Fun Desserts To Make For Your Family This Weekend

June 3, 2020 Leave a Comment

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What better way to make life more exciting in lock down than create some great recipes? 

 

We all love a good sweet treat now and again, and even when you are trying to be healthy, all things come in moderation and a treat now and again is worth the effort. 

 

Today we want to share some amazing sweet treat recipes with you that will have to begging for more this weekend. Whether you are seeing family for the first time in months or still holding out a while longer, these recipes will be a showstopper for the table!  

 

Profiterole tower (croquembouche) 

 

Croquembouche is a classic french recipe and it is one that is always a hit with everyone. It is more commonly known as a tower of profiteroles and is easier than you think to create. 

 

These are baked and then covered with a sugar caramel, but you can also use isomalt. Take a look at how isomalt is used in cake decorating. 

 

Ingredients:

 

75g strong white bread flour 

50g butter 

2tbsp sugar 

2 eggs

300ml double cream 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

150g Melted dark chocolate 

150g caramel or isomalt 

 

  1. To create the choux pastry for this dish you will first need to heat up the butter in a pan until it melts. Add the flour and allow it to cook out to create a roux. 
  2. Take off the heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Add beaten eggs and sugar and beat into a smooth pastry. Add to a piping bag. 
  3. Grease a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 190C. 
  4. Pipe small circles of pastry onto the baking sheet; using a damp finger to press down the peak on top. Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and risen. Allow to cool. 
  5. Whip your double cream and add vanilla to sweeten. Using a thin nozzle piping bag, pipe into the profiteroles. Drizzle on some chocolate and Chill. 
  6. To create your tower, dip each profiterole in caramel or isomalt and tower on top of each other. You can finish the dish with a drizzle of caramel around the tower. 

White chocolate and raspberry cupcakes 

 

Cupcakes are a simple dish but always a pleasure for everyone in the family. 

 

Ingredients: 

 

175 g butter 

175 g self-raising flour

175 g caster sugar

1 tsp baking powder

3 large eggs 

Dash of milk 

100g white chocolate chips 

50g fresh raspberries 

3 tbsp raspberry jam 

280g icing sugar 

140g butter (additional) 

White chocolate shavings 

 

  1. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until it is light and creamy. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. 
  2. Add flour and baking powder and fold gently. Add milk chocolate chips and 1 tbsp raspberry jam. 
  3. Preheat an oven to 190C and scoop mixture into cupcake tins. Bake for 15 minutes. 
  4. Mix together your icing sugar and butter until smooth and light. Add the remaining raspberry jam and mix lightly to create a marble effect. 
  5. Add to a piping bag with a nozzle and pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Top with a fresh raspberry and a shaving of white chocolate. 
Filed Under: Cooking Tagged With: , , , , ,

Get your Child Ready for University Life

March 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

As a parent, having a child is such an amazing experience. However, when the time comes they grow and no longer are a child, they are a free-thinking young adult that will eventually be able to leave for University or College. It can be a tough time for them and for you, as you may be fretting you on how to properly prepare them for such a big transition. This article will hopefully show you some good tips and tricks on how to prepare your children for the big change of university.

Image Source, Pexels

Teach them how to Budget

This is the first time that your child may be managing their finances by themselves, and it is a big step for them to take. It’s worth taking a bit of time to talk them through the basics of budgeting to help them keep on top of their money once September comes around. Although a lot of expenses – including utility bills and internet costs – will be included in the price of their rent if they are staying in university accommodation, they will still need to budget for food and other day-to-day expenses, as well as having fun. You can find more information on budgeting in the fees and funding section.

 

Something that can also be advised is by showing them and purchasing a Prepaid Bill phone if they have not already. In this sense, you can then have the peace of mind that they are going to be ok and can contact you.

Teach them the Basics of Cooking

Cooking is a basic life skill, and to teach it you do not need to be a big-time chef. You will probably still be able to offer your son or daughter some useful tips on cooking. Find out if there’s anything they’d particularly like to learn how to cook themselves. Make sure they at least know the basics and have a few meals that they are comfortable preparing.

 

You should also help them buy the basic cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery that they’ll need when they arrive. If your child is moving into University Accommodation then most of them offer basic facilities like a kettle, oven and hobs, but they will most likely need to bring their own pots and utilities. You can take them shopping and then educate them and show them the things that they need. It can be a nice bonding session and more.

