide who had it first. Maybe a couple of each food item would be better. It would definitely help to avoid any food battle if there are two kids playing.

This set will make a lovely gift for any mini-chef. I also see it as a useful tool for pretend play for the nurseries and Reception age school.

Disclosure: we received the play set for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are Eddie's and mine.

Photo diary: week 24, 365

Last Sunday, when Eddie and I walked home after getting the papers and some fresh bread, we were amazed to see such a clear sky. It was just a sea of blue and hardly any clouds. Very rare sight here.

It was another manic Monday morning, and after taking Eddie to school, Fede and I had a latte at the newly renovated Fleece.

These gorgeous poppies on the way to school look like a rich silk gown. Simply glorious.

On Wednesday Sasha's class went to Legoland with the local Rotary club. He enjoyed it, or so the teachers told me later, but he was clearly quite overwhelmed by all the noise and crowds. When I picked him up from school later that day, we passed by the playground. It was deserted and quiet, and he wanted to go on a swing. It was a moment of peace and calm after the day trip for him.

On Thursday I cooked a Sicilian recipe of sardines stuffed with breadcrumbs, anchovies, raisins and pine nuts called sarde a beccafico, which we really enjoyed.

Friday was extremely busy. I had to take Eddie to an eye clinic in Oxford for a follow-up appointment, then we ended up having lunch with my husband in his college before rushing back home just in time for Sasha's arrival from school. While we were waiting for my husband to finish his meeting, we stayed in the students' lounge, and Eddie had a great time playing the table football.

When we came back home, we discovered that the postie has left three parcels for us with the neighbours. One of them was a Spidey costume which Eddie won in the Spiderman magazine for drawing a Star prize picture. Needless to say, he wanted to dress up as soon as he saw it. He's been wearing it all day today as well, even while playing with a new kitchen set which I received for reviewing.

Sarde a beccafico

The Snack Thief starts with the following paragraph "He woke up in a bad way. The sheets, during the sweaty restless sleep that had followed his wolfing down three pounds of sardines a beccafico the previous evening, had would themselves tightly round his body, making him feel like a mummy..."
Being a foodie, you read the novels the "wrong" way, as you pay too much attention to details which probably distract from the narrative. The Snack Thief is after all a detective novel. But then maybe not so "wrong", as Inspector Montalbano is the greatest foodie of all. His love of food is so great that he cannot abide having a conversation while he's eating.
Andrea Camilleri's series of Inspector Montalbano books features many recipes and mentions a lot of local Sicilian dishes. It is in a way a culinary encyclopedia of Sicily. It has inspired culinary tours, something that I would love to do one day.
There is also a book called Nivuro de siccia - a cook book of recipes inspired by the adventures of the most astute Commissario.
Just last week my husband was giving a talk in one of the Italian towns, and he mentioned that he has eaten sarde a beccafico. I haven't tried this dish before, and was very curious.
Sarde a beccafico is a Sicilian speciality named after beccafico or garden warbler in English. Apparently it is very partial to figs, hence the name which literally means a fig-pecker. The sardine fillets are stuffed, rolled and roasted or baked in the oven. I cannot say that my rolled stuffed sardines looked like any bird, but having a good look at the images online, I didn't think any of them did.

I have found the recipe for Sarde a beccafico in Nivuro di Siccia book, and also checked out a few recipes online. There are quite a few variations, both ingredients- and presentation-wise. My version is something in between.

Sarde a beccafico
Ingredients:
4 sardines, heads removed and filleted
3 whole anchovies
2tbsp olive oil
55g breadcrumbs
1 heaped tbsp capers, rinsed from salt
30g pine nuts
40g raisins
zest and juice of 1 orange
1 lemon
flat leaf parsley, about 2tbsp, chopped
And for the authentic recipe use fresh bay leaves. I forgot to buy any fresh bay leaves, so used a dried variety.
Start by filleting the sardines, or if you are lucky to find sardine fillets, just wash them and pat dry with the paper kitchen towels.
Fry the anchovies in the olive oil until almost melted, add the breadcrumbs, raisins and capers as well as pine nuts, cook until the breadcrumbs are golden brown. Zest the lemon and orange and add the zest to the breadcrumb mix.
Roll each fillet with about 1tbsp of stuffing inside. Place all the rolled sardines in a dish or tray slightly oiled, with the bay leaves on the bottom (or put them between the sardine rolls). Slice the zested lemon into discs, then each disc in halves, and put the lemon slices all between and around the fish. Squeeze the orange juice over. Sprinkle the remaining breadcrumbs over the fish. Place the tray in the oven preheated to 180C and cook for about 15 minutes.
Sprinkle some finely chopped flat leaf parsley before serving.

