I Always Choose Quorn

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I am a big fan of Quorn and I have managed to convince Daddy, big J and little J to try some of the range and they do like like some of the products. I am not a vegetarian but I have mentioned it before that I'm just not a big fan of meat. I like dishes that include meat such as lasagne and casserole so I love the fact I can use Quorn products and they taste just as nice.

These are probably the most popular products we buy. We use the mince for lasagne and spaghetti bolognese, sausages as part of a meal or maybe a casserole and the chicken pieces in a curry.

Now I am not the greatest cook so when I make a lasagne I will use sauces in a jar such as ragu or dolmio.

Our Quorn Lasagne is extremely easy to make. I brown the Quorn mince for 5-8 minutes first in the frying pan using a spray of fry light first. Then I add the Dolmio Lasagne sauce and stir for a further 5 minutes.

Then I scoop some Quorn Mince into my lasagne dish and add some Lasagne Pasta sheets on top. Add some Creamy Lasagne White Sauce and repeat until you have used all you mince.
 
When you get to the last layer sprinkle on some cheese.

Put in the oven for 40 mins on 180. I usually pre heat for 10 mins and switch off after 30 minutes.
 
Our Quorn Lasagne will feed all four of us for Dinner and I usually reheat the rest the next day for little J's lunch and sometimes we can get another lunch too.

Quorn is a great tasting range, perfect for if you're trying to eat healthier as part of an active lifestyle, watching your weight or if you want some meal free meal inspiration. 

Have you tried Quorn? What do you think?
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VELUX & Disney Dream Collection

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I often think to myself that if I could I would have a Disney house. A house just filled with Disney items. If you read my blog you know I am just Disney mad and although my collection of Disney items and memorabilia is expanding all the time there is just so much out there to choose from. I don't think it will ever end. You can literally get a Disney version of everything and I love it. 
Whether you want to decorate your house with Disney wallpaper, Disney bedding or Disney furniture it's out there to buy. Today I spotted something I haven't seen before and I'm a little excited. Disney has teamed up with VELUX to create a Disney & VELUX Dream Blind Collection 
There are 12 exciting designs to choose from and although I love Mickey, Minnie, Bambi and Winnie the Pooh I would have to choose a Princess blind. I had a browse through the collection and they are so lovely. I don't think Daddy would be happy with a princess blind on our bedroom window but I know little J would love a Mickey one. 
Each VELUX & Disney Dream Collection blackout blind design is unique and tailored specifically to the size and shape of the window. The fact that it's a blackout blind is perfect for daytime naps. Little J doesn't like sleeping with the light shining through so this would be great for his room.
It's important to note that no harmful chemicals are used while creating the VELUX & Disney blind. Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 material testing goes far beyond existing national legislation for health protection.
After reading about the blind I clicked on the link to configure my dream blind and it was really simple to use. I chose my window type and window size. There is a guide to help with this if required. Once that was done, it brought up the options for the design. On the right hand side it generated the price, based on what I asked for.
I am so impressed with the blinds and I will definitely consider one for little J's room. Which one would you choose?




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#Win a Personalised 5L Beer Keg Competition

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I am so excited about this competition. As you will already know I absolutely love unique gifts and I just love the prize that I have on offer. I have teamed with Personalised Bottles to offer one lucky winner the chance to win a Personalised 5L Beer Keg

Personalised Bottles are the only online retailer to sell personalised beer kegs so this will be such a great gift for someone. I have someone here who would love to own one of these so maybe he might get lucky and Father Christmas might put one in his stocking.

The ale is a light amber ale with a floral aroma and a subtle bitter finish. 4% ABV and 5L in size.

The keg can be personalised by adding a message and a photograph to make it as unique as you wish.

If you are not lucky enough to be the winner you can buy online for just £39.99 by clicking the link below. 

I have a special 10% discount off any item so if you would like to buy please use mummonk

To view many more personalised gifts you can click HERE to view their sister website Caledonian Hampers
So to enter all you need to do is answer this easy peasy question.

How much is the keg worth?
A) £9.99
B) £24.99
C) £39.99

Write your answer as a comment and once you have done that lots more options will open up for you to get some extra entries.

GOOD LUCK

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Spooky Ghost Cake Pops Recipe

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Disclosure - We went sent ingredients to try out this recipe. Any thoughts and opinions are our own. 

