Easy microwave mug cake recipes to try with your kiddos

I was browsing the net for easy recipes that my son and I can work on together during the Holiday break. I came across these amazing mug cake recipes. This post is actually a compilation of three yummy mug cake recipes from different food blogs. Let me share first the S'more Mug Cake recipe from Kirbie's Cravings.

Photo and Recipe from Kirbie's Cravings | http://kirbiecravings.com/2013/08/smore-mug-cake.html

S'more Mug Cake

Ingredients:

4 tbsp all purpose flour
2 tbsp finely crushed graham crackers
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp fat free milk
2 tbsp granulated sugar
2-3 small squares of milk chocolate
1 large marshmallow
optional: 6-7 mini marshmallows

Directions:

Combine flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, oil, milk and sugar in a large microwave safe mug. Mix with a small whisk until no flour chunks remain. Make a hole in the middle of the batter and stick in the chocolate squares. Cook in microwave for about 1 minute. Top of cake should look done and surface of cake should be dry rather than gooey.

Either add mini marshmallows or one large marshmallow and place on top of cake and heat for about 20 seconds until marshmallows are puffy. Or you can also take large marshmallow and toast in toaster oven for a few seconds until surface is light brown. I think the best result would be to use mini marshmallows and melt on cake in microwave and then add a toasted large marshmallow for garnish.

Here's another one, Banana Mug Cake recipe from Love Swah:

Photo and Recipe from Love Swah | http://loveswah.com/easyrecipe-print/3991-0/?doing_wp_cron=1416969316.3993129730224609375000

Banana Mug Cake

Ingredients

1 tbsp butter, melted (or flavourless oil)

1 egg (lightly beaten)

1 tbsp milk

1 ripe banana (mashed)

3 tbsp plain flour

3 tbsp brown sugar

½ tsp baking powder

1 scoop of coffee ice cream to serve

Instructions: 

1. Put butter into mug and microwave for 10 seconds to melt.
2. Add in egg and milk and lightly beat with a fork until combined.
3. Add mashed banana into the mug and continue stirring with you fork until mixed through.
4. Finally, add dry ingredients into the mug and beat with your fork until combined.
5. Place mug in the microwave and cook for 1 minute on medium heat.
6. The pudding should be risen and still slightly gooey in the middle. If still undercooked for your liking, cook it further in 10 second bursts in the microwave.
7. Serve with a generous scoop of coffee ice cream.
8. Enjoy!

Finally, here's a Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake recipe from The Novice Chef. I included this because, honestly, what kid doesn't love chocolate peanut butter?

Photo and Recipe from The Novice Chef | https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3939242048294145086#editor/target=post;postID=4109224945139282152

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
pinch of salt
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon peanut butter

Directions:

In a large mug, whisk (with a small whisk or large fork) together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt). Add the milk, vegetable oil and peanut butter. Whisk until smooth.

Cook in the microwave on high for 1 minute and 10 seconds. This recipe will rise a lot and then deflate. I know it's strange, but trust me it's delicious! Serve immediately!


I hope you enjoy making these fabulous recipes as much as I did. Happy kitchen bonding with your kiddos!

 

Leftover Omelet

I opened the ref today to prepare breakfast. As I scan the content of the ref for a possible meal, I realized that we have some leftovers, including 2-day old tocino and 1-day old grilled liempo. They are already too dry to reheat and I'm sure that my family wouldn't enjoy eating them.

So, what I did was chop them into small pieces and prepared an omelet. It was an instant hit! They gobbled them down with content. Nobody even noticed that the ref slightly gained some extra space because the leftovers were gone.

Ingredients:

One or more kinds of leftover meat (whatever you have), minced

Tomatoes (optional), minced

Cheese (optional although I really recommend adding it because cheese goes well with egg), minced or grated

Other optional ingredients, minced: mushroom, bell pepper, cabbage, carrots, ham, etc.

Egg, beaten with a pinch of salt to taste

Cooking oil (just enough to glaze the surface of the pan)

Preparation:

1. Heat the pan and glaze with cooking oil

2. Over very low heat, pour 1 beaten egg on the pan. Spread thinly to make a round sheet.

3. Put moderate amount of ingredients on one side of the egg sheet.

4. Using a frying ladle, gently roll the egg sheet, starting from the side with ingredients.

5. Once rolled, you can turn up the fire from very low to low. Cover and let it cook for 3 minutes. Turn and cook for another 3 minutes.

