thebeTTerME: Deliciously easy dinner for weekend :)

thebeTTerME: Deliciously easy dinner for weekend :): Everyone loves weekends! Nothing can surpass the joy of re tucking in quilt after Fajr! No rushing and screams but bed, blanket and dr...

Cinnamon toast ; a deliciously simple breakfast treat both for kids and mommies :)

It's so simple and soooo delicious. It's a rare occasion when I'll go for another piece of bread while having my breakfast but it's not less than three slices when I make these crispy,buttery,sugary treats infused with wonderful cinnamon aroma. What you need is one table spoon of butter or margarine per toast, one heaped table spoon of cinnamon sugar and slices of bread. 

Cut the sides and apply butter or margarine ...mmmMmmm!

Now is the time to add cinnamon sugar :)

Now bake them till sugar melts and base of bread turns into golden crisp. It may take five minutes in an oven toaster while in regular ovens it may take a little longer. My cooking range usually takes more than ten minutes.

They are served with scrambled eggs and my kids like them that way but my sweet tooth makes me devour them just like this :) 

Multicoloured rosette cake :)

Today was the last day of school and my kids wanted me to make cakes for their favorite teachers. I thought that you may like it if I share ' how to do' a multicolred rosette cake with you. So here we go :)

Instead of making one big cake, I prefer to bake two. So here we have two moist chocolate cakes resting on cooling racks:)

I prefer to level my cakes for a better look. You can use a serrated knife for this purpose.

Here it is :)

Buttercream is better for icing the cakes. Easy to make and easy to work with. Put more than sufficient amount on one layer and spread with a spatula. Ensuring that there is enough icing between the cake and spatula when you frost your cake.

Here it is now :)

Place the second layer.

Ice the top first and then sides. Don't worry about crumbs, we'll cover them larter :) Refrigerate for fifteen minutes or till icing is no more sticky.

Now you need an icing bag, brushes, 2D tip by Wilton which is also called closed star tip and some colours.

Insert the tip inside your icing bag.

Invert the bag on your left hand. You can use a narrow glass as well to keep your hands free.

Dip the tip of brush into the colour and draw a strip starting from begining to 3/4th part of the bag.

Add three to four strips.

• Keep bag in an upright position making 90 degrees angle. With steady pressure start squeezing in an anti clockwise position. Keep piping till your entire rosette is piped.Now stop pressure and slowly pull away.

Draw five more rosettes around the first one.

Continue till entire cake top is covered.

Now is the time to cover the sides. 

So here is our multicolored rosette cake:)
Happy Decorating :)
Do share your pics when you decorate your cakes in our facebook page

Summer Camps in Riyadh :)

And once again Kingdom is getting held by  scorching Summer. Heat has taken over the entire land and extending its powers with every passing day. Days are getting dull and dreary while evenings an excuse for long talks, short walks and swimming sprees.

It’s almost mid of the May. Exams fever is fully on, opening vents for vacations and the much needed break J  

Though you may find it exaggerating but I so love vacations J To me it’s a break ,yet I need some diversions for kids too, to prevent this break from breaking me down :P

Here is a list of few camps and classes happening in Riyadh this Summer 2014. If you know about any event or summer camp to keep the kids busy, do share with us :)

•  Enjoy a summer of family fun at the AMANI Community Center!

  Timings: 9:00am - 12:30pm

Fee: 1500 SR for 1 child

1750 SR for 2 children and

2000 SR for 3 children or more (price for each month).

Register via this form:      registration form

Payments can be made via the bank, paypal or in person at the AMANI Community Center.

An open day and the last day for registration will be on 29th May, 6:00pm -8:00pm

Limited spaces for 8-12yrs boys.

