Year: 2012

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Baker Days – Letterbox Cake Review

Baker Days sent us an early Christmas cake to review.  It came speedily, and in the form of a quirky letterbox cake.  It is perfect for small occasions, or when you want to send someone something a little special, but also know they won’t be able to answer the door for it.

There is an outer white box, which holds a cake inside a neatly made tin.

Our box also had a lovely little cracker and leaflets telling us about Baker Days.

Cakes are personalised and you can add your own message to them.   Ours simply said, Happy Christmas to the Scottish Mum Kids.

There are a few different recipes that you can choose from, and as a carrot cake loving family, we really had to stick to what we like best.  There are also options for plain sponge or for double chocolate, along with fruit cake, and even a gluten-free version.

I was quite surprised when I cut it up, that I naturally cut it into 8 pieces.  Not huge pieces obviously, but just enough for everyone to have a decent bite of cake.  It’s a perfect solution to send someone a little gift if you can’t get there for a special occasion.  I was also surprised that the cake was so moist.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but we loved it.  Although these cakes fit through the letterbox, they do also do larger versions, so give them a look if you are thinking of party cakes too.   With almost every type of occasion covered, I  like the fact that I can use the personalisation tool and see how it would fit on my cake of choice.

I do think it’s quite a lot of money for cake, but I was happy with the ability to send it, so I’ve just ordered one to be sent to my dad who starts his chemotherapy this week, with a prescription of cake portions.

It sure beats sending him a get well card.   There was also a delivery charge, so the small cake cost £17.98 to send in total and I could also pay by Paypal which is very important to me when I buy from smaller website businesses.

I’ve just bought one after trying it, so I guess I could say that it was a very successful review for me, and it is a bit of putting my money where my mouth is.

 

 

 

 

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Harry Potter Xbox 360 Review – On Kinect

After a disaster where our Kinect seemed to have vanished into thin air, we had to wait on a new one arriving to be able to use any of our Kinect games.

Warner Bros. had sent us a Harry Potter Xbox 360 promotional copy, and my boys were itching to get their fingers on it and play in a new world.

The day came that the new Kinect finally came and Harry Potter has seen a fair few outings in the lounge with boys fighting by using their wands to cast spells and find new things to unlock.

Here are a few words from the littlest controller:

“It’s fun, challenging and it gets you to like Harry Potter.   I have to cast spells, hit pixies and look for fairies while I look for a key pixie, which is a key with wings.”

To play the game, new players have to learn how to cast their spells in Professor Flitwicks Class and take lessons.  The wingardium leviosa is the first one they have to learn, and teaches them how to levitate.   The arm and hand motions mean that kids can identify with how they have grown up with wizards in their lives.

Players need to wait until their wand chooses them, just like in the films and then they are sorted into which house they will be in.

Using the Kinect means that there is much more involvement with the game, and players can really feel part of the experience with hand and foot movements.    Once they can cast spells they are ready to try getting into the full game.

I’d definitely say it helps to have watched a few of the films to play this game and it might be difficult for some to follow the story otherwise, but as a stand alone, the segments are easily playable whether you know the films or not.

Would I have paid for this, yes, I would.   The Kinect is great for winter and getting couch potato Xbox fans up onto their feet and doing a little interaction.   It can be played with 2 players which is always a boost with Xbox games.

 

 

 

Posted on by — 9 Comments

Traditional Scottish Stovies with Oatcakes and Beetroot – Slow Cooked & with the Kids Baked Beans to serve.

What better cold weather fare could there be.   Stovies used to be made in generations gone by in our ancestors family when it was washing day, or when the nets had to be hauled down to the boats and the women didn’t have time to make a big meal for the family.

They stayed close to home on stovie days as they had to carry their men onto the fishing boats to keep them dry.  We’re talking little women carrying huge strapping 6 + footers from the side of the piers right into their boats.  With their skirts and feet soaking and cold in the North Sea, it was a hard, miserable and tough life.

Often battling against misery and exhaustion, they would come back to their stovies simmering on the pot, and ready to fill empty bellies.

Unable to stray far from the home while they were cooking, this was a method of slow cooking that needed regular stirring couldn’t be made on market days when the women would have to carry the catch in a creel on their backs for miles to sell it at market.

