However much I try to be that mother who plans ahead, cooking sessions with my children are usually impromptu and come about because:
- it's raining outside, we're all going crazy and need an immediate distraction, or
- one of them asks to cook something and wants to do it right there and then, or
- I suddenly realise they've got friends coming over and I'm totally out of biscuits.
All of these scenarios mean a delve into the store cupboard to see what I have that they can make something with. Luckily all the recipes in the Tickle Fingers Cookbook only have a few ingredients so I can usually find what I need for at least one of them. However, I do also make sure that I always have certain things in the house for those inevitable spontaneous baking moments.
My list of essential ingredients:
- plain flour
- self-raising flour
- cocoa powder
- butter
- sugar
- eggs
- chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
- vegetable oil
- golden syrup