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Achtalyeh – cream pudding


achtalyeh -cream pudding|marmite et ponpon

Achtalyeh, Lebanese cream pudding, is one of the most famous homemade dessert. Achta (arabic word) means cream, though its recipe doesn’t call for cream but i assure you it’s so creamy as in texture.

It might look a very simple dessert with ordinary ingredients, but when adding orange blossom water and mastic, the whole thing is taken to another level.

achtalyeh - cream pudding| marmite et ponpon

achtalyeh - cream pudding |marmite et ponpon

Heavenly texture, flavors and aromas in less than 10 minutes and with only 5 ingredients:

  • 1 L milk
  • 5 tbsp cornflour
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • mastic, 3 pebbles grounded
  • 2 tbsp orange blossom water

Mix the milk, corn flour and sugar together and place over medium heat and keep stirring until the mixture becomes viscous then add the orange blossom and mastic. Whisk for a minute and take off the heat.

Pour in cups and let it cool to room temperature before putting in the fridge for at least 5 hours, or better for overnight.

achtalyeh - cream pudding|marmite et ponponachtalyeh -cream pudding | marmite et ponpon

Usually it’s served with sugar syrup if you fancy a really sweet dessert. To prepare this syrup you need:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom

Combine water, sugar and lemon juice. Place over medium heat to allow the sugar to melt, keep stirring until it starts to thicken. Add the orange blossom and remove from heat.

achtalyeh - cream pudding | marmite et ponpon

Sprinkle with crushed pistachio or almond and serve. Usually i prepare this dessert (without syrup) for my kids, they love it! You can skip adding mastic if you’re preparing it for your baby, it will still be so tasty. My 10 months old boy loves it, it’s a wholesome dessert for kids and also can replace the breakfast.

achtalyeh - lebanese cream pudding | marmite et ponpon

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Plastic bottle candle holder – recycling crafts


plastic bottle candle holder recycling craft| marmite et ponpon

Sometimes these fun recycling projects are so interesting for adults as much as for kids. For instance, these flower candle holders made from empty plastic bottles were fun to make for both of me and nady. They made a beautiful decoration element in the house.

plastic bottle candle holder recycling craft |marmite et ponpon

All you need are:

  • empty plastic bottles
  • scissors
  • lighter
  • acrylic paints
  • candles

plastic bottle candle holder recycling crafts | marmite et ponpon

How to do?!

Start by cutting the top part of the bottle with a scissor. Cut five to six parts (making the petals) than trim each part to look like a flower petal. Pass the edges over a lighter flame, to burn and torn them to look like a real petal. Then give it to your kid to color it. After it’s completely dry insert a candle.

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plastic bottle candle holder recycling craft | marmite et ponpon

Nady chose blue and green colors, they turned out really amazing. i am in love with these candle holders. I am sure a lot of you wouldn’t believe it’s made from plastic bottles.

plastic bottle candle holder recycling crafts |marmite et ponpon

plastic bottle candle holder recycling crafts|marmite et ponpon

If you like this post give it many likes and shares to spread the joy. Don’t forget to like marmite et ponpon facebook page and follow on twitter. More interesting posts are yet to come.

 

Magazine flowers & food jar vase – recycling craft


Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft|marmite et ponpon

Like i said before, the earlier you teach good habits to your children, the easier they are incorporated into daily life and routine. Recycling crafts became our routine, Nady is getting more and more aware about waste and more than that he is concerned about preserving natural resources.

For instance, he turns off the water while brushing his teeth because this is a waste for water “c’est du gaspillage maman!”(gaspillage=waste). I can’t but be proud of you Nady ❤

Today we are recycling food jars into a vase and magazine papers into flowers.

Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft| marmite et ponpon

First start by peeling off the packaging paper, spray it with white so your little ones can paint later with acrylic colors after completely dry. Better leave it for overnight.

After the paint is dry, attach the jars together (using the wax gun) to make one center piece vase.

Now it’s the turn of magazine paper flowers. Follow the scheme for the easy tutorial.

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And here is the beautiful flower vase, that can make an awesome gift for a special person or simply decorate your house with it.

Magazine flowers & food jar vase - recycling craft |marmite et ponpon

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Finger paint – fun sensory experience


finger paint |marmite et ponpon

This interactive finger paint activity will teach your baby about his senses. The more he explores, the faster his cognitive skills will develop.

As explained before, sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your baby’s senses: touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing. When babies first interact with the world, they don’t have words to describe what they encounter, but they do absorb information through their senses, build vocabulary and understand language. It’s your turn to articulate his sensory experience by using descriptive words to explain your baby’s experience and help solidify the meanings of these words in a young child’s mind.

finger paint|marmite et ponpon

This activity is definitely meant for sensory exploration more than art. Don’t expect masterpieces from the first experience, but expect lots of fun and discoveries. Enjoy the process rather than the final product at this age. You can start this activity from age of 7 months, it’s a taste safe paint, don’t worry.

finger paint | marmite et ponpon

It’s basically 1 part flour, 1 part water and food coloring. I did 2 cups flour and two cups water to make these 7 colors, and i added 3-4 drops of vanilla extract for a nice odour to stimulate his smell. And here is my little artist, ready to go!

finger paint - sensory play|marmite et ponpon

I was handing him the colors one after the other to stretch the activity the longest possible but wasn’t expecting to stay one hour, Joud was really enjoying.

finger paint-sensory play|marmite et ponpon

He was curious touching the paint and feeling the texture but mostly pouring it. And as you noticed in the pictures he tasted it as well. We will definitely do more of this activity.

As for the cleaning, don’t worry at all, it’s the easiest part since all the mess is contained in the bathtub. I wiped it away with only water. No food coloring stains. I always recommend wilton coloring gel.

finger paint -sensory play|marmite et ponpon

finger paint- sensory play|marmite et ponpon

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How to prank a 3 years old kid for april fool


april fool |marmite et ponpon

kids love to laugh and have fun, they have an innate sense of humor and can differentiate what’s fun and what’s not. Some kids show interest for jokes telling even at early age.

Whether you are teaching your kids or encouraging their sense of humor, April fool is a good lesson to find the funny side of a dramatic situation, keeping in your mind the age of your child.

To give them an unforgettable April fool, keep it fun and add the surprise element. if they are too small (like my kid) don’t forget to treat them afterwards.

Nady is obsessed with kinder eggs surprise, he has a daily ritual, opening at least one egg to discover what’s inside. I decided to fool him with empty eggs surprise. I opened the side where there is usually the toy, took it out and glue it again. Then i joined the two parts as if they are intact.

I offered to him the pack of three. Here we go, watch these facial expressions!

nady's april fool |marmite et ponponapril fool | marmite et ponpon

nady's april fool | marmite et ponpon

nady april fool | marmite et ponpon

And this one is just priceless!!!

april fool for nady |marmite et ponpon

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