Email or call: ummyusuf@amanicommunity.com or 0563472990

Clicl here to contact       contact us

• Super summer fun for the little ones! Last chance to sign up ! — at Dragonfly English Kindergarten
• Me and Mama is a children playing centre which has different activity corners . For details you can check their website at    me and mama website  

           Here is their facebook page   facebook page 

• Crayons International
  Don't miss their amazing activities during this summer, from 1st -26th June 2014, Sunday to Thursday 8:30 am - 1:30 pm.                                                                      Children age : 3-12 for girls & 3-6 for Boys          Registration closes on May 27th.

• Enchanted studio provides art activities and education that develops drawing and painting skills, for both kids and adults.                                                                     For registration and more information:  0541877772-0567802775
• You can find an overview of summer activities in Riyadh beautifully done by Layla at blue abaya

Have wonderful time with your kids this Summer. Do share with us if you come to know about any other activities, classes or camps. I’ll also update  the post if I get any further information J

On board with kids :) Part two

On board with kids :)



Travelling with kids always freak us out. But a little planning physically as well as mentally can make it real FUN for all of us. Here I'll share some of my hands on knowledge which I gained over last many years after a real LOT of travelling :) 

This is second part of my blog ' On board with kids ' . You can read first part herehttp://mommyinanook.blogspot.com/2014/05/on-board-with-kids.html

TRAVELLER MOM'S 101

·                     What a relief it is to reach hotel even if its a two hours flight! The whole lot of work which you've been doing over last so many days is about to be rewarded! But a little bit of work on the very day or night your reach your destination will turn your days into no messing no fussing time. Yes, you're right, I'm about to suggest lets unpack! Though its a tiring step to take on very first day but nothing can surpass its effectiveness. The energy and time you'll spend now for maximum an hour will earn you coming days full of relaxation and leisure.

·                     All the hotel rooms have closets and chest of drawers. Allocate one drawer to one child. Put their stuff inside and make them in charge of it. Once their clothes ( denims, shirts, undies, socks) will be arranged, it will be easy for them to pick and wear whatever they like. Particularly when everything inside is their favourite :) Read part 1 :)

·                     Once bags are empty and everything at its place, stack them on the holder or place them in a corner.

·                     Turn the vacant part of your room closet into a laundry hamper. Fold and dump all your soiled and dirty clothes there. It will end the hassle of opening and closing bags again and again. Even kids can easily manage to do this. And in the end all you are required to do is to pick up all the clothes and dump them in your suitcases.

·                     Specify a place for shoes :D     You may dislike the idea but it really freaks me out to see shoes everywhere so on the very first day I specify a corner for shoes and try that kids drop their shoes in that corner.Though mostly its me who is doing it because either my kids are tired or not in a mood or in a bad mood or will definitely do it later :P

·                     Spot the nearest shop or superstore and get a good lot of milk packs,water,cereal bars, kids' favourite spread ,bread,some fruits and a pack of zip lock bags to keep sandwiches. Each morning, before leaving hotel put required number of bars, milks packs, sandwiches and water bottles in your backpack to avoid sudden hunger pangs which soon turns into tantrums. I prefer to take cereal bars as they are more convenient and my kids love them. Bread and spread are better to curb in room cravings.

·                     Don't bring any junk food to your room!

·                     Don't try to stuff kids with food against their will. Its not a good idea to turn vacations into food wars with kids. I know for us moms its mission impossible to hold ourselves back from fussing over unfinished meals but believe me that you will get better results if you ignore it, only for vacations. They will not starve themselves, they will come to you asking for milk or fruit or cereal the moment they will feel hungry. And please no reprimanding when they come to you like....' I knew that,you always do this...when I was begging you to eat you were running away and now you want to stuff your stomach with these bars....remember, they are for emergency not for your untimelycravings..............you love to trouble me............................!!!   

·                     ' Happy Mom Happy Family ' whenever I've tried this its effecectiveness was beyond words so try to be in good spirits all the time and everyone around you will rock :)

·                     Its not an old story but a short tale from our last trip abroad. We were in Malaysia and got late in the morning. We quickly dressed up and left hotel in an excitement as we were going to the bird park. Kids were really excited. As it was almost around twelve and everyone was hungry so we decided to have lunch first. My hubby suggested to go to McDonald which was very close to hotel  and kids agreed but I simply refused on the grounds that we should try something new and local. Well, there was an argument between me and my daughter who so wanted to eat McDonald. However with the support of hubby I won the contest and we headed towards the nearest mall. Food was really sumptuous but lunch was a disaster. Both the kids simply refused to eat as they didn't like the taste and grumbled that food is spicy, little one refused to sit in high chair and kept on running, me and hubby kept on bribing .... you're so good mashAllah please eat and then we'll get some ice cream, threatening ...... we'll not take you to any other trip if you cannot eat local food :O   and eventually scolding ........ look all this food is getting wasted :-/         Unfortunately by the time lunch was finished, all of us were in low spirits and bad moods. Lesson learnt was that there is no harm to try new cuisine but not at a time when;

you have to reach somewhere

you are running short of time and your mental muscles are already strained

its a new place and you're not sure of taste of food they provide ( my kids were right, food was way spicy than they are used to eat !)

kids are not interested

Following evening we tried a nice Malaysian restaurant and it was a great hit because

We had plenty of time and were not in a rush

It was a mutual decision and kids were prepared to try something new

We read and reread and reread menu and wisely chose our dishes

·                     Vacations are incomplete without photos. But sometimes we spend most f our time in calling and collecting family members for perfect family pic. Everyone wants to have beautiful recollections to enjoy in future.But in this past and future duel we neglect our present. So be there! Capture memories but without a big fuss. Let your kids walk,talk,run,play and laugh and keep on clicking as much as you want without bothering about proper poses. However one family photo per place is a must to have :D

·                     Its almost impossible to visit all the places of any resort so don't rush from one place to another. Plan according to your family preferences and enjoy !!!

·                     In childhood nothing can surpass the Joy of licking an ice cream cone,munching pop corns and gobbling candy floss while you are on vacations. So let your kids have some junk and memories to cherish!

 Vacations are the best time to bond and connect! And being 'mom' you are the centre of gravity! With little effort and hard work, some planning and preparation, lots of hugs and too much of kisses you can turn your vacations into ever lasting memories for your kids :)





On board with kids :)

This is so true, with all the mess, fuss and yelling, every day seems like 'a long day's journey into night' but time flies by and we realize it when our tiny tots take the route of pre teens. All time cuddles and snuggles turn into at times hugs! So don't miss these chances of making memories!

Travelling with kids always freak us out. But a little planning physically as well as mentally can make it real FUN for all of us. Here I'll share some of my hands on knowledge which I gained over last many years after a real LOT of travelling :)

  I wish you a happy reading and do share your own tips and tactics as well :)

TRAVELLER MOM'S 101

·          Once you have finalized the place and time for vacations start making a 'to do list’, stick it on your most accessible place and keep adding on chores whenever and whatever comes to your mind. I personally love sticky notes which I keep in my every room along with a pen. So if I'm working and anything comes to my mind I note it down and stick it on mirror.

·         All the dresses, tee shirts, denims, pajamas, anything which you want to take along, pick them up from kid’s drawers and closets and place them in the bag. If you don't want to start baggage burden a week in advance then simply start putting them away in a corner or dresser or any vacant place. Don't allow kids to wear them. It will be a pleasant job to put all these washed and ironed stuff in the bags. There will not be any surprises:   ’Oh that dress is still in laundry.'  ,  ' Where is my favorite denim.'  , 'I don't like this pajamas, I only want my favorite ones'      'Oh, there is a hole in this pocket!'       ‘My princess shirt is missing.'       'My jacket is stinking and now we don't have time to send it for dry cleaning'  etc.etc.

·         Always take your kids favorite clothes along while travelling to avoid any argument, 'You know I hate this shirt.' 'I will not wear this skirt at any cost' etc.etc.