Most people who make stovies today, are really only  making a type of hash with boiled potatoes and meat mixed in.  For real stovies, the potatoes need to be stoved.  They are dry and not waxy, and they break apart in the mouth when you eat them.

I’ve only ever made them in a thick bottomed pan before, so this method is a new (and easier) way of doing it for me.

The quantities mentioned in this recipe are for guidance only.  This would generally have been Monday’s meal, after the Sunday roast, and using up the leftovers of meat, potatoes and sometimes other vegetables would be added in a sort of bubble and squeak effect.

My stovies are wickedly tasty ones, made with the meat and gravy from nice large chunks of a fillet steak joint that I got from Andrew Gordon  Butchery in Aberdeen.  I am always spoiled for choice when I go in there and good meat really makes a difference to the taste of a finished dish.

Slow Cooked Traditional Scottish Stovies with Oatcakes and Beetroot (and the kids beans)

Lesley Smith
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 30 minutes
Course Mains
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 3 KG Potatoes Maris Pipers, King Edwards or Roosters - Peeled and Chopped
  • 1 - 2 Onions Chopped
  • 100 Grams Dripping Beef Dripping, Goose Fat or Vegetable Dripping
  • 1 KG Meat Usually Pork or Beef - Already Cooked
  • 200 Grams Gravy From the Pork or Beef
  • Salt & Pepper For cooking.

Instructions
 

  • In a saucepan, melt approximately 100g of your lard. This will be quicker than you expect.

  • Add the onions to the pan and lightly fry.

  • Make sure that the onions are still white and are not cooked long enough to begin turning brown.



  • Add the onions, lard and your potatoes to the slow cooker and stir until all the potatoes are coated in lard. If you have to add some more, add it a teaspoon at a time, as it is easy to use too much lard.

  • Add a few spoons of the gravy from your meat, a couple of tablespoons of water, and a couple of pinches of salt.



  • Cook for 8 hours on low, or 4 hours on high.

  • You will need to check the pot every hour and if you need to add a little extra water, do it a teaspoon at a time. You only want just enough to stop the potatoes from burning into the pot.

  • Don't mash the potatoes as when they are ready, they will break down with the stirring.

  • Add in your meat with a few more spoonfuls of gravy.

  • Cook until the meat is thoroughly heated.

  • Normally, you would shred your meat or cut it really small, but my boys like their meat in hunky chunks so my pictures are not the effect you would get if you shredded your meat before adding it.




  • Serve with oatcakes and beetroot with a glass of milk for the traditional fare, or add beans like the Scottish Mum Kids.


If you want to make your own oatcakes, try Traditional Scottish Oatcakes.

 

Posted on by — 46 Comments

Giveaway: Multi-Coloured Xmas Lights Worth £17.99 – 2 Sets to Give Away – Ends 15th Dec 2012

Who can resist the lure of pretty lights when it’s coming up to some lovely time off work, and the planning for Christmas and all it’s celebrations?

There is just something magical about seeing lots of different coloured lights twinkling away in windows on the cold wintry nights.  They bring thoughts of warmth, cheer, and the excitement of Christmas yet to come.

How many kids eyes pop open in wonder as they see the pretty light strung up?  I know I still love to come home and see lights showing me the way home.

I quite like inspirational ideas, and Xmas Direct has a nifty way of decorating stairs that I wouldn’t have thought of.  It just makes me wish I had a power socket in a handy place to be able to copy this idea.

The giveaway announcement today, is for two lucky people to win a set of multi coloured Xmas lights from Xmas Direct each.

To enter, simply follow the rafflecopter steps, and give yourself higher chances of entry by completing each step.  If you are already doing one of the steps, that’s fine, it still applies.

The lights on offer are multi coloured battery operated LED fairy lights in the traditional colours of red, blue, amber and green.

The lights are set on green cable that means they can blend into dark backgrounds.   Xmas Direct suggests winding them through a wreath or a garland, which seems a fairly neat thing to do.   With a small battery pack that takes three AA batteries, these lights could well last up to 100 hours if you use high-powered batteries.

