Even though Halloween may still be fresh on your mind, we all know how quickly the holiday season can creep up. Before you know it, it will be time for parties, baking, concerts and gift-giving! Here are a few ideas that can help make your holiday season run a little more smoothly.
Plan ahead. There’s nothing more stressful than being left at the last minute needing a gift for a party you’re going to, a friend you’re planning to see, or even your kids’ teachers. Stock up on some small, easy housewarming gifts like tins of chocolate, candles and bottles of wine. A lot of these things can be found pretty cheaply at dollar stores and will keep you from spending more than you need to on your nice gesture.
Start making lists. Start taking note of things that your kids and other people on your shopping list are asking for this holiday season. That way, when you see items in the store that you know you’ll need, you’ll be able to grab them and not risk stores running out of stock and making you track them down at different locations. Getting organized like this will also make any online shopping you’re doing on Black Friday easier!
Stock up on baking supplies. It’s hard to go through a holiday season without doing some baking (and why would you want to skip it anyway?!) so dig up your favorite recipes now and make sure you have everything you need on hand — think about pie crusts, brown sugar, pumpkin, Karo syrup, etc. This will save you from running out to a convenience store last minute and spending twice the price you usually do on something cheap like sugar!
Remember, thinking ahead just a little bit now can make the holidays a bit more stressful and leave more time for you to enjoy your family and friends!
LincolnParkAnnie is a freelance writer focused on how to live large on a little living. She writes financial savings tips for the cash advance company, QuickQuid.co.uk, and enjoys finding new ways to have fun on the cheap in her native Chicago.
Food Friday
Categories:
banana,
food friday,
marshmallow,
muscovado,
peanut butter,
sandwich,
toasted bread
6 shared thoughts
6 shared thoughts
This week's featured Food Friday player is...
Ms Dominique with her post Monkey Boy Cooking on a Friday, on her blog, From Dominique's Desk.
Am afraid my food post for this week isn't really healthy...and it's not something that I'd recommend that you eat daily. lol. Peanut butter, Banana, and Marshmallow Sandwich. That's what it's called.
Ingredients
Procedure:
I first found this recipe online (yeah, this isn't a Maiylah Original. hehe) a couple of weeks ago, and got curious. I only managed to buy marshmallows this week, so I thought I'd try this. I didn't think I'd like the mix, but I did! It wasn't overly sweet at all, much to my surprise. My youngest son who was with me at that time didn't like it that much, though. That's because he doesn't like peanut butter; he says he prefers eating REAL peanuts instead of peanuts with butter in it. lol. :D
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
Ms Dominique with her post Monkey Boy Cooking on a Friday, on her blog, From Dominique's Desk.
 |
| Who would have thought that an eight-year old boy made that dish above? Yes, Ms. Dominique's son cooked that all by himself! *clap, clap* Letting our kids help out in the kitchen is a great way to keep them busy and at the same time let them appreciate and learn how hard (and fun) it is to cook for a family. Good job, Monkey Boy! Do visit Ms. Dominique's blog to learn more about parenting concerns and tips as well as some of the yummy food that they've been having! |
------------ oo000oo ------------
Am afraid my food post for this week isn't really healthy...and it's not something that I'd recommend that you eat daily. lol. Peanut butter, Banana, and Marshmallow Sandwich. That's what it's called.
Ingredients
- two slices of bread (i used whole wheat)
- one banana, sliced (you may use your fave variety; we only had plantain that day, so that was what i used)
- peanut butter (your choice..i used creamy)
- marshmallows (i think it would look way better if i used white smaller sized marshmallows...lol)
- muscovado sugar (or you may use maple/chocolate syrup)
Procedure:
- Using an oven toaster, toast the bread slices slightly before slathering with peanut butter.
- Place the banana slices on one bread while the marshmallows on the other bread slice.
- Toast both slices until the marshmallows expands, gets gooey, and turns brown on top.
- Remove from the oven toaster (or the oven), then add muscovado sugar (or maple/chocolate syrup) on top of the toast with the banana slices.
- Place the marshmallow topped toast on top of the banana topped toast.
- Enjoy!
