< Previous30 Christmas Special 2020 Time Out UAE Kids Gift guide TINY TOTS Dhs125 LEGO Duplo Disney Princess Ariel’s Undersea Castle LEGO is always a hit whatever the time of year and for the littlest ones, Duplo is a good way to get them started in the wonderful world of building bricks. We love this set that features the red-haired mermaid princess herself. O www.toysrusmena.com. Dhs144.80 Melissa & Doug Band in a Box Encourage your child’s inner musician with this ten-piece musical instrument set. O www.amazon.ae. Dhs319 Fisher-Price Linkimals Smooth Moves Sloth The Linkimals range of learning toys includes various animals including Play Together Panda, Happy Shapes Hedgehog and Counting Koala. But it’s the Smooth Move Sloth that we like best. He lights up, plays music and moves. O www.toysrusmena.com. Dhs239 Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers Hatchimals Pixies just got wings! Kiddies can launch them high into the air and then guide them where they fly with their hands. There’s also an auto-stop feature, so those glittery wings will stop safely if little fingers touch them by accident. O www.amazon.ae. Dhs259.99 Zuru Pets Alive Fifi the flossing sloth This Sloth loves to floss. And we’re not talking cleaning teeth here. Fifi flosses to three songs and her hilarious moves, cute blinking eyes and bum wiggles are sure to get everyone up dancing O www.amazon.ae. Dhs59 Skip Hop Explore & More Roll Around Rattle The roll-around-rattle encourages rolling, shaking and tossing during playtime, while the rubberised teethers and vibrant, colourful beads offer more to touch. We love the cute owl design and bright colours that make it really appealing to the little ones. O www.firstcry.ae. LITTLE LADIES 28-33_GIFT GUIDE_11430649.indd 3029/11/2020 14:29:46Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 31 Gift guide Dhs103.95 Bandai Miraculous fashion dolls Ladybug Just in time for the new series of Miraculous dropping, fans can get a fully poseable Ladybug fashion doll, which is our heroine Marionette kitted out as Ladybug, and complete with her compact – to recreate their favourite scenes from the show. O www.mumzworld.com Dhs50.74 Gibsons Rebel Girls 100 piece jigsaw puzzle This inspiring puzzle pays tribute to the inspirational and heroic women we can find in the history books and today, from Elizabeth I to Serena Williams. Great to show girls they can achieve whatever they set their hearts on. O www.gibsonsgames.co.uk. Dhs379 Present Pets Fancy Puppy Interactive Toy Interactive pets are one of the hottest toys of the year, and this one is so realistic it actually breaks out of the box itself. There are two dogs and two cats in the range. Which one will they get? O www.toysrusmena.com. MINI MEN Dhs507 Botley the robot activity set It’s never too early to introduce kids to coding! Botley is a screen-free coding robot with a big personality. Kids can programme him with up to 150 steps, in six directions, navigate obstacles and even make him dance and put on a light show. O www.mumzworld.com. Dhs339 Laser Battle Hunters Ready for a laser clash? Open the pack to find two remote-control 4-wheel-drive vehicles (Shadow and Reaper) with inbuilt infra-red cannons that not only fire laser beams but also feature cool recoil action and explosion sounds. O www.amazon.ae. Dhs2,099 PlayStation 5 It has launched just in time for Christmas, which will make kiddos all around the UAE jump for joy. An ultra-high speed SSD for lightning fast loading times, adaptive triggers, 3D audio and haptic feedback let you see, hear and feel every second of gameplay. O www.sharafdg.com. 28-33_GIFT GUIDE_11430649.indd 3129/11/2020 14:29:5532 Christmas Special 2020 Time Out UAE Kids Gift guide Dhs130.44 Hasbro Animatronic Baby Yoda Fans of The Mandalorian will love this animatronic version of The Child a.k.a. Baby Yoda – with over 25 sound and motion combinations, it’s just like having the super cute Star Wars star at home. O www.shopdisney.co.uk. Dhs699 LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian Bounty Hunter Transport Starship Toy Star Wars The Mandalorian is one of Christmas 2020’s most popular toy themes. This LEGO transport shuttle for kids aged ten and up comes with three mini figures, including The Child aka Baby Yoda. O www.amazone.ae. Dhs371 Playmobil Ghostbusters play set A new generation is ready to enjoy the adventures of the ghost hunting foursome – and this Playmobil set puts kids in the driver’s seat! The 1980s film’s ghost hunting mobile comes with