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Lockdown TV: Keep Kids’ Minds Sharp Before School Starts

Guys, I’m over the screen time fight. At least DStv gives us amazing content to keep kids occupied, entertained and stimulated. Good luck for the (hopefully) last two weeks of lock down.

DStv’s School of Laughter programme makes sure that featured channels provide a safe space for children to be educated while they’re being entertained.  There are 15 dedicated channels with plenty of educational content to assist the homeschooling hustle.

Here are 7 top educational channels and shows to try:

Mindset (DStv Channel 319)

Launched in 2003 by former President Nelson Mandela, this South African-based channel is geared towards high schoolers from Grade 10 to 12 and covers the Life Science, English and Mathematics syllabus. It will help prepare your teens (and you) for the tricky exams sure to come when they head back to school on 15 February. Mindset TV also hosts programmes like Big School available for learners just entering school as well as edutainment shows for primary school age. DStv has created a nifty print out for you to ensure that your child is always in the know as to when their subject-specific programmes will air. Find it here.

Da Vinci (DStv Channel 318)

A pop-up channel during lockdown that’s now a permanent fixture, Da Vinci Media (channel 318), is based in Berlin and offers engaging, fun educational content to children. This channel features much-loved shows including Operation Ouch, Science Max and Matilda and The Ramsay Bunch.

DStv’s School of Laughter
Operation Ouch sees Twin doctors Chris and Xand explore the fields of medicine and biology.

 ZooMoo (DStv Channel 314)

This children’s channel provides preschoolers with educational content about wildlife around the world and is available via the Premium, Compact Plus, Compact and Family packages. Younger kids can enjoy the likes of What’s That Noise, What’s For Dinner and Clawdia’s Amazing African Adventure, which will all be available on DStv Channel 314 until 31 March this year.

DStv’s School of Laughter
Dino explores various fruits and vegetables and where they come from in What’s For Dinner?

Nickelodeon’s Unfiltered (Game Show)

This interactive game show sees panelists and viewers ask questions, gather clues, and play games to guess who the mystery guest is. Hosted by Jay Pharoah, it uses a series of fun filters to keep viewers engaged with a range of exciting celebrities as guests. Daily on NickToons (DStv Channel 308) and available on Catch-Up.

 

Jay Pharoah as the host of Nickelodeon’s game show Unfiltered

Ready, Set, Dance S2 

Worried that your kids aren’t getting enough exercise during lockdown? This show will get them up and dancing! Mascots Twirl and Freeze work together with a preschooler dance crew to teach each other (and your little ones) catchy dance moves. Ready, Set, Dance episodes are all under ten minutes, so whenever it comes on, encourage the entire family to get ready, get up and dance! Daily on Nick Jnr (DStv Channel 307) and available on Catch-Up.

Blues Clues

This is another show for preschoolers, featuring Steve in the “Blue’s Clues” house, where he interacts with Blue, an animated puppy. The perfectly positioned pauses in between Steve’s questions allow your child enough time to engage with the characters of the show. It’s interactive and will teach younger kids all  about shapes, animals and even colours. Daily on NickTOONS (DStv Channel 308) and on Catch-Up.

CN to the Rescue

CN to the Rescue is Cartoon Network Africa’s first original series starring André Lembwa. This show tackles South African problems such as load shedding in hilarious ways and will leave older children laughing until their stomach’s hurt, while teaching them about family dynamics. This series aired on Cartoon Network Africa’s YouTube Channel and then launched on Cartoon Network on Monday 18 January this year. Available on Cartoon Network Africa’s YouTube Channel and on Catch-Up.

Africa’s first original series starring André Lembwa who plays Taps, his younger brother Garcia, their mom, Lyzette, and their always up to mischief Gogo.

With schools currently being disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, you can rest assured that DStv’s array of shows encourage open-ended questions and interaction which are extremely important in your children’s development. To supplement its content, DStv has also created a website where kids can go to and download resource packs and do quizzes.

Catch the best developmental programming for your child on School of Laughter by visiting www.dstv.co.za.

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Musgrave Copper Brandy makes the BEST Dom Pedro’s

Scooch over coffee liqueur because Musgrave Copper Brandy makes the BEST Dom Pedro’s. Hands down! And if Dom Pedro’s are your dessert of choice as well, make sure to save the amazing recipes below.

Musgrave Copper Brandy makes the BEST Dom Pedro’s

I received a gorgeous press drop from Musgrave at the beginning of the Festive Season and I’ve become a brandy fan thanks to Musgrave Copper Black Honey and Musgrave Copper Vanilla.

Musgrave Crafted Spirits –   known for being an innovative and disruptive brand in the South African spirits industry  –  was amongst the first to launch premium craft products; Musgrave Original Gin and Musgrave Pink Gin. Boasting highly awarded flavour infusions that delight consumers worldwide, it’s the latest offering, Musgrave Copper (Infused potstill Brandy) that promises a new disruption in the market;  Musgrave Copper Vanilla and Musgrave Copper Black Honey.

