A gingerbread man for a special man…happy fathers’ day!

This year we’ve glittered, glued, splashed, painted and sprinkled our way happily through Friday mornings at the Messy Play and Baking sessions at Wharfedale Babies.

The sessions are always different but always, always fun! Our little one (aged two and a half but young babies up and children up to the age of 3 all enjoy it!) has had a brilliant time doing everything from mixing bowls of custard to messing about in shaving foam and mashed potato as well as throwing paint bombs at a huge canvas outside and all sorts in between. But the highlight for us has always been the sessions decorating freshly-baked buns and biscuits…

Messy Play Sand Pit

The nursery has an excellent cook in the delightful form of Janet whose kitchen is within the nursery room itself (though safely separate) so that the children can see her preparing their delicious nutritionally balanced food…the tempting wafts of the baking straight from the oven is reason enough alone to come along to the Messy Play sessions! She is very much involved with the children, explaining what she’s cooking for them and always there with a smile when they go over to wash their hands at the little sinks near the kitchen.

So legendary have her biscuits and buns become among the parents at the stay and play sessions that we asked her to share one of her recipes with MooBaaKids in time for baking up a Father’s Day gift. So for the main man in your little ones’ lives read on for Janet’s Gingerbread Recipe…perfect for gingerbread men, stars, hearts…what ever shapes you’ve got!

Janet’s Gingerbread Men – perfect for father’s day! (makes 10-16)

300g self raising flour
Pinch of salt
3 teaspoons of ground ginger
100g caster sugar
50g margarine
3 tablespoons golden syrup
4 tablespoons milkTo decorate: icing, cherries, currants, sprinkles, smarties…there’s no limit!

Method:
Oven – 160 degrees c
Grease 2 baking trays
Place flour, salt and ginger in a bowl
Warm the magarine until melted with the sugar and syrup. Add to the dry ingredients, add milk and mix well.
Leave to cool for 10 mins.

Then for the fun part with your little helpers…roll out and cut into shapes, the thicker they roll the softer the biscuits will be in the middle.
Cook for 10-15 minutes or until brown.
Cool on a wire tray and decorate with icing, sprinkles! 

Wharfedale Messy Play

The nursery is also having an *OPEN DAY* this Saturday between 10am and 4pm and all are welcome to come along, see the facilities and have a chat with the staff. If you can’t make that then each week the messy play sessions run from 9.30am- 11am at the nursery in the gorgeous setting of Barden, just over the road from Barden Tower. The children are encouraged to get involved with the activities but are welcome to explore their surroundings as well, playing with the various nursery toys and facilities. The cost of £2.50 includes a fresh fruit snack and drink and a welcome tea or coffee for the grown ups. After the messy play, there’s also usually a bit of time for the children to play outside with their friends and listen out for bird calls in the wood…or feed the friendly ducks who often pop over for some bread. It’s a great way to come and hear more about the Montessori methods or just to meet new friends in a warm stimulating environment for your little one. For more information either visit the website or call Emma on 01756 720 333.

For more ideas on what to get up to on Fathers’ Day visit the MooBaaKids events page for ideas.

Enjoy! x