Baby and Child Cake (No added Sugar, All Natural)

One thing I am very aware is sugar with a child. Having a sweet tooth myself and seeing the damage sugar does, I am determined not the let my child have too much as all children are perfectly happy without (if they don't know the taste). On birthdays my 'rule' can be hard to stick too. However, I have made sugar free cakes with success for two birthdays now, and have received many comments on how people prefer my sugar free cake to the normal cake mixture

Here is my recipe:

INGREDIENTS 

Four ripe banana's mashed
One apple puree (HIPP Organic)
Vanilla Extract
One cup of self raising flour
1 tsp Baking powder
3/4 of a coup of oats
1tsp cinnamon
One egg

METHOD 
Add the flour, egg, and, oats and puree into a bowl. Get an electric mixture and whizz up these ingredients. Next add the banana, vanilla, and cinnamon and whiz for a further two minutes. Bake in a pre-heated oven for 25/30 minutes. 

Icing:

1 1/2 tablespoons of meringue powder
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
2 cups of powdered splenda
1/4 cup of warm water
Food colouring

Mix the powdered splenda and meringue powder. Add the vanilla, lemon juice and food colouring. Now add water and beat for 5 minutes (until stiff peak forms) In th ebowl of the mixer, whip together the sugar an meringue powder. The icing will be ready now. 

Butternut Squash, Ginger, Sweet Potato and Chilli Soup (RelievesMorning Sickness and Nausea)

HIYA all you baby boomers,

Todays post is for all you pregnant people (and those not). It is a delicious soup recipe that has health benefits as well as helps with sickness and even those closure to their due date (trying to push the baby out). The soup is one of my favourites so you try it and let me know what you think.

Butternut Squash, Ginger, Sweet Potato and Chilli Soup

BENEFITS

This recipe is super low in calories, GI and saturated fats. Butternut squash is a superfood known for its poly-phenolic antioxidants, vitamins, fibre and phyto-nutrients (α and ß-carotenes, cryptoxanthin-ß, and lutein, which convert Vitamin A in the body). It also contains Tryptophan known for a healthy neuro-chemical in the brain. Ginger is known for relieving GERD, Gastro problems and reflux, as well as increasing immunity, easing sickness (in a safe way opposed to over the counter medications which can call abnormalities) protecting against certain cancers and being inflammatory. Chillies do numerous things but the most applicable to pregnancy is fight inflammation, is a natural pain relief, helps the heart and cleanse the blood and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes (can happen in pregnancy).  

THE RECIPE 

Two large butternut squash
2 sweet potato 
One Baking potato (if desired, although normal contains carbs)
2 onions 
1 chilli plus chilli powder
coconut milk (jar)
piece of ginger
water (until its covered all the veg)
One Hand-held blender or food processor 
fresh Coriander finely chopped 

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Use almond oil/sunflower oil and roast off the butternut squash and one of the sweet potato. Once this has been done put the roasted veg in a large saucepan and add another sweet potato and a baking potato, onion, water and ginger (grated in). Leave for 20-30 minutes until the potato's are soft. Blitz up all your ingredients in your blender. Add the coconut milk and chilli and bring up to boil (beware chilli does intensify with heat). Should be orange in colour but also creamy.  Best served with fresh coriander and muesli bread (with raisons in). 

(If you already have a child do the same but keep some separated without the chilli. I know i did tonight and my little boy LOVED IT)

Here is a picture of the soup: 

Enjoy, you guys deserve it. 

Pram review

When shopping for your new arrival one of the fundamental items is choosing a pram. This is an incredibly exciting part of the pregnancy and a part to prepare for your baby. Some places where you can go and try out new buggies are baby and toddler shows, Mothercare, Toys r Us, Mama's and Papa's to name but a few.

When choosing a pram the choice, like most things, can be overwhelming. First of all there are different choices; a travel system (including carseat, baby cot, Footmuff and pushchair) or a combo of these, or a simple pushchair. Some people opt to get a baby cot and pushchair separately, whilst others prefer the whole system.

I went for the whole system as it seemed like a better deal to me. Whilst browsing I found some of these lacked quality so be careful and read reviews. The iCandy and Silvercross are the most famous and reliable brands out there, although they come with a heavy price tag.

I found a French brand called Petite Star Extreme Charisma. The reviews seemed great, it meet safety requirements and the brand had baby awards. I also loved the fact it has real tyres and is one of the major buggies made for walking in woods, or pretty much anywhere. Living in the country made this an important aspect

I got mine for £295 off Amazon. For this you get the following:

Three wheel Pushchair
Baby cot
Car Seat with new born head support
Footmuff
Bumper Bar
Handpump
Footrest
Basket

Overall I was impressed. All the material is washable and I loved having all the parts. I think it looks very sleek and slender

 

Links 
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Petite-Star-Charisma-Pushchair-raincover/dp/B004ZXUJVI

http://www.pushchairtrader.co.uk/en/pushchair-reviews/petite-star-charisma/

I am in no way affiliated with this brand of products.

Best and worst baby newborn products

This blog is a quick review of baby and related products starting from the best and the worst:


 Best Johnson baby bedtime bath and wash (purple bottle) gets baby sleepy and smells so good Tesco's own nappies- easy to put on and doesn't leak like more well known brands and Tesco Nappy wipes donot get stuck together plus they have a great seal.  Infacol- stock up as this works wonders Boots sensitive body cream- for dry patches and rashes Sudocream- for worse rashes Lansinoh nipple cream and breat pads (both more pricey but worth it) Phillips advent electric breast pump (way easier than manual that gets very tiring) Baby towel (with hood) perfect for wrapping your baby up after they get out the bath! Blankets- baby gap do the nicest and warmest baby blankets! Absolute must in colder climates Slings- great for cities and ease


 Worst Moses basket - buy(cheap) Argos- babies really aren't in them very long so don't splash out Baby bath- easier in the bath with you or in a bucket! Baby shoes- don't splash out as chances are babies wont wear them (especially not boys shoes, girls ballerina shoes are better  in design). Mothercare shoes are the best. Most others fall off. Clothes- everyone buys your baby clothes. Just buy the basics to begin with. They grow out of them so quickly.

Other points to talk about:

Baby gym or walker- I found a walker to be more useful. My baby didn't like the gym at all but loved the walker. I got one of eBay which had music. Would thoroughly recommend




Feel free to add any products. This is personal opinions