• Your Guide to the Perfect Family Night in

    Staying in is definitely the new going out, right?! OK, we have little choice in the matter right now, but why not embrace the last few days of the November lockdown and…

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  • Easy Family Meals from Asda

    Whether you’re looking for some healthy meal ideas or an activity to do as a family, we’ve got you covered with these amazing family recipes from Asda!   Asda’s online ‘Kids’ Kitchen’…

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  • 8 Family Films To Watch Now

    We love movies at Barons Quay and although trips to the cinema may be out of the question at the moment, there’s a host of streaming options to help you get your…

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  • Sweet Treats from Sticky Paws

    In a bid to bring Barons Quay to the homes of our lovely customers during lockdown we have teamed up with the brilliant Sticky Paws in the Flavour Forest to bring you…

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  • How To Celebrate VE Day At Home

    8 May 2020 marks 75 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.   When the long-awaited news was announced people of…

    READ MORE

  • The Northwich History Quiz

    If you’re at home and looking for a challenge, why not give our local history quiz a go? How well do you really know Northwich? Put your knowledge of the town to…

    READ MORE

Staying in is definitely the new going out, right?! OK, we have little choice in the matter right now, but why not embrace the last few days of the November lockdown and have a family night to remember?

MATCHING PJs

The Christmas decorations are going up early this year so why not order your festive pjs now?! Surprise your loved ones with some gorgeous new night wear from H&M, we love these matching tartan ones! This will get you all in the mood for a cosy night in as you settle down for some family fun.

 

FUN & GAMES

The family that plays together, stays together!  There’s nothing like a bit of healthy competitiveness to bring a family group together, play as a team if you have younger children and make sure you get the games out early before anyone gets too tired to play.

If your board games are a bit boring why not try a modern spin on a classic with the new Pictionary Air game?  Or you could test your knowledge with the brilliant The Chase board game!  Both of these plus lots more can be found at The Entertainer, which has some great offers on at the moment and remember, you can click and collect from Barons Quay within 15 minutes of ordering.

DANCE OFF

We may not be going “out out” at the moment but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a boogie! Release some endorphins and burn off  those calories with a home disco! Get yourself a playlist together and turn the volume up for a family dance off! 

Install this cool disco ball light from George at Asda and turn your kitchen into a nightclub!

 

NO TIME TO COOK

You need to treat yourself during your perfect night in! Don’t slave over the oven or have a massive pile of dirty dishes to tidy up…order in! Food from Wildwood at Barons Quay is available via Click and Collect or via Uber Eats and Just Eat! So peruse the menu and make sure you order everyone’s favourite for a faff free meal.

 

MOCKTAIL TIME!

Why not create some fun mocktails together? They can be as healthy or as naughty as you like, you will need fresh fruit juices, ice, soda water, lemonade, fruit cordials and don’t forget the fresh fruit and herbs to garnish your creations!

We love these Mango & Apple Fizz mocktails from Asda, you can see the full recipes here.

 

WHICH MOVIE?

Finally, it’s time to decide which movie you are going to watch! There are so many great family friendly films out there, especially if you have one of the TV subscriptions services. Here are our favourites…

Disney+ – Go classic and watch the old Disney films. Snow White, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King are all available on the Disney streaming service. Or why not watch Frozen and Frozen 2 and sing along to the songs?! A big recommendation is the newer film “Onward” – just make sure you have the tissues ready! 

Netflix – If you haven’t seen the new “Over The Moon” movie then do so! It is stunning and emotional. “All Dogs Go To Heaven” is a classic from 1989 and is currently streaming on Netflix. Or why not bring it up to date and watch “Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse” or get all Christmassy and watch “Klaus”

Amazon Prime– If you didn’t catch it last year, the animated version of “The Addams Family” is on Prime, along with the action packed “Bumblebee” and the brilliantly acted “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”

 

Whether you’re looking for some healthy meal ideas or an activity to do as a family, we’ve got you covered with these amazing family recipes from Asda!

 

Asda’s online ‘Kids’ Kitchen’ has a range of recipes that have been created by children, so they’re really easy to make, look good and most importantly they’re packed with veggies and all the nutrients your child needs, so why not give them a go?

1) Irem’s Sesame Salmon – Kids’ Kitchen

This dish only takes 35 minutes to make and has less than 10 ingredients, parents and children will love this one. Irem’s recipe serves 2 people so adjust the measurements accordingly.  

See how to make it here.

