Monday, May 28, 2012

Steamed Chinese Cabbage Rolls

I followed this recipe for Steamed Stuff Chinese Cabbage Rolls from 3hungrytummies. All my kids give it the thumbs up. My younger son has requested that I cook it again. I am glad they love it because I wasn't sure if they would eat the chinese cabbage. However, they gobbled up everything happily.

Okay, so there are 3 parts to preparing this dish. First you have to prepare the mince meat. It is a combination of minced pork and prawns. Then you have to prepare the chinese cabbage. You have to boil it first to get it soft. Spoon the mince meat onto the cabbage leaf and roll it up. Steam it for about 10-15 minutes. The last part is to prepare the sauce to pour over the cabbage.

Not terribly difficult to do. For the full recipe, visit the link to 3hungrytummies above. I don't want to take away her thunder. Heheheh. She's got pictures to show you how to do it too. Enjoy!

Gardening with Toddlers - 7 Top Tips for This Summer

So often, parents spend much of their time attempting to keep toddlers clean. This summer why not let them get a little dirty? What better way is there to introduce a child to the joys of nature than to allow him or her to help out in the garden? Here are some fun, child-friendly ways to keep your toddler entertained outdoors.

1. Even the very young can be involved in the gardening experience. From an early age children love to mimic what Mom or Dad does. Provide your toddler with some child's plastic gardening tools and set aside a small area of the garden where he or she can dig, hoe and water freely. Even though children this age may be too young to handle plants, they will enjoy discovering things like worms!

2. Choose brightly colored plants that grow quickly for your child's garden. You can even create a rainbow of similarly sized flowers by planting them in arched rows. With a little imagination these bright blossoms will become bouquets, necklaces, crowns and more!

3. Introduce your toddler to a world of fragrances and textures by planting unique plants and herbs. Fragrant varieties include mint, chamomile, catnip, aloe, rosemary, lavender or scented geraniums. Mimosa pudica, or the 'touch-me-not' plant has leaves which curl up if you touch them. Such plants as lamb's ear, cotton, silver sage, globe thistle, and African sundew provide a range of tactile sensation.

4. Planting in unusual containers can also make gardening with toddlers fun and exciting. Whether you paint faces on pots, let them help you made oddly shaped clay planters, or hang dried gourds around the garden, your child will enjoy the variety.

5. Who doesn't love a garden that you can eat? Kids love planting vegetables and watching them grow into something that might one day end up on their dinner table! Toddlers enjoy harvesting as well. Give your child a basket and let him/her help pick the produce when it is ready. You can also intrigue your child by planting vegetables that come in unusual colors such as blue potatoes, red corn, and purple peas.

6. Toddlers and children aged three and up can create crafty projects that will attract wildlife to your garden. Help your child thread things like raisins, dried apricots, peanuts in the shell, and plain Cheerios cereal onto a string of garden twine to form an edible garland. This can then be hung in your garden or draped across the top of a fence for the birds to enjoy!

7. If you have the space, creating a sunflower house for your child can open up a world of experiences and imagination. Mark off a square area large enough that when you plant giant sunflowers around the perimeter, there will still be room to maneuver inside. The inside area can be planted with clover, chamomile, peppermint, spearmint and other fragrant flowers and herbs which are edible or child-friendly. Be sure that anything you plant in a toddler garden is non-poisonous. If your sunflower house is spacious enough, little garden benches can even be placed inside. The sunflower canopy will provide adequate shade, and children will be fascinated by the variety of butterflies and other insects that visit their "home."

Authors Biography:
Briana Kelly has over 5 years experience of content writing in the area of preschool and early education on behalf of Giraffe Childcare http://www.giraffe.ie


Saturday, May 26, 2012

What To Do In A Car Accident

Last week I was very lucky to escape unhurt from a car accident. Just take a look at the pictures.