Banking

Most students will need to open their own bank account before they move. This is something that you need to consider when it comes to helping your child. Helping your son or daughter compare the various options and work out which is best for them is a good exercise for both of you – you’ll know they’ve got an account that will provide them with all the financial services they need at university and they will hopefully have learned a bit more about financial services and how to compare them. Every account will have its own benefits, so make sure you look carefully and educate them with the differences! 

Filed Under: Educational Tagged With: , , , , ,

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party

August 28, 2017 Leave a Comment

“This post was sponsored by Fresh Avocados – Love  One Today® as part of an In-Home Party Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.”

Growing up, my mom served avocado with just about every meal we had.  She loves them more than anyone I’ve met before, except maybe me.  I don’t know if it was due to her influence of serving avocados so much or if it’s because I have the same cravings as she does, but like her, my kids were raised on avocados.   From tacos to salads to my 7 layer dip recipe, I serve avocado’s just about daily.  I even use them in my smoothies.  As much as I love avocados, I equally love to host parties. Of course, I show off my favorite avocado recipes during all of my events.  Some I’ve created myself and some I talked my mom out of.  I’ve tried just about every avocado recipe online that I could find as well.

Wholesome fresh Avocado 7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

 

There are several reasons why it’s easy to get the kids to eat avocados. In fact, they were my kids first fruit. They are smooth and have a creamy consistency along with a mild taste. I would mash them up and feed them from a spoon until they were old enough to have slices of them. Like my own kids, even before I knew about the nutritional value of fresh avocados, I loved them. After learning that Avocados contribute nearly 20 nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytonutrients, that are important to infant/toddler nutrition, I started giving them to the kids even more often than I already was. My mom probably knew all of this when she served us avocados, but being a child, all I knew was that I loved the taste. She was counting on that when she served us meals with avocado in them. I’m sure she also knew that wholesome, fresh foods are less likely to contain added sugars, salt, and other processed ingredients.

Today I’d like to share my favorite 7 layer dip recipe with you so you can encourage your own kids to enjoy avocados. It’s sure to be a party favorite so go ahead and bookmark my post to save my recipe.

Wholesome fresh Avocado 7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

Ingredients:

5 Ripe Avocados. Use 4 in recipe and dice 1 for the top.
1 can of refried beans.
16 ounces of sour cream.
1 pack of dry taco seasoning mix.
1 to 2 lemons (need 2 teaspoons) or lemon juice.
Garlic cloves (grind 3 cloves).
Green onion (chop 3 to 4 stalks)
2- 8-ounce blocks of cheese, grated (I use mild).  If you’re in a hurry, pre-grated cheese works well.
1 small can of sliced black olives.
1 medium-sized tomato diced, chunky sizes.

Instructions:

In a glass bowl spread the can of refried beans evenly along the bottom.
Combine the sour cream and the dry taco seasoning, then spread on top of the beans.
Mix the avocados with the lemon juice and garlic. Sometimes I mash them, sometimes I cube them. Add on top of the sour cream mixture.
Add the cheese, green onions, black olives and tomatoes to top it off.

Serve with Tortillas.

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

To learn more about Fresh Avocados – Love One Today®  visit their website.

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What’s your favorite way to eat a Hass Avocado?

 

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

 

7 Layer Dip, Recipe + Love One Today® Avocado Party #AvoKids #IC #ad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Cooking, Food, Healthy, Kids, Party Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Deodorize Your Kitchen From Constant Cooking Smells

June 12, 2017 Leave a Comment

If you prepare all of your meals from scratch, you will know that all those cooking smells and odors tend to linger around for a very long time! The more you cook, the longer they will stay around for, unfortunately. On the other hand, if you aren’t a very cook and end up burning food, you will also know just how difficult it can be to get rid of bad cooking smells!

 

There is only one way you can freshen up your kitchen and neutralize any powerful odors – you need to deodorize it! Here are some tips to help you deodorize your kitchen.

Photograph Source

 

Get To The Source

 

One of the main sources of bad food smells in kitchens is a dirty fridge. Ideally, you should be cleaning your fridge every three months. You will need to go through all the food items that are in it so that you can see if anything is past its use-by date and needs to go in the bin. Go around the inside of the fridge and clean up any residue. Some of this could have dripped from fresh food products and may start to go bad soon.

