Taste of Nature bars are delicious. Everything you see comes straight from nature. Nothing artificial, no fillers and no chemicals with names as hard to pronounce as they are to digest. Simple, healthy snacks.

Starting with quality ingredients is itself, a key ingredient in the making of the bars. It sounds simple and in fact, it is simple. But it requires an absolute commitment to sourcing the best of the very best. The cream of the crop. It requires attention to all details, no matter how small. They search the world for the very best ingredients and work directly with farmers to pick and choose the best of their crops.

Taste of Nature bars use whole nuts and seeds. They are not extruded (You know, those bars that look like mush?) Using whole ingredients means they buy the best ingredients that you can see right though the package. Plus they use only certified organic and non–GMO ingredients.

Taste of Nature bars are priced £1.39 each and are available in all good healthfood stores.

For your chance to win a mixed case (18 bars) of Taste of Nature simply complete the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck!

My last recipe for Afternoon Tea Week is a corker! Cheesecake is one of my favourite desserts and this lemon and ricotta version is delicious!

Lemon & Ricotta Cheesecake

Serves: 8
Preparation time: 20 minutes, plus 3 hours chilling time
 
Ingredients:

180 g Arden Amici Almond Cantuccini, crushed

75 g butter, melted

12 g sachet powdered gelatine

350 g ricotta cheese

200 ml double cream

2 x 315 g jar The English Provender Co. Luxury Lemon Curd

Finely grated rind and juice 1 lemon

Method:

1. Stir the biscuits into the melted butter and press into the base of a 20 cm round loose bottomed cake tin. Place in the fridge and chill, whilst you make the filling.
2. Pour 115 ml (8 tablespoons) boiling water into a small heatproof bowl and sprinkle over the gelatine. Stir briskly until thoroughly dissolved. In a large bowl whisk together the cheese, cream, 1½ jars of the lemon curd and the lemon juice and rind until smooth Whisk in the gelatine, pour over the base and smooth the top.
3. Place in the fridge and chill for about 3 hours or until set.
4. To serve, carefully remove from the tin and spoon over the remaining lemon curd.

Today we celebrate 7 married years. Wow! Love you so much xxx

Brushtime can be a nightmare in our household. I battle twice a day to get Little E to brush her teeth often resulting in her going to bed without brushing. But I am not alone. A new report commissioned by Aquafresh has discovered that 80 percent of children throw temper tantrums and experience anger at bedtime, meaning that one in ten parents send their children to bed without brushing their teeth.

To celebrate the launch of the new Disney Pixar movie 'Inside Out' we were asked to help out with a video for Aquafresh exploring the different emotions children experience at brushtime. Inside Out is based in 11yr old Riley's head and explores how she is guided through her everyday life by her emotions. We set up a camera in our bathroom at brushtime to see just how Little E's emotions affected her brushing. You can see us in the video here

We also received a fab brushtime kit to help make teeth brushing that bit more fun! It is certainly working at the moment - we have had a 100% brushing success rate since introducing the Inside Out themed kit. Disgust and Sadness are cool toothbrush holders, Anger is a stress toy, Joy is a timer to make sure they brush long enough and Fear is a cool wristband to wear only when brushing. Little E has packed the whole kit up to take to for her sleepover this weekend! What a result!

And in case you thought I forgot to mention Little I, well she LOVES brushing her teeth so until she develops her Sister's obstinate nature we are ok for now!

There are a whole spectrum of emotions that your child might go through in a day, and each behaviour may require a different response. Here are some useful tips from Chile Behavioural expert Lorraine Thomas (themed around the Inside Out characters of course!) to arm you with the right approach to help them embrace your child's feelings with the best outcome.

JOY
•  When helping your children to brush their teeth celebrate their joy and sense of fun. Live in the moment with them 100% and engage all of your senses. Joy is such a powerful feeling, it creates memories that last forever and it can diminish the power of a negative feeling.
•  Children are mini-scientists, testing out their hypotheses about the world and they use all their senses to do it. In the bathroom, you’ll see them smelling, touching, seeing, squeezing – and throwing just about everything. This is normal so enjoy spending time with your pioneers so try to learn to take mess in your stride.
•  Your child is an expert at enjoying themselves. When brushing their teeth they will know what they like and will want to make sure that no-one gets in their way.
•   Love their smile. We love to see our children smiling and laughing – tell them how it makes you feel to see their clean smile after they have brushed their teeth.
•   Tell them what you love about being their mum or dad and spending time with them. Get into the habit of doing it on a daily basis – just like brushing their teeth.

