The ultimate dads' cake recipe – rich chocolate and marshmallow brownies

A lovely message and recipe from Fab - the Flour Advisory Bureau - just in time for Fathers' Day.

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The way to a man’s heart is often through his stomach and fathers are no exception to this rule. So this father’s day why not encourage your children to bake a father’s day treat.

If you kick your kids out of the kitchen more often than you invite them in to help, you might want to reconsider the benefits of having a little sous chef. Baking with your kids is a great opportunity to spend time with them, whether they're 3 or 13. Plus, if you introduce cooking and baking from a young age, those skills transfer through to adulthood. So a freshly baked treat for dad on Father’s day could turn out to be more than just a gift for him – it could help to instill a passion for baking which will follow your child through to adulthood.

The Flour Advisory Bureau have come up with the ultimate dads cake – rich chocolate and marshmallow brownies.

Ingredients:

125g plain chocolate

150g butter

285g caster sugar

3 eggs

1tsp vanilla

150g mini marshmallows

100g chocolate chips

125g plain flour

icing sugar to dust

Method:

Preheat oven to Gas Mark 4/180C.

Grease a baking tray or even a large rectangular casserole with a little butter or spray oil.

Melt chocolate and butter together in a pan over a low heat.

Remove from heat, add sugar and beat till it dissolves.

Add eggs one at the time, then vanilla, marshmallows and chocolate chips.

Stir in flour and pour into tin.

Place in oven, cook at Gas Mark 4/180C for 30 minutes.

A skewer or small knife placed in the middle should come out almost clean. Be careful not to overcook or it will become too chewy. Cool in dish, cut into squares and dust with icing sugar. Alternatively, you can serve with chocolate or caramel sauce and marshmallows on the side.

PER SERVING: 305 Kcal, fat 13.6g, saturated fat 8.1g, salt 0.2g, carbohydrate 45g, sugar 36.7, fibre 0.6g

 

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

 

Recipes for Sweet Treats with Philadelphia Cheese

Great kids activity : fun edible food-art creations using cereal

Two Fab Easter Recipes from Splenda

Calling mums and dads to take part in the first Bio-Oil Buggython on 13th July

On 13th July the first ever Bio-Oil Buggython will take place in Battersea Park to raise money for the British Skin Foundation. On the day hundreds of mums and dads will push buggies around the gentle 2.5km course all in aid of the good cause – and what’s more they will receive a goody bag worth £15 at the end of the route. Read on for more info :

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FUNDRAISING IS A STROLL IN THE PARK

 

When: 10am-12pm, Wednesday 13th July 2011

What: 2.5km ‘fun walk’ with buggies

Where: Band Stand, Battersea Park, SW11

Who: Mums and dads across London

 

This July sees the launch of the UK’s first ever Buggython at Battersea Park in south-west London. Skincare expert, Bio-Oil is hosting the family fundraising event to support the British Skin Foundation.

Bio-Oil is looking for willing mums or dads to come down to the park on Wednesday 13th July, 2011 from 10am to 12 noon and push their buggies around a gentle 2.5km course.

The event is a chance for parents to lend their support to a worthy cause and maybe meet some new friends along the way! It promises to be a fun family event and all the money raised from the event will fund vital research into children’s skin health.

So if you’re looking to help out a good cause and have a fun summer day out at the same time, why not think about joining the Bio-Oil Buggython?

Taking part is easy. Mums and dads can find out more by visiting http://www.buggython.com/. Registration for the event includes a £10 donation to the British Skin Foundation. Everyone who takes part will leave with a goodie bag worth over £15, including a 60ml bottle of Bio-Oil.

Since its launch, Bio-Oil has become a household name, trusted by millions of mums and dads across the world. Bio-Oil helps improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks including pregnancy stretch marks. It is a proud supporter of the British Skin Foundation and hopes the Bio-Oil Buggython will raise more than £5,000 towards research into children’s skin health. To find out more about Bio-Oil, visit www.bio-oil.com/uses.html

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

HMS Belfast Operations Room Now Open - Half-term day out idea & fun worksheet

Bargain alert : buy yourself a £7.99 breakfast and get two free kids breakfasts !

