Mini chocolate cakes with pink meringue icing. - Photos by Emma Sharp

Every mother wants to throw a fabulous birthday party for her child. Themes, games and loot bags must be arranged. But the most time-consuming of all is the food. What will appeal to three-or 12-year-olds, and all ages in between? What about the adults? This is a kiddie party, so the grown-ups should not expect their own special meal!

Last Saturday, I made a delicious array of kids' party foods, not in honour of any child, but for the baby shower of a close friend.

I thought the best introduction for the mother-to-be was to show her that the run-of-the-mill favourites for children's parties could all be freshly done at home. Certainly, a little organisation was required, but the only tasks that were completed at the last minute, were baking the macaroni and cheese, pizzas and filo triangles and quickly cooking the hamburgers on a griddle pan.

As the theme of the shower was 'Safari', in tune with the baby's room, it was reflected with the help of Rachael's Gourmet Safari Animal Cookies!

Menu:

Mini Macaroni and Cheeses in Ramekins

Mini pizzas

Mini hamburgers

Mini mushroom and cheese filo triangles

Mini chocolate cakes with pink meringue icing

Safari animal cookies

Mini pizzas: Makes 56

7 button mushrooms, sliced

1 yellow pepper, sliced

1 green pepper, sliced

8oz fresh mozzarella, cut into 1x1 inch thin slices

4oz fresh parmesan, grated

Tomato sauce:

1tbs olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tin of tomatoes

1 small tin of tomato paste

2 sprigs of fresh thyme

Dough:

1¹/² 7g packet of dried yeast

1tbs sugar

1/2 pt lukewarm water

1lb flour

2tsp salt

1. Place the yeast and sugar in a bowl, pour in half the water and stir to dissolve.

2. Place the flour into a large bowl, add salt, stir in the yeast mixture.

3. Pour the remaining water into the flour, mix well, then turn out onto a clean and floured surface.

4. Knead for 10 minutes, adding flour if it gets too sticky.

5. Lightly grease a baking pan, place the dough on top and cross it with a knife.

6. Leave to rise for 1-1¹/² hours in a warm place until doubles in size.

7. Make tomato sauce - heat the oil in a pot, add the onion and cook until soft.

8. Add the garlic, tomatoes and thyme. Simmer for 45 minutes.

9. Whir in a blender until smooth, return to the pot and cook until very thick. Season with pepper.

10. Once the dough has doubled in size, knead for two minutes.

11. Divide the mixture into walnut-size balls and roll out each into 2-3 inch circles. Place on a floored baking sheet.

12. Top each pizza with a teaspoon of tomato sauce, slices of mushroom or pepper, a piece of mozzarella and parmesan. Do in advance and store the pizzas in the freezer until ready to bake.

13. Pre-heat the oven 400F, place the baking trays of mini pizzas in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Mini chocolate cakes with pink meringue icing:

Any home-made chocolate cake, cut into 1 inch squares

Icing: Covers 25 mini cakes

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup water

2 egg whites

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

A couple drops of red food colouring

1tbs. cocoa powder

1. Place sugar and water in a small pot and dissolve over low heat.

2. Turn the heat up and boil until it reaches soft ball stage, when a short 'string' of sugar can be formed between your thumb and finger. Remove from heat.

3. Whisk egg whites until stiff. Slowly add the sugar syrup, whisking continuously, until a thick meringue icing has formed.

4. Add 1tsp of vanilla essence and a few drops of red food colouring, whisk again and a pink icing will form.

5. Spread the icing on all sides, apart from the bottom, of the cake squares.

6. Place on a platter and sprinkle with a little cocoa powder through a sieve. These can be assembled 6 hours in advance.

Giraffe and elephant cookies

Safari-themed baby shower - table decorations