I first found this recipe online (yeah, this isn't a Maiylah Original. hehe) a couple of weeks ago, and got curious. I only managed to buy marshmallows this week, so I thought I'd try this. I didn't think I'd like the mix, but I did! It wasn't overly sweet at all, much to my surprise. My youngest son who was with me at that time didn't like it that much, though. That's because he doesn't like peanut butter; he says he prefers eating REAL peanuts instead of peanuts with butter in it. lol. :D
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
I have been thinking of getting myself one of those e-book readers for a while now, and hubby is encouraging me to buy one. I have always wanted to buy books, but I hesitate because I really wouldn't know where to store them! Our house is pretty small so space is a constant challenge. That's why I decided I want ebooks instead of the actual books. I was thinking of getting one of those mp3 audio books, too. Not only for myself but also for my youngest. I want him to be interested in reading, too. Well, he's only four years old, so...I just want him to be familiar with books and such.
Will I get myself that ebook tablet this year? Let's see...
Will I get myself that ebook tablet this year? Let's see...
Shot taken using the dslr (on a moving vehicle), but edited using the phone. This was taken while we were on our way home, from Cavite. Yup, that's what you'll see when you use the Manila-Cavite Expressway.
The trip was ok...but I still prefer our "usual" route: using the South Luzon Expressway. Or maybe I'm so used to it already. lol.
Honestly, I have always been fascinated how one plays the harp. I almost always associate that instrument with fairies and far away lands. Yeah, blame it all on the fairy tales that my siblings and I used to read back when we were much younger. I guess our parents share the same passion too, since we certainly had lots of fairy tale books (most of them hardbound!) back then. Not only that, you can also find a sprinkling of paranormal, soul searching, and "how to improve one's self" books in our mini library. But that all changed when we started buying our own books...now we've got detective/robot/sci-fi stories (one of my faves! lol), biographies, science, psychology and some books that are quite hard to categorize. But do you know what my all-time fave books are to this day that you'll find in our mini library?
Yeah, those fairy tale books! :D
Yeah, those fairy tale books! :D
With the hectic life one is forced to take these days, it is no wonder that some people succumb to the stress and try to cope by taking medications. There are different drugs that can be prescribed by licensed medical doctors which can help relieve depressive disorder and one of them is cymbalta. Nausea, dizziness, and insomnia are some of the cymbalta side effects which have been reported, but I guess that those are minor inconveniences compared to the pain you experience if you have fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder, neuropathy or have a depressive disorder.
Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in any sick person's shoes. I emphatize with them. We all need to deal with what we have and get on with life. I so admire persons who try to stay brave and keep moving on in spite of what they are going through.
They are the ones who knows the true meaning of life.
Honestly, I wouldn't want to be in any sick person's shoes. I emphatize with them. We all need to deal with what we have and get on with life. I so admire persons who try to stay brave and keep moving on in spite of what they are going through.
They are the ones who knows the true meaning of life.
This week's Food Friday player that's going to be featured is...
Chef Win, who blogs over at lamonsakusina with his blog post: Lamb Chops with Honey and White Balsamic Vinegar
I wanted to try Tuyo (Dried Fish, usually salted) Pasta, but I forgot to buy the fish, so this is what I came up with: Mushroom-Olives Spaghetti.
Ingredients
Procedure
I forgot that my eldest wasn't so much into olives (he loves mushrooms, though) so he ate sparingly while my youngest loved it! Yes, he LOVES olives. lol. Me too. :D
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
Chef Win, who blogs over at lamonsakusina with his blog post: Lamb Chops with Honey and White Balsamic Vinegar
 |
| I wish that lamb chops are not that expensive around here, but they are. That's why I can only imagine that tasty treat that Chef Win shared with us from his food blog, last week. His blog is relatively new, but he is not a newbie when it comes to cooking; am sure he has more delicious recipes to share with us. If you want to know more about him and his recipes, then click the picture! |
------------ oo000oo ------------
I wanted to try Tuyo (Dried Fish, usually salted) Pasta, but I forgot to buy the fish, so this is what I came up with: Mushroom-Olives Spaghetti.