Looking for a fun family day out ? Open Farm Sunday - 12th June 2011

Pabobo Barbapapa Carousel Lamp review

Today I have a challenge for you. Try saying "Pabobo Barbapapa lamp" ten times really fast ! It's definitely a tongue twister ! But I rose to the challenge and have been trying out the one that the lovely people at Pabobo sent me to review.

I remember Barbapapa from when I was a kid in the seventies - even though back then, I had no idea that Barbapapa (or barbe à papa) means candy floss or can be literally translated as Dad's beard ! - so I love the fact that it's back on TV and that the girls love following their adventures on screen and in books.

The lamp shows all the characters in the Barbapapa family when you turn it on and they spin round slowly, making pretty light patterns on the ceiling which are strangely soothing and mesmerising and great for sending you to sleep, let alone your little ones ! I initially thought it would make coloured Barbapapa patterns on the ceiling (like a Winnie the Pooh lightshow we used to have) but it doesn't, it's plain white teardrop shapes, but they're still appealing to tired little sleepyheads.

Once plugged in, the unit only takes a few seconds to "warm up" and light up with rotating Barbapapa images. I'm trying to avoid getting Pierre into the same bad habit his elder sisters acquired of sleeping all night with a night light turned on, so I leave it on for a few minutes before bed then turn it off. If Pierre wakes up early while I'm still getting dressed and ready for work in the morning, I also turn it on while I finish off so that he waits patiently watching the pretty pictures rather than screaming his head off. Inevitably, one morning, I dashed out of the house juggling kids, books and keys and forgot to turn it off. When I got back home at the end of the day, I was impressed to see that it was still totally stone cold to the touch. It's also an extremely sturdy, stable unit which can be placed on a shelf or secured on the wall with a bracket.

I was impressed by the quality of the product - it's well built, seems totally safe (I was really impressed when it got left on all day and stayed cold) and is completely silent, but the best part is, Pierre is absolutely fascinated by it and seems instantly soothed. And that, as any parent will tell you, is absolutely priceless !

star rating : 5/5

RRP : £47

for more information : http://www.pabobo.com/en/nightlight-carrousel-child.html

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Gro Egg Digital Room Thermometer

Dreamgenii Twinkle Togs - "the wearable quilt" for toddlers

Gro-clock

Give your country-loving kids a chance to win a mini farm of their own !

I blogged a little while ago (here) about Open Farm Sunday, when farms across the country throw open their (barn) doors and welcome you in to meet the animals and see what goes on behind the scenes in Britain's farms. Well, just to remind you, it's this Sunday - the 12th June. While you're there, make sure you check out these two great competitions for the kids. Read on for more info :

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The NFU has teamed up with leading toy manufacturer Britains to give thousands of children who love the countryside the chance to win a mini farm of their own.

Two competitions – a national poetry challenge and colouring-in contest - will be launched at this year’s LEAF Open Farm Sunday before being promoted at farm shops, in schools and by the NFU Let’s Talk Farming roadshow.

The poetry competition is open to 8 to 12 year-olds across England and Wales, while a farm scene colouring-in contest aims to engage 4 to 7 year olds. Winners of each challenge in eight regions across England and Wales will receive £100 worth of Britains Farm Toys.

NFU campaigns and events officer Jon Chinery said: “We know thousands of children are fanatical about life on farms and the British countryside so we hope this competition lets them show their creative side.

 “Open Farm Sunday is an ideal launch pad for this initiative as it is sometimes the first experience for many young people of the world behind the farm gates. The NFU Let’s Talk Farming roadshow will visit more than 80 county shows, schools and town centres this year and is another great way to promote the competitions.”

The Let’s Talk Farming roadshow features Annabelle the model dairy cow, a farmland stage with Astroturf floor, landscape backdrop with video footage of farm animals, tractors and crops, straw bale and cow-hide seats.