The two sets of lights on offer are the 5 meter lengths, which are valued at £17.99 each.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions
The promoter reserves the right to change or cancel this giveaway at any time.  The winning selection will be made by random selection. Winners will be notified after the end of the entry period. If the winners don’t claim their giveaway after 48 hours, it will be redrawn. While we will try to deliver the winners goods by Christmas, we cannot absolutely guarantee that the giveaway goods will arrive in time for Christmas Day. While we will endeavour to get the lights to the winner on time, the delivery time will be dependant on how long it takes to be claimed and delivery schedules.  Giveaway open to UK entrants only.

Posted on by — 37 Comments

Giveaway – 5 Sets of More Big Machines DVD & Activity Book – ends 15th December 2012

Perfect for Christmas presents, and up for a lovely giveaway is 5 sets of More Big Machines (the DVD) and an activity book from Tractor Ted?  Follow the rafflecopter instructions on this post to submit your entries and be in with a chance of winning.

This Christmas Tractor Ted has lots of new products and ideas to delight and inspire two to six year old tractor fans.   No self-respecting toddler will want to get out of their Tractor Ted bed (£370) which even has its own steering wheel, especially if it comes with the new Tractor Ted duvet set (£35) comprising a pillow case and duvet cover. And the Tractor Ted pencil tin (£8.99) makes an ideal stocking filler.

With lots of gift ideas to consider, the site is really worth a look.  Along with breakfast sets, lunch boxes, jigsaws and wellies, any child can really feel at home in the countryside with Tractor Ted goodies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The new range complements the much-loved existing Tractor Ted DVDs, books, clothes, toys and gifts.   There are now more than 15 DVDs featuring big machines, how our food is made, the seasons and looking after animals.   The latest is Tractor Ted, and the one up for giveaway on Scottish Mum Blog is More Big Machines.  Each copy retails for £9.99, so it would make a perfect stocking filler.

For all tractor fans, there is also a fan club that children can join, they can play games on the website.

So what do you have to do to enter?

Check off your answers on the rafflecopter widget and check back on the 16th December to see if you have won.  Remember to leave a comment so that I can get in touch with you if you win.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Sponsored: Are You Driving Home for Christmas?

As December gets ever closer there is one thing we can be sure off, the weather is going to make driving pretty dangerous. But for the vast majority of people the school run and getting to work are essential journeys, which just can’t be avoided no matter what the weather is like. So here are some top tips for making driving in the snow and ice as safe as possible.

 Plan Ahead

The busier roads are always the first to get gritted, so plan your journeys around them. On a day to day basis minor roads may save you an extra few minutes on your daily commute, but trying to traverse down a country lane which is covered in snow is the fastest way to find yourself stuck. Although you obviously want to avoid situation like this it’s a good idea to keep a supply of salt in your car just in case. It’s also a good idea to be patient while on the roads, if you are travelling down the motorway don’t be tempted to get into the outside lane and end the journey as fast as possible, find the lane with least amount of slush and ice and remain in previous tyre tracks if possible.

 Accelerating

Start gently and avoid high revs when setting off, try to get the car moving when in second gear and ease your foot of the clutch as slow as possible, this will minimise the possibility of wheel spin. Snowy conditions make choosing an adequate speed even more important than usual. Going too fast can result in your wheels losing traction resulting in your car sliding, losing control, and possibly spinning; on the other hand though going too slow can cause you to lose momentum and coming to a halt.

 Braking

When it comes to braking you want to be gentle, slowing down should be as smooth as possible. Increasing you stopping distance is another top tip, you should think about doubling or tripling the stopping distance you would you use on a dry road. Although braking is necessary try and use the gears to slow down, braking can cause the wheels to lose traction and slide, but if the tyres are constantly turning they will have better grip on the road. If you do lose control try and steer out of the way rather than trying to come to a complete stop. In icy conditions ABS systems should not be relied on, so remember to slow down far more cautiously than usual.

 Remember to be courteous to other road users, if snow is falling turn on your fog lights or dipped headlights, but remember if visibility improves fog lights have the potential to dazzle other road users.

 This was a guest post by Simon Howarth on behalf of Remote Asset Management, providers of vehicle tracking solutions for businesses of all sizes across the UK.

Posted on by — 4 Comments

Border Biscuits Gift Collection Review

The people at Border Biscuits sent me a lovely gift box to review.  Far from being the traditional box of biscuits, they are both unusual and delicious.

Arriving thoughtfully wrapped up in Christmas paper, the boys took one look and immediately knew that it was something they might like.  With the wrapping quickly ripped off, it’s easy to see why they are calling this range “Deliciously Different.”