This was a very enjoyable fish dish. I was not sure how raisins will work with the fish, but they complemented each other nicely. I can see why Montalbano ate a kilo and a half, though I don't think I could compete with him. I had three rolls and felt stuffed like sarde a beccafico myself.

Beetroot and apple soup with soured cream

When my boys are at school, I hardly ever bother cooking anything for my lunch. A sandwich, a simple salad or any reheated leftovers suit me. But yesterday I was rummaging through the fridge and discovered that I still had some beets in the fridge which I got at the market a couple of weeks ago.
Browsing the latest Sainsbury's magazine, I spotted Beetroot and apple soup with soured cream. Well, I am a Russian girl at heart, even if I have lived in the UK for almost 20 years. I enjoy recipes with beetroot, and this recipe sounded like a lighter version of borscht. Of course, the authentic borscht is never blitzed, but the beet and soured cream combination are very much Eastern European.

I have adapted the recipe, and made it more flavourful, as it was a bit bland.

Beetroot and apple soup with soured cream
Ingredients:
3 medium beets, peeled and chopped
2tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic
1 big apple (I used a Gala apple), peeled, cored and sliced
about 500+ ml vegetable stock
100ml apple juice
1tbsp tomato paste
1tsp paprika
soured cream
fresh fennel and wild garlic leaves (optional) or spring onions
Peel the beets and chop into cubes. Heat the olive oil and add the cubed beets. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. You can skip this step, but it gives the depth of flavour. When beetroot is cooked in soup from raw, it has a rather earthy flavour, frying makes it sweeter and more concentrated in flavour.
Chop the onion and garlic, add to the beets, and cook for another 5+ minutes. Add the cubed apple, and cook for another 5 minutes until the apple is slightly softened.
Put all the ingredients in a medium pan, pour the stock and apple juice over. Add the paprika and tomato paste. Cook on low simmering for about 25 minutes. Season to taste. Using a hand blender, blitz the soup.
Serve hot or cold with some soured cream and fresh herbs, like fennel, wild garlic or spring onions.

Yesterday I had it hot, today for lunch I had a chilled version. Both are light and lovely. It is also quite sweet, so I really fancied adding some chopped pickles. I must try it again with pickles.

Meze Lounge in Witney

It was a spontaneous lunch out. Last Monday my husband decided he'd work at home. Just before lunch time I muttered that I needed to go out to buy some fresh bread, as I didn't expect him to stay at home  and didn't buy more bread the day before. He suggested having a quick lunch out. I wanted to try the Coffeesmith cafe, as I haven't sampled their lunch menu, but it was quite busy, and the only tables available were outside the cafe next to some smoking people. I detest the smell of smoke while eating, it really ruins all the taste. So, we left, and went across the square to try our luck at another place.
I have passed by Meze Lounge before many times without paying much notice, but this time I stopped and looked at their menu. I liked the sound of all the Greek and Turkish style starters. We also saw one of our neighbours enjoying his meal inside, and thought that maybe he knew that place well enough to celebrate his birthday.

The interior wasn't very exciting. The dark walls and mini-vases with flowers dyed blue were a tad jaded. But we were running out of time, and stayed. We decided to choose a set menu (two dishes at £9.90).
We both opted for vegetarian starters: hummus and patlican soslu (cold aubergine, onion and potato cooked in tomato sauce). Both starters were very good. Hummus arrived with a basket of flat bread.

The mains were slightly disappointing. I have chosen a chicken wrap, and it comes with chips. Chips? The wrap and chips just don't work together at all. Also the chips were very mediocre, too oily and stodgy.
There was a small dish of salad leaves, which were clearly just out of the packet and still had their tiny unattractive beardy roots attached. I would have liked a more flavourful and cheerful Mediterranean salad than the small sad lettuce and chips.

The actual wrap was tasty enough, and the chicken pieces inside had a good smokey flavour. But the chips were a real put down for me.

My husband had a vegetarian main of aubergines and halloumi cheese with rice. The name of the dish escapes me. It was quite all right, but nothing exciting.

The service was quick and friendly.

I think if we decide to have a meal at Meze Lounge again, it would make sense to order just a selection of Greek and Turkish starters, and skip the mains altogether. A big sharing platter would be a much better idea.

