I had spent quite a while looking through shops for something that I felt I really wanted to buy as a welcome gift. It would have been so easy to just walk up to the first shelf of baby toys and grab a handful of brightly painted plastic toys, but that just didn't sit right with me. I figure that I want to spend my hard earned money on something that reflects my minimal-waste beliefs. Finally I decided on some beautiful organic bamboo muslin style wraps, which from experience are great for summer babes.
I also feel that something a mother of a toddler and newborn would hopefully appreciate are some food parcels. In our house we have been eating some amazing granola (recipe care of Soulemama) with some delicious homemade yoghurt.
We have been making our own yoghurt now for a few months and I wouldn't go back to the store bought one again unless absolutely necessary. It is so creamy and I know exactly what is in it. I used to think I made my own yoghurt when I used the Easiyo maker but I shudder to think what it contained. The yoghurt we make now is just milk and some yoghurt from the previous batch. It took a few attempts to get the technique just right, but now it is incredibly easy.
A few weeks ago I was inspired by The Opies to try and make some English muffins. Now, as I do not own a Thermomix I searched around for a manual version. I came across this recipe and the muffins turned out really well. These were all eaten so I figure that is a good sign. Seeing my bread maker sitting in the corner of the kitchen sent me off looking for a bread maker version and I found this amazing recipe. I have made about 4 batches in the last week and have the recipe committed to memory. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Once you have tried these, I don't think you would go back to the store bought version. The muffins freeze really well but I find that I need to make them when I am alone otherwise little hands keep popping into the kitchen, leaving very few muffins to make it into the freezer.
A beautifully moist ginger cake was also on the menu as I had promised to bring morning tea as long as she could provide hot water for a cup of tea. Seeing as the oven was already on I thought it only right to make 2.
I thoroughly enjoy cooking, knowing exactly what has gone into the food we eat. I had my eyes opened after reading Additive Alert. This is definitely a book that every parent should read. It is based in Australia and I think we have many misconceptions about what we eat as well as the organisations that regulate what is allowed to be put in our food.
Take care
I definitely think that food is the best present to give new parents! I'll bet your friend loved it.
ReplyDeleteShe already emailed last night to say that they had some granola and yoghurt for dessert and asked for the recipe. : )
ReplyDeleteI will make the bread machine muffins and let you know how we go - I just got given a machine from my brother - he wasn't using it - now on a learning process to see if I like using one of these gizsmos or not. Not something I would have bought myself. Cheers, Wendy
ReplyDeleteWendy, the muffins are absolutely divine. I am actually making a batch right now. I am cooking the last 5 and the smell is gorgeous. I must say I am very surprised that no one has snaffled any yet. Pizza dough is also really lovely. I don't bake a great deal of bread in it but use it for a lot of the kneading of other bits and pieces. I generally find that it does a much better job that I can do by hand.
ReplyDeleteTake care : )
okey doke. Adding 'muffins' to the list of things to make this June :) and yes, I think it's nice to bring a 'welcome' gift of the kind you're talking about to a new Mum. :) glad to see it went down well :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I use our breadmaker for dough too. I prefer to finish the bread by hand. We have two breadmakers in use (ok, and a third one in the cupboard) but that's mostly just so we can have our pizzas all at the same time lol and not half now and half in an hour and a half AND because Market Day means the breadmakers run both x 2 each in the space of a couple of hours.
You will not regret the muffins. They freeze really well too (if they last that long).
DeleteBrilliant. Great for the freezer!
ReplyDelete