Mine is the big grey car in front with the back totally smashed in. This accident involved 6 cars. The gold color Toyota is the one who caused it all to happen. I was already stopped at the traffic light. This guy, for some crazy reason, didn't slow down. He rammed into the car at the back of me, who veered to the right and hit another 2 cars. He then continued to smash into the back of my car. Unfortunately, that caused me to bump into the car in front of me.

The impact was pretty hard. It knocked my spectacles off my face. When I got down from the car, some people were calling to the Toyota driver to wake up. He was unconscious and they tried to pull him out of the car. But it looked like his leg was kinda stuck, plus he was a heavy guy. He did gain consciousness eventually. The next time I looked around for him, he was already whisked to the hospital. The rest of us victims were left to figure out the mess.

Okay, so..... this is what I've learned about what to do in an accident.
  • For your police report, you'll need to know everybody's car registration number, car make and model, what road the accident took place, what time it took place, where were you coming from and where were you going. Note down all the damages to your car.
  • Exchange names and phone numbers. Make sure you have a pen or pencil handy in the car. I was quite shocked I almost forgot how to enter a new phone number into my handphone's directory. 
  • You will probably be approached by guys who say "I can handle everything for you". Don't be too hasty to say "yes" to anyone. If you've signed up with certain Car Breakdown services, check with them if they can assist you with the accident. We are AAM members and I didn't know AAM has such services. I only knew when my brother told me.
  • The guy that caused the accident had an expired driver's license. Initially, we were told that he didn't have a driver's license, and this was bad because then his insurance does not have to pay. But since it is only expired, we are able to make the claim against his insurance. If the accident is not your fault, file a "No-fault Own Damage" claim with your insurance company. This is also known as a KFK (Knock-for-Knock) claim. With this claim, you don't have to lose your NCD. However, this claim depends on the police investigation report (not your own police report). If the police investigation report says it is the other guy's fault, then you are good for the KFK claim.
  • One guy told me that I should wait to get my car towed. If I drove it and got into another accident, I won't be able to make any insurance claims. This is true but at that time, I wasn't sure if I could trust the guy. So, I drove slowly to the police station. Talking about police station, make sure you go to the right branch.
  • Your car needs to be repaired by a workshop that is on the insurance company's panel. After you file your claim, the insurance company will assign an adjustor to evaluate the cost. 
  • What you need for your claim: Photostat copy of your IC, car owner's IC, insurance policy, car registration card, your police report, police investigation report and police sketch plan.
It is a miracle that nobody else was hurt in this accident. I did heed my friends' advice and went to get an x-ray for my neck and back, just to be sure. You can actually claim this if you have a Personal Accident Insurance. I only felt the effects of the accident the next day. My body just felt so tired and I collapsed on the bed for a few hours.

Oh, one last thing, I am glad I didn't have my children in the car with me. So, if you have babies/toddlers, please please please strap them up in a car seat. You just don't know when an accident will happen.

Friday, May 25, 2012

How To Cook Lotus Roots

I love lotus roots. However, the only way I've ever cooked it is in soup.


Well, DH once again passed to me a newspaper clipping of a recipe. This time it is for LOTUS ROOTS WITH FRAGRANT SAUCE. It tastes okay. I think next time, I will blanch the lotus roots first. I prefer it a little bit softer. Maybe I'm just used to having it soft like in soup. Also, I found the color of my dish is different from the picture in the newspaper. Mine looks more brown whereas the pix in the paper, the lotus root looks more yellow. Do you guys have the same experience of having your dishes NOT look like the pictures of the recipes you follow?

