Try a free Mom & Daughter Zumba class on Wednesday, 11 Dec at 5pm at World Fit Club in Jabriya. Telephone 9607-7009 for more info.
With the onset of the cold weather, I wanted something healthy and hearty for dinner. This is my own recipe for eggplant and white bean stew. I add chilies but you can leave them out if you like. I also let my girls help dice the tomatoes and cube the eggplant. They also strip the coriander off its stems. Ingredients 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 5 green chilies, chopped 1 medium eggplant, half peeled and cubed 1 can Lima or large white beans 3 tomatoes, chopped 1 packet tomato paste Fresh coriander, chopped Dash of oregano, basil, black pepper and turmeric powder. Fry the onions, garlic and chili in the olive oil until translucent. Add in the eggplant, tomatoes, dried herbs and spices and bring to a boil. Stir in tomato paste and Lima beans and cook on low heat an hour or until eggplant and tomatoes are completely cooked and tender. Serve with brown rice or a green salad. (We do not use salt for cooking but you may choose to add for taste.) "Sour cream and cottage cheese have a short shelf life, usually 7-10 days after being opened. But if you want to store one of them for longer, then all you need to do is invert the container and keep it in the fridge, says the One Pot Chef. When you flip the container upside down, you create a vacuum at the top of the container that helps reduce the bacterial growth so it doesn't go off as quickly. Just make sure you have a tight-fitting lid or you could end up with a bit of a mess. - Found on Lifehacker. Check it out for other great life tips. I love to do small learning projects with the girls on Friday mornings when we stay in. Sometimes we cook or paint or plant seeds. This past weekend we tried our hand at origami. I've only done it once before so needless to say I'm far from expert. But the girls loved the idea and the finished projects - though they turned out a bit wonky. Origami is fun and it also challenges children to improve their fine motor skills, concentration and ability to follow instructions. Some basic tips: 1. The first crease is the most important. Take your time to get it straight and even. 2. Origami is a step by step art so show the kids how to do step one and let them get comfortable with it before you move on. 3. Let them feel free to make mistakes. Give them more than one piece of paper so that they feel confident even if they get the first one wrong. 4. I have the girls make different objects so that they don't compare - my five year's house may look perfect but it won't be compared with my two year old's slightly wonky boat. 5. Use a flat, clean surface and clean dry hands when folding. 6. Have colored markers or pens ready to draw on the folded objects once done to add personality. I also let the girls write their names on the back. 7. Keep the origami projects on a shelf and add to them over time so that eventually you will have a whole origami menagerie. You can also glue them into a shoebox for an origami diorama or punch holes and make origami holiday decorations. You can find origami paper at Daiso in City Center and some of the stationary shops in Kuwait City. I've not seen it anywhere else but if other moms know where to find origami paper, pls comment below. There are heaps of online resources with ideas for origami creations. Here are a few of my favorites: Origami Instructions for Kids Origami Paper Boat Video Origami Lily Let's Make Origami Holiday Origami Ornaments I found this adorable recipe online at Super Glue Mom and just couldn't resist. Gluten free, fresh fruit and perfect for the holidays! We haven't made it yet - this is our next weekend project - but I will take pics once we do. I always let my kids help me in the kitchen, I think its important to teach them to cook from an early age and to feel confident in the kitchen. So I let them take the lead in following recipes and making decisions on how to achieve the desired end results. My plan: I will show my five year old this video on how to make the Santas. [Note: Video recipe is different from the one below, choose whichever works for you]. Then I will let her take charge of all the mixing, piping and decorating. If anyone has made this before or has any suggestions for making this recipe more healthy or kid friendly, please comment below. Author: Laura Fuentes – SuperGlueMom Recipe type: Treat Serves: 6-8 Ingredients · 16 ounce package fresh California strawberries, washed · 8 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature · 4 tablespoons honey, or · 4 tablespoons powdered sugar · 1 teaspoon vanilla extract · mini chocolate chips, to decorate Instructions 1. On a cutting board, slice the stem off the strawberry (try to cut it as “flat” as possible since the Santa-berries will use that as a base). 2. Cut the top third of the strawberry, this will be used as the “hat”. 3. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, honey or powdered sugar, and vanilla. Mixture will be thick so it’s best that the cream cheese really is at room temperature. 4. Place creamed mixture inside a zip bag (or a piping bag) and snip one corner off. Make this first cut a bit larger since you are filling the “faces” first. 5. Top strawberry base with cream mixture, top with the strawberry hats, and squeeze additional mixture on top of the hat. 6. Next, snip the opposite corner or the bag (or change your piping tip) and make a smaller opening. Use this end to decorate “Santa’s” jacket buttons. 7. Use mini chocolate chips or chocolate sprinkles to decorate Santa’s eyes. Serve immediately or store in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Notes Once you create the Strawberry Santas, they can’t be frozen. When frozen strawberries thaw, their texture change. Can you use whipped cream? Yes, but make sure a) it’s very cold when you pipe it onto the strawberry, and b) you make small “hats” otherwise they will sink inside the whipped cream. We went this morning for the Holiday Bazaar at Salwa al Sabah Hall in Salmiya (next to Marina Crescent). Lots of great vendors and stuff for the holidays. Found our favorite Original Basket Boutique and Images Salon and Spa as well as cool games, toys, jewelry and lots of decorations for the Christmas tree. The bazaar runs from 10:30am to 8pm and entrance is KD 1. Santa will be there from 3:30-5pm for photos with the kids.
If you've ever wanted to learn to crochet, now is your chance. Khayt Group will hold a three week workshop teaching crochet for beginners this month. The workshop will run from December 8 to 24 and be held on Sundays and Tuesdays from 5-7pm. Attendees will learn basic crochet stitches and also work on small projects like granny squares and hats. The cost is KD 45 and hooks and yarn will be provided. Instruction will also be in Arabic and English. The classes will work in small groups, with no more than 10 persons per class and they will also accept children starting from 5-6 years old. Classes will be held at Sadu House (next to the Kuwait National Museum on the Gulf Road in Kuwait City near the parliament) Call to register 9996-0005. And don't forget to sign up for the Kuwait Moms Guide Newsletter. The December 1 issue includes a great article on crochet resources in Kuwait. "Having a baby is like falling in love again, both with your husband and your child." -- Tina Brown
Today Kuwait Moms Guide celebrates all babies everywhere to remind ourselves why we became mommies in the first place. Photo credits: Flickr / Creative Commons, SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Lisa Rosario, Chiceaux Lynch, Love_K and Maclane Allen. |
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