Craig Varley, Learning Curve’s Director of Marketing for OEM & Farm, said: “Following the success of Britains partnership with the NFU last year we’re excited to be supporting the Open Farm Sunday campaign once again and hope that our involvement will actively encourage children to engage in farm play as well as take an active interest in the country they live in.

“This year we’ll also have a presence at the NFU roadshows to inspire children to really get involved and articulate this through drawings, colourings and poems. We’re looking forward to seeing just what they make of their experiences.”

For further information on Britains, visit www.learningcurve.com/britains

LEAF Open Farm Sunday takes place on Sunday June 12, 2011

 

More information on the competition can be found at http://www.letstalkfarming.co.uk/.

Other blogposts you may be interested in :

Looking for a fun family day out ? Open Farm Sunday - 12th June 2011

Awesome Walls launches surname competition to win a rock and roll birthday party

Bernard Matthews Farms and Marco Pierre White create a bootiful partnership

Green People Organic Babies Baby Salve review

Way back in November 2009, I discovered the Organic Babies range of products from Green People and reviewed (here) their baby wash/shampoo and nappy cream baby balm. This nappy cream and another of their products, their Baby Salve which they sent me to try out, have just gained official Fairtrade status from the Fairtrade Foundation. As Green People explain, this means that "parents really can naturally protect their baby's skin at the same time as helping to protect third world communities".

I wasn't entirely sure what a Baby Salve would be. A nappy rash cream ? Or a cream for dry irritated areas of skin ? Well, basically, yes to both of them. Containing a blend of Fairtrade certified Shea butter, Hemp, Calendula and Lavender, it is perfect for reducing inflammation, soothing soreness and offering water-resistant protection and healing for the nappy area.

But that's not all. The salve, which is rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that are essential for healthy skin, can also be used as a nipple cream for breast-feeding mums. In fact, TIPS, who promote breastfeeding, recently awarded it the title of “Best Eco Friendly Breast Treatment 2011”, as chosen by midwives and mums. High praise indeed.

But that's still not all ! The website says that it is also suitable for adults who may be prone to eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. The fact that it is 97% organic, 100% vegetarian and 100% cruelty-free means that it is also 100% gentle on the most sensitive of skins.

As it can be used in such a variety of ways, this is one tube of cream that will be permanently in the changing bag and the first aid kit (it comes in small 30ml and 7ml tubes too) so that it's at hand whenever anyone, child or adult, has a rash or sore chapped or cracked skin.

star rating : 5/5

RRP : £9.70 for 100ml

for more information : http://www.lucyrose.biz/green-people-organic-baby-salve-100ml-939-p.asp

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Dusting Powder review

Green People & Organic Children Sun Lotion

Green People Organic Babies range

Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Dusting Powder review

Generations of mums have used talcum powder for getting damp skin dry, either after a bath (the girls love having a "snow shower" to get their arms and legs totally dry after a nice soak !) or for drying out all the moist creases in the nappy area that are prone to nappy rash. Recently, talcum powder started getting bad press and parents were warned to stop using it because it could be a danger to health. I have to admit I rolled my eyes at this news as it's been around for so long, but on closer investigation, it does sound a bit worrying. They explain the problem very succinctly on the Burt's Bees website. "Talc is usually made up of a combination of finely ground minerals, like zinc stearate and magnesium silicates, as well as other silicates. The size of particles is so small that they are both easily carried in the air like dust and can reach even the smallest areas of the lung if inhaled. Talc is a suspected carcinogen and creates irritation that may cause the production of nasal and lung tumors." Hmmm I have to admit that that does make me think twice.

Especially when the lovely people at Burt's Bees have come up with a fabulous safe alternative. It's made of a mixture of cornstarch, natural clay and finely ground flowers instead of talc which instantly sounds more appealing and promises to be totally safe.

The ingredients list is very reassuring : zea mays (corn) starch, sodium bicarbonate, kaolin, bentonite, commiphora myrrha (myrrh) powder, ulmus fulva (slippery elm) bark powder, rosa damascena (rose) flower powder, parfum (fragrance), citronellol, geraniol, eugenol, benzyl benzoate, limonene, linalool. I love the idea of smothering my precious baby's bum in myrrh, slippery elm bark and roses ! I also love the fact that it's 99.63% natural.