I am trying to locate the original recipe online but can't seem to find it. Well, here it is for your convenience:

LOTUS ROOTS WITH FRAGRANT SAUCE
INGREDIENTS:
  • 400g lotus roots, cut into slices
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 50g red capsicum, cut into strips
  • 1 stalk spring onion, cut into 2.5cm lengths
  • 8 dried chillies, cut into halves (I didn't want it so spicy because of the kids, so I just put in 1-2).
  • 6 slices ginger
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil

SAUCE INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 tsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp black vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp chicken stock powder
  • 125ml fresh chicken stock
  • 2 tbsp cornflour

HOW TO COOK:
  1. Heat up sesame oil in your wok. Saute dried chilli until fragrant.
  2. Add in ginger slices and onion. Stirfry for a while.
  3. Add lotus roots and pour in the sauce.
  4. Let it boil. Then add the capsicum and spring onion.
  5. Stirfry to combine everything.

Here's another recipe that I tried today: LOTUS ROOT WITH SALTED EGG (Kam Heong Lotus Root)
I've had this before in a restaurant in Kepong. Absolutely fell in love with it. The lotus roots are crispy and the blend of garlic, curry leaves and salted egg is just heavenly. Have been wanting to replicate the dish at home and finally, I did. If you love the taste of salted eggs, you'll love this dish. I got my directions on how to cook this dish here.


Here's the recipe.
LOTUS ROOT WITH SALTED EGG
INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 lotus root. This dish above was from 1 lotus root as long as a pen. Slice it as thin as possible.
  • Curry leaves
  • 3-4 salted eggs.
  • Minced garlic.
  • Butter
  • Red chilli, sliced thin. If your kids don't like chilli, maybe just use half a chilli or omit it entirely. 
  • 2 parts rice flour to 1 part corn flour
HOW TO COOK:
Frying the Lotus Root
  • After you slice the lotus root, boil it in a mixture of water and vinegar for about 5 minutes. Apparently it is suppose to stop the root from turning brown. 
  • Drain the lotus root and pat dry with kitchen towel.
  • Mix rice flour and corn flour together. The recipe I looked up uses tapioca flour. I didn't have that so I used rice flour-corn flour as it will also make the lotus roots crispy when fried.
  • Coat the lotus roots with the flour mixture and then fry them in oil. Don't have to wait until it turns golden brown before taking them out. When I did that, the chips ended up a bit burnt and tasted bitter. Take them out as they are about to turn brown. You'll see that it will continue to cook after you take them out and you'll have that nice golden brown color after all. 
  • Put aside your lotus root chips.
Getting the Salted Egg Ready
  • According to the recipe I looked up, you crack the salted egg and scoop out just the yolks. After that you steam the yolks. I don't like the idea of wasting the egg whites. So what I did instead was leave the eggs uncracked and boiled them until cooked (like hard boiled eggs). After it was cooked, I just cut the eggs in half and scooped up the yolks.  Egg whites can be eaten by anyone who wants to.
  • Mash the egg yolks.
Putting The Whole Dish Together
  • Fry the garlic with butter. Add in curry leaves and chilli. Fry till fragrant.
  • Add in the mashed egg yolks. 
  • Toss in the lotus root chips and mix well.
  • Add sugar and salt to taste.
So there you have it, 2 different ways to cook lotus root (besides just boiling it in soup).

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Are You Prepared for Disaster?

*Special giveaway offer at the bottom of this post

I'm sure you'll agree with me that natural disasters are on the rise. Floods, tsunami, earthquakes, hurricanes, forest fires... they all make the news so often these days. If you read the scriptures, you'll know that this was prophesied long ago. These are the signs that tell us the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ is near.

Whether you are a Christian or not, or whether you believe in the scriptures or not, the fact remains that we are headed for troubled times. Not only natural disasters, but other kinds of disasters too. Getting a bit pay cut, sudden lost of business income, losing your job and not being able to find employment is a kind of a personal disaster. Worse if you have a family to feed.

So, are you prepared for a disaster?

One way to prepare is to have food storage and a 72 hour emergency kit. This is not something you can do overnight. It takes a little bit of planning and know-how. You have to know what supplies you need to suit your family. You'll also need to learn what is the best way to store the food. So I would advise you to learn as much as you can about it today, because when disaster strikes, it is too late to learn. And we cannot predict when disaster will strike.