original sounds and functioning lights and the set includes Ghostbusters Winston Zeddemore and Janine Melitz in their official uniform. O www.amazon.ae. BOYS AND GIRLS Dhs64 Dobble 360 It’s Dobble, but with a new twist. The aim of the game is the same: find the matching symbol between two cards. But now a rotating display means that both cards are not visible at the same time. Gets kids flexing their memory muscle as well as their powers of observation to win. O www.hamleys.com. Dhs389 Squeakee the Balloon Dog It may look like a balloon animal but this toy is actually an interactive pet with over 60 sounds and movements. Squeakee will sit, beg, lie down, do tricks and play ball. And, if you poke them with their (pretend) pin, they’ll deflate with funny balloon sounds (you can re- inflate them with a little pretend pump). O www.amazon.ae. Dhs294 National Geographic Earth Science Kit A collection of over 15 no-fuss science and STEM experiments to do at home, from creating water tornadoes or an erupting volcano, to growing a crystal. O www.noon.com. 28-33_GIFT GUIDE_11430649.indd 3226/11/2020 15:33:39Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 33 Gift guide Dhs290 VTech KidiZoom Got a future media star in your life? They’ll love this creator cam, which includes an HD video recorder (and 20 virtual backgrounds) a mini tripod and a wrist strap. O www.selfridges.com. Dhs630.86 Osmo Genius Starter Kit This kit will help turn your tablet into the ultimate learning tool – every parent’s dream! O www.amazon.ae. GAMES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Dhs219 Mattel Games Uno Showdown Classic Uno gets a fun and fast-paced twist thanks to the 'UNO Showdown unit' that sends cards flying. O www.amazon.ae. Dhs205 ThinkFun Gravity Maze Described as a combination logic game, marble run, and STEM toy, the Gravity Maze, which consists of a game grid, nine towers, a target piece and three marbles, is fun for the whole family. The brain game has 60 challenges, ranging from beginner to expert. O www.thetoystore.com. Dhs159 Monopoly for Sore Losers Monopoly is a perennially popular game, but this version turns the rules upside down. Players earn cash via those usual Monopoly pitfalls like going to jail or paying rent. O www.toysrusmena.com. Dhs100 Pictionary Air This game has been around for years, but has been brought into the modern age with a hi-tech pen so you can draw in the air. Download the game app to your smartphone or table and point the in-app camera at the player drawing to see them and their drawing on your screen. O www.toysrusmena.com. Dhs99 Beat the Parents Beat the Parents brings kids together with their parents to go head-to-head in a fun-filled family trivia game. Prove who's the boss in the game where the adults answer questions about kids' stuff, and the kids answer questions their parents should really know. O www.thetoystore.com. 28-33_GIFT GUIDE_11430649.indd 3326/11/2020 15:33:4834 Christmas Special 2020 Time Out UAE Kids Food Take the load off this Christmas and order in your five-star feast Anantara Eastern Mangroves, Abu Dhabi Your turkey takeaway comes in either small or large sizes here, with sides including roasted and mashed potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables including Brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce. From Dhs550. Until Jan 1. emdining@anantara.com (02 656 1000). Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai Ranches Restaurant at Arabian Ranches is offering a home-cooked traditional roast turkey to take the stress away. There are two options depending on how many you are Six terrific takeaways turkey InterContinental Festival City, Dubai 34-35_EO LEADER NEW_11430562_11433422_11450254.indd 3429/11/2020 14:30:35Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 35 Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 35 celebrating with. The 4kg to 6kg turkey comes in at Dhs595, while a 7kg to 8kg bird (that’s a whopper) costs Dhs695. You can order the turkey at any point from December 1 right up until New Year’s Day – so you can enjoy multiple Christmas dinners without the hassle. Just book, pick up and serve... Done. O Dhs595 (4kg-6kg), Dhs695 (7kg-8kg). Until Jan1. Ranches Restaurant, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Dubai (04 360 7935). Ben’s Farmhouse, UAE Chef Ben Tobitt co-founded Ben’s Farmhouse to supply local farm-grown produce to houses across the UAE. And now Tobitt has his Santa hat on and is whipping up a Festive Turkey Box, which can be