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Tu B'Shevat, Valentines, Half Term - oh my!

Published over 1 year agoΒ β€’Β 2 min read

Hello again my friend!

Today is Tu B'Shevat - the Jewish New Year for Trees! I hope you're having a good day, and enjoying fruits and nuts and all the beautiful things that the trees provide for us.

It's certainly a good opportunity to pause and eat something fresh and nutritious, ahead of a busy few days coming up. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, and next week is school half term, which means that the school year is already half-way through! 😲

Given that the weather isn't looking too clever, here's a list of over 70 fun school holiday activities to do at home! From games, puzzles, and lots of things to make and do, there's no excuse for half term boredom.

And if you're wanting to get your kids involved in the kitchen, below are some of our favourite easy, tasty, family-favourite recipes. Cooking is an essential life skill, and making something tasty to eat is a real confidence boost for kids. These recipes also include "transferable skills" like making a white sauce, whisking up a smooth batter, and baking bread and sweet treats.

They're also all delicious things to eat even if you're all grown up!

Fun, fabulous half-term recipes

These delicious recipes can be whipped up by novice cooks and seasoned home chefs alike. Enjoy these family favourites whether you're on a school holiday or not!

  • ​Norwegian waffles​
    Perfect for breakfast, or a morning or afternoon pick-me-up. Enjoy with sour cream and fruity jam for a Scandi treat.
  • ​Easy vegan soda bread​
    A terrific loaf that can be ready in half an hour! Delicious warm with butter and a perfect accompaniment to soup for an easy lunch.
  • ​Tomato soup with gnocchi and aubergine 'croutons'​
    A creamy tomato soup served with potato gnocchi and crispy aubergine (eggplant) cubes is a meal in itself.
  • ​Garlic and herb potato wedges​
    So simple to make, and fabulous dunked into a runny fried egg for an easy dinner.
  • ​Broccoli, leek and cheese pasta bake​
    Gooey, cheesy comfort food. Full of flavour and with extra veg too!
  • ​One hour focaccia​
    Fluffy and aromatic, this Italian-inspired bread is ready in just one hour! A great snack or side dish, or use for spectacular sandwiches.
  • ​Super-fruity dark chocolate tiffin​
    A healthier version of chocolate biscuit cake, packed with dried fruits and polyphenol-rich dark choc.
  • ​Easy banana flapjacks​
    With dried apricots, oats, bananas and coconut, these delicious chewy flapjacks are a nutritious treat.

I'll leave it to you to decide whether your kids can be left unsupervised (or not) in the kitchen. Different children have different needs and skill levels, so if in doubt, a little parental assistance and encouragement may be required. Either way, I hope you all enjoy the fruits of their efforts!

Shabbat Shalom

Wishing you and yours a very Good Shabbos - Shabbat Shalom! - as we slide into the half term week and everything that it brings. May this Shabbat bring calm, quiet, health, happiness and peace for everyone.

With love, Helen x.

Family Friends Food, Unit 138524, PO Box 7169, Poole, Dorset BH15 9EL
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Family Friends Food

Family, friends and food are three of life’s most important things. Let’s celebrate them!

Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!

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