If you are keen on building your food reserve, check out eFoodsDirect. They specialize in food storage supplies. You'll find pre-packaged meals and food supply kits that are ideal for emergency situations.

SPECIAL OFFER
At this moment, they are having a special offer. This is in remembrance of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago. Here are 2 coupon codes for you:
  • Food40 (soup and entree pack, 5 day food supply, save 40%)
  • Food50 (7-day pantry pack, save 50%)
Don't forget to enter these codes to get their memorial discount.
Click here for their special offer page.

GIVEAWAY
Want to have a taste of eFoodsDirect's delicious and nutritious storable meals? I have some to offer you for FREE!

Winning this giveaway is sooooooo easy. Just be the FIRST person (from the US) to leave me a comment here and let me know if you have or haven't done any emergency preparedness.
Oh, and email me (limailian at gmail dot com) your address so I can send it to you! That is all.


Thursday, May 17, 2012

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit


Scratching your head trying to think up of a Mother's Day Gift? Here's a personal gift that will definitely put a smile on any mother's face. It's a craft that your children can easily do too. Quickly download this as it is not going to be available forever.

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

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 2 page elements and 2 quick pages

You can get it by clicking this link:

This kit is MyMemories Suite compatible. So if you have that scrapbook software, you can load straight into it. No hassle. If you don't have the software, you can still use it. Just make sure you select the option that says "General Zip" when you download.

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING
Use this discount code to reduce the price by $10 (and also get a $10 gift voucher):  STMMMS86598

Photobox Tutorial

  • Download template file and install it into your software
  • Using MyMemories Suite, choose Create Album From Designer Template and find your project
  • Now you can add pictures, print and enjoy the provided template, or customize it with your own papers and embellishments.

TIP:
You can right-click on the white guide and lock it in place to keep it from moving while you are working. Make sure this is the top layer of your project before printing.

Instead of adding the paper as a background paper, you can add it as an embellishment so that you can move the paper around. This is especially useful when using papers with stripes or circles, so you can decide which part of the paper you want to use.

Once it is added as an embellishment, you can now select the paper and move it into the position you want it.


Just SAVE and PRINT on cardstock!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Scrambled Eggs with Bread

A few nights ago, D1 came up to me before going to bed, and told me what he wanted for breakfast the next morning. He not only told me what he wanted to eat, but proceeded to give me directions on how to cook it. I smiled as I listened to my 9 year old boy teaching his mother how to cook.

So, what is this special dish... SCRAMBLED EGGS WITH BREAD.

Directions:
Break up 1 piece of bread into bite size pieces.
Crack eggs into the wok.
Before it cooks, add in the pieces of bread.
Scramble it together.
Add in a little soy sauce.

How many of you have cooked eggs this way before?

P.S. The next morning, he asked me to stand aside as he took over the wok and cooked the dish himself :)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My Mother's Day Cards

We just celebrated Mother's Day last Sunday. The few days before that, my kids busied themselves making my Mother's Day card. Nobody had to tell them to do it. Somehow, making cards and writing notes has become one of their ways of showing love and appreciation. They also do it to show their dissatisfaction. I've had both "I love you" and "I don't like Mommy" notes. Heheheh.

So anyway, I've seen how over the years, my kids card making skills have progressed. As they grow older, the cards get more interesting, especially with my eldest girl. And no doubt, the younger siblings are following her footsteps. Her cards are not the simple open-and-shut kind of cards. She always adds flaps here and there for me to flip open. This year, she even added a "mystery bag" which had candy inside. My son, D1, also had a little surprise in his card. When I open the card, there's a little pocket containing 2 homemade bookmarks. D2 is only 5 years old and so his card isn't as sophisticated yet as his older siblings. But I'm sure he will soon follow their pattern of making cards that have an extra special flavor.