6. Repeat to make more, still using 1 egg for every omelet. Serve hot with your favorite dip.

Tip:

Combine ingredients that compliment each other. It's good to mix ingredients with savory and sweet notes or sour and salty taste.

The best security blanket you can give your children

My parents celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary recently. I am proud to say that after all these years, my parents have never lost their sweetness nor they did something to undermine the dignity, individuality, or principles of each other. My mother has always been considerate of my father's wishes and my father had always put my mother's feelings before anything else. I grew up knowing that I couldn't go to my mom or dad to override the mandate of the other. They are not shy to show us how mushy they are when around each other. Nor were they ever afraid to show us that every relationship has ups and downs and it's normal for couples, even if they are soulmates, to fight from time to time.

Their respect, trust, and love for each other made us, their five children, confident and secured. We are the testament of their love and we know that no matter what happens, our parents will always be there to protect and love us and to welcome us back if ever we should go astray.

I am now a mom myself and I realized that it's now my turn to pass on that same security blanket to my child. I want my son to grow up unafraid to fail or make mistakes knowing that his mom and dad will always be there for him no matter what. I want him to know in his heart that he is a very special individual because he was born out of our love for each other; the living testament of our commitment, trust, and infinite care and affection for each other.

I now understand why my parents are very open and vocal about their relationship. I'm sure that they knew how annoying their PDA (public display of affection) was for us way back then. But they must have understood as well how huge its effect in our lives so they kept doing it despite our disapproval. Now that I have my own family, I realized the lesson that they were trying to teach us through their example: the love of husband and wife for each other is the best security blanket parents could provide to their children. I am sharing this because there are many parents who have failed their children because they have first failed their spouse or partner. A husband and wife who truly love each other will also love their children unconditionally because they are the living manifestation of that love and union. In return, children who grow up knowing this kind of love and in this kind of home environment becomes more confident and secure, grateful, and adapts a more positive and hopeful perspective in life.

Jane Amador-Lim: making motherhood a full-time career

Jane Amador-Lim is one of the most fashion-conscious, bubbly individuals that I have the pleasure of knowing. Her smart, sexy choice of clothes, shoes, and accessories were only matched by her overflowing positivity. We used to work together in a corporation that required us to virtually deal with thousands of spoiled and demanding clients on a daily basis. Having Jane around us made that monotony bearable; she was a breath of fresh air for us in Marketing.

When she got married and gave birth to a healthy and charming little boy, Dylan, Jane had to stop working to focus on being a hands-on mom. "I decided to become a full-time mom when Dylan was 10 months old. I know that it makes a huge difference when the child receives hands-on care from the mother. That also gave me peace of mind especially nowadays when abusive nannies are very common. Most of all, I want to witness my child's milestones,” Jane said.

When asked how motherhood had changed her, Jane mentioned that it has changed her lifestyle and priorities the most. “Before, I would always go out. I love to shop, dine, and hang out with friends. When I became a mom, I just didn’t feel like that anymore. I didn’t want to stay in the malls for a long time because I’d rather spend time with my kids. Instead of buying things for myself, I would visit the children’s section and see if I can find something that the kids need,” she said.

But what inspired me the most about Jane was her commitment to exclusive breastfeeding. When she gave birth to her second son, Jadon, she realized that giving him the full benefits of breastfeeding is one of the best gifts she could give to her newborn. “I regret not being able to exclusively breastfed Dylan. After I joined a breastfeeding support group on Facebook, the Breastfeeding Pinays, I learned more about breastfeeding. They taught me a lot and gave me plenty of advice. So with Jadon, I made a commitment to never give him formula milk,” Jane said proudly. She knew that she did the right thing because she could see how happy, healthy, and smart Jadon has grown.

Jane said that one of her favorite bonding moments with the boys is watching Hi-5. “It’s very educational and their music and dance are so much fun!” she said. She also loves to play cars with them, wrestle and tickle them. Knowing the importance of engaging in physical activities and having social exposure, Jane and her husband, Shaun, enrolled their sons in Gymboree's Art Class and Play&Learn program. “Kids nowadays are so techie. They need more time to play and be physically active,” Jane observed.