Ingredients
- spaghetti (or your choice of pasta, cooked accdg to package instructions)
- mushrooms, sliced (I used shiitake -which I soaked in water for two hours- since that's what I have, but you can use canned or any other fresh/dried mushrooms that you have available)
- olives (pitted, preferrably; you can use black/green or both)
- all-purpose cream
- salt, pepper, olive oil, garlic, onion, water (as needed)
- malunggay powder (optional), or any other fresh herbs as garnish
 |
| some of the ingredients used: all purpose cream, olives, and mushrooms |
Procedure
- Set aside the cooked spaghetti, keep warm.
- Heat olive oil in pan and saute the sliced garlic and onion. Add the mushrooms and cook until soft (in my case it took around twenty minutes and I had to add a bit of the water where I soaked it).
- Add the sliced olives (you might want to add in olive oil) and mix well. Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour in cream and add water (I used the water where I soaked my mushrooms) until you get the consistency that you want.
- Add pasta and cook over low heat for around half a minute then turn off the heat.
- Transfer on a plate and sprinkle with a bit of the malunggay powder (which is optional). Or you may opt to add parsley or any other fresh herbs, instead.
- Best eaten warm.
I forgot that my eldest wasn't so much into olives (he loves mushrooms, though) so he ate sparingly while my youngest loved it! Yes, he LOVES olives. lol. Me too. :D
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
This week's Featured Food Friday player is...
Ms. Cheerful, with her post Isabelle’s Rainbow Cake and Cupcakes… on her blog: Mommy's Life Around...
My post for this week is a snack which I prepared one time when I needed to "dispose" the wanton wrappers inside the refrigerator... and I'd like to call them Beef Pockets. (I like how that sounds, lol)
Ingredients:
ground beef
sweet potato leaves (chopped)
molo wrappers
malunggay/moringa powder (optional)
salt, pepper, soy sauce, McCormick's Italian Seasoning
oil for frying
Procedure:
Place ground meat on hot pan, then add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and soy sauce. Add a bit of water, then the chopped sweet potato leaves. Mix everything until the beef turns brown, water has evaporated and the leaves have wilted. Add the moringa powder (optional). Set aside and let cool.
Prepare the molo wrappers (just separate them from each other), then put a bit of the beef mixture on top. Wrap the mixture and seal using water.
Deep fry. Drain the oil.
Serve with your fave dip. In our case, I tried three: cheese, ketchup, and sweet-chili sauce. The cheese won. lol.
I know, the molo wrappers are supposed to be cooked with liquid, but I decided to try and fry them anyway. The only difference when you fry them is that they kind of swell up while frying but that didn't really bother me. It promptly "went down" after I took it out of the hot oil. The wrapper came out kind of chewy and crispy at the same time, though. The kids and I had fun munching them. :D
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
Ms. Cheerful, with her post Isabelle’s Rainbow Cake and Cupcakes… on her blog: Mommy's Life Around...
 |
| Doesn't that look just adorable? Too good to eat, too! I am terrible when it comes to baking (hence, less baked goodies on my food posts, lol. hopefully, that will be remedied soon) and that's why I am so amazed when I see how creative one can get while baking. Ms. Cheerful's blog is a mixed blog where she posts about her personal experiences; mostly about her life as a mom to two wonderful kids. Click on the shot to get to know more about her! |
------------ oo000oo ------------
My post for this week is a snack which I prepared one time when I needed to "dispose" the wanton wrappers inside the refrigerator... and I'd like to call them Beef Pockets. (I like how that sounds, lol)
Ingredients:
ground beef
sweet potato leaves (chopped)
molo wrappers
malunggay/moringa powder (optional)
salt, pepper, soy sauce, McCormick's Italian Seasoning
oil for frying
Place ground meat on hot pan, then add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and soy sauce. Add a bit of water, then the chopped sweet potato leaves. Mix everything until the beef turns brown, water has evaporated and the leaves have wilted. Add the moringa powder (optional). Set aside and let cool.
Prepare the molo wrappers (just separate them from each other), then put a bit of the beef mixture on top. Wrap the mixture and seal using water.
Deep fry. Drain the oil.
Serve with your fave dip. In our case, I tried three: cheese, ketchup, and sweet-chili sauce. The cheese won. lol.
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
This week's featured player is...