ANGER
•  Step into their shoes and try to understand what it is that is making them angry when brushing their teeth. Don’t take their behaviour personally. They are trying to communicate a message to you and may not have all the words or tools to do it. Children will often express anger when they are actually frustrated or tired or overwhelmed and ‘tuning in’ to what is causing them to behave in a certain way
will help you to manage it.
•  Even nice children develop some nasty habits and when they are angry it is very common for them to shout and stamp their feet when brushing their teeth. Many will lash out and bite or kick a parent or sibling. It is usually not pre-meditated or spiteful. They are struggling to deal with a challenging feeling – just as we do.
•  Encouraging children to talk about their feelings makes them much less likely to reach ‘behavioural’ boiling point and lash out physically so invest time and energy to nurture this in them.
•  Be a great role model and deal with challenging situations such as making sure they brush properly calmly.
•  Catch your child ‘red-handed’ behaving calmly instead of giving them attention for behaving angrily at brushtime
•  If children argue and get angry – which all siblings will do at some point – resist the temptation to step in immediately. Give them the opportunity to sort it out themselves first.
•  Remember that the time it is most important for you to love your child is when they make it the most difficult to do so.

FEAR
•  Children are frightened of many things. It’s a totally natural part of their emotional development. At around two and a half, a child’s imagination begins to develop and different fears can include many things like the dark or disappearing down a plug hole.
•  Your child is a small person in a big scary world. Be gentle and supportive. If, for example, they are anxious about brushing their teeth when they have a loose tooth or tooth ache, explain to them the reason why they may feel scared and how brushing their teeth can help.
•  If you know your child is worried about something that’s going to occur, make sure you prepare them. Tell them that they are going to brush their teeth and reassure them you will be there to support them.

SADNESS
•  Acknowledge how your child is feeling and avoid saying ‘it will be alright’ or ‘there is nothing to feel sad about’. Show them that you have time and want to listen to them. Give them lots of attention and cuddles.
•  Try to find out what it is about brushing their teeth that they feel sad about. Children worry about all sorts of things, it might be something small like a change in routine or something major like death or parents separating.
•  When children feel sad, it is normal for them not to want to talk. Don’t put pressure on them to tell you but make it clear that you will be around to listen and talk when they are ready.
•  Crying is a healthy way for your child to express their emotions, so let them do this – whatever their age.
•  Be a great role model. Tell and show your child that it is natural and normal to feel sad by creating time for them to talk about their sad feelings and also by being open about your own.
•  Children often feel sad because they are disappointed. Avoid saying it doesn’t matter – because it does matter to them – but come up with a practical tool to support them when brushing their teeth instead.

DISGUST
•  When a child expresses ‘disgust’, it is usually because they are trying something which is new or they are very uncertain about the taste of. Their taste buds are developing and what may taste ‘disgusting’ one day may be their favourite food or drink the next. Help them to get used to the taste of toothpaste by using childfriendly mint flavoured toothpastes such as AQUAFRESH® Little Teeth Toothpaste
•  They may also express disgust because they are actually finding the physical demands of tooth brushing too challenging and not really anything to do with the taste at all. Your child is constantly learning a whole new skill set so when you see them spitting toothpaste out – try to stay calm and see it from their point of view. If they are finding using a toothbrush overwhelming, for example, show them how to use it, do it for them and help them to master the skill.

uk a an

Afternoon Tea Week continues and today I am sharing another tasty recipe from the lovely people at The English Provender Co. These recipes are so easy and taste amazing so you can forget posh hotels and do it yourself at home.

