Food for thought mentoring

Food for thought mentoring A passion for baking and teaching 🖤

Want to know the easiest, cheapest and tastiest pizzas we make? Puff pastry pizzas 😍Make yourself some pizza sauce, I va...
12/11/2025

Want to know the easiest, cheapest and tastiest pizzas we make?

Puff pastry pizzas 😍

Make yourself some pizza sauce, I vary from roasting my own veg and blending (for secret veg sauce) or I use passata with a sq**rt of BBQ sauce, herbs, and a little salt for a quick easy one.

Buy yourself a roll of puff pastry,

Unroll and give it a prick with a fork all over,

Spread your sauce all over,

Add whatever you like, meats, veg, fruit 👀 whatever you like!

Top with cheese 🧀 🤌 pre grated, grated, slices of mozzarella... whatever you have or like,

Cook at 180 for around 20 mins.

You can of course section it out and let the kids do their own but I make these for lunch boxes (when we had or need them) or they're great served with some garlic bread and veg for dinner.

You can get 10 big slices or 16 mini lunch box size slices.

They're a winner EVERY TIME!

Don't forget to post your makes below 👇

🎅 OUR SANTA VISIT TOP TIPS FOR NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN 🤶It's not easy and sometimes it's not possible AT ALL and that's o...
12/11/2025

🎅 OUR SANTA VISIT TOP TIPS FOR NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN 🤶

It's not easy and sometimes it's not possible AT ALL and that's ok!

Please don't force interaction on your child, instead do something they will love together, it could be baking a gingerbread house or making a toilet roll tube angel for the tree 🌲

The impression it makes on them is just as strong as any Santa visit. You're doing your best and you're amazing 💚

Don't forget that this year! ♥️

For those whose children do request it, here's the tips, this is also useful for school staff.

TOP TIPS:

Pre-visit is Key! Look for "Sensory-Friendly," "Quiet Grotto" or "Relaxed Sessions."

These often have fewer crowds, softer lighting, and quieter environments. Book if possible to avoid queues.

Visual Schedules:

Prepare your child with a visual schedule or social story about what to expect.

Pictures can explain: travel -> waiting -> seeing Santa -> gift -> leaving.

No Pressure on Interaction:

It's okay if your child doesn't want to sit on Santa's lap, make eye contact, or touch him.

A wave, a high-five, standing near, or even just observing is perfectly fine!

Bring Support:

Have comfort items ready – ear defenders, a favourite fidget toy, weighted lap pad, or even a preferred snack can make a huge difference.

Plan an Exit:

Know where the nearest quiet space is if your child becomes overwhelmed. It's okay to leave early!

🎅🤶FOR Santa's & HELPERS:

Observe & Read Cues:

Watch the child's body language. Are they calm, restless, avoiding?

Adapt your approach based on their comfort level.

Gentle & Calm Approach:

Speak softly, move slowly. Avoid sudden loud "HO HO HO!" or unexpected movements.

A gentle smile can be very reassuring.

Offer Alternatives:

Never force physical interaction.

Suggest standing next to you, sitting on a beanbag nearby, a high-five, a wave, or just a quiet chat from a distance.

Let them lead.

**Avoid Eye Contact, I appreciate this sounds like entertaining a wild animal but for some the eye contact makes the whole experience unbearable.

As you can see below 👇 my boy was desperately avoiding eye contact and any physical touch that isn't on his terms and we respect that, he is not forced to be there, he leaves when he is ready and he is not put under any pressure to talk to them or even be close to them.

Let's have the best Christmas experience for everyone 🎄🎅

👩‍🍳 Food For Thought: More Than Just Baking!Yesterday, our edible pinecone task offered a perfect example of how our men...
12/11/2025

👩‍🍳 Food For Thought: More Than Just Baking!

Yesterday, our edible pinecone task offered a perfect example of how our mentoring sessions go far beyond the physical act of cooking.

It’s a holistic, multi-disciplinary learning experience disguised as fun!

While creating our brownie pinecones, the children were immersed in practical applications of core academic subjects:

🧠 The Educational Ingredients
English & Numeracy:

We started by meticulously recording all ingredients (literacy skills), then used these weights to calculate the total mass (addition/numeracy) before baking.

🧪Science (Chemistry & Physics):

We explored the chemical reactions activated by heat during the baking process.
After cooling, we discussed how the change in temperature alters the structure.

Crucially, we weighed the final bake to calculate the evaporation of liquid, providing a tangible lesson in mass change.

➕Numeracy (Division): We then applied division to calculate the ideal weight of each of the 8 final pinecones, reinforcing the concept of equal distribution.

🧬Science (States of Matter/Temperature):

Placing the mixture in the fridge allows us to observe how temperature affects the dynamics and structural integrity of the dessert.

🎨Art & Focus:

The final assembly—inserting the almond flakes and decorating with chocolate and sugar dusting—was a lesson in visualisation, patience, and attention to detail. The children focused on translating their mental image into a completed, tangible piece of art.

✨ The Outcome

Once the task was complete, the real reward emerged: a profound sense of accomplishment, pride, happiness, and heightened self-confidence in their own abilities.

So, when someone suggests, "It's just baking," we confidently reply: "It is so much more."

It is a platform for Science, Maths, Art, and life skills—all served up with a delicious outcome!

Which part of the process—Science, Maths, or Art—do you think is the most underrated aspect of cooking? Let us know in the comments!

