Easter Fun with children... Homework for parents

As any of you parents out there know, school life imposes certain "chores" on parents... Schools run a lot of competitions to enable the children to create things at home for either project work or seasonal fun.

I have always believed that if the children should be making something, it should be their work.  A lot of times I have despaired when you see a children bring a wooden model to school (when they are only 6!) or a cake that looks like it belongs in a shop... Now, I'm not saying parents should not get involved with what their kids do... encouragement is essential. My son is not very creative, and he needs some ideas at times. BUT, then I expect him to go on and do it himself.

Today is the closing date for a Literary competition I am running at the primary school, I am intrigued to see the submissions. This is the first time I have done this, it'll be interesting to see what I get. If I have enough entries I am planning to publish them as a collection to raise money for the school - should be fun (maybe?)

Anyway...

My daughter (who is a regular feature on this blog) decided to make a simnel cake for her Easter Competition Entry. She got the recipe from a Mary Berry Cook book and followed it... (I did have to put the cake in the oven again since she insisted it was ready even though it needed an extra 40 mins... oh well!)

I was very proud of the fact she got all the ingredients together, measured them out & basically made it herself! The she made some decorations modelling the marzipan, and painted them using food colouring... a job well done! (I even learnt something - the 11 marzipan balls represent the 11 apostles)

My son needed an idea... I suggested he should do something that matched his sense of humour (he is a joker!) - So, I suggested he make an Easter Garden (that still had not arrived due to the cold weather).  He found the characters, make captions for them, stuck them on to card and cut them out... then he planted the bulbs that have yet to flower, and job done! I think the captions are quite funny!

Anyway, today I have to make an Easter bonnet for my youngest (it never stops) and bake more cakes for her Easter party tomorrow.

Am I the only parent that thinks... STOP, enough? Ha ha

Okay... since I wrote this post I have made the Easter Bonnet with my daughter (her pointing at me saying there mummy, there... oh, and add this!)

I also facepainted a LOT of children at the Easter fun Day at the pre-school, bought lots of cakes & won a few prizes in the raffle... hooray!

Joanne was searching everywhere for eggs during the egg hunt... even though I tried to "stage" a few discoveries the other kids were hot on her heals! It's a bun fight for the eggs!

Talking of buns... I managed to get my mums "Easter Bread" recipe and helped my eldest make it yesterday. It is the first time I have tried it and I have to say it looked just as good as "me mums"

RECIPE

325g margarine
4 eggs
125g sugar (I used caster)
The rind of 1 lemon & 2 large oranges (& the juice from the oranges)
I teaspoon vanilla essence or aniseed flavouring (I used the vanilla)
Approx. 350g Self Raising flour

I mixed the Margarine, eggs, sugar & flour together.  Then added the rind & juice & flavouring.  The dought needs to be "bread like" so add more flour until it is a good consistency, i.e. not sticking to your hands.

Divide into four portions, shape into buns, then criss cross and bake for approx 25 mins until golden brown (like mine...)

Once cooled, slice thinly and spread with butter, jam, etc as you would with scones or eat on its own! I wrap them in tea towels to keep them fresh.

Enjoy, let me know if you try them and what the results were like!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

(I am planning to eat cake, chocolates, and spend time with family... can't wait!)

Speak soon,
Vanessa :) xx