Ms. Marge, with her blog post Rellenong Pusit (Stuffed Squid) on her blog, Pinoy Kitchenette.
My post this week is a dessert which is pretty common, a no-bake cheesecake. I just presented it in a different way, though. lol. My sons (yeah, they did help) and I made Raspberry-Dragon Fruit No-bake Cheesecake.
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
1/3 c brown sugar (i used muscovado sugar)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (i used 1 tsp)
1/3 c melted butter
Pie:
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice (i used 2 tbsp calamansi juice)
1/3 c white sugar
1 pint whipping cream ( i used 1 250ml very cold all purpose cream)
Toppings
1 dragon fruit, chopped
1 can raspberries in heavy syrup
1 can whipped cream (spray) - optional
Procedure:
Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, brown/muscovado sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter then mix well. Set aside for a bit.
In another bowl, mix the cream cheese and lemon/calamansi juice until soft. Mix the cream and sugar well, then add that to the cream cheese mixture.
Assemble:
Press graham cracker mixture into wine glass, then top it off with the cream cheese mixture. Repeat. I made around two layers on a narrow-rimmed (but with a broad body) wine glass (not sure what it's called, really...burgundy glass?), then topped it off with the fruits and sprayed whipped cream on top. I used the syrup from the canned raspberry for added sweetness. The kids loved it. Yes, they couldn't wait...they just had to eat it immediately. :D
I assembled my cheesecake differently, though. I added the fruits first, then the cream cheese, then the graham cracker crumbs. Yes, added whipped cream, too. :)
Messy, but yummy! My sons and I had a fun time making our snack that afternoon. We had to use canned raspberries, of course, since we couldn't find fresh ones. Am not even sure if they grow around here! My initial reaction to the berries: tasted like medicine, but it was tolerable. Reminded me of the medicines I had to endure while growing up! lol. Good thing my sons loved the raspberry-dragon fruit combination. We will be making it again, soon. Maybe with another fruit combo this time. :)
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
Ms. Marge, with her blog post Rellenong Pusit (Stuffed Squid) on her blog, Pinoy Kitchenette.
------------ oo000oo ------------
My post this week is a dessert which is pretty common, a no-bake cheesecake. I just presented it in a different way, though. lol. My sons (yeah, they did help) and I made Raspberry-Dragon Fruit No-bake Cheesecake.
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 1/2 c graham cracker crumbs
1/3 c brown sugar (i used muscovado sugar)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (i used 1 tsp)
1/3 c melted butter
Pie:
2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese
2 tsp lemon juice (i used 2 tbsp calamansi juice)
1/3 c white sugar
1 pint whipping cream ( i used 1 250ml very cold all purpose cream)
Toppings
1 dragon fruit, chopped
1 can raspberries in heavy syrup
1 can whipped cream (spray) - optional
 |
| some of the ingredients used were: upper left: dragon fruit upper right: crust mixture below: canned raspberries |
Procedure:
Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, brown/muscovado sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted butter then mix well. Set aside for a bit.
In another bowl, mix the cream cheese and lemon/calamansi juice until soft. Mix the cream and sugar well, then add that to the cream cheese mixture.
Assemble:
Press graham cracker mixture into wine glass, then top it off with the cream cheese mixture. Repeat. I made around two layers on a narrow-rimmed (but with a broad body) wine glass (not sure what it's called, really...burgundy glass?), then topped it off with the fruits and sprayed whipped cream on top. I used the syrup from the canned raspberry for added sweetness. The kids loved it. Yes, they couldn't wait...they just had to eat it immediately. :D
I assembled my cheesecake differently, though. I added the fruits first, then the cream cheese, then the graham cracker crumbs. Yes, added whipped cream, too. :)
Messy, but yummy! My sons and I had a fun time making our snack that afternoon. We had to use canned raspberries, of course, since we couldn't find fresh ones. Am not even sure if they grow around here! My initial reaction to the berries: tasted like medicine, but it was tolerable. Reminded me of the medicines I had to endure while growing up! lol. Good thing my sons loved the raspberry-dragon fruit combination. We will be making it again, soon. Maybe with another fruit combo this time. :)
Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)
get the InLinkz code
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