It's just as absorbent as talc and also works brilliantly on prickly heat rash. It cleared up a red itchy patch that was starting on the back of Sophie's knees within hours, which is great to know.

The one thing I'm not keen on is the floral fragrance which smells a bit too much old-ladified for me, but Sophie loves it and says it smells like perfume so that's purely down to personal taste.

If the health scare surrounding talc has freaked you out, this is the perfect alternative, for babies and their mums !

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £6.99

for more information : http://www.lucyrose.biz/burts-bees-baby-bee-dusting-powder-125g-5915-p.asp

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Free guide to help Daddy Bears enjoy bathtime with their Baby Bear !

[A'kin] pureBaby Peaceful Calming Mist review

Boots Nappy Rash Spray review

Giveaway #88 - Win 5 copies of Fatherhood : The Essential Guide by Tim Atkinson - closed - winners @tinkerbelldani @Dorothee77 @captainsunflow @daisyangel1 @hails84_2009

I've just reviewed (here) this fab book which is perfect for new dads and dads-to-be and I'm delighted to have 5 copies to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning, just do the following two things:

(1) leave me a comment in the comments box with a way of contacting you (twitter name or email). If I don't hear back from you within a week, I'll have to pick another winner.

(2) comment on any of my other blogposts and tell me where you commented (other giveaways don't count and each comment only counts for one giveaway !)

Bonus entries :

You can do any or all of the following for bonus entries - just make sure you leave me one comment per entry so that they're all counted !

(1) Follow me on twitter (@cherylp59) and tweet about my comp - this is now dead easy if you click on the tweet button on the right-hand side bar. Feel free to shorten if necessary, or you can make up your own tweet. Make sure you copy in @cherylp59 so I can track this.

(2) I love reading your comments so leave me some extra comments on my other blogposts (maximum 5) and I'll give you a bonus entry for each one ! Just remember to leave me a comment here each time to tell me you've done so.

(3) I've created a facebook page for Madhouse Family Reviews so I'd love for you to become a follower on there too - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Madhouse-Family-Reviews/144910798898626

(4) Subscribe to my blog by email (near the top of the right-hand sidebar) so that all the new posts pop into your inbox in a handy digest every morning

(5) follow my blog with Google Friends Connect (over on the side bar on the right)

UK only. Closing date : 23/6/11. Good luck.

Other current giveaways you may be interested in :

Giveaway #87 - Win You And Your Bump by Emma Cannon - closing date 20/6

Giveaway #86 - Win two great kids' vampire books by Pete Johnson - closing date 15/6

Giveaway #85 - WIN A HEALTHY HAMPER WITH SCHWARTZ THIS SUMMER - closing date 12/6

Giveaway #83 - win one of 50 130ml MAM Anti-Colic self-sterilising bottles - closing date 9/06

Giveaway #82 - win a fab Happy Hopperz toy - closing date 11/06

I-pic personalised magnetic photo frame review

I've been receiving some really lovely things to review lately that would be perfect for Fathers' Day, or any other occasions, come to that, that call for a present with a personal touch. I can definitely see me coming back to these I-pic creations at Christmas for the grandparents.

When I first scanned through the information, I thought it would be the same kind of personalised photo frame that various online photo printing companies offer, but they're actually much funkier. You get to choose not only the photo but also the frame, either from the wide range of colours and designs available, or you can create your own. Then you add your own text along the bottom to make it totally personalised. We chose this funky purple flowery frame with the text "The terrible trio !".

The finished design looks like this (excuse the poor quality photo - it's a screenshot !) :

The creation process takes literally seconds. You choose the frame colour and design, upload the photo and modify the size so it fits the frame. As you can see from the screenshot, you don't have a huge amount of leeway so bear this is mind when choosing the photo (or taking a new one) and make sure there's enough space around the edges of the photo for it to be cropped to fit the frame. With some designs, you can personalise the back too but that wasn't possible with our design, which looks like this :

The A5 frames are magnetic so you can display your favourite pictures on any magnetic surface, such as your family's fridge or washing machine. I-pic explain : "The product is both splash proof and strong, created from durable polymers, keeping the image safe".