·         If you have a really picky and choosy kid, the best thing is to let him or her choose what to wear during vacations. Vacations are time to relax and reconnect not to argue and yell. So nip any such incentive which may cause later arguments and power struggles, at very bud. 

·         Either it’s a kid or grown up, there's nothing like denim. Stain resistant, stylish and can easily go with any type and color of shirts.

·         A big no to cotton trousers. Whatever you do they cannot last more than a day. And if a toddler is wearing them then don't forget to carry an extra pair of pants along. It’s must they'll get soiled.

·         A big no to laces when packing kids shoes. Joggers without laces are the best. Kids can easily put them on and there are no more cries after each half an hour,'Mommmm, laces!!!'

·         A very big 'no' to all those cutie buyer's bargains which all of us collect over the time and assume travelling is the best time to try them on. That cute little wrist band or this pretty straw hat with fancy trimmings which makes your little plum looks  divine are a big NO if she keeps on throwing them. You don't need to spend half of your time in picking it up and putting it back on her head. There is no need to carry those stylish shades and pretty caps you once bought for your kids and now it’s a power struggle to make them wear it. Throw any such item back in the closet which makes your child to throw a tantrum. Your little jewels will look super cute with their sparkling eyes and smiling faces when you will start the day with compassion.

·         Be practical and pack wisely! Any unnecessary item will be an extra burden and any unwanted thing will lead to nagging!

·          However any favorite bunny, dolly, hat or hankie is must to be on board with you if it can keep your bundle of joy happy :)

·         For girls' hairdo pink and white are the colors which may easily go with any girl's outfit. I still remember how I used to carry a big bag of ponies, clips, bracelets with me. But now I put two nice bands and four cute pins in pinks and whites.

·         Remember 'less is more’! We moms so want our little pumpkins to look super cute that we burden ourselves with unnecessary clutter. It’s really good to be a 'minimalist' at times :)

·         Don't let number of clothes exceed number of days. I personally keep room for one tee shirt per child to get as a souvenir from the place we are visiting. However if shopping is not in the agenda then an extra t-shirt should be there. This doesn't apply to toddlers and babies. Moms are supposed to pack according to their individual needs.

·         Never compromise on the number of socks and undoes. You will need a pair per day. I still remember our last trip when we were in Singapore and we were short of socks and undies. So I washed them and hung inside the washroom. It took them long time to get dry and they carried an unpleasant smell of dampness, even though I've ironed them.

·         Pair tee shirts with trousers or skirts and tights while packing.

·         Put undies and socks in separate clear plastic bags.

·         A backpack is must to have. While exploring your holiday resort you can conveniently put all the required things in it. Whether it’s your baby's extra clothes, wipes and diapers or your camera and other eatables. However if it’s a family reunion then instead of back packs, small trolley bags are preferable.

• · Medicines!

·         Kids love to carry back packs. It’s a convenient and cute way to carry along kids required goods while on the go! And here are some dos and don'ts :

- A big NO to junk food

- YES to cereal bars, mini pack of flavored or plain milk and water

- Some crayons and a notebook or

- Your child's favorite toy

·         But a big NO to backpacks if your kids eventually refuse to carry them and in the end its you who has to carry their back packs in addition of your own. It’s much better to prepare small goody bags and put them inside your own back pack.

·         Moms' bags are like a treasury to kids which always carry something to soothe an agitated child whether he is a tot or a teen. Here is a list of my must haves:

- Sanitizer

- wipes

- Moisturizer

- Pen (for you) pencil (for kids)

- Mini notebook

- Mini packs of munchies

- Mini pack of napkins

- Some band aids

- panadol

Above are the things which you should carry besides your regular stuff, lots of patience and loads of

 Love!

Turn planning, preparing and packing into fun!

Be excited and thrill up your family! 

Take travelling as a golden way to create memories!

On board with kids Part One