One Down, 3 To Go!

Every year I pledge to make the children a homemade advent calendar and every year I end up dashing around the shops like a woman possesed to try and find 3 suitable calenders on 30th November. Not this year! This year I am being super organised and have begun making them already. To be honest, the hardest part was choosing from the hundreds of creative ideas to suit each child.

Little monster was the easiest to choose for so his is the first to be made.

Suprise Box Tree Advent Calendar

You can make this using any colour card but we opted for Christmassy green and red

You will need

Card

Scissors

Double sided tape or glue

Cardboard (optional)

Treats to fill

How to Make

1. Draw or print 24 cube templates on the card and cut out

2. Score the card along all of the folds and flaps and fold into a cube shape.

3. With a pencil, mark a cross on all of the flaps that will need adhesive.

4. Unfold the cube and put double sided tape along all of the marked flaps.

5. One by one, remove the tape backing and stick the cube together.

6. Repeat this process for all 24 boxes.

7. Once you have made all 24 boxes it's time to assemble them. With the lids facing the front start to build a Christmas tree shape using double sided tape or another adhesive to stick the vibes together(use the picture as a guide)

8. OPTIONAL Once you have created your Christmas tree attach the entire shape to a piece of decorated cardboard. How you decorate it is entirely up to you. You can either punch two holes in the cardboard and hand up or leave it to stand.

9. Write or use stickers to number each box. This can be done in number order or randomly.

10. Finally, fill each cube with a treat. I've opted for a mix of sweets, chocolates, toys and craft items.

As little monster has decided he wants to use Christmas stickers to finish decorating his calendar there isn't a finished picture yet of his advent calendar completed but follow me on Twitter or check out my Facebook page for the end result.

Are you planning on giving your child an advent calendar this year? Will it be chocolate filled or are you opting for something healthier?

M xx

Little Monsters Cinnamon Whirls

I'm enjoying just how much little monster wants to bake and as it's part of his learning at school this term, what better excuse!

Here is his recipe for Cinnamon Whirls (in his own words!)

You will need

Puff pastry

75g butter

75g sugar

3 tbs ground cinnamon

A pinch of grated nutmeg

Raisins

Egg

Icing sugar 

Glacé cherries

1- Mix the butter and sugar together until it's all smooth and fluffy.

2- Then you have to mix the cinnamon and grated nutmeg in really well.

3- You have to roll the puff pastry out into a rectangle shape then brush on the creamy butter with cinnamon in it.

4- Sprinkle all the yummy raisins all over the pastry.

5- Roll the pastry into a sausage shape( from the short side)

6- Put it in the fridge and let it get cold for 20 mins.

7- Take the pastry out of the fridge and cut it into 2cm thick slices.

8- Put the slices on a greased baking tray leaving gaps because the pastry grows.

9- Brush with the egg and get an adult to put the tray in the oven.

10- While they're cooking make up the icing sugar into a thick paste.

11- After 25 mins take the cinnamon whirls out of the oven and let them cool down.

12- When they are cool drizzle with the icing sugar paste and finish with a cherry on the too.

They're yummy!

Sam and M xx

A Trio of Monsterous Treats

With tween occupying herself with friends, first son at his grandparents for the weekend and my other half at work, I was tasked with keeping little monster busy and happy. When asked what he wanted to do 'bake!' was his rather excited response.

After looking through the kitchen cupboards for what baking goodies we had we opted for some straight forward marshmallow treats.

Here are little monsters bloody eyeballs, Monsters Inc Sully and a witches broomstick.

What you will need 

Marshmallows(not the mini ones)

Straws

Milk chocolate

Red candy melts 

Blue candy melts (or you can use white chocolate and food colouring instead of red and blue melts)

Mint essence

Purple rainbow drops

Raisins

Method 

1) On a sheet of greaseproof paper lay out the marshmallows and put the straws into the middle making sure the go right through to the bottom.

2) Melt the red candy melts (if using chocolate, melt the chocolate and add the red colouring) then coat some of the marshmallows in the red. Add a raisin for the eyeball.

3) Melt the blue candy melts (if ising white chocolate, melt the chocolate and add blue colouring) and mix in 2 drops of mint essence.

4) Coat some of the marshmallows in the blue mix then randomly put some of the purple rainbow drops all over.

5) Melt the chocolate and coat the remaining marshmallows in the melted chocolate.

As you can see, not all of the chocolate made it on to the marshmallows!

6) Leave all of the marshmallows on the greaseproof paper to dry.

Once dry, treat your friends to these ghoulish treats!

For this and other recipe ideas don't forget to follow me on Pinterest.

M xx