2) Lottie’s Nachos – Kids’ Kitchen

These nachos are freshly made and a healthy twist on the classic dish. You and your little ones can make the nachos yourself using Asda’s tortillas, swap out the sour cream for Asda’s 75% less fat Crème Fraîche and add in some extra veggies for a fun but nutritious meal!  

See how to make it here.

3) Lighter Sausage and Egg Muffin

Is anyone in your household missing McDonald’s? Asda have come up with an even better and healthier version to satisfy your cravings! This is one the kids will love as well as parents. Using Asda’s Light & Lean Low Fat Pork Sausages and wholemeal muffins, wholemeal versions are less than 500 cals! 

 

See how to make it here.

4) French Toast Sandwich with Chocolate Spread

This delicious breakfast treat only takes 15 minutes to make and costs less than £5 for 2 servings! This is a great breakfast to make with the kids on a weekend, you can pack in some extra fruit to keep it tasty while adding more of the good stuff. 

See how to make it here.

5) Roasted Vegetable Pizza

This healthier pizza is the perfect meal to make as a family that everyone will love! You can of course adjust the toppings to suit everyone’s taste and in just 45 minutes you can create a meal that everyone will love whilst having fun doing it!

 See how to make it here.

We love movies at Barons Quay and although trips to the cinema may be out of the question at the moment, there’s a host of streaming options to help you get your family film fix at home.

Here are just some of our favourites, classics and new releases that are available to watch now!

TROLLS WORLD TOUR (U)


Image: Universal Pictures

Set your watch for hug-time and create a cinema experience at home with the BRAND NEW TROLLS movie! In this epic sequel Poppy and Branch discover that there are six different troll tribes scattered over six different lands. Each tribe is devoted to six different kinds of music – funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. When rockers Queen Barb and King Thrash set out to destroy the other music, Poppy and Branch embark on a daring mission to unite the trolls and save the diverse melodies from becoming extinct. Available to rent from Amazon Prime.

HOOK (U)

While this 1992 classic film from award-winning director Stephen Speilberg is almost 30 years old, it still holds its magic and charm. Starring movie legends Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman, Hook is a new take on the classic adventure, we meet a grown up Peter Pan, whose children are abducted by Captain Hook! Middle-aged Peter is forced to return to Neverland, with some help from Tinkerbell and the Lost Boys, he must battle against his old foe to save his kids.
Available on Netflix.

PADDINGTON (PG)

The critically acclaimed live-action movie adaptation of Paddington is a modern classic and a must see for all the family. After a long journey from Peru, Paddington arrives in London where he is adopted by the Brown family, experiencing many adventures in the big city. A heartwarming, positive tale that is sure to give everyone a warm bear-hug in these uncertain times.
Available on Amazon Prime.

TINTIN (PG)

Another vintage tale reimagined for the big screen, the Tintin movie features all the classic characters including Snowy the dog and Captain Haddock. Whimsical, yet action packed this modern take will keep everyone entertained from the start – no wonder it won a Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film in 2011. Featuring the voices of Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Simon Pegg.
Available on Netflix.

MISSING LINK (PG)


Image: Annapurna Pictures

This charming story of friendship and adventure is a visual delight that is guaranteed to capture everyone’s imagination. We are transported to Victorian London where adventurer Sir Lionel Frost wants to prove himself as the world’s leading expert on myths and monsters by discovering proof of the missing link. An unlikely friendship develops as he tries to help the lonely bigfoot find his Yeti cousins in the mountains. Featuring the voices of Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson.
Available on Netflix.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES THE MOVIE: ROTTEN ROMANS (PG)


Image: BBC Films

Now for some educational fun! If you’re a fan of the Horrible Histories series then you’ll love the movie version, which tells the tale of Atti, a Roman teenager with brains but very little brawn. When one of his schemes falls foul of Nero, Atti is forced to join the army and is sent to miserable, cold, wet Britain where the natives are revolting (quite literally!). A brilliant historical comedy that will provide some much-needed belly laughs.
Available on Amazon Prime.

TOY STORY 4 (U)


Image: Disney Pixar

If you didn’t catch this at the cinema last year, then it is worth subscribing to Disney+ for this movie alone! This fourth and most-likely final instalment of the Disney Pixar’s original franchise will appeal to audiences of all ages. Much loved characters; Woody, Buzz and Jessie return, but we also meet some memorable new toys as well as a blast from the past in this heartfelt adventure story.
Available on Disney+.