delivered throughout the UAE for free. You can order a traditional turkey box containing a de-boned turkey breast, duck fat roast potatoes, a selection of vegetables, plus the all-important cranberry jelly, gravy and bread sauce from Dhs369 (serves two) up to Dhs1,119 (serves eight). Christmas crackers and sweets including mince pies are also included. Non-meat eaters will get a box filled with vegan goodies to go with the star of the festive show, the lentil, chickpea and sage nut roast. Sides include roast potatoes, red cabbage and roast root vegetables. Dessert comes in the form of a vegan walnut and cashew cheesecake. Additional extras are available such as gingerbread men to keep the kiddies happy. O Dhs369 (two people), Dhs669 (four people), Dhs819 (six people), Dhs1,119 (eight people). Ben’s Farmhouse, ben@bensfarmhouse.com (055 500 8975). InterContinental Festival City, Dubai Get into the Christmas spirit with pre-ordered and expertly-prepared turkey and roast beef, plus add-ons including a gingerbread house, Christmas logs and cute festive treats. You can get a traditional roast turkey with prices starting from Dhs590 and a 4kg roasted grass fed beef striploin for Dhs790. Festive French add-ones include foie gras terrine with blackcurrant jam (Dhs98 per 100g), paté en croute with chutney (Dhs165 for four slices) and a Christmas log cake (Dhs175 for four to six people). Orders are required 48-hours in advance and will be available for collection on Thursday December 24, Friday December 25 and 31 December 2020 from Choix par Pierre Gagnaire. O Dhs590 (4kg turkey), Dhs690 (6kg turkey), Dhs790 (8kg turkey), Dhs790 (4kg beef striploin). (04 701 1111). Jones the Grocer, UAE Aussie restaurant Jones the Grocer has you covered this Christmas. Order a massive turkey along with scrummy sides including duck fat roasted potatoes, sautéed Brussels sprouts and chestnut, roasted sausages wrapped in beef bacon with roasted red onions, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots, broccoli and cauliflower cheese, cranberry sauce, juniper berry-infused gravy, truffle and brie mash and sweet potato parmesan gratin. The sage and apricot stuffed roast turkey with cranberry sauce and juniper berry-infused gravy is Dhs665 for eight people or Dhs899 for five sides. If you prefer meat to turkey, there’s also a roast leg of lamb with garlic and rosemary for Dhs695 or Dhs899 with sides. O Dhs665 (turkey – 8 people), Dhs899 (turkey with five sides), Dhs695 (roast leg of lamb), Dhs899 (roast leg of lamb with sides). www.orders.jonesthegrocer.net. W Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi If you’re planning to enjoy the big meal at home the W Turkey 2 Go is available. Choose between a turkey, roast beef or baked celeriac, with all the trimmings. Packages start from Dhs400 and orders are available between December 19 and January 7. A feast fit for even the fussiest family members sorted. O From Dhs400. (02 656 0000). Jones the Grocer 34-35_EO LEADER NEW_11430562_11433422_11450254.indd 3529/11/2020 14:30:4236 Christmas Special 2020 Time Out UAE Kids CLARE LAVIN – mum to seven-year- old Oscar and two-year old Darcy – has always been passionate about cooking. The Dubai-based mother- of-two made it to the quarter finals of Junior Masterchef and then later appeared on the cookery show, Masterchef Goes Large. Having passed on her love of whipping up Ingredients • 500ml tub vanilla ice cream • 2 tbs orange juice • 200g Christmas cake or Christmas Christmas pudding ice cream There's nothing quite like cooking with the kids at Christmas. Try these fun and tasty recipes Cooking with Clare fun, innovative meals to Oscar, she now encourages him to help her in the kitchen teaching him new skills and encouraging his creative flair. Her specialities are cooking quick and easy dishes that the whole family can enjoy. For more family- friendly recipes, follow Clare on Instagram @claresfamilykitchen. TIP: Serve with some gingerbread for added zing. 36-39_COOKING WITH CLARE_11389778.indd 3629/11/2020 14:18:15Food Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 37 pudding, cut into very small cubes • 25g glacé cherries, halved Method STEP 1: Slightly soften a tub of ginger or vanilla ice cream, tip into a large bowl and beat with a wooden spoon, until smooth. STEP 2: Fold in the orange juice, Christmas cake (or pudding) and glacé cherries. STEP 3: Transfer to a small freezer-proof container and freeze until solid. Mincemeat filo tarts Ingredients • 450g mincemeat (homemade or shop