Just want to quickly share what my daughter wrote in her card:
Have a Happy Mother's Day. Mothers are very important. Mothers are kind, cheerful, generous and a lot more. Mothers are the most fantastic people in the world. Mothers are very precious. If there are no mothers, there won't be any living things in the world. Mothers are always thinking about us. Mothers are the one we must remember. Mothers do a lot of things for us. So, Happy Mother's Day. You are the best one in the world.
So mothers everywhere, as you can see we have to live a very high standard. Our children expect great things from us. Not only that, it is obvious that our children learn who mothers are and what they do by watching us. So take a moment to ponder what legacy you are passing on.

Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. And may we all have the strength and inspiration to continue being the best mothers we can be.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Flat-screen dangers: The summer safety risk and what parents should know


(ARA) - For many families, summer vacation means children will spend more hours at home than they do during the school year. Extra time at home may expose children to unexpected risks from surprising sources - such as an unstable television.

"American children are needlessly suffering from unintentional injuries at an alarming rate," says a 2009 SafeKids report. "The risks that children face go far beyond a sprained ankle or a skinned knee. Every 101 minutes, a child in the United States dies from unintentional injury ... ."

Accidental injury is the top killer of children younger than 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the overall number of accidental injuries to children has declined, the CDC reports, certain types of injury - like those caused by unstable TVs - have increased.

Between 2000 and 2010, 176 people died as a result of TVs tipping over on them, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) report "Instability of Televisions, Furniture and Appliances: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities." Ninety-six percent of those deaths were children younger than 18. In 2010, the report estimates 20,000 emergency room visits were the result of tipping TVs - a 25 percent increase since 2006.

"We view (the instability of televisions) as one of the most dangerous hidden hazards in the home," says Scott Wolfson of the CPSC.

"Children like to climb on furniture," says Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the CPSC. "Placing TVs on furniture not intended for them or having furniture that is not secured can have tragic consequences. These tragedies can be prevented by taking low-cost steps."

"Fortunately, consumers have many resources for making their TVs, and especially their flat screens, as secure as possible," says Ryan Hagberg, director of consumer marketing of Sanus, makers of entertainment furniture and TV wall mounts.

First, Hagberg advises consumers, be aware of the real weight of your flat-screen TV. A 32-inch flat screen can easily weigh 50 pounds, and larger ones may weigh more. Even ultra-thin models that are less than 1 1/2 inches thick may still weigh more than 40 pounds.

"That's more than enough weight to cause injury if it falls on someone, especially if it tips or falls on a small child," Hagberg says.

To minimize the risk of a TV tipping or falling, always properly secure it to appropriate furniture or mount it on the wall. TVs, especially flat screens, should never be placed atop dressers, bureaus, benches, boxes or folding tray tables. Instead, choose stable furniture made for displaying a TV, and always secure the top edge of the TV to the back of the furniture. The furniture itself should be secured to the wall, following the manufacturer's guidelines.

Even properly constructed, appropriate furniture will be top heavy with a TV on it, so correctly securing it is essential. Look for products like Sanus' Anti-Tip Strap that safely holds the flat screen in place by attaching the TV to the furniture and the wall behind it.

Wall mounting a flat screen is the safest option, and one that not only places the TV out of reach for little hands, but looks good, too. "When done properly with a high-quality mounting device, wall mounting a TV is much safer than placing the TV atop a piece of furniture," Hagberg says.

Look for a product, like Sanus' VisionMount series, which incorporates a wall plate that secures into the studs behind the wall, and attaches to the TV with mounting brackets. All mounts within the Sanus offering lock securely to the wall and all are listed by Underwriters Laboratories, an independent organization that subjects products to rigorous safety testing.

