Kokova Magazine

Chedds has created some fun and playful recipes, perfect for little hands to get involved.

The recipes are a bright addition to any family table, kid's party or lunchbox and include the classic Shepherds Pie with Shapes scattered like jewels, mini burger slides with oozing cheesy centres as well as 'mouse' Muffins, Mac-n-Cheese 'rabbits' and a Juggling Clown Quesadilla.

Clown Quesadillas

Makes 1, serves 2-3

Ingredients

• 2 flour tortillas
• 2 slices of ham
• 3 x CHEDDS TOWERS cut lengthways

To decorate:

• 1 packet of flat leaf parsley
• 1 packet of curly parsley
• 1 radish
• 1 olive
• 1 cherry tomato
• 1 16g pack of CHEDDS SHAPES to decorate

Procedure

• Lay 1 tortilla in a dry frying pan. Top with the ham and lay on the CHEDDS TOWERS. Lay the second tortilla on top and press down lightly.
• Turn the heat onto low and cook until the cheese melts and the bottom is golden brown. Turn over and cook until the second tortilla is also brown.
• Remove onto a board and cut into 4 quarters. Then cut 2 of the slices into two again for the arms and legs.
• Decorate your clown with flat leaf parsley for the hair, curly parsley for the ruffled shirt, a cherry tomato for the nose and a slice of radish for the mouth. To recreate the juggling, scatter Shapes around the top of the Quesadilla Clown, from the left to right arm.

Jacket Potato Boats

Makes 4 boats (serves 2)

Ingredients

• 2 small baking potatoes
• 150g broccoli, cut into small florets

To decorate:

• Wooden skewers
• 4 CHEDDS TOWERS cut in half
• Mini Cos lettuce for the sails
• Cucumber strips for the top of the sail
• 1 x 16g bag of CHEDDS SHAPES to decorate

Procedure

• Heat the oven to 180c/gas mark 6. Microwave the potatoes on a high heat for 10 minutes until cooked. Meanwhile, cook the broccoli for 2 mins, drain. When the potatoes are cool, cut in half and scoop the potato out the middle into a bowl.
• Mash with a fork and add the broccoli. Spoon the mixture into the shells and place onto a large baking sheet.
• Sprinkle with some Chedds Shapes and bake for 10 minutes.
• Thread 4 skewers with 1 x Chedds Tower cut lengthways and one cos lettuce leaf. Top with a strip of cucumber and two shapes. Put each skewer into the middle of each potato half to make a boat.
• Shape little fish out of strips of carrot and make waves with strips of cucumber.

Mouse Muffins

Makes 6

Ingredients

• 125g salted butter
• 250 ml plain flour
• 70g of Cathedral City Cheddar, grated
• 2 eggs
• 175 ml milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

To decorate:

• 1 radish for the ears
• cucumber strips for the whiskers
• CHEDDS SHAPES for the eyes, nose and mouth

Procedure

• Pre-heat the oven to 180/gas mark 4
• Beat the eggs with the milk and stir into the flour mixture. If the mixture is too stiff add a little more milk until you have a dropping consistency.
• Line a muffin tin with cupcake cases and divide the mixture equally between each case. Bake in the oven at 200c for 20 minutes or until golden and a skewer when inserted comes out clean. Decorate with Chedds Shapes to make the face and little slithers of cucumber for the whiskers and tail.

Mini Hot Dogs

Makes 6

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 red onion, finely sliced
• 6 chipolata sausages
• 6 mini hot dog buns
• 3 x CHEDDS TOWERS cut lengthways

Procedure

• Place the oil in a frying pan and fry the onions for 5-7 minutes until soft and caramelised.
• Meanwhile put the sausages onto a grilling rack and grill for 3 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Put the cheese halves onto each sausage and pop back under the grill for 30 seconds or until melted.
• Divide the onions between the hot dog buns and top each on with a cheesy sausage. Serve with tomato ketchup and American mustard.

Mini Sliders

Makes 12

Ingredients

• 450g lean beef or chicken mince
• 1 small onions, grated
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ketchup
• 6 CHEDDS TOWERS cut in half
• 3 CHEDDS TOWERS cut into 4 cubes per TOWER
• 12 mini burger baps
• Lettuce leaves

Procedure

• In a large bowl, mix together the beef, onion, garlic and ketchup. With wet hands roll into balls. Push half a CHEDDS TOWER into the middle of each ball and roll reform into a ball making sure the patty is covering the cheese.
• With wet hands, flatten each burger and put onto an oiled tray. Bake for 6-10 minutes in a pre-heated oven.
• Serve with lettuce leaves, buns, ketchup and stick a skewer through each one and top with a tomato and a quarter of a CHEDDS TOWER.

Mac 'n' Cheese Rabbits

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 350g pasta twists
• 75g sliced ham, shredded (optional)
• 45g butter
• 45g flour
• 450ml milk
• 4 x CHEDDS TOWERS
• 2 tbsp grated breadcrumbs
• CHEDDS SHAPES to decorate

Procedure

• Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
• Melt the butter in a small pan and add the flour. Beat with a wooden spoon for 1 minute. Gradually add the milk, beating continuously. Bring the mixture slowly to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes.
• Take the sauce off the heat and stir in the CHEDDS TOWERS. Drain the pasta and pour over the cheese sauce and stir to combine. Add the shredded ham if using.
• Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the top and place under a preheated grill for 2 minutes.
• To make your face, use cherry tomato halves for the eyes, topped with two round CHEDDS SHAPES. Make the ears out of carrot strips and the whiskers with fresh chives. Finish with a CHEDDS SHAPES bow tie.

Mini Shepherd's Pies

Serves 6

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 450g minced lamb or chicken
• 200g carrots, peeled and chopped
• 150g frozen peas, cooked
• 1 tbsp tomato puree
• 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 350ml stock
• 700g potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes
• 50g unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp milk
• 3 x packs of CHEDDS SHAPES to decorate

Procedure

• Pre-heat the oven to 180c/gas mark 6
• Heat the oil in a large deep sided frying pan. Sauté the onion for 3 minutes. Add the mince and sauté for 5-6 minutes, breaking up the mince with a fork.
• When all the water has evaporated add the carrots, peas, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce and stock. Season. Cook for 30 minutes on a low simmer.
• Meanwhile, boil the potatoes for 10-15 minutes, or until tender. Drain, return the cooked potatoes to an empty saucepan and mash with the butter and milk.
• Divide the meat mixture between 6 ramekins. Top with the mash potato and put into the pre-heated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden and the pie cooked through.
• Decorate the top of the shepherd’s pies with CHEDDS SHAPES.