NOW CLOSED If your child(ren) could cook or prepare you anything on Mother's Day, what would it be? Share your favourite child-friendly recipes with Waitrose.com and win a £250 online shopping voucher

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

The folks at Waitrose.com have asked us to find out what you'd like your child(ren) to cook or prepare for you on Mother's Day - it could be child-friendly baking recipes, or more elaborate ones that they would need help with.

Waitrose.com want to gather a Mumsnet Mother's Day recipe collection - everyone who adds a recipe to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Waitrose.com online shopping voucher (see note on terms and conditions below).

Please note your recipes may appear on Waitrose.com and/or in an email MNHQ will be sending out just before Mother's day.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

The prize consists of a £250 online voucher for use on Waitrose.com. Vouchers terms of use will apply. If you win the prize draw and Waitrose.com do not deliver in your area, as an alternative Waitrose will provide £250 in vouchers for use in store.

[BeanutPutter]

My DD is 4 and DS is 1. Based on their ages it would be nice to have a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel or croissant. No hot items, just opening of packets and some spreading or placing. Of course if I use that logic they could also open me up some profiteroles and pass me a spoon. :)

If I assume that DH is going to help then I would love some grilled lamb accompanied by a huge Greek salad and pittas, and perhaps washed down with a large glass of rose wine.

Most likely I will be cooking for us all and accommodating all the usual 'I don't want that, I'd prefer this' requirements. Still at least that way I can pour my own wine!

[CheeryCherry]

My DCs usually make me a breakfast in bed - hot milky coffee , toast cut into triangles and a fresh fruit salad (strawberries, melon, pineapple & blueberries). We often eat out on Mothering Sunday, but if at home, the menu would be garlic mushrooms (gently fry a ton of button mushrooms, then stir in a tub of garlic philli cheese and a big glug of double cream), then a veg stir fry with egg fried rice (surely you don't need recipes for those?) And a nice slab if Victoria sponge cake! (150g butter, 150g castor sugar creamed together, add 150g self raising flour and 3 eggs gradually. Fold to add air, then bake about 30 mins at around 170'C. When baked, fill with whipped cream and strawberry jam, sprinkle with icing sugar! Delishhhh!

[FrillyPig]

My little boy is 5 so I'd get him to help his Daddy to cook me my favourite pudding of all time - Chocolate & Salted Caramel Tart. OMG It's AMAZING!! It's super decadent and take ages to cook so it's perfect as gift for a busy mum!

For the crust
250g digestive biscuits crushed, 125g butter, melted. (Or use a shortcrust pastry and blind bake with baking beans)

For the caramel
225g caster sugar, 100g chilled butter, 100ml of double cream, 1 heaped teaspoon of Maldon sea salt (or any sea salt but DO NOT USE TABLE SALT)

For the chocolate topping
100g caster sugar, 2 eggs, 2 extra egg yolks (save the whites and freeze - they will come in handy for making royal icing or meringues at a later date.)

1. Heat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 23cm loose bottomed flan/tart tin. Crush the biscuits & add the melted butter. Press firmly into the tin including up the sides. Chill base in the fridge for 30mins. Alternatively make/buy some shortcrust pastry, blind bake (i.e without a filling) with some baking paper placed inside with either baking beans or dried peas/lentils to keep the paper down. Bake according to packet instructions or for around 20-25mins. Bake for a further 5 mins without the paper and beans until golden brown.
   
   
2. If using biscuits remove the base from the fridge and bake for 15mins or until the base feels dry.
   
   
3. To make the caramel, bring the sugar and 100ml of water to the boil in a saucepan over a medium heat. DO NOT STIR, swirl to dissolve if you must. If you stir the sugar will re-granulate and the caramel will be grainy and horrid. Add the butter once all the sugar has dissolved, return to the boil and and simmer for about 15mins or until the caramel has turned a nice light toffee colour. Pour in the cream and salt (remember NOT table salt!) and boil for another 2-3 mins until thickened. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
   
   
4. To make the chocolate topping, whisk the eggs, egg yolks and sugar for 4mins with an electric whisk if possible or until the mix is thick and pale. Gently melt the butter and chocolate together over a pan of gently simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the surface of the water nor let the pan boil dry. Also refrain from stirring too much as this will again ruin the texture.) Leave to cool for a minute and then add the egg and sugar mixture, whisking until smooth and glossy.
   
   
5. Spread the caramel over your chosen and cooled base, then spoon over the chocolate mixture, spreading evenly. Bake for 20mins or until it is almost set but still a bit wobbly. Allow to cool in the tin, in the fridge. Please leave it in the fridge for a few hours - this will allow the chocolate topping to firm into a truffle like consistency. If you try and cut the tart to soon the chocolate topping will be like a viscous liquid and will go everywhere! Serve with vanilla ice cream or with extra thick double cream.

