Mama's Bag Of Tricks

Have you neglected the memorable photos you've been taking? Well, take some time this weekend to do some digital scrapbook. You don't have to scrapbook all the photos at once. You can start by making 1-2 scrap pages every week. Not much time to spare? Then use quick pages where the scrapbook layout has been done for you already. Just plop in your photos and write a few words (if you want to).

Here's a free kit to get you going. Remember, the free kits change frequently. So if you want this particular one, you've got to download it this week. Next week, it is going to be a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

(ARA) - The new year is a great time for families to make a fresh start. Families can now reflect on eating habits and resolve to start the year with a smarter plate.

Finding snacks that fit into a new food plan is not easy, and eating between meals is often a reason why families fall short of their promise to eat better. In fact, Americans often turn to decadent treats throughout the day. And with today's busy households, kids just aren't getting adequate levels of vitamins and minerals.

So, how can parents face the challenge to improve the family's eating habits while finding treats that everyone will actually want to eat? The good news is snacking can complement any healthy lifestyle plan. Today's families can find success with a more general, practical approach to snacking.

Focus on current eating habits and adopt these simple tips now to get ready for the new year.

Satisfy with healthier options
Kids love their sweet treats. But in order to keep fruits and vegetables viable options for snack time, steer toward foods like oranges, tomatoes or baby carrots. Or top cereal or granola with their favorite fruit for added fiber. These are simple, yet delicious, suggestions that everyone will expect as a regular option during snack time over the long term.

Choose nutrient-rich favorites
Snacks can not only taste good but be nutritious too, according to Mike Bloom, vice president of marketing for Suncore Products. Families can replace indulgent treats that have little to no nutritional value with those packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. "It's no surprise that kids like sweet snacks, but that doesn't mean they have to satisfy their sweet tooth with empty calories. WhoNu? Nutrition Rich Cookies offer a delicious treat that look and taste just like family favorite cookies while still providing essential nutrition," Bloom says. WhoNu? Cookies are packed with more than 20 essential vitamins and minerals, plus three grams of dietary fiber in every serving.

Create a snack center
It is easier to choose healthier snacks if your refrigerator and pantry are well-stocked with foods that are tasty and nutritious. When wholesome options are easily accessible in the home, you are more likely to skip the decadent treats. Organize a snack center so kids can grab and go. Parents can track snack options, and kids can have the freedom to make sound eating choices.

Be aware of serving size
Pay attention to "better for you" snacks that offer the most nutritional value per serving. Also, encourage the family to avoid eating from the bag. Instead, become aware of portion size. Learn more about the family's favorite snacks by measuring them out and checking the nutrition labels. Eventually, you'll be able to better understand portions and know just how much to serve.

Interest them in shopping
Shop around and stock your kitchen with a variety of foods. Minimize the number of empty calorie snacks you purchase. Get the entire family involved by allowing the kids to help choose which snacks should fill your shopping cart. Have them create a list of snack items, and use the time to talk about nutrition.

Coupled with a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables, snacks can complement any healthy lifestyle plan. Changing old habits can be difficult. But it is an attainable goal. With small and simple changes, a smarter snack resolution is easier than you think.

For more smart, easy and family-friendly snack ideas, visit www.whonucookies.com or find WhoNu? Cookies on Facebook to exchange New Year's resolution tips with other fans.

I admit I'm not really the crafty person. I'll have to learn how to do better piping :)

Anyway, if you want to try to a little cake decorating but never really done it before, here's a video tutorial on how to make your own piping bag. You can easily make one with grease paper, baking paper or parchment paper.



Give it a try. Doesn't matter if it doesn't look that great in the beginning. Your kid will appreciate your effort.

p.s. For more information and instructions on cake decorating, click my affiliate link here ---> YummyArts

Are photos just taking up storage space on your computer? Do you keep on snapping photos and then leave it to be forgotten on your harddisk? Why not make a nice scrapbook? It is real easy to do when you use Quick Pages and here's a free kit you can use. MyMemories is very kind to supply a free kit every week. So, bookmark my blog and come back every week to get a new free kit. Very soon you'll have a collection of beautiful scrap pages.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

(ARA) - Last year's high grocery prices had many Americans looking for ways to save at the supermarket. The upswing in prices over the past 12 months may have you wondering what will happen this year at your local grocery store.

In partnership with ConAgra Foods, industry expert, and "Supermarket Guru," Phil Lempert, predicts an interesting year ahead.