Jane is a picture of a happy mother. The challenges that she had gone through did not hamper her positivity and beautiful spirit. Instead, they polished her emotionally and made her stronger, more confident, and more beautiful. She may not be the same bubbly “kikay” diva of our group anymore but she continues to inspire me nonetheless.

20 Tips for Moms Who Want to Give their Kids a Happy Childhood

I came across this great and very helpful article from Lifehack.Org. I'm sharing it for all the mommies out there who want to give their children a happy childhood the easy way. Enjoy!

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20 Parenting Hacks That Will Make Your Life Much Easier | BY LORNA BALFOUR

As a parent you want to give your children a fantastic childhood, one they look back on as an adult with fond memories. The role of parent is an important role, but exhausting, and sometimes you are juggling six things at once. Any help is appreciated, right? Here are 20 practical tips and hints on how to make parenting a little bit easier for you, and, at the same time, more fun for your children.

1. If you have more than one child, use the dot method to identify their clothing.

Source: www.buzzfeed.com

Such a simple idea, but so useful if you have a whole tribe of children to look after. So, mark two dots for the second child in your family, three dots for the third child, and so on. This tip alone should save you lots of time when sorting out the laundry.

2. An inflatable pool makes a great playpen for babies.

Source: www.buzzfeed.com

Instead of forking out a fortune for a playpen your baby will only play in for a few months, why not use the family’s inflatable pool instead?

3. A cheap shower caddy makes a great place to store food in the car.

Source: www.buzzfeed.com

We all know how much of a mess children can make without even realizing it, so try using a shower caddy to keep all their food and drinks in. This will save a lot of time having to hoover and clean your car.

 

4. This cute baby mop suit lets your child crawl and help out around the house at the same time.

Source: www.viralnova.com

This baby mop suit is so cute and makes sense when you think how much time your baby spends crawling about the floor. It saves you time having to clean the floor, and you want your floor to be very clean when your baby is at the crawling stage.

5. Scare away big, bad monsters with this “secret formula.”

Source: www.viralnova.com

Add monster stickers to a bottle and fill with water to create a “monster spray.” When your little one gets scared in the night you can get rid of the monsters with this spray. Genius idea!

6. Use a sturdy, cardboard box to make a slide on the stairs.

Source: www.viralnova.com

Wow, this is a fun idea, and so simple. This idea will keep your children entertained while you can get on with other work or simply have some time off.

7. Teach your children how to dress modestly.

Source: www.viralnova.com

This is hilarious and gets your children thinking about how appropriate their clothing is. This should save you lots of energy and time in the long term, especially when they reach teenage years.

8. Get a baby stroller/scooter to make walks through the park a little more fun.

Source: www.viralnova.com

Getting a baby stroller/scooter is a fun way to exercise at the same time as looking after your little one. This saves time having to go to the gym, and it is quicker getting from A to B.
 

9. Give them temporary tattoos in case they get lost during an outing.

Source: www.distractify.com

All children get lost at some point in their childhood and it can be scary. You can create your own temporary tattoos which advertise your telephone number, ensuring you can reclaim your children.

10. Create a kid-sized hammock with some fabric and a table.

Source: www.distractify.com

Your children will love creating their very own hammock with some fabric and a table. This should keep your children amused for some time.
 

11. A cut pool noodle will prevent little fingers from getting slammed in doors.

Source: www.distractify.com

You can buy a pool noodle on the internet and cut a wedge into it so that you can insert it into your door frame. This saves your children getting their fingers caught in the door
 

12. Old lotion bottles can be used as faucet extenders until they aren’t so little anymore.

Source: www.distractify.com

Turning old lotion bottles into faucet extenders is a great idea as they can wash their hands on their own, which promotes their independence. It also frees up your time to get other tasks done.

13. Use a laundry basket to keep bath toys from floating away.

Source: www.distractify.com

Using a laundry basket to stop your child’s toys floating away is a good idea as it ensures your child can properly play with his toys. It also reduces the risk of the child having to reach too far for a toy and falling over into the water.

14. Use glue and glitter to make “Tooth Fairy Money.”

Source: www.distractify.com

This fun idea is simple, and will be a big hit with your children.

15. Use sprinkles to make boring foods turn into tasty ones.

Source: www.emlii.com

One way to get your children to eat their broccoli and other healthy food is to smother them in sprinkles.