What Are We Really Preparing Our Kids For? 🤔We push for A's, extracurriculars, and impressive resumes. But here's the tr...
11/11/2025

What Are We Really Preparing Our Kids For? 🤔

We push for A's, extracurriculars, and impressive resumes. But here's the truth bomb:

"If a child can do advanced math, speak 3 languages, or receive top grades, but can't manage their emotions, practice conflict resolution, or handle stress, none of that other stuff is really going to matter."

When they step out into the real world, the most critical skills won't be in their textbook—they'll be in their heart and mind.

Resilience, empathy, and self-regulation are the ultimate keys to a successful career and a happy life.

Is our focus weighted correctly?

11/11/2025

We made DELICIOUS brownie pine cones 🌲😍🎄

Super easy and tasty activity 😁

Bake yourself some brownies, any one off the net will do or you can use a packet mix if you're not a brownie expert, follow the instructions, once baked wait for them to cool before doing the remaining instructions.

Now this is the funny part 🤭

Pop them into a mixing bowl and smash them up till they're crumbled 💪👊

Get your kiddos to roll them into... *COUGH* *turd like shapes. 👀😂

Then on an angle insert almond flakes all the way around and up the brownie 👀 turds 🤷 till it forms a pine cone resemblance.

Pop them into the fridge and let them set up, give it a few hours.

Once set, melt yourself some chocolate, pop it in a microwaveable bowl and melt at 30 seconds intervals. This can be a mix of milk and dark or just dark or milk, personally I think dark looks better but we all know it's about taste.🤤

Once melted, take out your pine cones and cover them in chocolate, pop them back into the fridge to set again.

Once they're set, sprinkle with icing sugar for a Christmassy look ✨🎄✨

And enjoy!

Perfect for giggles AND the Christmas table 🎅🤶

Don't forget to tag your friends and share 🖤

Stop buying memories, start making them. 💚The best things in life truly are free, and it’s backed by science! When you s...
11/11/2025

Stop buying memories, start making them. 💚

The best things in life truly are free, and it’s backed by science! When you swap expensive outings for simple, focused time together, you achieve two things that money can't buy:

1. Undivided Attention

Simple activities like watching the clouds, collecting sticks, or singing songs minimize stress and distractions. This allows you to give your child undivided attention, making them feel secure and deeply valued.

2. Stronger Emotional Tags

Psychology shows that memories with high emotional intensity (like the shared laughter of a silly game, or the pride of building a great den) are the ones that stick.

These "emotional tags" build resilience and form the bedrock of their happy childhood story.

The Takeaway: Your presence and shared effort are the most powerful tools for a child’s development. Go for the walk, not the wallet!

What simple, free activity will you do with your kids this week?

We know every student learns at a different pace, has unique talents, and is motivated by distinct interests. Yet, we in...
10/11/2025

We know every student learns at a different pace, has unique talents, and is motivated by distinct interests.

Yet, we insist on teaching them all the same thing, the same way, and judging them by the same metric.

Is a system built on 'average' inherently failing the individual?

It's been a while now since brownies have been made in our kitchen 🥲And yes she was allowed to use my secret recipe 🤭She...
10/11/2025

It's been a while now since brownies have been made in our kitchen 🥲

And yes she was allowed to use my secret recipe 🤭

She has absolutely nailed it too!

They are sooooooo delicious, I actually forgot how tasty they were 🤯

We can't wait to show you what these will turn into 😍

🥰🖤
10/11/2025

🥰🖤

Amazing offer from our favourite forest attraction! Free entry for children, perfect to fill them weekends with fun fill...
10/11/2025

Amazing offer from our favourite forest attraction! Free entry for children, perfect to fill them weekends with fun filled activities 🖤
They're exploring SEN Christmas days too so make sure you keep a look out for any future opportunities!

Nice little shop from Community Centre Yorkley for my fresh bits for tonight's dinner...and maybe some snacks 👀 I've bee...
09/11/2025

Nice little shop from Community Centre Yorkley for my fresh bits for tonight's dinner...and maybe some snacks 👀

I've been quiet again, I do apologise!

We've been very busy sorting our house to go up for sale and I've had lots of training completed this week 😁

Busy busy!

So with today's shop in mind, where's your favourite locally produced product from?

Whether it be honey, ham or a spot on chutney for your favourite bread!

Let me know 😋

The aftermath of Halloween... It's very serious business in our houseThe big trade day, nothing goes to waste and we rec...
01/11/2025

The aftermath of Halloween... It's very serious business in our house

The big trade day, nothing goes to waste and we recap on how wonderful all the houses are 🥰

Big thank you to those who take part, it may not seem a big deal but it really does instill some amazing memories for the kids 🧟

We take great pride in making sure we show respect and even with the youngest walking into people's houses and attempting to take more 🤦, we always correct him. So a big thank you to the people of coleford for being so patient with him 🖤

Address

Cinderford

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Food for thought mentoring posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Food for thought mentoring:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

Our Story

Asylum of cakery is the home of insane cakes.

Technically a team of one with an additional pair of eyes.

By we I mean my husband and I, I personally do design, bake, sculpt, clean, advertise and my husband helps with frame work and tweaking.

We have been around since 2013 and tend to do some pretty awesome cakes and still have so many to come! Baking was not something that came naturally to us and we have not been doing it all our lives but one day on a frosty January morning, we decided to make a cake for our mothers birthday and it was a horrific mess but it spurred on this desire to improve ... and that we did.