"The safest, most practical mode of displaying a flat-screen TV and all its components (DVR, video game, cable or satellite receiver, etc.) is to mount the TV on the wall and place the components beneath it on a piece of furniture specifically designed for that purpose," Hagberg says. To learn more about options for safely mounting your TV, visit www.Sanus.com.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Are You Shocked By Time Magazine's Cover of A Breastfeeding Mom?

Everyone seems to be talking about it: Time Magazine's Cover that portrays a mother breastfeeding her 3 year old as he stands on a chair.

The title is even more challenging: ARE YOU MOM ENOUGH?
The topic has been debated by many parents: Attachment Parenting.


Some are saying the picture is inappropriate. It doesn't really portray the warm relationship of attachment parenting. On the contrary, it is rather provocative. Plus, the idea of breastfeeding a child that old does not sit well with many.  The attachment parenting movement was started 20 years ago by Dr. William Sears. It not only advocates breastfeeding (and extended breastfeeding) but also baby wearing and co-sleeping. Attachment parenting is the idea of doing what you would do naturally. It is going back to our instincts.

Well, whether you agree or don't agree with attachment parenting, you got to agree that Time Magazine has succeeded in getting people's attention with this picture.

As for me, I am pro attachment parenting. But I wouldn't hold it against anyone who doesn't practice the same parenting style. To each her own. We all live in different circumstances and as long as you're doing the best you can for your children, that is all anyone can ask for.

So, what do you think about this controversial Time Magazine's Cover? Do you think they are sending out the right message? Or do you think it was a good marketing strategy because they've got everyone talking about it?

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

Mother's Day is coming! Here's a sweet craft that suits the occasion. It is called a PHOTOBOX.

Download it this week, coz' next week I'll be giving you a different one.

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

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 7 page elements and 2 quick pages.


You can get it by clicking this link:

You can use this kit with any software. However, it is easiest if you have the MyMemories Suite scrapbook software as the kit is compatible with that software. What that means is you can download this free kit straight into the software and then completely customize them with any paper and embellishments that you have. Here's my discount code you can use to knock off $10 when you purchase the software: STMMMS86598
The discount code will also give you $10 gift voucher to spend at their online store.

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING

Photobox Tutorial

  • Download template file and install it into your software
  • Using MyMemories Suite, choose Create Album From Designer Template and find your project
  • Now you can add pictures, print and enjoy the provided template, or customize it with your own papers and embellishments.
TIP:
  • You can right-click on the white guide and lock it in place to keep it from moving while you are working. Make sure this is the top layer of your project before printing.
  • Instead of adding the paper as a background paper, you can add it as an embellishment so that you can move the paper around. This is especially useful when using papers with stripes or circles, so you can decide which part of the paper you want to use.
  • Once it is added as an embellishment, you can now select the paper and move it into the position you want it.

Just SAVE and PRINT on cardstock!

Have a Happy Mother's Day!
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Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Tips to keep kids' minds as active as their bodies


(ARA) - As the days get longer and warmer, families can look forward to more outdoor playtime, as well as the promise of road trips and vacations. While the warmer months are a time children look forward to all year, they can also mean interrupted schedules and decreased attention to studying. However, there are plenty of opportunities to keep kids' minds engaged, even when they want to play the days away.

For parents, there are some special concerns when it comes to how their children spend time during the warmer months. Schedules and routines are often changed, which can make it difficult to keep activities and meal times on track. It's especially important to ensure that everyone has access to fresh, high-quality foods made with real ingredients, which provide energy throughout the day. A few initiatives to keep everyone satisfied and ready for fun will ensure that your family makes the most of the warmer months.

Keep these ideas in mind and make them a part of your family's schedule to keep kids physically and mentally active.

* See the great outdoors on a weekend camping trip or a day-long hiking excursion. Both setting up camp and hiking in the wilderness combine active fun and learning. Bring nature guides that give you detailed information about the trees, plants, animals and insects that live in the area and try to identify the things you see. If you're out on a day hike, be sure to include wholesome snacks with protein, which will serve as a healthy source of energy for an active outing. Lance Sandwich Crackers' emphasis on using quality ingredients, such as real peanut butter and real cheese, as well as fresh-baked crackers, makes them a great option. Plus they're easy to pack and available in more than two dozen varieties.