It's a great gift idea for Father's Day and I can't wait to see Madhouse Daddy Mike's face when he opens it (with three over-excited kids running around saying "Look Daddy, look, it's us !!!").

***** Look out for a fab competition in the coming days to win your very own i-pic frame ! ******

star rating : 4/5

RRP : £9.99

for more information : www.ipic-uk.com

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Other reviews you may be interested in :

Love2Read Personalised "Our Dad" Photo Book review

Bookadoo Personalised Photobooks for Children
Blue Friesian personalised spoof celeb magazine covers and magazines

Father's Day Gift Ideas from Find Me A Gift

You'll have noticed a definite Father's Day theme going on here on my blog at the moment so, in-keeping with the current trend, here's a quick guide to some highly original and quirky gift ideas to put a smile on Dad's face later in the month.

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GROW ME BEER MONSTER – GROW YOUR OWN HOPS rrp £3.99

Combine two of Dad’s loves – beer and gardening – with the ‘Grow Your Own Hops’ kit. The easy to use pack contains a small coconut husk pot and compost disc, a pack of hops seeds and a plant marker – everything Dad needs to grow his own hops. Simply pop the disc in the pot, add water to expand the compost and sow the seeds!

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/novelty-gifts-for-men-grow-your-own-hops.html

PERSONALISED BEER LABELS rrp £15.99

Once Dad’s grown his own beer, why not treat him to some ‘Personalised Beer Labels.’ Simply stick them to any bottle and let Dad convince his friends he’s the next master brewer! Enter Dad’s full name on our website and we will produce 6 brilliant designs and send him 48 labels in total… that’s a lot of beer he’ll need to brew!

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/personalised-beer-labels.html

BUILD YOUR OWN VW BEETLE rrp £20.99

Dad always dreamed of building his own kit car? This ‘Build Your Own VW Beetle’ lets him do just that. So what if it's 38 times smaller than the real thing? The intricately detailed pull-back-and-go car has a die-cast metal body, opening doors, bolts, lights, dashboard, and comes with a screwdriver and full instructions.

 http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/build-your-own-car-toys-vw-beetle.html

JOKER/STAR TREK/ROCKY/JEDI DRESSING GOWNS – rrp from £39.99

Treat dad to a dressing gown with a difference this Father’s Day. With a fab choice of Joker, Star Trek, Rocky and Jedi dressing gowns, Dad can transform into his favourite character while he chills out at home. These hugely popular dressing gowns will make Dad feel on top of the world every morning when he throws it on - he’ll love popping outside to his car/to get the milk in/take the bins out and show it off to the neighbours!

 

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men-batman-joker-luxury-dressing-gown.html

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/mens-dressing-gowns-star-trek-captain-kirk.html

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/rocky-balboa-dressing-gown-bathrobe.html

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/jedi-dressing-gowns-star-wars-bath-robes-mens-bathrobe.html

WHISKY AMBASSADOR GIFT BOX rrp £29.99

The ‘Become a Whisky Ambassador Gift Box’ is the perfect gift for Dads who love their single malt. Dad will learn how whisky is made and uncover the history of the award-winning Glenfarclas Distillery, and will even become a whisky ambassador for 12 months. The gift includes a tour and tasting session for two at Glenfarclas.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/whisky-whiskey-become-a-whisky-ambassador-gift-box.html

RECORD ALBUM FRAME BLACK and RECORD ALBUM FRAME SILVER – rrp £7.99

The super stylish ‘Record Album Frame’ is a great gift for dads who are nuts about their records. Dad can dust off his favourite album cover or polish his most beloved record to proudly display on the wall. The frame measures approx 32.5 cm x 32.5 cm x 2 cm and can hold standard album sleeves measuring 31.5 cm x 31.5 cm. The frames come in black and silver with 8 pinch clips. The ideal gift for music mad dads this Father’s Day.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/record-album-frame.html

 http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/record-album-frame-silver.html