bought) • 4 sheets of filo pastry • Sunflower oil for brushing • Tablespoon brown sugar Method STEP 1: Pre-heat oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. STEP 2: Lay the filo pastry sheets on top of each other and cut into three long strips with four long strips in each pile, making a total of 12 long strips. STEP 3: Work quickly to brush the three top strips of filo with oil. Place a tablespoon of mincemeat in the bottom left corner of each strip of filo. STEP 4: Fold the bottom corner across to the right and then up, and then across to the left and then up again and repeat until the mincemeat is enclosed inside a little triangular case of filo pastry. Repeat for all 12 tarts. STEP 5: Brush each filo tart with a little more oil and sprinkle each with a little brown sugar. Transfer to the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. TIP: Drizzle with some double cream, delicious! 36-39_COOKING WITH CLARE_11389778.indd 3729/11/2020 14:18:24Food 38 Christmas Special 2020 Time Out UAE Kids Toffee nut Swiss roll Ingredients • 5 egg whites, large • 2 tsps cornflour • 225g light muscovado sugar • 40g pecans, chopped • 250ml double cream • ½ tin of Carnation Caramel • Icing sugar to dust. TIP: Serve as dessert after Christmas lunch for the kids who may not be fans of Christmas pudding. until they are just worked through. Transfer to a shallow lined tray and spread it out gently using a spatula reaching all corners and even throughout. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Transfer out of the tray and leave to cool. STEP 4: Whip the double cream into soft peaks. STEP 5: Once the meringue is cool, spread with caramel first then the cream. STEP 6: roll very slowly and very carefully along the longest edge, tucking in tight as you go. Transfer to a plate and dust with icing sugar. Method STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Celsius. STEP 2: For the meringue, put the egg whites in a very clean bowl and add the cornflour. Whisk the egg whites until they start to look foamy. Then, whilst continually whisking, add the brown sugar one spoonful at a time until it’s all worked in. Keep whisking until the meringue is very firm, and hold the pattern of the whisk. STEP 3: Chop the pecans, fairly finely and add them to the meringue. Fold them in gently 36-39_COOKING WITH CLARE_11389778.indd 3826/11/2020 15:40:31Food Time Out UAE Kids Christmas Special 2020 39 Christmas spiced buns Ingredients (FOR THE DOUGH) • 75g butter • 220ml milk • 50g caster sugar • 1tsp sea salt • 500g strong white bread flour • 2 sachets fast action dried yeast (14g) • 2 eggs (1 for the dough and 1 for glazing) (FOR THE FILLING) • 75g dried cranberries, roughly chopped • 50g sultanas, roughly chopped • Zest and juice 2 oranges • 125g butter, softened • 125g dark brown soft sugar • 1tsp ground cinnamon • 1tsp ground ginger • ½ tsp mixed spice Method STEP 1: Start off by making the dough. Put the butter and milk into a saucepan heat gently and set aside. Stir together the sugar, salt, yeast and flour in a large bowl then make a well and add in the lukewarm milk/butter and one of the eggs. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry, first using a wooden spoon to bring everything together, then using your hands to form a soft dough. TIP: We reckon Father Christmas would like to find these on Christmas Eve. STEP 2: Once you have a soft dough, turn it out onto a very lightly floured surface and knead for about ten minutes so it is smooth, stretchy and elastic. Leave to prove for about an hour until doubled in size. STEP 3: For the bun filling, place the cranberries, sultanas, orange zest and orange juice in a bowl and leave to soak for half an hour. Beat together the butter, sugar, cinnamon, ginger and mixed spice until smooth. STEP 4: Tip dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle, about 5mm thick. Spread the cinnamon butter mixture across the surface of the rectangle in an even layer, ensuring that you go all the way to the edges. Drain away the orange juice from the dried fruits and sprinkle over the dough. STEP 5: From the longest side roll into a long roulade and cut into 10 pieces, gently flatten but only slightly. Arrange swirl side up on a baking tray with parchment and leave to prove again for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. STEP 6: Glaze the tops of the buns with egg wash. Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and leave to cool. 36-39_COOKING WITH CLARE_11389778.indd 3926/11/2020 15:40:40Next >