* Make grocery shopping more fun with a trip to the farmer's market. Visiting a local market, where farmers from the area have fresh produce for sale is a great way to teach kids about the importance of using quality ingredients to prepare meals. It's also an opportunity for them to learn about all of the work that goes into producing the foods they eat, directly from the farmer. Add an extra element of learning by using the USDA food guidelines or a healthy recipe as the basis for an ingredient scavenger hunt.

* On a rainy day, take an outing to the movies. Instead of sitting in front of the big screen and letting the mind go blank, pick something that everyone in the family will enjoy and start a discussion afterward. Or, try connecting your trip to the movies with a visit to a related event or place. For instance, if you go to see DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," follow it up with a trip to the zoo to find and learn more about the animals depicted in the movie.

* Enjoy an interactive learning experience with a trip to the museum. Children's museums are a great choice, but it's also a good idea to check in with art, science and other museums to see if they have special family-oriented programs or exhibits, as many often do. Some museums even waive entry fees during summer or provide discounted rates.

Whether you're out enjoying the sunshine and natural beauty of the season or inside on one of those occasional rainy days, fun and learning can go hand-in-hand from spring into summer. For more great outdoor activity inspiration and ideas for fresh-baked, wholesome snacks, visit the Lance Pinterest page.

Monday, May 07, 2012

Chicken In Soy Sauce

When my husband finds a recipe that he likes (whether on the internet or the newspaper), he will pass it to me. You know, like putting in an order at his personal restaurant :)

Well, he passed me this recipe for "Chicken in Soya Sauce" that was published in the newspaper. It's by Amy Beh. I thought it was like the usual chicken in soya sauce that I usually cook, something like "Tau Yew Bak" except using chicken. So I ignored his recipe for many weeks. Finally, after a bit of pestering, I decided to try out the recipe.

VERDICT... It is delicious and nothing like the chicken in soy sauce I use to cook. The difference is the plentiful helping of fried shallot and garlic. If you like those, you'll like this dish.

You can find the original recipe here. BUT for your convenience, I'll post it here on my blog too.

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 chicken
  • 30 shallots (chopped fine)
  • 15 cloves of garlic (sliced)
  • 60g rock sugar
  • 100ml light soya sauce
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 liter water
  • 2 tbsp oil
DIRECTIONS:
  • Fry shallots and garlic until golden brown and fragrant. Put aside.
  • Cook the rock sugar. When it is almost dissolved, add in the soy sauce and fish sauce. Pour in the water and let it boil.
  • Add in the chicken. Adjust the heat to medium high. 
  • After about 10 minutes, put the shallots and garlic back in together with chicken and stock.
  • Turn down the heat to low, cover and cook until chicken is done.
  • If there's too much gravy, you can scoop out the chicken and continue to boil the gravy till it is reduced. 
If you follow the original recipe, it calls for 1.5kg of kampung chicken, AND you're to leave it whole. Do not cut it yet. Just wash and clean. The whole chicken is to simmer in the stock until cooked. Then you remove and chop it up.

HOWEVER, I kinda missed that part about keeping the chicken whole and had chopped it all up before cooking it. Plus, I used regular chicken instead of kampung chicken. It still turned out okay. Actually, I think I prefer to cook it this way because it is quite a hassle to cut the chicken after cooking it. I usually have my chicken seller do all the cutting for me :)  I confess, I'm really lousy when it comes to cutting up a chicken.

I had plenty of gravy. I used the leftover gravy to cook noodles the next day.

My DH enjoyed this dish. My youngest daughter absolutely loved the gravy (because it is a bit sweet). She had 3 helpings of rice just so she could eat it with the gravy. I think she would have just drunk the gravy like soup if we let her.

