Thursday, 18 August 2011

Tilda rice (Mummy and me) at the Waitrose Cookery School! #MummyandMe


I was invited to go along to the "Mummy and me" Tilda taste Panel event event and at the Waitrose Cookery School it was aimed at children between 5 and 12 .

This next quote is part of the press release :

"Get Cooking with the new TILDA TASTE PANEL
 Tilda aims to make family mealtimes less stressful



Tilda, the UK’s number one dry rice brand, known for its 100% Pure Basmati rice, is helping mums across the country to make mealtimes into true family occasions, by introducing the NEW Tilda Taste Panel.



For over 40 years Tilda has been producing the finest quality rice for delicious cooking and now wants to make mealtimes even more enjoyable by showing mums how easy it can be to better incorporate rice into their daily family diet.



TIlda’s NEW Taste Panel is made up of three mothers, who are experts in food, nutrition and family life and aims to provide helpful ‘mother-to-mother’ advice on how to take the stress out of preparing healthy and delicious meals that the whole family will enjoy eating.



With the help of food experts Jo Pratt and Maunika Gowardhan you’ll be able to make quick, easy and convenient suppers in minutes!  Plus nutritionist Azmina Govindji will also be advising on how to make sure your loved ones eat a healthy, balanced diet.



With recent research showing that family mealtimes are becoming ever more difficult to manage on top of work life pressures, TV chef Jo Pratt has devised a delicious menu of quick ten-minute recipes featuring Tilda’s Steamed Basmati range.



What’s more you can even get your kids involved in the cooking and preparation, as each recipe has been designed to be as kiddy friendly as possible, giving mum an additional pair of hands in the kitchen! "






. When we got there J did say

"Make sure you get some cooking tips"


So how to cook with a child.....

You add a state of the art  kitchen ( any kitchen will really do....)



Study the wines very carefully....................


No I did not have any wine nor sadly was Tom Cruise ( aka Cocktail at the bar )




You need a snazzy apron...

J in his Tilda apron.

Me in my apron !!
Add in some rice !!!




We then moved onto the cooking arena , where we had various Tilda Rice recipes demonstrated to us.


This is Maunika Gowardhan.

Maunika Gowardhan  
Mother of a three-year old named Johann.

Maunika is the Indian cuisine expert for the Tilda Taste Panel. As a freelance food writer, blogger and private chef she is certainly a ‘foodie’.  Her well known blog Cookinacurry includes many authentic Indian recipes. Being born in Mumbai, India, has provided her with a wealth of knowledge about a variety of cuisine and different methods of cooking, which she hopes to pass on to other mums.



The demonstrations were out of this world and looked mouthwatering , they were so quick and easy, just what you need when you are a busy parent !






We then had to go and cook one of the recipes we had been shown by 'Jo Pratt' ourselves !

Jo Pratt 
Mother of two young children Oliver and Rosa aged four and two.

Jo is the Tilda Taste Panel expert ‘mummy chef’ and recipe creator (she has experience and understanding of the commercial and home kitchen). Having worked alongside Michelin starred chefs; she is able to combine this insight with creating easy to make everyday recipes that the kids can help to cook. Jo is also a food writer and was Food Editor at Glamour magazine for four years. 









J have fun cooing our meal which was the Fried Rice recipe shown below !



Jo Pratt’s Mummy and Me Recipes

PRAWN OR TUNA SPRING ROLLS
Makes 6-8

Ingredients
  • 1 pack of Tilda Steamed Basmati Egg Fried Rice
  • 100g small cooked prawns or 100g flaked tinned tuna
  • 100g carrot, coarsely grated
  • ½ red pepper, cut into small pieces
  • 1-1 ½ tsp sweet chilli dipping sauce, plus extra to serve (or tomato ketchup if preferred)
  • 12-16 square sheets of fresh filo pastry  
  • Vegetable oil for brushing 


Pre-heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7.



Line a baking tray with baking paper.



Lightly massage the pack of Tilda rice to separate the rice grains. Tear the top of the pack 2cm across and cook for 2 minutes in the microwave.



Meanwhile, place the prawns or tuna in a mixing bowl with the carrot, red pepper and sweet chilli dipping sauce, then add the rice. Mix well and set aside.



Lay a sheet of filo pastry on the work top or board and brush lightly with oil. Place another sheet of pastry on top and lightly brush with oil. Turn the square so that one corner of the pastry is pointing towards you. Spoon some filling onto the corner nearest you. Fold this corner towards the centre and tuck under the filling.



Fold the two outside corners to the middle so it looks like an envelope. Brush lightly with oil then roll up to look like a sausage shape. Brush once more and sit on the lined baking tray. Repeat until you have made the rest of the spring rolls.



Place in the oven for 15-18 minutes until lightly golden and crisp.



Cool slightly before eating, with extra sweet chilli dipping sauce to serve.