"We will continue to see higher prices, but we will also see all the different ways Americans love their food - in supermarkets, on television, at restaurants and now even on their mobile phones," Lempert says. "We are on the verge of what may be one of the most exciting and game-changing years in the food world."

Lempert advises consumers to watch for 10 major trends in their supermarkets this year:

1. Higher food prices - Last year's trend will continue, so consumers will place even more emphasis on ways to save money. In addition to already-popular methods like coupons and frequent shopper cards, you may want to consider using your mobile device to menu plan while you shop. Websites like ConAgra's ReadySetEat.com give you recipe ideas and can also help you find out which ingredients are on sale in your store.

2. The group experience will grow - Food blogs set a foundation for group experiences, food trucks tweet their locations, and flash food raves assemble underground at midnight. More Americans are choosing to eat and shop together in new ways. Mobile app marketers will offer "social rewards" for groups that shop together - think of it as the virtual version of warehouse clubs.

3. The baby boomer influence will grow - Last year, the first of the 76 million-strong boomer generation turned 65. Their influence on the supermarket will show up this year in increased healthful food options, wider aisles and lower shelves.

4. Increased emphasis on "farm to fork" - More Americans are interested in knowing where the food comes from. In 2012, you'll see more blogs and social media featuring farmers, as well as advertising and TV programs starring farmers as food experts. Hunt's tomatoes, for example, are grown in Oakdale, California and harvested at the peak of ripeness then flash-steamed to maintain the natural tomato goodness.

5. The end of the checkout lane - Tech-savvy options are gaining popularity, with consumers enjoying self-checkouts, comparing prices at nearby retailers, and taking advantage of the convenience of cellphone scanners, in-store interactive media devices, QR codes, RFID and mobile coupons.

6. Ethnic on the road - Food trucks are replacing gourmet and specialty stores as the channel to experiment and discover new food experiences - especially when it comes to ethnic foods. More often than not, these ethnic food trucks are operated by natives of the countries from which the actual cuisines being offered originated, and they have the ability and knowledge to share the heritage and romance of the food.

7. It's a man's (grocery shopping) world - Dads aren't just winning the bread; these days, they're also bringing it home from the grocery store. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that 41 percent of men are now preparing food for their families, as compared to half that percentage in 2003. Look for them to do more grocery shopping, too, Lempert predicts.

8. Extreme home cooking - More people will continue to eat at home to save money. Following the lead of extreme couponers, groups of everyday cooks pride themselves on making the most food for the least amount of money.

9. How sweet it isn't - Reduced sugar products and revised Nutrition Facts panels will be the biggest health claim in 2012. With the negative health effects of sugar and high fructose corn syrup gaining so much attention, look for a continued emphasis on reducing sugar in our diets. Food producers like ConAgra are responding by eliminating high fructose corn syrup from such staples as Peter Pan peanut butter and Hunt's Ketchup products.

10. Listen to your food - You judge the readiness of some foods (like microwave popcorn or grilled burgers), by the sounds they make. Multisensory perception will be one of the new "food sciences" in 2012, as psychologists and food scientists join forces to design, create and influence the sounds of our foods to convey freshness, taste and even health attributes.

For more information about Phil Lempert's 2012 predictions, visit SupermarketGuru.com, and for simple meal ideas made in 30 minutes or less, visit ReadySetEat.com.

Looks like my baking mood decided to stick around for a while. I bought the egg tart moulds last month and finally decided to give it a go. It was really yummy.

Here, meet my teacher:



All the way from Hong Kong! Hahahah.
The first time I followed her recipe, I had quite a bit of leftover egg filling. So the second time I made it, I doubled the pastry recipe. That gave me 25 egg tarts which were quickly devoured by my dinosaurs.

Here is the recipe for your convenience. For directions, just watch the video.

Egg tart pastry:
140g butter (I used 1/3 butter, 2/3 Planta margerine)
1/2 an egg
70g icing sugar
200g flour
(This pastry recipe gives you about 12 egg tarts.)

Egg tart filling:
140g sugar
300ml water
4 eggs
80ml evaporated full cream milk

Happy Baking!

It is scrapbook time. Have you been scrapping? If you haven't tried it before but want to, here's a free kit to get your started. Quick pages are the easiest way to scrapbook. All the designing work has been done for you, all you have to do is plop in your pictures. Of course, you can add more embellishments and journaling to give it your unique touch. The kit you see below is only available this week. Come back next week and you'll see a different one.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit: