Banana Sour Cream Muffins

Chocolate Fudge

Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon ... I love the smell and taste of these spices although I've only acquired this taste as I've matured {ahem - got older}.  My kids on the other hand love these flavours already!

This beautiful slice has all these lovely spices with a little freckle treat on top which is extra appeal to those kids.  The recipe was originally given to me by a friend and I've tweaked it a little to simplify it.

You will find the complete visual photo sequence recipe in the Your Kids OT shop and a summary below.  Do take some time to preview the full recipe as well as others I have produced - the layout is especially designed for kids and people with disabilities - {and I spend a long time putting them together}!

Ingredients

125 g butter (softened to room temperature)
½ cup brown sugar
2 cups plain flour
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup golden syrup
24 freckles

Equipment needed

Stand mixer (or hand beaters)
Microwave safe jug
Lined baking tin (30 x 20 cm)
Measuring cups
Mixing spoon
Foil

Just in case you didn't have enough chocolate over Easter...a microwave chocolate fudge recipe for a delicious treat.   Four ingredients, melt and refrigerate.  Easy. 

Older children can help with measuring out the butter, vanilla extract and chocolate.  They can also use the can opener or ring pull to open the tin of condensed milk. 

Younger children will enjoy pouring, stirring and taste testing!

The step by step photographs found in the full recipe are ideal for children who can read or for high school children with a moderate intellectual delay.  You can purchase the recipe from the Your Kids OT shop.

Here is an abbreviated version of the recipe.

Message to adults...
·  Microwave temperatures may vary.  This recipe was tested on a microwave with 1000 Watts.
·  Be careful not to burn the mixture by overheating it.
·  Adult supervision may be required when measuring ingredients, removing hot mixture from the microwave and pouring. 

This chocolate fudge is perfect for a cake stall or to give as a lovely home-made gift.  You can also try adding flavours according to your taste.  Enjoy!

Anzac Slice is made from similar ingredients to Anzac biscuits (rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, coconut and golden syrup) and was named for that reason.  This recipe is easy for children to complete with each dry ingredient being a 1 cup measure.  Find the complete recipe for Anzac Slice at the Your Kids OT Shop.  The recipe contains a visual photo sequence for each step as well as a photograph attached for the ingredients and equipment needed.   

Here is a summary version of the recipe.

Ingredients
125 g butter
1 cup self-raising flour
1 cup coconut
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 Tablespoon golden syrup

Equipment needed
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Knife
Measuring cup
Measuring spoons
Microwave safe bowl
Baking tin (27.5cm x 17.5 cm approx).
Baking paper

As with all the recipes on Your Kids OT, you can purchase and download a full copy of the recipe with individual photos for each step of the recipe from the shop.  

This is so useful when encouraging your child to be independent when completing recipe steps.   My Miss 7 completed this recipe independently with only a little help taking the muffin tray in and out of the oven and making sure the mixture was stirred enough.  She felt so "grown up" being able to take out the correct ingredients, all of the equipment needed and then to bake "on her own".  The visual photo sequence allowed her to keep track of the step she was up to and what came next.

Alternatively, your preschool or childcare group may make this together for a shared cooking experience.  I watched nervously when Mr 3 scooped the mixture into the patty pans and was surprised at how little mess there was!

The visual photo sequence is helpful when working with children and adults who may have an cognitive delay or developmental disability.

Do your kids like helping in the kitchen?

Ingredients
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
250 ml sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup oil
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup caster sugar
2 tsp baking powder
Cinnamon sugar

Equipment needed
Whisk
Mixing bowl
Spoon
Sifter
Muffin tray
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Patty pans (cupcake liners)

I love the smell of freshly baked bread. Hmmmm....yum! We have had a cold and wet weekend in Sydney.  Perfect baking weather.  This is a bread recipe given to me from a lovely friend I went to school with.  

It is a really robust recipe and is all done in one bowl. Whether you use your hands or use a dough mixer is up to you.  You can choose this depending on the way your child {or you} manages the sensation on their hands. Most importantly, it is simple and easy recipe for children to follow.  

There is a waiting time as you start the process the day before to allow time for the dough to prove (double in size).  However, this time is not exact and if you forget about it for 48 hours or so, the recipe will still work.

The recipe with full steps and photographs can be found at the Your Kids OT shop.  Did you miss the blog about encouraging Kids in the Kitchen? Read about it here.

Here is the basic bread recipe in an abbreviated form. 

Ingredients
4 cups strong flour (approx)
2 cups lukewarm water
1 ½ tsp salt
1 dry yeast sachet
Polenta (not essential)

Equipment needed
Mixing bowl
Foil
Flat-bladed knife  
Measuring cup
Measuring spoon
Plastic wrap
Mixer with dough hook (optional)
Baking tin
cooking oil spray 

You may have wondered why I have included a section for recipes on this website.  If you are expecting inspiration for a gourmet dinner party or fine dining experience, then you will be disappointed.  

The recipe section of this website aims to encourage kids into the kitchen to assist and perhaps manage some recipes independently. 

The benefits of encouraging kids in the kitchen are well documented, beginning with nutrition and meal preparation. Healthy eating and nutrition is an important issue we discuss as a society with the rise of childhood obesity.  Introducing kids to ingredients and how to use them is so important in helping them along the path of healthy eating.  

Meal preparation is a skill for life that should not be underestimated.  Here are more benefits...

From an OT's perspective, here are a few benefits of involving kids in the kitchen: -
 * Motor skills - Eye/hand coordination, pouring, cutting, bilateral coordination, finger isolation and manual dexterity.
* Concepts and Cognition - learning about measurements, size, colour, shape, temperature and time. Attention and concentration are also important skills that can be developed in the kitchen.
* Sensory skills - a variety of textures can be experienced in the kitchen when using your hands as well as in your mouth with tasting.
* Social skills - turn taking, waiting, cooperation, language development, sharing, time with other family members in a shared experience.
* Planning and organisation - planning and organisation of ingredients, equipment and time; sequencing the procedure, motor planning in relation to equipment and ingredients.
* Personal skills - self confidence, sense of achievement, sense of belonging to a family, independence and responsibility.

2 year olds
* pouring, mixing, tearing, spreading, scooping
* using hands to squeeze, knead, push
* placing cupcake liners in tray
* helping to make choices (eg. flavours, colours)
* taste tester
* wiping the table

3 year olds
* managing fine motor tasks with smaller ingredients
* sorting, mixing, beating, scrubbing, tearing, dipping, spreading, shaking
* locating equipment in the kitchen
* picking herbs
* cracking an egg
* setting the table
* turning on some electrical appliances (eg. slow cooker, electric steamer and rice cooker, blender).

4 year olds
* spreading, sprinkling, scooping, mashing, whisking
* starting to use a butter knife to chop and dice
* helping to select recipes

5 year olds and up
* reading recipe: collecting ingredients and equipment needed
* measuring quantities
* setting timers
* using the microwave
* stirring a pot on the stove
* using oil sprays

A last minute romantic gesture or a pre-planned surprise.  Your loved ones will be none the wiser.  Choc-dipped strawberries look great and will be a hit for the sweet tooth.  

This is a quick and easy recipe for you to do with your children today.  Download it free from the Your Kids OT shop.  There are step by step instructions with photographs for each step.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Who loves playdough?

I make playdough using a very simple recipe. It is the boiling water method.  Have you tried it?  

Making playdough yourself allows you to make several colours at one time.  You can experiment with glitter or fragrances too.  

It lasts for a long time...months {even when not refrigerated}.  As the colours get mixed together {as the inevitably do with children} you may want to make a fresh batch.

In these photos I have used a natural food colouring to make the playdough so the colours are a little dull. Store bought food colouring will give you a vibrant colour.

Ingredients
2 cups plain flour
4 Tabs cream of tartar
2 Tabs cooking oil
1 cup salt
food colouring
1 cup hot water

Equipment needed
Mixing bowl                      
Mixing spoon
Measuring cups               
Measuring spoons
Kettle

Method
1. Place the flour, cream of tartar, cooking oil and salt into the mixing bowl. Stir.
2. Boil the water in a kettle.  Measure 1 cup of water and gradually pour this into the mixing bowl.  Stir carefully.
4. Put the dough onto your tabletop and knead until it forms a smooth ball.
5. Divide the mixture into 2 and add food colouring.
6. Knead each ball of dough until smooth.
7. Store in an airtight container.


{Note: You can use one colour if that is preferred}.

Picture collage perfect to pin to your Pinterest board.