[LaVitaBellissima]

I'd like French toast with cinnamon, grilled pancetta & maple syrup too easy to bother with a recipe I think

The twins are only 16 months, so let's hope DP does the cooking!

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd like gluten free pizza (brazilian cheese bread mix base) with a caramelised onion and goats cheese topping followed by double choc cake (Hale and hearty gf choc cake mix sandwiched with strawberry jam, whipped cream, and strawberries topped with choc curls.

No idea what will actually transpire though !

[Deflatedballoonbelly]

I have a cup of toffee (coffee with a floating teabag in it) a slice of semi toasted bread with gaping holes where my daughter has tried to spread butter on it, straight from the fridge and an egg. Still in its shell, uncooked. Served up with a card with Mummy spelt 'mumy' and its the best breakfast in the world to me

[FrillyPig]

Oh I just thought my DS loves making Anzac (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) biscuits - they are super easy,and super yummy. Kinda like coconutty soft flapjacks. They were made by the women of the Anzac for the men during WW1.

100g rolled or porridge oats
150g Plain Flour
100g Soft Light Brown Sugar
50g Dessicated Coconut
115g Butter
2tbsp Golden Syrup
1tbsp Hot Water
1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

Preheat the oven to 190C and line 2 baking sheets with greaseproof paper or silicon baking liners (they are amazing!).

Mix the oats, flour, sugar and coconut together in a large mixing bowl. Heat the butter and golden syrup in a pan until the butter has melted.

In another bowl, mix the hot water and bicarb of soda together and then add to the pan of butter and syrup. It will froth like crazy, when it does that tip it straight into your bowl of dry ingredients and stir it all together. Plop tablespoonfulls of the mix on to your baking sheets, keep them fairly wide apart as they will spread during baking. Bake for about 10mins until golden.

These taste great warm from the oven, as soon as they are cool enough to hold that is!

[BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger]

I'd be happy with a decent bacon sandwich. With that HP sauce with Guinness and a fried egg.

[ouryve]

What if we neither have Waitrose deliveries nor a Waitrose store? Durham turned out not to be post enough for Waitrose.

[ouryve]

posh, even.

[moonbells]

I would like home-made chocolate cupcakes for tea! Assuming Daddy is willing to help as DS is only 4...

100g unsalted butter
100g SR flour
100g caster sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon cocoa

Wash the child.

Soften the butter, put everything into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer or wooden spoon, depending if you are Daddy or child!

Place in 12 bun cases or 9 muffin cases and bake 15-20 mins gas 4. 180C electric I think.

Let child lick out the bowl
Wash child again.

When cakes are cold, beat well-softened unsalted butter with icing sugar in the ratio 3:2 depending on how much or little you want to get all over the place/cakes/floor.

Help the child to spread or pipe the buttercream on the cold cupcakes, then leave them with pots of jelly diamonds, chocolate chips or buttons, 100s and 1000s, sugar strands, chocolate strands, cherries...

Assume child will eat half the toppings
Wash child yet again!

Get child to hand one or two idiosyncratic/wonky/fingerprinted cupcakes made with a lot of love to Mummy, who would also like a large cup of tea from Daddy!

[FrillyPig]

Hahahah Moonbells - yours is my fave so far! Can I add a suggestion to your recipe? "Also assume that child will eat one of your cupcakes whilst you are distracted with drinking the daddy supplied beverage!" ;D xx

[milk]

I would love my son to give me his last rolo :P

[ProfCoxWouldGetIt]

DD is 2.4 so not really cooking much yet, that said she made some amazing cheese scones last weekend - I just measured everything and then put it in the oven - she did every thing else (with a bit of instruction)

So I would love her to make those again

225g/8oz self raising flour
pinch of salt
55g/2oz butter (or marg)
55g/2oz mature cheddar cheese, grated
150ml/5fl oz milk
5ml mustard powder (optional)

Heat the oven to 220C/425F/Gas 7. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Mix together the flour and salt (and mustard powder) and rub in the butter.
Stir in the cheese and then the milk to get a soft dough.
Turn on to a floured work surface and knead very lightly. Pat out to a round 2cm/¾in thick. Use a 5cm/2in cutter to stamp out rounds and place on the baking sheet. Lightly knead together the rest of the dough and stamp out more scones to use it all up.
Brush the tops of the scones with a little milk and a bit of extra grated cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and golden. Cool on a wire rack.


(HINT - if you don't have self raising flour, use 15ml (1tbsp of baking powder to 8oz of regular flour)

[Hulababy]

Hmmm. My DD is 9y and loves cooking, and is getting pretty good at it. She is definitely a more competent cook than DH! What would I like her to cook me???