We love baking and we recently tried this fun recipe to make Spooky Ghost Cake Pops. They are perfect for Halloween or a rainy day activity to do with the kids. 

ghost pops
SPOOKY GHOST CAKE POPS

Preparation time: 2 hours plus cooling and chilling

Cooking time: 40 minutes plus 10 minutes to melt 2 lots of chocolate

Ingredients

For the cake balls
120g Cocoa Extra Dark Fine Cooks Chocolate
150g soft unsalted butter at room temp
200g Light Muscovado Sugar
3 medium free range eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp Madagascan Vanilla extract

For the cake pops:
2 X 100g bags White Chocolate Chips melted for sticking the balls onto the sticks & coating the cake pops
Teaspoon of vegetable oil

To decorate the ghosts:
1 x  pack of Dr. Oetker White Regal Ice
Icing sugar for rolling out
Dr. Oetker White Designer Icing for sticking the regal ice to the cake pops
Dr. Oetker Jet Black Gel Food Colour.

Method:

Preheat the oven to 140°C (275°F, gas mark 1). Grease and line an 18cm (7 inch) square cake tin.

To make the fudge brownie mix melt the extra dark chocolate in a microwave on medium power for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time until melted,  or in a heat proof bowl on a gentle heat over a bain marie. Leave to cool.

Beat the butter and sugar together in a stand mixer with paddle attachment or electric hand beater for approx. 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. If you haven’t got an electric mixer you can do this with a wooden spoon in a bowl .

TIP: if you are in a rush or the butter is quite cold, the addition of a couple of tablespoons of boiling water at this stage, beaten on slow until mixed will speed up this process.

Add your eggs on a slow speed about a third at a time, mixing until combined.

Add your cooled chocolate stirring continuously.  Add the vanilla Extract and stir. On slow speed mix in the flour until just combined. Do not over beat. Alternatively fold in by hand.

Pour the mix into your cake tin and bake for approx 40 mins. Check it with a sharp knife or metal skewer. You want this to be slightly under baked, so the knife should come out pasty, with a nice paste on the knife.

Leave to cool, then turn out into a bowl and crumble with your hands to fine fudgy crumb.

To make the cake balls, take a handful of fudge cake mix and squeeze together tightly - you are aiming for little balls about the size of a large walnut, approx. 30g each. If the mixture is dry, the addition of a little chocolate or vanilla butter cream will help the mixture stick

Once you have all of your balls ready, dip the end of your stick into the melted chocolate chips  and push the stick into each ball, about half way in. Hold the ball to stop it splitting open when the stick goes in

Once all the cake pops are ready, refrigerate them for 1-2 hours before dipping them, or pop into the freezer for 30 mins, so the balls are firm enough to hold when dipping in the coating

To coat the cake pops melt Dr. Oetker Fine Cooks White Chocolate on low power in a microwave bowl until just melted -  stirring occasionally.

Plunge each cake pop into the chocolate coating until completely covered. Tap the cake pop gently on the side of the bowl to shake off the excess. Once all are covered, dip each cake pop again

To decorate the ghosts roll out half the white regal icing into a large rectangle using plenty of icing sugar and a large plastic rolling pin. Roll fairly thinly – 2 to 3mm thick. Squeeze a little Dr. Oetker White Designer Icing onto the tops of the cake pops or brush with some melted white chocolate, to aid sticking of the sugar paste

Using a cake cutter or small bowl, cut out circles of regal icing and place on each of the pops, smoothing down with your fingers to create the white sheet effect. Allow a little wavy movement by using your fingers to create smooth.

Give them a try and we would love to see your creations. Tag us on socials @PlaydaysRunways.

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Michelle

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Energy Drinks - Do our kids really need them?

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I remember when I was little, me and my mum walked to the chemist to buy a bottle of lucozade for a relative who was sick in hospital. When we got to the hospital I remember seeing the brown cabinets next to the hospital beds on the ward and pretty much every one of them all had a bottle of Lucozade on top. 
How did it go from being available in just chemists and giving to loved ones when sick to being available for our kids to buy in every shop.
I am not a fan of energy drinks at all. Whenever we are in a shop and big J asks for a lucozade or something similar I say no. I don't like them and although this causes quite a lot of arguments between me and big J I am sticking to my opinion on this one and I won't be budged.
Big J does some sporting activities in school and he does play football on our local astro turf pitches but for me that is not enough for him to need a full bottle of an energy drink. He tells me that the footballers drink it, but the footballers train or play football probably 7 days a week, he doesn't
An average bottle or can of energy drinks can have up to 14 times more caffeine than a can of cola. That's like drinking over 7 cups of coffee in one go. I wouldn't drink that much in one go so why would I let me child?
It isn't just Lucozade that bothers me. Actually Lucozade isn't the worst one it's drinks like Monster and a Relentless. They do display warning saying high caffeine, but shops still sell them to youngsters? Why?
Like everything it's down to choice. You are either happy to let your child drink an energy drink because it's cool and their peers do or like me you put up with the arguments and sulking knowing that you have done the right thing.
Do you agree with youngsters drinking energy drinks? 
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