Sugar Cookies

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What You Will Need:

Cookies:

1.5 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

 

Icing:

1 pound powdered sugar

5 tablespoons meringue powder or 1/4 cup pasteurized egg whites

2 tablespoons water

food colouring (optional)

 

What To Do:

Cookies:

  1. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth.
  2. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  3. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
  4. Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius
  5. Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.
  6. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter.
  7. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
  8. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

 

Icing:

  1. Combine powdered sugar and meringue powder or egg whites in a mixing bowl and beat on low speed.
  2. Add water drop by drop. (Do not let the mixture get runny)
  3. Beat until the mixture holds a trail on the surface for five seconds when you raise the mixer from the bowl.
  4. If you like, you can tint the icing with a few drops of food colouring.

Jamie’s Italian

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Why shouldn’t lunch be fun and tasty for the children too?

 

Priding itself of being accessible and affordable for everyone – including the little ones – is Jamie’s Italian

 

the latest restaurant from our passionate food-revolutionist and lover of ‘la dolce vita’, Jamie Oliver.with his first

London-based restaurant (so far)  which is found in Canary Wharf.

 

Booking is only possible for 8-14 people to allow flexibility, so make sure you turn up before the tummies start

rumbling too much. Apart from all the things to look at, including ‘live pasta-making’, all children are given

crayons and a colouring sheet when they sit down as long as they are old enough to draw.

 

When it comes to choosing your food the kids get their own menu, which is listed on a “viewfinder” – not

surprisingly often the highlight of the meal.

 

Since it’s Jamie we’re talking about here, forget about greasy turkey twizzlers. The choice is between fresh pasta,

free-range chicken or a wholesome burger, served with a Bottled Green Organic cordial and a kid’s sized salad.

And if you eat all your greens you get a badge! A happy child is a happy parent – especially since all this is

yours for less than £6.00, Buon appetito!

 

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Those Boots are made for…Crawling

On our former years, the importance of shoes in terms of comfort, practicality and style were not always at the top of

our minds or the minds of our parents, but luckily, these days, babies and kids can get incredibly comfortable and

stylish shoes, for walking…or crawling!

 

The friendly stylist at alexandalexa.com has picked out the best boots and shoes for your boisterous boy or giggling girl!

 

Boisterous Boys

D&G Junior: Blue Laced Moonboot, £90.003160-0

 

D&G Junior: Navy Lace-Up Work Boots, £56.503158-0

 

Roberto Cavalli: Grey Suede And Felt Shoes, £87.952977-0

 

Giggling Girls

 

Roberto Cavalli: Black Velvet Bow Shoes, £64.952972-0

 

Juicy Couture: Navy Court Shoes, £56.503508-0

 

Burberry: Cream Boys Baby Shoes, £67.003501-0

Best Christmas Book: Twas the Night Before Christmas

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In the English language, the most famous Christmas poem is, without a doubt, ‘Twas the night before Christmas’.

There have been various versions and imitations made from the cheerleader version to the nerd’s version,

but none can match the magic of the original.

 

For most families, reading this book on Christmas eve is a long lived Christmas tradition, but if you haven’t got

your own copy yet, or you are starting a new family, this is a must for Baby’s First Christmas.

 

You can pick this wonderful book up online or in any book store.

 

But just in case you want to read the poem for nostalgic purposes now, here it is below:

 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

 

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

 

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

 

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

 

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

 

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

 

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

 

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

 

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

 

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

 

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

 

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

 

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

Fred Food Face

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Getting kids to eat their vegetables can be a harder task than non-parents or caregivers might assume. It takes a lot

of energy and effort to find ways to hide vegetables in your children’s meals, but now, you don’t have to hide them

anymore, thanks to Fred.

 

Fred Food Face is made from hotel-quality; heat resistant ceramic and features cute faces which can be decorated

with different food to create a different appearance…think Mr. Potato head

 

The plate retails at about £8.00 and can be found online at http://www.worldwidefred.com/foodface.htm

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