Tag Archives: homemade

Tree with homemade fingerpaint

Posted on September 18, 2014 | 2 comments

Today’s post is so colorful and fun, not just because of the art project, this time Nady is sharing it with his friend Fouad!

Two days ago Nady came from the nursery with a painting made of dots. I knew then they are exploring circles and dots. As i mentioned once, my son is my inspiration for the activities, so lets paint a tree practicing dots!

To prepare this easy recipe you need:

1 cup flour
1 tbsp salt
2 1/2 cup water
food coloring

Mix water and salt in a pot. Set the heat on medium, slowly add the flour and mix with a whisk to not get lumps. Once it starts thickening, put down the heat and keep stirring until you get the right consistency, custard like.

Leave it to cool, then divide it in containers as many colors you want to have. Add your colors and mix well. And here is your homemade fingerpaint!

With a brown paper i made the cut out of the trunk shape to set the starting point.

Nady, already familiar with this type of painting couldn’t wait to start, Fouad (should mention he is 7 months younger) was exploring this messy art for the first time, but all what mommy needed to do is dump those tiny fingers in the paint and let the fun begin!

There are plenty of activities you can do to encourage creative play at your home. Painting is so tempting, one of the creative plays that offers many skills to learn especially when freedom is left to explore.

Children love being creative if they are given the chance, such activities develop a love for the creative process, enlarge their brain and set them up as creative thinkers in all walks of life.

Don’t hesitate to do such messy activities at home, children love the paint! Try not to stress about the mess and let them enjoy being creative. Of course shouldn’t be a war zone as well, set the rules and boundaries and let them enjoy! Homemade recipes are always the safest and easiest to be cleaned with less risk of stains.

The physical, emotional and social benefits and skills gained from such activities are worth the mess!

Painting develop fine motor skills in early age which in turn helps them to be writing ready as they are near school age.

Even at young age, creative activities help to develop maths skills such as geometry (size and shape).

Look at the art pieces we got at the end:

This is the chef d’oeuvre of Fouad, he didn’t just use his hands but his feet as well! i loved how he was exploring the paint!

And this is the chef d’oeuvre of Nady, we framed it and add it to his wall of art!

Aren’t they beautiful?

We spent a really fun creative afternoon! A refaire sans dire!

2 Comments

Posted in DIY, way to play

Tagged blog, colorful, creative, DIY, fingerpaint, friends, fun motor skills, homemade, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, tree

5 minutes homemade pesto

Posted on July 6, 2014 | Leave a comment

One day I will have my own small garden where i will grow basil (and other vegetables of course) to prepare this flavorful pesto!

I grew up in a family who loves the nature! My dad used to grow flowers and vegetables (tomatoes, parsley, mint, cucumbers…. ) for us they are both beautiful, like all lebanese families who has a small garden beside the house. Trust me a salad from your garden tastes different! even, It smells like your home country…

A homemade pesto, to use as a great addition to pasta, salads, sandwiches, or as a tasty dip or spread!

You will need:

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup toasted pine seeds
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

In the food processor add basil, garlic and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped. Then add lemon juice and olive oil. Once fully combined mix in the parmesan cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

This simple basic pesto is so easy to make and incredibly delicious. It takes less than 5 minutes and you can spread it on almost everything!

How to store this homemade pesto? After filling a jar to almost the very top, drizzle a little olive oil over the top and seal closed. This can keep for a few weeks in the fridge if you continue to cover the top with olive to keep the herbs fresh.

add the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped. – See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpuf

To a food processor, add the basil, garlic, and pine nuts. Pulse several times until coarsely chopped.
With the processor running, pour in the lemon juice and slowly add the olive oil.
Once fully combined (but still with some texture), scrape all of the pesto into a separate bowl.
Mix in the parmesan cheese, and season to taste with salt & pepper.

