What do you have planned this week?

Why is it that every half term we always seem to spend a fortune on activities? Whether it's a trip to the cinema, zoo or swimming we're always looking for a way to entertain the children.

Well, we have a few tips that might come in handy. 

Go to the local park… if the children are under 10 years old then this isn't a problem, however, if they are over 10, they seem to go through the stage where being seen with your parents "totally isn't cool". But if they are under 10 then this is perfect, take some outdoor toys with you i.e. ball, or even a blanket with a flask of hot chocolate, take advantage of the fact that it's not to cold.

Bake, bake and bake some more. Wether it's flapjacks or homemade ice cream, for some reason kids can't get enough of baking. Maybe it's the anticipation of licking the bowl or just making the biggest  mess imaginable, who knows? 

A movie marathon. So people say that it's not healthy for children to watch endless amounts of television, movies or play on computer games for hours on end, but surely a Disney marathon doesn't count in this? or Dreamworks? Who doesn't love Sherk? 

Team up, why not invite another parent and their child or children over for the afternoon? You can sit and relax whilst the children entrain themselves, although we do advise to maybe check on them every once in a while, you don't want their bedroom to turn into some sort of toy jungle. Don't fancy inviting them over? Then why not take a picnic to the park?

If you've tried all these and still find yourself spending endless amount on day trips, be thankful that this half term is one week and not two, your little angles will return to school in now time! 

The Count Down Begins...

It's officially on it's way, with songs on the radio and the decorations in full force, we can't hide from the Father Christmas… especially if you have children. Christmas is here!

BUT… you don't need to be afraid, we are here to help! We are giving you these best and easiest recipes that one could ever wish for! Don't believe me? Check this out…

A few weeks ago we gave you Parsnip soup, this week we are giving you… Buttery Biscuits. They're perfect for a homemade present or a tasty treat for yourself!

All you need is;

100g unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
00g caster sugar
1 free-ange egg (lightly beaten)
275g plain flour
1tsp vanilla extract

and to decorate;
400g icing sugar
3-4 tbsp water
2-3 drops of your choice of food colouring
and Edible glitter of your choice

What to do;

First, start by preheating your oven to 190C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Then cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy.

Then you should beat in the egg and vanilla extract, only a little at a time until it is well combined.

Stir in the flour until the mixtures comes together as a dough form. Once you have done this, you should then roll the dough out on a lightly floured work top surface to a thickness of around 1cm.

Using a biscuit cutter of your choice, cut all of the biscuits out of the dough and then place carefully onto the baking try.

You should bake the biscuits for around 8-10 minutes, or until alight golden brown.

Before decorating you should allow to cool. For the icing, sift the icing sugar and then mix it with water until it creates a smooth mixture, you should then add your chosen food colour.

Decorate to your own preference, and allow the icing sugar to harden before you sit back, relax and enjoy your tasty butter biscuits!

P.S We'd love you to send us a picture of what your biscuits look like! 

Don't Miss Out!

It's so secret that we are holding the best competition ever! With two prizes to give away, why wouldn't you want to win? 

It's so simple, all we are asking is that you send us a picture of you and your Hopper pot, you can be riding a bike or dusting your front room! We want to see how adventurous you can be! We've already had Hoppers climb mountains, sunbathe on the beach, and even take to the waves but like we said "we want know where you would take them!"

So what are you waiting for? Don't miss out on the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend on Grasshopper products! 

You can enter on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter too. Make sure you tag us in your picture and don't forget to follows us too!

My,My, My Fibre

Well what can we say, we keep telling you that fibre is the way forward... and this is why. There are two main types of fibre which are Soluble Fibre and Insoluble Fibre. Not to man people no the difference between the two and that is why we are here to help! Lets start with soluble fibre, it's mostly found in fruit, veg and of course OATS! The benefits of this are that it will form a gel in the intestines that is thought to slow down the digestion which will allow it to absorbs the carbohydrates.  Where as insoluble fibres are found in wholemeal flour and bread ect. This type of fibre is vital for a healthy digestive system. Well there you go, lesson one in fibre!