This ‘Deliciously different’ biscuit tin comes with a tantalising assortment of biscuit favourites, they are unusual and with combinations of flavour that need to be tried.  These biscuit tins make for excellent hostess gifts, and for something different from the usual bottle of vino, or cracker tin.

I spotted the tin in Debenhams Online for £7.50, so it would make for a perfect first footing present (a present for visiting friends and family after the new year begins)

The tin is quite solidly built and is reminiscent of old cottage kitchen with the decorative writing and splashes of colour.

The unusual flavours in my gift box are:

  • black forest cookies
  • strawberry and cream
  • chocolate and orange shortbread
  • lemon souffle cookies
  • chocolate and walnut brownies
  • toffee apple crumbles

Try them if you can, they really are a lovely biscuit.  I still love how my boys get all excited about a new biscuit or sweetie as it gets unwrapped.

In my box, there was a little booklet that explained all about Border Biscuits, baking the best buscuits they possibly can.

Visit their website to take part in a competition to win a holiday for 2 in Scotland.

Posted on by

Funky Foodies November 2012

STAR RECIPE WINNER – for October is Recipe Junkie, with the attack of the custard creams, and her Rum Brownie Recipe.  Lush rum brownies that look to die for are last month’s irresistible food.

THE NOVEMBER FUNKY FOODIES LINKY IS OPEN AND THERE ARE ONLY 9 DAYS TO GET YOUR RECIPES IN THIS MONTH. 

  • Is a monthly linkie, which will close on the last day of the month.
  • A medal will be awarded for the Star Recipe every month, and the fabulous trophy in the blog badge will be awarded at the end of a whole year of the Funky Foodies.   If you want to find out more about it, read here.
  • All you have to do is share as many recipes from your own blog a month as you’d like.  If you struggle to add your recipe, send me your link and I’ll add it for you.
  • Try to pop around and share the comment love with other funky foodies.  We all like a little love and might come across some fabulous recipes.
If you want to host the linkie on your own blog as a blog hop, get the code here :

Simply add the link to your recipe on your own blog, and share your latest recipe with everyone taking part.  If you don’t want to miss the linkie being opened, subscribe to RSS or by email in the blog header.

I’ll add recipes of mine to share, although I don’t count in the recipe challenge.

Feel free to copy the badge or use the html in the widget at the bottom of the page to add the small blog badge to your own blog / post.  It makes finding you easier for other funky foodies.

Funky Foodies

<img src=”  http://scottishmum.com/wp-content/uploads/100-funky-foodies.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Funky Foodies” />

If you want to add the blog hop to your own website, get the InLinkz code get the InLinkz code and add the monthly code to a text widget or a post in html.


Posted on by — 20 Comments

Win 2 Kids Films as Xmas Stocking Fillers Courtesy of Scotty Brand – Ends 30th November 2012

Update: The winner is Rhiannon Alwen @HouseholdHorror

Scotty Brand sent me two films to giveaway on my blog.  All you have to do is follow the steps below to enter, and on the 30th November, I’ll pull a winner out with the random generator in the programme.  The films up for grabs are The Incredibles and Ratatouille.  Scotty Brand teamed up with Disney for the Brave Premier in Glasgow earlier this year, and the films are part of an ongoing relationship.

If you are already following me on any of the two methods, just leave a comment to say so, you still get the entry, even if you’ve been following this blog for years.

How to Enter

  • Like Scottish Mum on Facebook if you haven’t already and Leave a comment on this post to say you have done so.  Scottish Mum Facebook or on the sidebar at the right.
  • Tweet the following and leave a comment here to say you have done so.  “Enter to win a Ratatouille & The Incredibles DVD with @scottish_mum at http://scottishmum.com/2012/11/win-2-kids-films-as-xmas-stocking-fillers-courtesy-of-scotty-brand-ends-30th-november-2012/”
  • For an additional entry, follow my blog by RSS, and leave a comment here to say you have done so.  Scottish Mum RSS

Each comment equals one entry.  Each person can earn 3 entries.  Simple.

Conditions

  • The winner must be contactable within 7 days of the end of the giveaway closing date, or the prize will be reallocated to the next randomly generated winner.
  • Terms and conditions are subject to change at any time.

Scotty Brand blogger badge

Good luck to all.

