Tag: halloween

Pumpkin and Apple Muffins Recipe

| October 1, 2013

Pumpkins will be out in force over the coming weeks as Halloween approaches. My family loves eating pumpkin. We find this versatile orange fleshed vegetable delicious in soups, pasta, rice, salads, baking and as a sweet roasted vegetable.

pumpkin and apple muffins

My Pumpkin and Apple Muffins

Pumpkin is highly nutritious and contains the antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamin C.

The sweet flavour of pumpkin is perfect when weaning your baby and pumpkin puree can be given to babies from the age of 6 months. Pumpkin was one of the first vegetables my baby tried and it has remained a firm favourite.

Now that the weather is cooler you might like to try a quick and easy recipe for Pumpkin and Apple Muffins. In this recipe the pumpkin, apple and raisins have a natural sweetness and the cinnamon provides a hint of warm spice to the muffins.

Makes 12 muffins.

Pumpkin and Apple Muffins

  • 2 cups Self-Raising Flour
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/3 cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1 cup pureed Pumpkin (I used Butternut Squash)
  • 1 grated Apple
  • 1/3 cup Raisins

1. Peel and cut the pumpkin into cubes. Boil until the flesh is tender when pierced with a knife. Drain. Puree the pumpkin in a food processor, with a hand blender or by hand.

2. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin or line with paper muffin cases.

3. Wash and grate the apple.

4. Add the vegetable oil to the pureed pumpkin, grated apple and raisins. Stir through until just blended.

5. Add the eggs and mix well.

6. Gently stir in the cinnamon and flour.

7. Bake at 180 C for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake skewer inserted in the middle of a muffin comes out clean.

8. Leave the muffins to cool on a wire rack for a few minutes.

These Pumpkin and Apple muffins are great for the family to enjoy at breakfast time or as a tasty snack during the day.

Mummy and Me MagazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the October 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning advice, weight management and health. Contact me.

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Spooky Halloween Ideas for Children

| October 24, 2012

With Halloween just a week away I’ve found a few goodies if you’re looking for some quick, easy and spooky Halloween ideas to enjoy making with your children.

Image courtesy of A Fanciful Twist


Here are some of the best free Halloween printables. Use them as spooky pictures to hang up or make Halloween cards with them. The collection has been compiled by Design Mom Gabrielle Blair and features this wonderful image by A Fanciful Twist. Or how about printing and making these black and orange Halloween Party Owl Invitations.

Owl Invitations image courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

John Lewis have a great selection of children’s Halloween costumes and toys. For younger children I love the Face Paint Sticks. Suitable for children 3 years plus. Create your own Halloween faces!

Face Paint Sticks

For older children my favourite is this Mask Making Kit which makes at least 5 masks. Suitable for ages 7 years plus.

Mask Making Kit