I'd like to start with a lovely cop of tea, and then she can move onto bringing me fizz - DH can help open the bottle.

Then maybe a'll go for one of DD's veggie moussaka with some warm crusty bread. DD made some lovely seeded soda bread the other day at school, so maybe that;

followed by one of my favourite desserts: yummy rice pudding with a decent crust/skin.

All of which I know DD can make well and independently, so even better.

[SoupDragon]

To be perfectly honest, I would be happy with a mug of coffee and a bacon sandwich.

Mug of Coffee

One mug (Emma Bridgewater, naturally)
One spoon off good quality instant coffee (lets manage our expectations here)
Enough boiling water to fill the aforementioned mug
Milk

1. Put a spoonful of coffee into the mug. Remove approximately half because you've used a dessert spoon rather than a teaspoon. scrape spilt coffee granules onto the floor.
   
   
2. Pour on freshly boiled water. Run hand under cold tap for at least 10 minutes after unfortunate spillage - pass responsibility for coffee onto sibling.
   
   
3. Add milk until the coffee is the colour as indicated by the helpful colour chart your mother has left by the kettle. Add more coffee to correct small pouring error and mop up excess milk from the work top.
   
   Bacon Sandwich
   
   Cutting your losses from the attempt at a mug of coffee, retire to the local cafe.

[GrownUp2012]

Ice Cream Extravaganza

You will need:

Stage 1

2 ripe bananas

Chop the bananas into thin slices and spread one layer thick on a tray. Put it in the freezer.

Stage 2

120g butter
120g caster sugar
2 eggs
120g self raising flour
1tbsp cocoa powder

Grease and line a tin and set oven at 150. Add butter and sugar to bowl, whizz with electric whisk. Add eggs, whizz with electric whisk. Gently gently sift the flour on top and stir it with a metal spoon. Put it in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Leave to cool.

When it has completely cooled, get a loveheart cookie cutter and cut out as many as you can fit.

Stage 3

semi-skimmed milk or cream

Put the frozen bananas into a bowl, add milk/cream gradually and whizz with a stick blender until you get the required consistency for ice cream.

Stage 4

Chocolate squeezy sauce
Fudge pieces
Chocolate chips
Squirty cream
Sprinkles

Put two hearts in a bowl and top with banana ice cream. Decorate liberally with all the goodies, with plenty of cream and chocolate sauce. Serve to mummy with a big spoon.

See if there is any left for you.

[NoMoreCakeOclock]

My dd is 4 and she will be making me "hearty" dippy eggs for breakfast.

She rips up a slice of ham and puts it in the bottom of a heart ramekin, adds spinach and an egg and then tops with grated cheese.

My DH pops it in the oven for 15 mins, served with toast. Delicious and so easy!

[SucksToBeMe]

My 3 yr old DS has offered to make me Dangled Legs.



My shock gave way to laughter once we established he meant 'Scrambled Eggs'

[Blu]

Dangled Legs is BRILLIANT.

ROFL.

[inmysparetime]

My DCs love making apple strudel, just use ready made puff pastry, apple sauce, nutmeg, cinnamon, and mincemeat.
Spoon a strip of sauce along the rolled pastry and fold it over, brush water over the top and sprinkle brown sugar and more cinnamon and ginger.
Bake 190C 25-30 mins

[natcat7000]

Anything would be lovely from my little one (with a little help from his dad). One that comes to mind is scrambled eggs, smoked salmon with spring onions on top of toast with a smear of cream cheese and not too many knives involved. Throw in a champagne and orange juice and Im one happy mum!

[RemainsOfTheDay]

This Mother's Day DH will still be in Afghanistan so DS(4) would be making it entirely by himself so I would go for something really easy... Probably Weetabix with blueberries on for breakfast so, including DD, the 3 of us could all have exactly the same.

DS love to use a whisk and crack eggs so luck would probably be a very crunchy scrambled egg on toast (which I might sneakily add some smoked salmon to the the top of)

For supper, the one meal he really likes to help me with is cottage pie so I'd go for that. He likes mashing the potatos so much he doesn't even noticed all the chopped veg getting mixed in with the mince

For pudding, it's a bit late, but pancakes! Fun to do together, quick, and great fun selecting what you will have on each one...though last time he wanted to post some to Daddy and was quite offended when I had to gently tell him Daddy probably wouldn't appreciate a 3 week old pancakey mush in the bottom of an envelope, so maybe we'd need to stick to Mars bars instead!

[MrsJamin]

American-style fluffy pancakes (BBC recipe) with maple syrup and smoked bacon. The children can help to mix the batter and place the items on the plate. Ideally this would be breakfast in bed!