Biscuits - Cookies and Gingerbread

It is the school sports day on Thursday. I have volunteered to make something for the refreshment stall. Someone else is doing scones for cream teas so I said I would do something for the children.

I've bought white chocolate buttons to add to double chocolate cookies but my son has asked me to make gingerbread men too.

I found the gingerbread recipe on the Silkysteps forum.

340g plain flour,
1 tsp bicarb of soda,
1 beaten egg,
4 tbs golden syrup,
175g soft brown sugar (I tend to just use granulated white sugar),
115g butter,
2 tsp ground ginger.

Set oven to 190c/375f/gas mark 5. Grease baking tray. Put the butter, sugar and syrup in saucepan, stir over a low heat until melted.

Sift the flour, ground ginger & bicarb of soda into a mixing bowl. Add melted syrup mixture and the beaten egg. Mix together and knead into a ball. Place the dough into a plastic bag & put in the fridge for 30 mins.

Roll out or press with hands until half cm thick. Cut out shapes with cutters. Bake for 10 to 15 minus until they are golden brown. Put on wire rack to cool.

These gingerbread biscuits are delicious plain but I tend to add some icing/sprinkles if I am making them for children.

Mexican Rice and Bean Casserole

Someone posted this recipe on a parenting forum that I visit. I've just prepared the vegetables and weighed out the rice so it doesn't take me as long to make later. 5oz of rice doesn't look much, I am wondering if I should have made double the quantity.


1 tsp vegetable oil
125ml/4fl oz water
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
110g/4oz mushrooms, sliced
2 green peppers, chopped
125g/5oz long-grain rice
1 can (796g/28oz) red kidney beans drained
1 can (540g/19oz) tomatoes
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp cumin
a pinch cayenne pepper
110g/4oz grated low-fat mozzarella cheese

1. In large saucepan, heat oil with water over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, mushrooms and green peppers; simmer, stirring often, until onion is tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Add rice, beans, tomatoes, chilli powder, cumin and cayenne; cover and simmer for about 25 minutes or until rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Bake in 18OC/350F/Gas 4 oven for 15 minutes or microwave at high (100%) power for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

Banana Bread

50g/2 oz butter
115g/4 oz golden caster sugar
225g/8 oz self raising flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 ripe bananas, mashed
115ml/4 fl oz milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
60g/2 1/2 oz chopped walnuts (or any nuts, sultanas, dried cranberries or blueberries. Also just as good plain)

1. Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, 350F or 180C
2. Cream the butter and sugar together
3. Stir in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
4. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
5. Pour into an oiled loaf tin and bake for 50

My son and I really dislike bananas. I've tried this cake plain and didn't like it. Adding cranberries or blueberries disguises the banana taste slightly, it isn't my favourite cake but is edible this way. My daughters love the cake so it is an ideal one to make, I can resist - good for my diet!