– See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpuf

2 cups fresh basil leaves (or two huge handfuls) 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup parmesan cheese juice from half a lemon salt & pepper – See more at: http://www.servingseconds.com/2013/06/homemade-pesto.html#sthash.ALGMcs2V.dpufY

homemade fresh pink grapefruit popsicles – popsicoholic part 4

Posted on May 22, 2014 | 3 comments

Popsicoholic part 4: pink grapefruit popsicles

Knowing that a lot of you are waiting for today’s recipe, i promise you it’s worth waiting for!

This is beyond expectations, you can’t beat this tangy grapefruit popsicle! Am sure it will be love at first bite.

You need:

1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 tsp grapefruit zest
2 cups freshly squeezed grapefruit
2 tbsp lemon

Bring to boil sugar, water and zest, stirring until sugar dissolves. Set aside to cool.

Stir in grapefruit and lemon juice. The mixture will taste slightly sweeter in liquid form than it does when frozen.

Pour in molds the strained juice and freeze for an overnight. it should make 6 popsicles, again depending on your mold size. To remove the popsicles from the molds, run under warm water until they are easily released.

You can add booze if you’re not planning to offer to your children. Vodka goes perfect with it! Citrus and vodka pair well together. The sweet, sour and bitter taste are together wondrously balanced!

Be different and offer to your guests a super easy to do dessert and enjoy your summer with these treats tasting like the most unbelievably delicious boozy popsicles.

Recipe says you can freeze up to one week, but who does? Am sure this will be gone in seconds! My husband had a challenge to finish it all before the next day. He said it’s his favorite so far 🙂

3 Comments

Posted in dessert, DIY

Tagged blog, boozy popsicles, DIY, grapefruit, homemade, homemade popsicles, jaymmy, marmite et ponpon, popsicles, recipe

homemade mango lassi popsicles – popsicoholic part 2

Posted on May 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Popsicoholic part 2: mango lassi popsicles, for mango lovers.

Mango lassi is an indian drink like a milkshake, a blend of mango pulp, yogurt and sugar. It’s very delicious and refreshing. Usually served chilled on hot days, the perfect scenario to turn out this succulent drink into popsicles!

In a food processor, puree 1 1/2 cup mango with 2 tbsp yogurt and 1 tsp sugar.

In a seperate bowl whisk 1/2 cup of low fat yogurt with 1 tsp sugar.

Pour them in molds, alternating between the two mix. Let the mango puree layer thicker than yogurt. Make 3 to 4 layers. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, swirl mixtures together in an up-and-down motion.

Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid. Preferably overnight. To remove the popsicles from the molds, run under warm water until they are easily released. This quantity makes 5-6 popsicles depending on your mold size.

Nothing can beat the heat like a fresh fruit popsicle. So try making these, they are worth it! My son loves them! yes they are suitable for kids and nutritious too.

One cup of mangoes (225 g) contains the following:

105 calories
76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)
25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)
11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart desease prevention)
9 percent healthy probiotic fiber
9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)
7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)
4 percent magnesium

(Percentages apply to daily value)

Enjoy!

homemade fresh strawberry popsicles – popsicoholic part 1

Posted on May 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

Cool off doha heat! A healthy refreshing homemade dessert! Suitable for kids! 100% natural! Low in calories!…. and i can keep listing many other reasons… Just to say there’s always an excuse to have a popsicle in my mind, am a big fan of popsicles!

Doha summer is already here and the temperature is getting higher and higher to the 40°C and above. Nothing will refresh you like a fruity popsicle.

I would like to share with you my recipes for fresh fruits popsicles and give a piece of my happiness to popsicoholic people like me 🙂

Popsicoholic part1: strawberry flavor

For these delicious popsicles you need to:

In a food processor puree one cup of fresh strawberries with 1 tbsp of sugar.
whisk 1 cup of yogurt and 2 tbsp of sugar

Pour in a mold, alternating between the strawberry puree and the yogurt, make about 3-4 layers. With a skewer or thin-bladed knife, swirl mixtures together in an up-and-down motion. Insert ice-pop sticks and freeze until solid.

You should get 5 to 6 popsicles depending on your mold size. You can freeze up to one week, (but i doubt if they will last more than couple of hours).

To remove the popsicles from the molds, run under warm water until they are easily released. Enjoy!