SPECIAL FRIED-RICE


Serves 4 small portions or 2 adults portions

 
  • 1 pack of Tilda Steamed Basmati Egg Fried Rice
  • 2 chicken breasts, skinless
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp runny honey
  • 1 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
  • 4 spring onions
  • 150g green beans, Tenderstem broccoli or asparagus
  • 75g sweetcorn
  • 100g pineapple, chopped (fresh or tinned in fruit juice and drained) 


Thinly slice the chicken breast, place in a bowl and stir in the soy sauce and honey. Leave to one side to marinade for a few minutes.



Finely slice the spring onions and chop the green beans, Tenderstem broccoli or asparagus into small pieces. Heat the oil in a wok then add the chopped vegetables. Stir fry for about minute before adding the chicken and marinade. Stir fry for a couple of minutes until the chicken is cooked through.



Add the Tilda Steamed Basmati Egg Fried Rice, sweetcorn and pineapple. Stir fry everything together for about 2 minutes until the rice is completely heated through then serve in bowls or on plates.



CHOCOLATE AND BANANA RICE PUDDING 


Serves 6

 
  • 1 pack Tilda Steamed Pure Basmati rice
  • 500ml semi-skimmed milk, plus extra for serving (optional)
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 50g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 2 medium bananas, peeled and sliced 


Lightly massage the pack of rice to separate the rice grains. Tip into a non-stick saucepan and add the 50g of sugar and 500ml of milk. Bring to a simmer and gently simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Keeping the pan on the heat, add the chocolate and stir until melted. Remove from the heat and add any extra milk to loosen if needed.



The bananas can now be either stirred into the chocolate rice pudding or served on top. Serve hot or if preferred the chocolate rice pudding is just as tasty served chilled.



PS…As an alternative to bananas, why not try other fruits such as raspberries, strawberries, mango or pear with the chocolate rice pudding.





The last member of the Tilda taste panel is Azmina Govindji 

Mother of Shazia and Bizhan, aged 18 and 20.       

Azmina is the Tilda Taste Panel nutritional expert. As a consultant nutritionist and registered dietician, she is able to offer top healthy tips and advice for meal times. As a media spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and NHS Choices, Azmina specialises in taking health/food scientific research and translating it into information which all mums can understand and benefit from. 


 

Visit www.tilda.com <http://www.tilda.com>  for a selection of great-tasting recipes.
Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/TildaRice and follow us on Twitter @Tildabasmati


About TildaTilda Pure Basmati is the UK’s number one Basmati brand by volume and value.  With over 30 years of experience in buying, importing and selling the highest quality Pure Basmati Rice, it’s a name that you can trust.

Tilda has a wide range of products ranging from Pure Basmati Dry Rice, new Tilda Stir Fry, and Tilda Steamed Basmati, available in a wide variety of flavours.

Basmati remains at the heart of Tilda and the company is committed to preserving the authenticity of the grain.  It refuses to blend with inferior grains, carefully removes broken grains, DNA tests every batch, consistently ages the rice for at least 9 months and works hand-in-hand with the farming community to ensure the quality of the final product.

Tilda remains a family business, employing over 200 people in the UK, and is proud of its reputation for uncompromising quality and commitment to sustaining the legendary status of Basmati.

About the Tilda Steamed Basmati range
The two-minute Tilda Steamed Basmati range offers a quick and convenient meal and contains the finest Basmati rice and quality ingredients. The extensive Tilda Steamed Basmati range, includes Sweet Chilli and Lime, Wholegrain Pilau, Lime & Coriander, Mushroom, Butternut Squash and Roasted Peppers & Courgettes amongst others. The Tilda Steamed Basmati Sweet Chilli and Lime has been awarded Gold in the Great Taste Awards, which is part of The Guild of Fine Food. 





Thanks to Tilda Rice and Waitrose cookery school for a fabulous after noon and for encouraging J to eat new foods like green beans,spring onions and flaked salmon !



Disclosure (Myself and my  son got to see the demonstrations and cook for free, we also received four pouches of rice and the recipes shown above. We  will also be receiving our own little cookery booklet)

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Dog toy giveaway

Rollie was really pleased he won some toys in a competition , they were meant to be cat toys some how Rollie isn't going to fetch a Frisbee or play tug will a pull rope!








So just tweet  " I am in to win some dog toys with @needaphone over at http://ninjakillercat.blogspot.com/

End 11.59 18th August 2011 winner choosen by randomn org.



So a quick comp to give them to one lucky winner will be posted Friday

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

The importance of Outdoor play despite the weather !



 Whatever the season there is no excuse not to go out and play outdoors!



It doesn't matter if it's too hot out there (put on a hat and sun cream) or if the leaves are turning brown, the conkers are looking ready to drop. It is raining ,when doesn't it rain in this country. It can be tempting what ever the weather to just plonk them in front of Cbeebies and run for your computer catching up on Twitter or Facebook. Though hopefully you are reading this at at sensible time when your little angels have got to bed after you've been playing outside.The weather is not an excuse not to get out and there and  play. You must have all seen the various government campaigns on the television at the moment encouraging your to take exercise of at least 60 minutes outside. And this doesn't even have to cost you any money in most cases.