PERSONALISED DRESSING ROOM FOOTBALL PICTURE – rrp £29.99

The ‘Personalised Dressing Room Football Picture’ is a must have gift for footy-mad dads this Father’s Day. Fully approved and licensed by Dad’s team of choice, Dad’s name and favourite number can even be positioned on the middle shirt between famous team mates. A thoughtful present that will stand the test of time, Dad can even add his own signature to the picture amongst his team mates. The picture comes in a stylish black frame measuring 400mm x 340mm.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/football-gifts-personalised-manchester-united-football-picture.html

PERSONALISED LABEL BEER TANKARD - rrp £9.99

Dads who like their beer will love this ‘Personalised Label Beer Tankard’ this Father’s Day. Dad’s tankard can be personalised with his name (or nickname), date, occasion and a personal message. You can be as silly, cute or sentimental as you like on Dad’s special beer glass! Twin it with a bottle of his favourite beer for extra brownie points. The tankard measures approx 9 cm x 13 cm x 9 cm.

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/personalised-beer-label-tankard.html

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Personalised chocolate bar from find me a gift

Find me a (quirky Valentine's) gift

Unique Valentine's Gift - Personalised Jigsaw Puzzle

Book review : Fatherhood : The Essential Guide - Tim Atkinson

**** Don't miss my giveaway where you can win five copies - click here ! *****

I review a lot of books here on my blog and I often go on to follow the authors on twitter, to find out what else they're up to and also to chat to them and get to know them as real people, not just a name on a cover. Well, this time it worked the other way round. I already "knew" author Tim Atkinson from twitter (you can follow him @dotterel) and his blog Bringing Up Charlie. He seems a genuinely nice bloke and, even if he did win the MADS Blogger of the Year award last year, he hasn't let it go to his head ! He seems genuine, down-to-earth and entertaining which, combined with the fact that he gave up his job to become a stay-at-home dad, makes him the perfect person for writing a parenting book for men.

This is the third book I've reviewed from the Need2Know series (after Travelling With Children : A Parent's Guide, which I reviewed here, and Children's Nutrition : A Parent's Guide here) and it follows the same user-friendly format with short chapters and handy point-by-point summaries at the end of each section.

The book is aimed as new dads and dads-to-be and, just as Tim is often a lone male voice in a sea of mummy bloggers online, his book really fills a gap in the baby book market that generally focuses on mums. He manages to get across the male viewpoint and pass on the information and advice that first time dads really need to know, without getting bogged down in the gynaecological details that many pregnancy books detail and that dads really don't want or need to know !

The book guides new dads right through pregnancy and into the toddler years, explaining how baby is developing and how their partners are probably feeling and addressing all those "new dad" worries that often get brushed under the carpet. The chapter that really leapt out at me was the one explaining financial help and legal entitlements as it's the first time I've ever seen this aspect covered in a baby book.

As with the other Need2Know titles I've reviewed, there are lots of testimonials from real dads which are always reassuring because they prove that you're not the only person having the same doubts and worries. Tim's style is simple, direct, straight to the point and very reassuring. Even if you're not big on reading, it's a brilliant book to dip in and out of, especially as it is structured by period, depending on the age of the child or the stage of pregnancy.

If you're looking for a great Fathers' Day gift for a new dad or a soon-to-be dad, this certainly ticks all the right boxes.

*****Great news - you can win a copy right here on my blog !  *****

star rating : 4.5/5

RRP: £9.99 (but only £6.96 on amazon with free delivery)

ISBN 10: 1861441223

ISBN 13: 978-1-86144-122-5

Size: 205mm x 195mm

Softback

Publication Date: 1st July 2011

Pages: 130

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fatherhood-Essential-Guide-Tim-Atkinson/dp/1861441223

Other reviews you may be interested in :

Being Dad DVD

Love2Read Personalised "Our Dad" Photo Book review
Free guide to help Daddy Bears enjoy bathtime with their Baby Bear !
'Bestest Dad’ competition to celebrate Father’s Day

Book review : You And Your Bump - Emma Cannon