October 2023
Month in Pictures
Chef’s Corner
Leek & Potato Soup with home-made Foccacia
Soup: Ingredients
50g butter
450g potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm pieces (try Golden Wonders or Kerr Pinks)
1 small onion,cut the same size as the potatoes
450g sliced leeks
850ml-1.2litres/1.5-2pts chicken or vegetable stock
142ml carton on whipping cream
125ml full fat milk
Method
Melt 50g butter in a heavy saucepan. When it foams, add the potatoes, the onion and the leeks and toss them in the butter until they are well coated.
Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss again. Put a disc of greaseproof paper on top of the vegetables to keep in the steam, then cover the pan with its lid.
Cook over a gentle heat for 10 mins, or until the vegetables are soft but not coloured.
Uncover the pan and discard the paper. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are just cooked – about 5 minutes. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh flavour.
Purée in a blender until silky smooth, in batches if necessary, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Return the soup to a clean pan and stir in three quarters of a 142ml carton of whipping cream and 125ml full-fat milk.
Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls. Drizzle with the remaining cream and serve.
Focaccia - Ingredients
500g strong bread flour, plus extra for dusting
7g dried fast action yeast
2 tsp fine sea salt
5 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the tin and to serve
1 tsp flaky sea salt
¼ small bunch of rosemary, sprigs picked
Method
Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Mix the yeast into one side of the flour, and the fine salt into the other side. Then mix everything together, this initial separation prevents the salt from killing the yeast.
Make a well in the middle of the flour and add 2 tbsp oil and 350-400ml lukewarm water, adding it gradually until you have a slightly sticky dough (you may not need all the water). Sprinkle the work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it, scraping around the sides of the bowl. Knead for 5-10 mins until your dough is soft and less sticky. Put the dough into a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr until doubled in size.
Oil a rectangle, shallow tin (25 x 35cm). Tip the dough onto the work surface, then stretch it to fill the tin. Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for another 35-45 mins.
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Press your fingers into the dough to make dimples. Mix together 1½ tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp water and the flaky salt and drizzle over the bread. Push sprigs of rosemary into the dimples in the dough.
Bake for 20 mins until golden. Whilst the bread is still hot, drizzle over 1-2 tbsp olive oil. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold with extra olive oil, if you like.
Help and Advice for Winter
Sarah Potter –Lead Paediatric Nurse, Children’s Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath
When should I worry about my child’s breathing?
As the winter approaches, the number of respiratory illness rises significantly.
This can be a very worrying time for parents, but when should you be concerned about your child’s breathing?
Most chest infections are caused by viruses and so do not usually need treatment with antibiotics, and most children do not need to see a medical practitioner and will get better by themselves.
It can be extremely scary if your child has any sort of breathing difficulty. Use your instincts; if your child appears well and their breathing difficulty improves after a short period of time, there is normally no need to worry.
Wheeze is extremely common in young children and is most often triggered by a viral infection. Most pre-school aged children with wheeze do not have asthma.
Children under 2 years of age with breathing difficulty may have bronchiolitis. This is an extremely common condition, caused by a viral infection. It usually starts as a runny nose and cough but their breathing may get worse over the next 2-3 days.
If your child is struggling to breathe, they need to be seen by a medical practitioner and may need treatment.
Call 999 or go to A&E if your child:
· has blue lips
· pauses in breathing or starts grunting
· a harsh breath noise as they breathe in
· too breathless to talk
· is pale, mottled and feels abnormally cold to touch
· is extremely agitated or confused or is very lethargic (difficult to wake)
Ring you GP surgery or contact 111 if your child
· Has laboured/rapid breathing or they are working harder to breathe (drawing in of the muscles below their ribs, between their ribs or at the neck)
· Seems dehydrated (sunken eyes, drowsy, not passed urine for 12 hours)
· Is drowsy or irritable especially if they remain this way despite their fever coming down
· Continues to have a fever of 38.0 or above for more than 5 days
· Is getting worse or you are worried
If none of the above features are present, make sure that your child stays well hydrated by offering them lots of fluids – you may need to give this little and often via syringe. Closely monitor them for any signs of deterioration by looking out for any of the above.
For more advice and guidance, visit NHS Health Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk
Community Notices
BOUNCY BEATS Toddler Dance Classes
For Little People Who Love To Dance💕
MULBERRY PARK HUB
Wednesday mornings
11:00-11:45 (Age 18 months-4 Years)
The children enjoy using their imaginations as they enter the wonderful world of DANCE. The classes teach the children about musicality and self-expression. They learn basic Ballet steps and postures whilst having fun! We go on a new adventure each week; The toy shop, Under the sea, The Magic Kingdom and many more.
Please see the website for more details or contact Fi if you would like to try a class.
0797 471 0706
The Curious Child baby and toddler group in Batheaston.
Every Thursday, we transform the beautiful Batheaston New Village Hall into a play space full of open-ended resources. Our play sessions are always very calm as the children are highly engaged in play. We have lots of vintage items and real-life curiosities for children to explore, our materials are mostly natural or recycled. For the grown ups, we provide a complimentary drink and cake. Tickets and further information are available via the website: www.thecuriouschild.co.uk.
Parents and carers can enjoy 20% off play sessions during October, November and December when using the code ‘Thursdays’.
(closed from October 19th - November 16th)
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