Posted on by — 2 Comments

Dons Day Out from AFC – Aberdeen – Not Impressed

I remember a few years ago when my eldest went to the Aberdeen Football Club Dons Day out back then.  They got special treatment, a few players came out and the kids got a group photograph, with a few players in the front.  Maybe that was the players in a slightly better place and the T-Shirts seemed not to shoddy either, although they came in one size – HUGE.   It was a positive memory, and one that stayed with eldest for the last few years as something special..

Fast forward a few years later, and the opportunity to go to a Dons Day out came again.

Buoyed by his last experience, eldest was all for it, and so I paid for 2 adult tickets and 1 child.  Having to pay an adult price for a child of 12 is bad enough, but the lack of anything special means that I’ll never let my kids go to one again.   Yes, 50% of the proceeds go back to a non-profit, group, school or charity, but come on, people still want value for money for something “different.”

Where’s the customer service, or are football fans so die-hard that they’re willing to forgo customer experience for the sake of just getting in the door and parking their bums on a seat?

The whole group has to arrive before they can all go in, so heaven help any group in the dilemma of someone who can’t make it in time, I have no idea what happens to them.  I suspect the Dons Day Out was just a way to fill the stadium for the Celtic V Aberdeen match last week, and the boys reported back on many groups arriving with their paper-thin T-Shirts proudly on display.

Rather than a blow up hand, I suspect the kids would prefer a new scarf, pen, or slightly longer lasting momento, but c’est la vie, I can live with that.

Once their whole group were there, the promised group photo with the cheque being presented for the school funds for half the proceeds was shortened to a quick usher in the doors, and the first few through hurriedly being in a photo before the rest of the group got to their seats.

Far from being the posed photo that eldest remembered and still treasures, the closest to Angus the Bull they got was their dad taking his own photographs on his mobile camera.

The promised photo of a group shot with Angus the Bull at their stand didn’t seem to happen.  If it did, they didn’t even know about it, and part of me hopes that it did happen and will materialise somewhere down the line.

The Dons Day Out might be a good day out at a smaller match, but on the big matches, I’d give it a miss and just go as a regular supporter.  Littlest had nothing to gauge it against, so he thought it was great, though he was disappointed as he was expecting to see a player or two.

So, really, how much would it have cost to have a couple of players out on parade and get some photos with the kids?

Posted on by — 7 Comments

Review: Hotel Chocolat – Festive Wreath

 

I could pretend that I don’t like to be offered nice little things to try in the name of reviews, and many I don’t like to take on, but when I get the chance to try something grown up for me AND involves gorgeous goodies from Hotel Chocolat, there is no way that I could ever say no.

 

Chocolate has a habit of making even bad days seem great, so a chance to treat the family with something special just had to be done. Hotel Chocolat sent me this wee gift in the post, which was received as a most welcome surprise. It’s a Festive Wreath, made of 50% cocoa milk chocolate with cookies and caramel.

 

 

At 400g of quality chocolate, there is a lot to go round.  The lovely card that comes with it makes it perfect for a Christmas Gift, ideal for sharing, or even as the After Dinner Chocolate treat on Christmas Day.  How impressive does this look sitting on a slate to be divided up amongst the family.  How amazing would that look on the hostess table on Christmas Day?

 

 

The website says it serves 8, but my wreath has been going for a few days now, with 5 people having little nibbles of it every day.  The instructions say to slice it and serve, which was a good idea as there is no way to break it.  The chocolate is very thick and without a knife, the chunks would either be huge, or difficult to break off.

 

 

It really does go a long way.  We still have about a quarter of our wreath left, and we’re saving it for film night this week.

 

Remember that this is a quality 50% cocoa milk chocolate, so it’s not the soft and fluffy texture of the cheaper chocolates.

 

What did I think?

  • The packaging is lovely.
  • The wreath is very pretty.
  • It is quality chocolate.

 

Would I buy it?

The answer is a resounding yes.

It’s £20 in the online store, but we’ve had days of eating out of it.  As a gift for someone who enjoys good quality chocolate, it is a really pretty thing to give.

 

Disclaimer:
Hotel Chocolat kindly sent this lovely Festive Weath for review.   As someone who loves chocolate, there is no way that this review was ever going to be anything but amazingly positive.  A big thank you from us.