Oat Crunchies...

By the time you have finished reading this blog post, you will 100% want to make these little a squares of joy! There is no need in buying sweets this year for the trick-or-treaters just hand out these... although we can't guarantee that they won't come back for more! 

All you need is... 

180g hopper pot cane sugar porridge

250g dark or milk chocolate 

100g unsalted butter - cut them into small cubes

150g digestive biscuits 

1.  Break the chocolate into small pieces, put them in a heat proof bowl and add the butter. Melt gently over a pan of hot water, making sure to stir it now and then. Once the chocolate mixture is completely smooth, carefully lift the bowl off the pan and place the heatproof bowl onto a safe surface. 
2. Put the biscuits into a plastic food bag and use the rolling pin to break the biscuits, no smaller than you thumbnail, add the oats to the bashed biscuits. Then add both the biscuits and the oats to the melted chocolate and mix well so all the oats and chunks of biscuits are covered well. 
3. scoop all of the mixture into a greased tin and spread evenly. Cover with cling film and the leave to chill in the fridge for about 2 hours. Then cut them into equal size squares. Then sit back, relax and enjoy!! 

Spook-Tacular Tips

October holds cold nights and the one thing that adults look forward to more than the kids... Halloween!

So we thought we'd give you a few of our favourite top tips for all-out Halloween fun!

1. Here at Hopper HQ we live by the rule "You are never to old to go trick-or-treating" 

What do you have to lose? 

2. Make sure you buy an extra bag of sweets to give to all the trick-or-treaters, the more that's left, the more you have all to yourself! 

3. Don't throw away your seeds - If you are a regular pumpkin carver that throws away their pumpkin seeds but keeps the flesh then you need to STOP! 

Pumpkin seeds are packed with protein and fiber and not to mention that they are very tasty, you can gently toast them in a frying pan or even in the oven and you have a healthy salad topping or even a light snack. 

We'd love to know if you have any other spook-tacular tips...

Half Term Adventures!

Keeping the kids entertained over half term can be quite a struggle... especially as the weather has taken a downward spiral!

Don't let the rain stop you from heading on adventures - grab your wellies, coat and an umbrella and you're ready to head out into the great outdoors. Whether you're thinking of hiking up a hill, exploring the local countryside or visiting a farm... just get the kids outside and into the fresh air, just remember to keep your bellies full, as you don't want any angry/hungry kiddies throwing a tantrum. 

Take Grasshopper with you, our delicious soups will help keep you warm and fill you up when hunger calls! Our petite Hoppers are perfect to fit in your backpack without taking up too much space - remember to take along a flask of hot water so you can tuck in whenever you want!

Half term fun!

It's nearly half term and keeping the kids entertained can be quite the challenge. Well we have come up with some activities that can keep the whole family happy over the half term week!

1. Get Crafty
With Halloween next week it's the perfect opportunity to create some spooky decorations. It's time to get out the crayons, paints and paper, and get creative! It's also a chance to start making home-made Christmas cards, as the festive holiday is just around the corner.

2. Head Out Into Autumn
If the weather is fine why not head to your local park or out into the countryside, enjoy the fresh air and nature around. October is great time to go for walks and see the glorious colours that are now around as Autumn has arrived - it's a chance to see nature and even wildlife! Remember to keep yourself fueled up, why not try our delicious Grasshopper Pots?

3. Trick-or-Treating
As Halloween falls over half term it's the perfect opportunity to take the kids trick-or-treating, it's time to put on those scary costumes and see what treats you can get.

4. Movie Time
Watching a film is a great way to keep the kids entertained, whether you decide to go to the cinema to see a new release or stay at home watching a family favourite - it's the perfect to keep them quite for a couple of hours!

5. Explore
Being at home can be boring sometimes seeing the same things over again, if you want a different view then pop on a train, bus or in the car and go explore somewhere new! Take a couple of days away from home, at a cosy B&B or country hotel.

These are just a few ideas for you. How will you be keeping the kids entertained over half term?