16. Use this reusable babysitter info sheet to make things easier for you and your babysitter.

Source: www.emlii.com

Having a reusable babysitter info sheet is a fantastic idea, as it sets out all the information your babysitter needs and it saves you having to recreate the sheet each time, which seems a bit pointless.

 

17. Put your kids to work by turning chores into a fun game.

Source: www.emlii.com

Get your children excited about household chores by turning them into a fun game. This gives them a sense of contributing to the family and becoming more responsible. You can create any game you think of. My parents had us in fancy dress with bin bags to collect rubbish from the house. It was such fun to see if you could collect the most rubbish, and the winner got a prize.

18. Keep your kids organized with this simple idea.

Source: www.emlii.com

It can be hard to keep track of what your children are up to, especially when you have several in different activities. It makes good sense to have flipchart for each of them so you can post reminders and keep abreast of what is going on.

 

19. Make a kid-friendly bracelet with your phone number on it.

Source: www.mashable.com

Another way to advertise your telephone number is to add it to a bracelet. You can involve your children in the making of the bracelet, which they will find so much fun!

20. Pool noodles are great for protection.

Source: www.mashable.com

Pool noodles are great for protecting your equipment from little children, helping prevent injuries.



To view the original article, follow this link:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/finally-20-parenting-hacks-that-will-make-your-life-much-easier.html

Ime Oranga: a talented scrapbook artist, an inspiring mom

I used to say to my son, “Anak, please don’t grow up so fast.” I want to keep hugging him as tight as I want, to keep showering him with little kisses, to keep tickling him until he rolls down on the bed laughing. I want to keep hearing his “Mom, you know what?” and relishing on every little happy things that he does. He’s turning eight in a few weeks and our friends and relatives keep teasing me because it won’t be long until my baby becomes an independent youngster with his own circle of friends, probably a girlfriend, doing what most teenagers do. And it scares me. Because deep inside, I want to keep holding on to the happy moments that we have now.

Scrapbooking is one way of preserving those precious memories. It allows you to use different materials to amplify the emotions and highlight the story behind a photo and freeze them beautifully. Some designs are so meticulously done that you could feel the warmth and love that the creator wants to impart to anyone who views them.



[Photo Courtesy of Ime Oranga (C)]

One of these magically gifted scrapbook experts is Ime Oranga. I came across her page on Facebook last year and I have since followed her. Ime creates beautiful and inspiring designs that anyone would love to look at twenty, even fifty years from now and still be able to feel the story behind them.

I consider her a very inspiring person, not only because of her creative talents, but also because she is also a businesswoman and a teacher on top of being a devoted wife and mother to two beautiful children.  I feel honored and happy when she allowed me to have a glimpse at her life as a scrapbooking mom.

[Photo Courtesy of Pretty Paper Studio: http://prettypaperstudiouae.com/gallery/dt-ime-oranga/]

Ime started scrapbooking when her son was born ten years ago. “What I like most about being a mom is having the chance to see everything new through my children’s eyes. This is what got me started with scrapbooking. I wanted to document and preserve all the memories that comes with it,” Ime shared. When asked about the inspiration behind her designs, she said, “My kids are my happiness and my inspiration. Being a mom is not an easy ride but it’s all worth it.”

Ime’s scrapbooking style is shabby chic and very mixed media. “I enjoy the process of creating and mixing products from different collections and experimenting on different kinds of media to create beautiful projects,” Ime shared.

[Photo Courtesy of Pretty Paper Studio: http://prettypaperstudiouae.com/gallery/dt-ime-oranga/]

Ime Oranga is currently a member of a design team of an online shop based in UAE, Pretty Paper Studio. She also holds workshops at Lasting Impression and Gourdo’s, both in Manila. In fact, she has an upcoming scrapbooking class in Gourdo’s on November 15, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gourdo’s, The Fort. If you’re interested to learn how to do scrapbooking, you can check out the poster below or visit Ime’s Facebook Page.

Kitchen Smart Ideas by Kusina Sarangani

As the reigning queen of the kitchen, mommies are expected to know even the littlest thing about food preparation, cooking, and serving. Of course, we know that that's an impossible task. But let's admit it; sometimes, we do like to look like we know everything there needs to know. So, to help us lessen the gap between the ideal and the current reality, here are a few kitchen smart ideas from Kusina Sarangani.