INCREDIBLES 2 (PG)


Image: Disney Pixar

There’s no doubt that this sequel holds up to the quality of the original film! While Mrs Incredible joins a mission to bring superheroes back, Mr Incredible is left managing family life; Dash’s homework, Violet’s growing up and baby Jack-Jack’s new found powers! Helen’s Elastigirl takes center stage, but Jack-Jack really stole the show for us! You won’t be disappointed with this fast-paced, action packed superhero movie. Available on Disney +

We’d love to know your favourite family films to watch by tweeting @barons_quay with the hashtag #familyfilms

In a bid to bring Barons Quay to the homes of our lovely customers during lockdown we have teamed up with the brilliant Sticky Paws in the Flavour Forest to bring you these delicious recipes especially for your iTi BiTi people!

Easy to make, with not too many ingredients these Brownie Bites and Pancakes with Berry Compote are perfect for making with the kids and can be enjoyed by the whole family.  Why not give them a go?  

Sticky Paws Brownie Bites Recipe

 Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180c and light grease and line a 20cm square tin with baking parchment
  2. Break up the dark chocolate into a heatproof bowl, adding the butter. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water (make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water). Allow the chocolate and butter to slowly melt, mixing them together. Once melted, remove the bowl from the heat and allow to cool for 5 mins
  3. In a jug lightly whisk together the eggs and yolk, with the vanilla essence. Set aside
  4. Whisk the sugar into the melted chocolate, and then gradually whisk in the egg mix, until fully combined. Add the milk chocolate chips, stir in
  5. Sift in the flour over the top and mix together
  6. Pour the mixture into the baking tin, and bake for 25mins, until you can put a knife in the centre and pull it out clean
  7. Once cooked, allow to cool in the tin for 5 mins then lift out onto the cooling rack. Cut into 20 bite size squares and enjoy!

Sticky Paws Pancake & Berry Compote Recipe

Berry compote ingredients:

 Berry compote method:

  1. Put the berries in a saucepan and pour in the sugar. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half into the saucepan – stopping any seeds from dropping in!
  2. Cook on a low heat until berries soften, then increase to a medium heat stirring regularly so as not to stick on the bottom of the pan, and simmer for 5minutes or until the mixture starts to thicken
  3. Taste (careful, it’s hot!) and add more sugar if you like it a little sweeter. Then set aside and leave to cool. *Option: Blend in a food processor for a smoother texture.
  4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Drizzle over pancakes, porridge or yoghurt – yum!

Pancake ingredients (serves 4):

Pancake method:

  1. Melt the 30g of butter in a saucepan, set aside to cool slightly
  2. Sift the flour, sugar and baking powder into a large mixing bowl, making a hole in the centre
  3. Crack and whisk the eggs lightly together in a jug. Add the milk and now cool melted butter. Slowly pour this mixture into the hole in the flour and whisk slowly together with a large whisk until combined
  4. In a small non-stick frying pan, melt a small tsp of butter on a medium heat. Pour in a ladle of the batter, cooking for 1-2mins, until bubbles start to come out of the top. Flip it over and cook for a further 1-2mins until golden brown. Repeat the process until all of the mixture is used

 

For more family food inspiration follow @stickpawsflavourforest on instagram or @stickypawsff on Twitter.  We’d love to see your home bakes, tweet us @barons_quay using #familyrecipes.

 

8 May 2020 marks 75 years since VE (Victory in Europe) Day when the Second World War came to an end in Europe.   When the long-awaited news was announced people of all ages came together to mark the moment.

This year we are being asked to celebrate at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a day of it. We want Northwich to celebrate in style this Friday and so we’ve brought together everything you need for a swinging time including key timings on the day, recipe ideas, decoration tips, a 1940s playlist and retro dance moves.

We are also giving local people the chance to WIN a £50 Asda shopping voucher! All you have to do is share your home celebration photos with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram @baronsquay

VE Day Schedule 

You can start the celebrations whenever you want but here are some things that you might want to join in with:

Bunting time

Serve afternoon tea

Host a virtual party

Music and dancing 

Know your stuff

 

So, we hope that you have a great day however you choose to celebrate, don’t forget to tag us in your VE Day 75 photos on social media using #VEDay75Northwich for a chance to win a £50 Asda shopping voucher.

 

If you’re at home and looking for a challenge, why not give our local history quiz a go?

How well do you really know Northwich? Put your knowledge of the town to the test with the Barons Quay Northwich History Quiz!

How well did you do? Share your score with us on social media and challenge a friend!