Have you visited Meze Lounge in Witney? What was your experience?

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An InLinkz Link-up

Bugs in the Kitchen Game from Ravensburger

La cucaracha, la cucaracha
Ya no puede caminar.
Porque no tiene, porque le falta,
Dinero para gastar.

That's what I have been singing to Eddie, whenever we take out the board game "Bugs in the kitchen" or La Cucaracha from Ravensburger.
The first time we opened the box, we discovered a HEXBUG Nano inside it. Turn on the tiny switch, and eeek, it runs so fast. Catch it if you can.

The rules are simple enough. You start in the middle of the board, which is built like a maze of knives, forks and spoons. The bug begins its escape from the middle of the board, vibrating, turning around and finding ways to get out of the maze.
All the cutlery pieces move around, so you can trap the hex bug or encourage it to move around the board. Roll the dice, then turn the spoon or knife or fork (whichever appears on the dice) at 90 degrees. If you are lucky to trap the bug, you get a bug token, and the board is reset for the bug to begin its escape again.
Once a player traps the pesky hex bug five times, the game ends. So, that's the rules.

This is an exciting and fun board game, which could be enjoyed by the whole family. My little man and I were in stitches, trying to trap the bug.
The HEXBUG Nano is a little piece of minimalist art. Sadly, the battery didn't last very long. We had this game for about a couple of weeks, and though we didn't play every day, it already needs a new battery. The board game is supposed to come with a spare battery. I searched high and low, and couldn't find it. It's quite possible we discarded it with the packaging, so once you open the box, make sure you've found the spare battery, and keep it somewhere safe.

This board game will make a lovely present for a child's birthday, or even a gift for Father's day so that your partner and kid(s) could enjoy playing together. I can promise you lots of laughter.

Disclosure: I received the game for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are Eddie's and mine.

Time for Tea Trug from Serenata Flowers (review + giveaway 10 July 2015)

Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?
D.T.Suzuki, Zen and Japanese Culture

I love foodie gifts. If there's tea and chocolate, I'm truly content. When I was asked to review any gift up to £35 from Serenata Flowers, it took me a while to decide which hamper to choose. Should I pick a Sweet treats gift which I was sure my family would enjoy, or go for something adult and get a bottle of wine with snacks?! But my love of tea won, and I have ordered a Time for Tea Trug.

This delightful hamper comes in a basket or trug. Envisage Marie-Antoinette in bucolic frilly florals frolicking in the countryside with a basket on her arm... I don't know if she enjoyed tea, but she would have appreciated the tasty treats that come packed in this trug.
So, what did you get with the trug?
- There's a tin of English Breakfast tea by The English Tea Shop.
- a box of Chocolate & Raspberry Biscuits
- 2 jars of Kay's Kitchen organic jam (strawberry and plum)
- caramelised nut pralines

For me, it's not just about contents. I appreciate a nice packaging. Tins are my weakness, I collect all the tea tins I ever had (and even buy the vintage tins in the charity shops). English Breakfast Tea in this hamper is stored in a very pretty floral tin.
The tea is strong and refreshing. The biscuits are crumbly and delicate, not over-sweet, with a good balance of chocolate and raspberry flavours. Needless to say, biscuits and tea go together very well.

The tea has a dark amber colour. This blend is one of the most popular, and probably the most liked British tea (me, I'm an Earl Grey girl, but I do enjoy a cup of English Breakfast as well).

Strawberry jam was a big hit with my men, who love a generous lashing of jam on a slice of fresh bread. It is smooth in consistency and quite different from the one I make (mine is much chunkier with distinct pieces of berries). It would be great in a cake like a classic Victoria sponge.

Serenata Flowers have a big variety of gifts, from flowers to wine, from chocolate to hampers. If you're still not sure about what to give your Dad or partner for Father's Day, have a good look at the site, and you might be inspired.

Lovely people from Serenata Flowers have offered a giveaway prize for my blog readers. One lucky winner will be able to choose any gift of their liking from Serenata Flowers up to £35. I wonder if like me, you would go for Time for Tea Trug, or will you be tempted by any other selection?!

To be in with a chance of winning, please enter via a Rafflecopter gadget.

T&Cs:
Only one entry per person is allowed (however, you can tweet daily to increase your chances).
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will check if the winner has done what was requested. I will contact the winner, if they do not reply within 28 days, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs.

The giveaway will close on 10 July 2015 (at midnight)

Good luck!

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