Cranberry and Orange Muffins

Makes: 10 muffins
Preparation time: 10 minutes  
Cooking time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

2 large oranges

275 g self- raising flour

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

75g caster sugar

1 large egg, beaten

90 ml sunflower oil

6 tablespoons The English Provender Co. Wild Cranberry Sauce

Little demerara sugar

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC, Gas Mark 5. Line a muffin tin with 10 paper muffin cases. 
2. Finely grate the rind from the oranges, then cut the oranges in half and squeeze the juice into a jug (you should have about 180 ml of liquid, make up to this amount with water if necessary).
3. In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda, caster sugar and the orange rind. Using a metal spoon, mix together.
4. Add the egg, oil and cranberry sauce to the orange juice and beat together with a fork. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined, the batter will be lumpy.
5. Spoon into the prepared cases, sprinkle each with a little demerara sugar and cook in the centre of the oven for 20-25 minutes until well risen and golden. Leave to cool for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Delicious served warm or cold.

Don't forget to enter my competition to win a set of The English Provender Co. Luxury Curds during Afternoon Tea Week by entering my competition here.

Linking up to #Foodpornthursday at cuddlefairy.com and #recipeoftheweek at amummytoo.co.uk

Today my Grandad turns 80 years young. He is a very special man. The kindest, most generous and patient man I know.

Last weekend we celebrated his life as a Brother, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend with a big surprise party.

Not only is he a special man he is an inspirational one too. He was awarded an MBE and the Territorial Decoration (TD) by HRH The Queen for his services in the British Armed Forces as a Major in the Parachute regiment.

It was my job to make him a birthday cake. I knew it had to be something special. The flavour was easy, what cake do you make a Scotsman? Whisky cake of course! And the decoration had to depict one of his 2000 parachute jumps with the Scottish Highlands covered in heather in the distance.

Happy Birthday Grandad! You are one in a million xxxxx

Linking up to #pocolo at vevivos.com #binkylinky at twinmummyanddaddy.com #reasonstobecheerful at beckywilloughby.co.uk at #happyquacks at mamaduckquacks.com

10am: I don't care what the time is! I don't want to be awake!

10:02: Perhaps this is a nightmare...

10:15 No, it's real... May as well accept it.

10:30: Pom-poms fix everything

Linking up to #wickedwedesday with brummymummyof2.co.uk and #sharewithme at letstalkmommy.com

Did you know it is Afternoon Tea Week?! Very exciting! I am amateur baker and love the concept of a decadent mid afternoon sweet treat. The scones are by far my favourite bit. Amazingly I only recently had my first 'proper' Afternoon Tea at The Park Lane Hotel. I'm officially hooked!

The English Provender Co. Are sponsoring Afternoon Tea Week and have devised some delicious recipes which you can make at home to rival the big hotel Afternoon Teas . I will be sharing three recipes this week plus giving you the chance to win some of their luxury curds! Perfect for topping a scone or mixing into a muffin.

Blueberry & Lemon Scones

Makes: about 10 
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 12 minutes

300 g self- raising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
75 g butter, cut into small squares
50 g caster sugar
100 g blueberries
3 tablespoons The English Provender Co. Luxury Lemon Curd
150 ml milk, plus extra for brushing

To serve:

Clotted cream
The English Provender Co. Luxury Lemon Curd

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C, Gas Mark 6. Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl then rub in the butter, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

2. Stir in the sugar and blueberries and mix well. Whisk together the milk and lemon curd and gently stir into the breadcrumb mixture, with a rounded knife until the mixture is a soft dough and comes together in a ball.

3. Gently knead on a lightly floured surface to remove any cracks. Roll out to 2 cm thickness, then using a 6 cm fluted pastry cutter, cut into rounds. Gather up any spare bits of dough and knead lightly, roll out and make more scones.

4. Place on a baking tray, spacing them a little apart, brush the tops with milk and cook for 10-12 minutes, until risen and golden brown. Transfer to a cooling rack.

5. Delicious served warm or cold, split in half and top with clotted cream and lemon curd.

Cook’s tip- handle the dough as little as possible or it will become tough. Any remaining scones can be stored in an airtight container for 2-3 days- just reheat in the oven.

I have 2 sets of The English Provender Co. Luxury Curds to give away during Afternoon Tea Week. To enter simply complete the Rafflecopter form below. Competition closes at midnight on 17th August. Good luck!

Linking up to #tastytuesday at honestmum.com #foodpornthursdays at moderndadpages.com #twinklytuesday at mummascribbles.com and #allaboutyou at mama-andmore.com

Linking up to #magicmoments at theoliversmadhouse.co.uk #whatsthestory at podcastdove.com and #mycapturedmoment at runninginlavender.com

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