 

Let Air In

 

Another tip that will help you minimize kitchen smells and odors is to keep all the windows open whenever you are cooking. As well as windows, you might want to leave any doors open if they lead outside. Some homeowners buy custom french doors for their kitchen as they can get them with a tilt-and-turn mechanism. That means that the door can be tilted forward slightly to let air in while it is still closed.

 

Be Efficient With Your Garbage

 

Ideally, you should take your kitchen garbage out every day, especially in the summer. It is also necessary to clean out your garbage container every couple of weeks as dirt and liquids can gather in it and cause strong smells. Wiping the inside of the bin with a small amount of detergent will kill any germs and bacteria. Some people like to add slices of lemon to the bottom of any new rubbish bags they place in the container, as it helps it to smell fresher for longer.

 

Keep Your Chopping Boards Clean

 

Very few people clean their cutting boards as effectively as they should. You shouldn’t use strong chemicals on them as these can be poisonous and contaminate food and ingredients. Instead, you can simply wipe them down using a mixture of water and baking soda. This will clean the board and remove any traces of bacteria. Just remember to rinse it thoroughly with warm water once you are finished!

 

Invest In An Extractor Fan

 

If you cook particularly pungent recipes, you will find that an extractor fan is a very useful tool in your kitchen. Once the fan is on, it will remove all the fragrant steam and aromas from the kitchen. It is also very effective at keeping the moisture content of your kitchen’s air down to a minimum.

 

Your kitchen doesn’t have to stink just because your cooking does!

Filed Under: Home Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Sun Basket Meals Gluten Free Roasted Pork Chops Recipe #sunbasket

February 2, 2017 20 Comments

Roasted Pork Chops with Sweet Potato hash and cilantro pesto

 

I am so excited, I received my Sun Basket meals today and already made the first meal!! Roasted pork chops with sweet potato hash and cilantro pesto, I am not a master chef but this was super easy and so yummy!!  I received three meals in separate bags, the meat was at the bottom of the box in ice packs.

 

 

I have to admit I was a little worried because I and the kitchen aren’t always friends. I like simple and can cook simple meals great. Like growing up in South Georgia, I learned how to make fried foods, mashed potatoes, and brown gravy. So trying new things is a little scary for me. The Sun Basket Meals can be ordered and delivered to your door with everything you will need to make a meal!!

Right now you get three meals free with your order!!

 

 

This was a little out of my comfort zone, so imagine my hubby’s surprise when he came home to this gourmet meal I cooked! He thought I spent all day in the kitchen making this!!

 

 

These ingredients made the perfect size meal for my hubby and I. We loved the flavor and how easy it was to make! I was able to make it within 25 minutes and it tasted amazing! The flavors together are amazing, I would never have thought I could make something so good and pretty!

 

 

Each recipe has fresh organic ingredients and easy recipes delivered, with Paleo, Gluten-free and Vegetarian options.

You have a step by step guide to walk you through exactly what to do! I love knowing I had all the ingredients I needed. I hate when I want to make something and do not have everything I need!

Filed Under: Kitchen Reviews, Recipes Tagged With: , , , ,

8″ Green Earth Frying Pan

December 11, 2015 Leave a Comment

8″ Green Earth Frying Pan

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This pan is by Ozeri and is by far my favorite! I love how evenly it cooks and how easy it is to clean. I use it for my eggs in the morning, it is the perfect size for that and my grilled cheese.  This pan is very well made yet light to carry. It comes with a cover to place over while not in use to keep it from scratching. I am able to layer it with my others without any worries.

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This pan heats fast which helps in the busy mornings. This is my second pan from Ozeri and I have never had one chip or flake! This no stick has lasted me over a year on by bigger frying pan. Needless to say I hope to continue to use these wonderful pans!

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Product Description:

  • Unlike other ceramic pans,the Ozeri Green Earth Pan utilizes GREBLON – an ultra-safe ceramic coating from Germany which is 100% PTFE and PFOA free.
  • Innovative textured pan surface delivers enhanced heat distribution and superior non-stick performance without ever releasing harmful fumes or toxins.
  • Features a scratch-resistant 100 percent ceramic coating that is super easy to clean.
  • Made out of durable heavy-gauge die-cast aluminum with no heavy metals or harmful chemicals.
  • Boasts a comfortable heat resistant silicon coated handle and a magnetized induction stove safe base for rapid heat transfer.

Check it out here:  Click Here

#ozeri

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