December Family Foodies Round-Up and Winner Announcement

Well what a month we’ve had on Family Foodies. When I launched the event at the beginning of December I wasn’t sure too many of you would find the time amidst the silly season to post Kids Christmas recipes, but how wrong was I!. A wonderful array of biscuits, puds, non-alcholic drinks, gingerbread houses, edible gifts, tree decorations, cakes, choccies and savories were wonderfully linked by you clever and imaginative lot. All I’ll say is lucky, lucky kids.

First up came these super-cute and nostalgic Layered Christmas Teddy Bear Jellies from Elizabeth’s Kitchen. Now what child wouldn’t be delighted with one of these at Christmas? My own monsters aside, who are weirdly and uniquely jelly-phobic. I put it down to starting their lives in France where kids just don’t ‘do’ or even ‘get’ jelly, believe me I tried (and failed) at a few birthday parties!

We had two sets of Mini Gingerbread Houses, designed to cutely fit on a christmas cuppa. What a super idea. The first from Becky over at Mint Custard who gave us A Whole Gingerbread Hamlet, as a response to a certain teen’s request for a gingerbread house. I think she more than fulfilled their brief and what a fun festive project for older children to get involved in!

Similarly inspired by Not Martha Ros over at The More Than Occasional Baker also gave us some cute-as-can-be Mini Gingerbread Houses she made to give away as gifts, lucky recipients I say!. She also offered plenty of useful tips for future gingerbread projects, being a bit of novice to gingerbread myself they’re very useful.

Keeping on the popular gingerbread theme we had another entry from Mint Custard with her elegant Gingerbread Stars to Hang on your Mug. What a gorgeous idea, and more fitting with my own (limited) baking capabilities!

I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised with my own gingerbread baking efforts this year on my first attempt at Chocolate Gingerbread Tree Decorations (or any homemade tree decs for that matter!). Baked and decorated together with the kids we somehow managed to get something respectable on the tree and to give away as teacher pressies. And as we discovered they made a mighty fine naughty christmas breakie every now and again!

Ros from The More Than Occasional Baker also baked some Christmas Tree Gingerbread Cookies but hers had a delightful genius Hidden Surprise. A secretly concealed inside full of mini sweets! I so love this idea, and it’s certainly one I’m storing in the memory banks to delight my own children with next year.

Finally on the gingerbread front we had the cutest of the cutest Gingerbread Reindeer from Vohn’s Vittles. Though I’m not sure I’d be capable of taking a bite out of any of those faces, the surprised middle one especially, would you? And did you spot that they’re upside down gingerbread men, I totally didn’t until I read the post.

The Gluten Free Alchemist baked and decorated some delightfully pretty and pink (and gluten free obviously!), Almond & Cherry Biscuit Trees. A nice twist on festive flavours and an interesting and flavoursome mix of gluten-free flours.

Another glorious flavour combination of cookie recipe came from Vanesther over at Bangers and Mash with her White Chocolate, Cardamom and Cranberry Cookies. Wouldn’t you be delighted to receive a gift of these? Though they wouldn’t last too long round here!

As for something savory it was actually only myself that linked up a few child-friendly christmas nibbles. Firstly my Parmesan & Smoked Paprika Popcorn. A bit of a favourite with my own cheese fiend kids and a great alternative to all the heavily sugared stuff.

Having been sent some festive Rudolph Potatoes to try out I baked Hedgehog Hasselbacks several times over christmas, fun for old and young alike. And a nice change to a roastie on the Big Day itself.

I also baked a few rounds of Pesto, Sun Dried Tomato & Parmesan Palmiers. Not necessarily a bake for the kids but mine certainly tucked into them with great gusto. Annoying, as they’re a particularly tasty naughty nibble, and perfect with ‘grown up’ drinks.

Vanesther from Bangers and Mash tantalised us with her 80s After Eight Ice Cream Sundaes. Could you say no to a sundae of indulgent layers of chocolate brownies, forest fruits, After Eight ice cream, whipped cream and even an After Eight chocolate sauce? Say no more.

Vanesther also offered us the only child-friendly festive drink, by way of her Non-Alcoholic Mulled Punch. What a lovely idea for the littlies, as well as pregnant ladies or those in charge of numerous small children, not forgetting the designated drivers. And it sounds really rather fruitily delicious.

We also had quite a few cakey entries, the first of which came from Vanesther too with her impressive Snowflake Tear & Share Buns. What a lovely idea this is for a festively themed fun centerpiece (complete with edible glitter!), and delightfully flavoured with lemon and cinnamon. Pass the pot of tea over please.

Ros from The More than Occasional Baker offered her no-bake Nigella Christmas Cornflake Wreaths. Name me a child who can’t resist a crispy cornflake cake, especially one decorated with christmas sprinkles?!. A fun little make for the very little littlies too as there’s no baking involved.

Still on the cakey front we had some scrumptious looking Xmas Brownies from Charlene of Food, Glorious Food, festively baked with brazil nuts and cherries and decorated with green, red and white sprinkles. Heavenly.

Ros has certainly been one busy lady this christmas and linked up another hidden surprise recipe with her Chocolate Orange Cupcakes. Who can argue with such a glorious festive flavour combination of choccie and orange and you really must bob over to her post to see what the concealed surprise is! I’m so doing this next year.

On a final sweet note we had my own Chocolate Truffles which I rather messily made with my terrible twosome. I’m still finding chocolate smears all over the house, but the mess was worth it….I think!. They made for a special little treat to dropping by guests and for their teachers. And despite being pretty grown up in flavour (I only used plain chocolate) my kids really enjoyed them.

The Green Gourmet Giraffe made Chocolate Layered Fudge on one of the hottest days of the year in Melbourne. A lovely festive fudge recipe and a beautiful pictoral insight into christmas in Melbourne.

Well that’s it for the entries. I think you’ll agree we’ve had an impressive array of child-friendly christmas ideas, and plenty I shall be bookmarking for next Christmas. Since I left it all a bit last minute to find a judge for the event, with that pesky Christmas and New Year getting in the way, I settled on my Mum to do the judging for her first time. Having been a cookery demonstrator for Midlands Electricity, a more than keen home cook all her life, four children and countless grandchilden she comes pretty well qualified for the post! She picked out Vohn’s Gingerbread Reindeer as this month’s very deservant winner both for their outright cuteness (and who can argue with this?!) and the cookie dough recipe itself. So well done Vohn, you shall be added to the Family Foodies Hall of Fame and are more than welcome to grab the winner’s badge to display on your blog.

Please do bob over to Bangers and Mash to see what Vanesther has in store for January’s Family Foodies event. It’s a goodie, and one I’m sure you’ll all be keen to take part in!

Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy, Fun & Delicious New Year!

Louisa xx