So, if you're wondering what other chicken dish you can cook, try this.

Thursday, May 03, 2012

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

Ready to do some scrapbook craft? Here is another scrapbook freebie for you to make flower cards. They'll look so cute on a gift or even a card.


Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:
 This kit includes 3 digital papers, 2 pages elements and 3 quick pages

You can get it by clicking this link:

If you have MyMemories Suite scrapbooking software, it will be very easy to use this kit. You can load them straight into the software and do whatever customizations you want. Wondering if you should get the software of not? Well, you can use my discount code if you decide you want it. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598
You also get a $10 gift certificate to purchase scrapbook stuff at their store. 


For instructions on how to make this flower card, take a look at last week's blog post.

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING


Have fun scrapping!

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

Tips to encourage and help boost your child's growing confidence


(ARA) - Your growing child needs love and attention to help build confidence to continue to try and succeed at new things. From learning how to read, preparing for grade school to being able to ride their first two-wheel bike, it's the positivity from Mom and Dad that keep kids striving for more. Sometimes kids transition with ease to the next stage in development, and other times may experience a few bumps in the road prolonging transition. One of those areas where a child might need an extra boost of confidence is when they are experiencing an issue with wetting the bed at night.

Though many children stay dry at night by age 5, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that bedwetting remains an issue in about 15 percent of children age 4 and up. Parents experiencing this issue with their child may think of bedwetting as an occasional occurrence or accident, instead of something their child cannot control.  It's important to understand that bedwetting is not the child's fault and will likely resolve in time. Keeping a positive attitude and providing proper support from family is very important to the child during this time. Children may feel embarrassed and down on themselves, especially during the ages when they are trying new things and looking to grow their confidence.

Parents should be patient while dealing with their child's bedwetting. It's important to keep the conversations positive and avoid displaying any frustration. If a child is afraid to make their parent mad, it can actually worsen a bedwetting problem.

Dr. Jennifer Trachtenberg is a nationally renowned parenting expert, board-certified pediatrician, and has practiced pediatric and adolescent medicine for more than 15 years. She is also a mother of three. She offers some tips and advice for parents dealing with bedwetting.

Tip 1: Set the scene for success
When parents set the scene for their child to ease into a good night's sleep, it can help both parent and child get a better night's sleep. Try to provide support and encouragement to your child as he or she gets ready for bed, incorporating fun ideas such as story time and a trip to the bathroom as part of the routine. A new bedwetting choice, GoodNites Bed Mats, offers nighttime protection for your child, while helping to boost their confidence by getting them involved in their nighttime protection routine in three simple steps. Simply help the child place the mat on top of their fitted sheet, peel the adhesive strips off the corners and smooth down to help the child feel empowered and protected.

Tip 2: Deal with setbacks positively
Bedwetting setbacks are to be expected. If your child wants to talk about it, help keep confidence up by reassuring him or her that this is something he or she can't control. Remain an optimist and emphasize to your child how well they have been doing on other things, such as helping to clean their room or helping set the table for dinner, rather than dwell on the accident.

Tip 3: Stress and anxiety may increase bedwetting
Stress and anxiety may result in bedwetting. If a stressful situation comes up in your child's life, such as moving to a new town or the first day at school, help keep your child calm by reminding them how special and proud of them you are for everything they do, helping to keep their attitude up and feeling confident!

Tip 4: Limit liquids, but don't eliminate
It's easy for parents to restrict liquids after dinner in order to help their child avoid a full bladder at bedtime, but this can also cause dehydration if fluids are limited for a long period of time. Instead of limiting fluids completely, offer ice chips so your child stays hydrated, but doesn't overwhelm his or her bladder.

Even for older children, bedwetting will cease in time. Be patient, positive and supportive, and you and your child will make progress you can both be proud of. To find more information on bedwetting or to find advice and tools, please visit www.goodnites.com.