Musgrave Copper is crafted to be the “Bourbon” of Brandy. A new genre that remixes the brandy category to play where cognac has feared to tread. Copper is luxurious, disruptive, infused and made to mix. It’s a flavour-infused brandy with subtle flavours and a distinctly African palate. Musgrave Copper is more aligned to the Cognac drinker than to a traditional Brandy drinker using the finest potstill brandy with added excitement of flavour-infusion. It attracts a consumer who exists beyond the preconceptions of their gender, age or race; they seek out the new.

“Brandy is going to have its moment, and we’re going to be there to make those moments memorable with our consumer, just be sure to know, it’s called “Copper” now, winks Musgrave.

I’m not going to pretend to know much about brandy, but what I can confirm is that both of these brandies taste amazing on the rocks, in coffee and Musgrave Copper Brandy Dom Pedro’s are AMAZING.

I kept our Dom Pedro’s simple… Musgrave Copper brandy and ice cream. YUM!

If you’re feeling a bit more creative, why not try one of these amazing recipes by food stylist, Lisa Clark.

Musgrave Copper Vanilla Mango Chai Dom Pedro

Musgrave Copper Vanilla Mango Chai Dom Pedro

INGREDIENTS:

  • 100ml coconut cream
  • 2 chai tea bags
  • 2.5ml ground cinnamon
  • 150g frozen mango pieces
  • 100ml Musgrave Vanilla Copper
  • 500g vanilla ice cream
  • Garnish: ground cinnamon

METHOD

  • Heat the coconut cream, chai tea bags and cinnamon in a saucepan over a gentle heat.
  • Once the coconut cream starts to simmer, remove from the heat and allow it to infuse for 15-20 minutes. Strain and discard the tea bags.
  • Chill the coconut cream in the fridge and allow to cool completely.
  • Once chilled, blender with the mango, Musgrave Vanilla Copper and ice cream.  Blender on high until smooth.
  • Pour into two glasses, and top with a dusting of cinnamon powder.

Musgrave Copper Vanilla Hazelnut Praline Dom Pedro

Musgrave Copper Vanilla Hazelnut Praline Dom Pedro

INGREDIENTS

  • 500g vanilla ice cream
  • 50ml cream
  • 50ml hazelnut praline paste or hazelnut syrup
  • 100ml Musgrave Vanilla Copper
  • Garnish: 50g hazelnut praline, roughly chopped

METHOD

  • Blend the ice cream, cream, hazelnut praline paste (or syrup) and Musgrave Vanilla Copper on high until smooth and creamy.
  • Divide into two glasses and garnish with the chopped hazelnut praline.

Musgrave Copper Black Honey, Burnt Honey & Orange Dom Pedro

Musgrave Copper Black Honey Burnt Honey and Orange Dom Pedro

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 orange, segmented
  • 40ml honey
  • Pinch of salt
  • 80ml cream
  • 500g vanilla ice cream
  • 100ml Musgrave Black Honey Copper
  • Garnish: 2 halved dehydrated orange slices

METHOD

  • Place the orange segments into a pot with the honey and a small pinch of salt. Place the pot over a low-medium heat. Stir the oranges through the honey so everything is coated and sticky. Allow this to cook slowly until the honey turns a dark caramel colour, then deglaze with the cream and stir through thoroughly.
  • Remove the pot from the heat and put the contents into a bowl and into the fridge to chill completely.
  • Once the mixture is fully chilled, put it into a blender and blend until completely smooth. Then add the ice cream and Musgrave Black Honey Copper, blend quickly to combine well.
  • Divide into two glasses and top with your garnish.

Musgrave Copper Black Honey, Honey & Lavender Dom Pedro

Musgrave Copper Black Honey, Honey & Lavender Dom Pedro

INGREDIENTS

  • 100ml cream
  • 6 sprigs of lavender leaves
  • 1000ml Musgrave Black Honey Copper
  • 500g vanilla ice cream
  • Garnish: Lavender flowers

METHOD

  • Heat the cream and 4 lavender sprigs in a pot over a medium heat. As the cream is about to simmer, remove from the heat and set aside and allow to infuse for 30 minutes to an hour, until the cream has a strong lavender taste.
  • Strain and discard the lavender sprigs. Refrigerate the infused cream in the fridge until completely chilled.
  • In a shaker, shake the Musgrave Black Honey Copper and remaining 2 sprigs of lavender to allow the lavender flavour to infuse into the alcohol.  Strain and discard the lavender.
  • Once the cream is cold, pour into a blender, add the ice cream with and infused Musgrave Black Honey Copper.  Blend until well combined.
  • Pour into two glasses and garnish with picked lavender flowers.

Enjoy!!

xoxo