April has Arrived!
We hope that you all had an egg-cellent Easter and have started spring with a spring in your step!
Countries across the world are seeing longer days and experiencing warmer weather as we enter the first full month of Springtime!
This month, we have a sweet recipe to use up any leftover chocolate from Easter (if you haven't eaten it all yet!). Puffin has also shared a recipe for this month too!
Remember to share your creations using #SwanPrincessOfficial for your chance to featured on our social media pages!
Keep reading for Puffin's Perfect Parkin recipe and a fun activity!
Swantastic Store
Have you explored the official store yet?
We have a range of swanderful merchandise available for all of our fans - from the young to the young at heart!
Cuddle up with one of your favorite animal friends as you watch The Swan Princess movies - who will you choose?
We have a range of limited edition pins, including many of your favorite characters and Odette's locket that has a special surprise.
Our "How to Offend Women in Five Syllables or Less" book pin opens to reveal the scene where Derek asks "What else is there?"
Sale code Tulip20 for 20% off website, ends April 16th
Puffin's Perfect Parkin
This scrumptious snack is one of Puffin's favorites! This treat can be made by people with lots of experience in the kitchen or by those that are just starting to learn more about baking!
You can serve the parkin as it comes or with a scoop of delicious ice cream - Puffin, JeanBob and Speed enjoy rhubarb flavor with this snack but you can choose anything that you like! You might even serve it with cream or custard instead!
Ingredients:
• 100 g self-raising flour
• 75 g porridge oats
• 100g soft brown sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp mixed spice
• 175g golden syrup
• 50g black treacle
• 100g butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tbsp milk
Method:
1. Firstly, preheat the oven to 190ºC/170ºC Fan.
2. Grease a baking dish (approx. 19 x 16cm).
3. Sieve the flour, salt and spices into a large bowl.
4. Add the porridge oats and mix well before setting the bowl aside.
5. Place the butter, treacle, syrup and sugar in a saucepan and place over a medium heat until the ingredients have melted. Once the mixture has completely melted, remove the pan from the heat.
6. Stir the melted ingredients into the dry mixture.
7. Beat the egg in a small dish.
8. Add the milk and beaten egg and stir until the mixture is thick but pourable.
9. Carefully pour the mix into your greased baking dish.
10. Bake for 25-30min until the parkin is firm in the centre.
11. Remove the parkin from the oven and allow it to cool in the dish for 15 minutes.
12. Carefully turn the parkin out
Cheeky Chocolate Treat
This recipe is a great way to use up any leftover Easter chocolate (if you haven't eaten it all yet!).
You can also make this from normal chocolate too, just like in the recipe below!
We can't wait to see your variations and see if you add any of your own toppings!
Ingredients:
• 225g dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp cocoa powder
• 100g unsalted butter, cubed
• 100g rich tea biscuits
• 2 tbsp golden syrup
• 50g mini marshmallows
• 50g dried cranberries
• 200g chocolate mini eggs
• You can also use some of your favorite candy/treats that comes in small pieces or can be broken into pieces. Other options include jelly beans or raisins.
Method:
1. Break the dark chocolate into random pieces.
2. Use two sheets of cling film to line a 20 x 30cm traybake tin (in a criss-cross pattern).
3. Place your dark chocolate and butter in to a large bowl.
4. Carefully bring a pan of water to a simmer.
5. Place the bowl onto the pan of water, making sure that the water is not touching the bottom of the bowl.
6. Keep the heat on until the chocolate and butter have melted completely into a smooth and glossy texture.
7. Remove the chocolate from the heat.
8. Add the golden syrup and cocoa powder to the melted chocolate and stir until fully combined.
9. Allow the mix to cool at room temperature for approximately 15 mins.
10. Put the biscuits in a freezer bag and then use a rolling pin to bash them a few times until you have a mixture of crumbs and small chunky pieces.
11. Empty the crushed biscuits into your now cooled chocolate, along with the cranberries, marshmallows and 150g of the mini chocolate eggs (or whichever candy that you are using).
12. Carefully pour the chocolate mix into the tin and use the back of a spoon to press down until even.
13. Scatter over the remaining mini chocolate eggs/candy/treats randomly (make sure the slightly larger pieces are pressed down slightly so that they set into your chocolate).
14. Place the tin in the fridge and allow your creation to set for at least 1 hour.
15. Remove the tin from the fridge and cut the chocolate into bars
Springtime Tulips
Lucas and his family grow all different kinds of tulips at their farm. This simple craft makes lovely tulips that you can display or gift to your loved ones. You can choose any type of pattern or color for your tulips and make a whole bouquet!
You Will Need:
• Card/Construction Paper
• Green Paper
• Green Paper Straws
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Glue Stick
Instructions:
1. Draw the shape of a tulip (just the flower not the stem) onto your card or paper (print out a stencil or watch The Swan Princess movies to see the tulips on Lucas' farm if you need an idea on the shape).
2. Carefully cut out the tulip.
3. Fold your tulip using an accordion method 4 times (horizontally).
4. Use your hole punch to create a hole in the center of the rectangle (whilst the flower is still folded up).
5. Unfold the tulip flower, keeping the folds slightly closed for a 3d effect and thread the straw in and out through the holes of the tulip.
6. Cut out two leaves from green paper.
7.Add glue to the bottom of each leaf and wrap the ends around the bottom of the paper straw.
8. Glue the tulip to the top of the stem.
9. Allow to dry.
10. Give your tulips as gifts or display them proudly as decorations
This April we are celebrating the birthday of the villain we love to hate, Rothbart! This makes Rothbart's zodiac sign Aries and his birthstone a diamond.
Aries are a very strong personality. They are loud, brave, passionate, and strong. They are warm and likeable with a big personality but get bored easily so they are constantly finding new ways to entertain themselves.
They love competition and even more than that they love to WIN competition. This makes them very driven to get exactly what they want out of life.
Aries thrives off attention and thrill-seeking adventures. They have a big presence and love to make an entrance.
Though they are courageous they can also be reckless. Aries are very honest and somewhat tactless, they always say what they're thinking.
The diamond symbolizes strength and has been worn by many powerful people in history, both good and bad, to bring strength and invincibility.
Is your birthday in April or do you just love the color of the sparkling diamond? Purchase your gemstone locket here!
