SIO Tips no. 70 - Christmas with Kids

Christmas can get chaotic in a household with kids - one great way to reduce the running around ahead of time is to open your children's toys and remove all the fiddly bits, fit any batteries and make sure the boxes are easy to open. Then you can wrap them up knowing that they will be ready to play with on Christmas morning, keeping everyone happy and entertained.

Baubles re-visited - Another look at last years decorations

Last year I wrote this blog about making mini Pinatas for the Christmas Tree. They were so popular with the kids and grown-ups alike I thought I would re-share this great way to make the festive season even more special!

Christmas eve is going to be extra busy this year with all the nephews and nieces coming for dinner. Excitement levels will be sky high so I decided to arrange a little pre-emptive entertainment.

Pinatas are everywhere at the moment - for children's parties, Hallowe'en and festivals. So why shouldn't Christmas get the mexican treatment too?

Getting prepared

You will need:

Pack of small balloons
Scissors
Ribbon to hang
Shredded Newspaper/Brown Paper/Tissue Paper
Paste (1Cup flour to 2 Cups Water and pinch salt)
1" paint brush
2 Lengths of cardboard
Treats to fill the finished baubles
Embellishments to decorate

Mixing the paste

Firstly make up your paste: It's really very simple, boil together 1 Cup plain flour with 2 cups water - keep stirring until it starts to thicken then add a pinch of salt and take off the heat. I store mine in a used yoghurt pot with a sealable lid (keep in a cool place). Once this is made you're ready to set up a work space, be sure to lay down newspaper or a plastic sheet on your table and an apron to protect your clothes. Get comfy with a nice pot of tea or a glass of wine before you start.

Keeping things neat

I made a simple stand to hold the balloons as they dried by cutting two lengths of card (kindly decorated by my 2 year old nephew) I cut a slit down the middle of each piece and slotted them together to make a X shape. Along each side I cut two more shallow slits to hold the knots of the balloons as they were drying.

Now you can shred your paper and blow up the balloons to the size you prefer (I decided on keeping them fairly small and liked the varied shapes not being properly round)

Ripped paper is better

I found that the cut paper wasn't so easy to stick and blend in as ripped paper so forget precision and get stuck in - great for stress relief but noisy so not great if your family is trying to watch their favourite program in the same room but is fun if you have a little helper.

First layer going on

I brushed a layer of the paste onto the balloon as well as onto the paper itself. You'll find that the paste soaks through the paper this will give it strength when its dry. I left mine overnight to dry and did another layer the following afternoon.

Left out to dry

These take a little while to make because each layer needs to dry before adding the next. You can speed up the drying time by choosing a warm place to leave them to dry or perhaps a hairdryer?

Securing the ribbon

After the second layer is dry you need to add your ribbon. I taped it to the bottom and all the way around before adding another layer of paper. This way the hanging loop is firmly attached ready for the kids to bash them on Christmas eve.
Be sure to leave a gap either side of the ribbon ready for you to make the opening to fill the baubles when this layer is dried.

Ready to be filled & decorated

Another layer goes on top I finished some with Brown Paper ready to be embellished with sparkles, buttons, ribbons or metallic pen, some had a layer of white tissue to help masque the newsprint before painting and the others will have one more layer using christmassy gift wrap to make an easy decorative finish. When this layer is dry you will see the pinatas are now quite tough and ready to be filled. Take your scissors and cut a hole big enough to fit your treats through in the top, cutting the knot off the balloon and you can carefully pull the rubbery layer out.

Sweet inside

Now to fill with sweets and tissue paper pieces (only if you don't mind cleaning the confetti up) and seal the top to match the last layer before decorating.

Now really is the fun part - you can decorate these baubles however you like...so let your imagination run and get the kids involved too, they'll love decorating their own, though they may not want to bash them open on the night - they can always get to the goodies inside by poking through the thinner layer covering the hole.

Ready for the tree

Have fun being creative this Holiday season...

Ruthie
in South Africa

Alcohol Free Winter Warmers No 3

Designated driver or simply want to give the grog a miss then we have some ideas for you.  Simple and easy to achieve and you do not have to produce gallons at once! Evening or morning, Christmas or not these drinks are lovely.

Apple Hooch - alcohol free apple punch
Serves 6-8

Sturdy pan

Two cartons of pure apple juice

One carton of quality pineapple juice

Zest of one orange

Slice the orange into 12 half slices after zesting

Push a clove into each orange piece

4 cinnamon sticks cut each in half to create 8 small sticks

Sweetening - if needed (pineapple is very sweet) use honey or sugar.



Add all ingredients excluding the sweetener of your choice, warm through but do not boil, add slowly your sweetener a little at a time till you are happy if required.  Simmer never boil and serve ensuring each cup gets a slice of orange or a cinnamon stick



Want to add alcohol to some of your mixture, separate off the quantity you want to add to and pour in rum to suit, never boil as this kills the alcohol as it will start to evaporate.

Again as with other recipes can be prepared in advance and heated as needed.  Kept warm in a flask or slow cooker.

You could decorate your heat proof glasses or mugs with apple slices, remember you will need to dip in lemon juice or they will go brown.

ENJOY

SIO Tips no. 29

If you have memories of dry turkey from past Christmases, buy a fresh-killed (meaning, never frozen) turkey. They truly are juicier, tenderer, and tastier than frozen birds.

SEEKITOUT: Changing the world a stitch at a time.

Alcohol Free Winter Warmers No 2

Designated driver or simply want to give the grog a miss then we have some ideas for you.  Simple and easy to achieve and you do not have to produce gallons at once! Evening or morning, Christmas or not these drinks are lovely.




Glockenspiel - non Alcoholic Glühwein
Serves 4-6

Study pan
4-6 small mugs or heat proof glasses
1 Carton of good quality cranberry juice - avoid cranberry drink you want pure juice
1/2 carton of quality fresh orange juice
6 Slices of orange
1 Sachet of mulled wine spices - on the spice rack in supermarkets you can boxes of sachets containing ready mixed spices (you can add two if you want it super spicy)
3 Cinnamon sticks - halved to create 6 short sticks
Sweeten to taste with either honey, sugar, or spoonful’s of redcurrant jelly.

Add all ingredients excluding the sweetener of your choice, warm through but do not boil, add slowly your sweetener a little at a time till you are happy.  Simmer never boil and serve ensuring each cup gets a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick piece but never the sachet.  

Keeps well, can be made up and heated later, keep the heat low if keeping warm.  Works on a slow cooker if you want to have it somewhere else than where your cooker is, likewise in flasks. 

ENJOY!

Alcohol Free Winter Warmers No 1

Designated driver or simply want to give the grog a miss then we have some ideas for you.  Simple and easy to achieve and you do not have to produce gallons at once! Evening or morning, Christmas or not these drinks are lovely.

Oxymel - dates back to antiquity but here is the 21st version!
Individual portion

Big mug
Two slices of fresh lemon
Two slices of fresh root ginger
Large glug of honey (amount to suit your sweetness preference)
Top up with boiling water, stir and leave to infuse, stir and drink when cooled a little. Leave all the ingredients in, as it will continue to infuse.

Reheats well - microwave or pan, leave all the ingredients in.
You can also add a sliver or two of lemon grass for an even more oriental taste.
Served infused and chilled on a hot summers day. 


ENJOY