Kids party food with a difference

Little Bear's first birthday is fast approaching and we are having a glorious garden party! Fed up with the usual offerings of floppy ham sandwiches, cold 'chicken' nuggets and party rings, we have been trying out some great alternative food ideas that taste great and fire little imaginations.

Gingerbread always goes down well, especially homemade. I had a scout around for some interesting cookie cutters and found these! Who could resist a little Kung Fu fighting with these deliciously chewy Ninjabread men? We couldn't.. and when their limbs fall off you just munch 'em!      

Freshly cut from the dough

Basic gingerbread mix

350g plain flour

100g margarine

1 egg

2 teaspoons of ground ginger 

1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda

170g soft light brown sugar

4 tablespoons golden syrup

Method: Preheat oven to 190 C or gas mark 5. Grease 3 or 4 baking trays (or use baking paper). Sift flour, ginger and soda into a bowl and then rub in butter using fingertips. Add sugar, then stir in syrup and egg. This should make a firm dough. Roll out the dough onto a floured surface about 5mm thick and cut out your shapes. Space them out well on the baking trays as they expand whilst cooking. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes and cool on a wire rack. Feeling extra creative? Decorate with icing, sweets or chocolate. For an alternative twist, dust lightly with cinnamon.

Cheesy potato boats make great party food and are really simple to make. Bake small potatoes (the more bite sized the better) in the oven at around 180 C. The length of time to cook will vary depending on the size of the spud, but should be approximately 40mins. Once cooked and cooled down a little, cut in half lengthways. Scoop out the inside with a spoon leaving enough potato attached for the 'hull' to be sturdy. Mix the scooped potato with a little butter and some grated cheese and stuff back into the jackets. Sails can be made from any crunchy veg. Simply cut a tall triangle to make a colourful sail.

Other ideas we've had are stripy jelly, decorative butterfly cakes and mini muffins. Please help us think of some more!