At my school we have a canopy so they can play outside even when it is raining. We also have a welly shed and raincoats. So they can play in the puddles, stamp on those crunchy leaves, make mud pies and of course the child hood favourite making homes for wriggly worms. Though making their homes out of stones was not a good idea I discovered as a child !. You don't even need toys as they will produce their own toys from what ever is around them.

A canopy makes out door play accessible in all weathers.


Well of course that’s an appealing thought but what about all that outside play that the children got during the summer? Why let it stop just because it’s a bit colder! A few layers, a raincoat and trousers and a pair of wellies and they are all set. In the colder months you don’t even need to give them toys to play with as the changing seasons and the natural toys that they are producing will be enough to keep them entertained.

A sandpit is a marvellous addition to outdoor play just make sure it has a cover otherwise it will turn into a giant kitty litter. It doesn't even have to be an expensive sandpit it can be one you've made your self . Just cover it with tarpaulin.


(photo used with permission from @chocorange )

Just make  sure the children have suitable waterproof clothing on if they go to play outside when it wet.

If a child could design their outdoor space it would be naturalized with plants,flowers,dirt,sand,mud and insects,but would also be rich with a wide variety of play opportunities of every imaginable type.If children could design their outdoor play space then this would further enriching their developmental learning environment and they would want to stay all day. I know as its a hard job getting the reception children in from their outdoor play !



So before you reach for the safety of plonking them in front of a dvd, why not turn off the television get the wellies on( Hunter Wellies if you want to be a scrummy yummy mummy ), dig out a magnifying glass and go looking for insects?( No pulling the wings of fairies !!! ) Or build a den or a fort ?





If you don't get your child into the outdoors they are never going to build up their immunity and be able to fight off those coughs colds and other nasty bugs!

.
So get out in the outdoors and just have fun what ever the weather ! It is England after all.



Saturday, 13 August 2011

Rollie is bowled over by @HastingsCrystal and a bowl giveaway.

Word had got out that Rollie had been offered a bowl to review and would have to give it back. No the bowl was not gold plated and neither did it belong to Paris Hilton fuzzy handbag dog. So the lovely Hastings Crystal Company stepped to the rescue they have good taste being Chelsea supporters like Rollie.

Rollie is a Chelsea fan.



So here is  Rollie  waving a paw at me to go fetch his food! to put in his personalised bowl. Rollie and I are really please with it the quality of the bowl is outstanding. It was promptly delivered and beautifully wrapped. I wouldn't hesitate to order from Hastings Crystal again. They sell everything you name it they sell it.

So please go and say hello to them on twitter wouldn't want to let Rollie down would you ?

So the very nice people at HastingsCrystal are letting me give away one bowl either a cat bowl likes Rollie's or a dog bowl?There is a choice of colours in each either blue or pink. Delivery will take up to 10 days as the item is personalised.

The personalised dog bowl.



The personalised cat bowl.

To be in with a chance of winning one bowl you must follow the two steps below.

1. So to be in with a chance of winning a bowl you need to go visit Hastings Crystal and comment back here with your favourite item.

2.  Tweet " That @HastingsCrystal and http://ninjakillercat.blogspot.com/ have bowled me over"

Ends 25th September 2011

(Disclosure Hasting Crystal gave Rollie the bowl to keep and Rollie the cat views and my views are entirely are own)

RSPCA tweetathon -Rollie the cat contribution

The RSPCA did a tweetathon to raise awareness of the work they are doing, I was proud to do this being a cat owner myself as you might have guessed by the blog title. Though Rollie the Ninja cat is really quite fluffy really... mostly.

The RSPCA has a 24 hour service which can be of crucial benefit to you sometime in your life. I know it has for me, many moons ago when I had a different cat. Myself and my husband went to see batman and when we came back the cat had caught a bat. To be honest there was not a lot we could do for the bat except call the RSPCA who in touch put us in contact with some lovely chap from a bat rescue group. Bats you see are a protected species. And another time I used their services was when I found an injured cat outside my house late at night, I didn't hesitate I just called the RSPCA and they arranged for me to take it to an emergency very late at night.


The one thing  I didn't know was that the RSPCA has tirelessly be working for animals since 1824 in promoting kindness and protection. Today the RSPCA receives an emergency call every 30 seconds - which is more than 1.25 million phone calls a year. Every day the RSPCA responds to around 1,000 incidents a day, rescuing,caring and re-homing animals that have been trapped, abandoned or hurt whether it's 2pm or 2am. Whats;s more ,the RSPCA is funded entirely by voluntary donations.




Here are some links to adoption stories and information.



My own cat Rollie.

Please visit and donate if you wish  http://donations.rspca.org.uk/247/online.aspx?seg=11CIN30262 

So even though this tweetathon is now over they are many animals that still need you help.


 Rollie doesn't mean to be rude really....




I have fun with my cat so please donate( or even adopt) from the RSPCA  if you wish to to bring joy in to an animals life.