East is Easy Vietnamese Inspired Savoury and Sweet

I enjoy making a variety of dishes from around the world to keep our meals fun and interesting. I find it is always fun for my family and I, to travel to different parts of the world with different cuisines and explore food from the comfort of our home. This weekend I decided to make rice paper rolls, which I haven't made for a long time. These filling rolls can be served as a snack or a meal. Along with these Vietnamese Spring Roll Wrappers, I served a delicious cassava cake. 

Cassava Cake

We enjoyed this flavourful, textured cassava cake that is sticky and slightly chewy. 

1 cup coconut milk (1/2 can or 200ml)

1 cup condensed milk to taste (1/2 can or 200ml)

1 lb package of frozen cassava 

1 egg

pinch of salt

Feel The Tropics As You Enjoy Baking and Eating This Aloha Bread

April showers are ending and May-flowers are blooming, which excites my family and I, as we have been waiting for the weather to get warmer and soak up some sunshine and enjoy the warm outdoors. Many of you like us are probably waiting for the upcoming celebrations, the long weekend and the school holidays for the summer, which will be here before we know it :) Since I am missing the warmth of the sunshine with the cold rain and wind we are having these days, I decided my family and I need to taste something tropical to lift our moods up. 

Banana Walnut Muffins and Two Giveaways to Celebrate Spring

The weather is becoming warmer, and we are happy to feel and see the sunshine :) The warm temperatures make the bananas I buy ripe very fast, and I like this as I can use the ripe bananas in desserts and snacks. To celebrate the blue skies, fresh air, spring birds and blooms, I can't think of any other dessert but muffins with bananas and walnuts in it. With the long weekend coming soon, these easy to make, quick muffins would be wonderful to make a day ahead and take with us on a picnic or a road trip. These muffins taste even more special with a spread of Gay Lea Spreadables. 

Dessert Bars Using Ghirardelli's Spring Impressions Squares

Although all we see outside is snow and feel the cold weather, my family and I are anticipating good weather and looking forward to spring. To fill our thoughts with spring, I made these fun dessert bars using Ghirardelli's Spring Impressions Squares™.

Warm French Molten Chocolate Cake With Whipped Cream

February is a month where love is celebrated, and many of us are looking for delicious recipes that we can make to impress our loved ones. I think topping our desserts, special breakfasts and beverages with whipped cream makes it extra special. My family and I enjoy whipped cream and use it a lot during the cold months over warm desserts and hot beverages like hot chocolate.

Celebrate With This Easy to Make Tiramisu

February is a month of celebration for many of us, and there are lots of things happening this month in our home from a special birthday celebration, family day and more. So, I will be making Tiramisu at least a couple of times this month because everyone in my family enjoys this easy to make dessert. We can make this alcohol free, children friendly Tiramisu ahead of time. During these cold winter months we all need a "pick me up" dessert, so here is my recipe to make Tiramisu at home.

Dishes Inspired by the Upcoming Chinese New Year

恭喜发财 (Kung Hei Fat Choy) to everyone celebrating the upcoming Chinese New Year. I find the Chinese New Year zodiac to be interesting and according to it, this year is the Year of the Horse. When I checked the zodiac, I am a rooster. I admittedly believe somethings that are said for this sign is true to me, such as being a practical thinker, observant, paying attention to detail. I did check out the birth year of my family members and found some of the personality traits to be true to them.

Indulge The Spreadables Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Butter With Us

We enjoy warm breakfast over cold ones throughout the year. The first thing we do every morning after a wash is to eat our breakfast. Compared to weekdays, I tend to be regular in making a big breakfast on weekends. We choose to make a variety of porridges, French toast, cinnamon buns, muffins just to name a few. My children sometimes help me prepare the breakfast during the weekends and holidays. 

Coconut Coated Chocolate Truffles

These delicious truffles are fun and easy to make. My children enjoyed making coconut coated chocolate truffles to give family and friends during our Eid celebration. 

To make the chocolate truffles you will need...

These Help Answer The Big Question "What to Send for School Today?"

I like packing a variety of snacks such as fruits and cut vegetables, cheese and crackers for my children to take to school and after school programs. I find it easy to make snacks like short eats, buns, muffins and scones when time permits and leave it in the fridge so my children can have healthy homemade food whenever they want. 

An Easy Meal We Made During Our Camping Trip

When we went on our camping trip we made hotdog buns and other goodies for a meal. This delicious hotdog bun was fun and easy to make. 

To make these buns you will need...

We Had A Sea Of Fun Watching A Turtle’s Tale 2 As Sammy Escapes From Paradise

We had a wonderful party to watch A Turtle’s Tale 2 – Sammy Escapes From Paradise with a few friends and family in celebration of its release on July 9th. While enjoying this funny, adventurous family entertainer I served sautéed potatoes, mini chicken pizza, fresh strawberries, popcorn, almond covered chocolates and cupcakes. 

We Made Underwater Ebelskiver to Celebrate Father's day with Disney Junior

Dads are very special :) and we are glad Disney Junior is celebrating this special person in our lives with wonderful shows and a heartwarming family movie.

Edible tea party invitation from my children using their easy-bake oven

My daughter and son like pretend playing, and occasionally invite my husband and I to their pretend tea parties since they were little. When we join them, they get very excited.

For the first time during one of their tea parties, my husband and I were treated with milk and edible cookies my children made using their easy-bake oven. We enjoyed this party very much and loved how both our children were excited to make something special for us in their own little oven.

Disney Junior celebrates Mother’s Day with special shows

Disney Junior celebrates May with new episodes of Sofia the First and the premiere of Tangled. 
We are excitedly looking forward to watch Sofia the First new episodes on Sunday May 5 and 19 at 11:30am ET.

- Sofia the First “The Princess Test” premiere on May 5th will be about Sofia finding out what being a true princess is all about when she is sidetracked on her way to an important Princess Test at her school. 

- On May 19 Sofia the First episode “Baileywick’s Day Off” is about Baileywick’s day-off being frustrated by demands from Sofia, Amber and James until the royal siblings learn about gratitude. 

Learning about gratitude is an important life skill that starts from a young age. As a parent, I think it is important for us to be role models and practice this, so it is easy to teach our children i.e to say Thank you, Please! and to appreciate one another. Gratitude should be a part of our lives and be second nature to us, so we can appreciate life and everything around us.

Win a prize pack to stay fit and healthy (value of over $100)

General Mills family is welcoming Yoplait Source Greek Yogurt, which is a thick, creamy, delicious low-calorie yogurt the whole family will enjoy. This yogurt has twice the protein of regular Yoplait Source yogurt with only 50 calories and no added sugar. 

There are different yogurt flavours for us to choose from. We can enjoy it for breakfast, snack, and dessert or include it in our baking and cooking. I like using yogurt in desserts as it is a healthier substitute and I also include plain greek yogurt to thicken curries and to give it flavour. I make this choice of using yogurt in our diets so we can stay healthy and active.  

I use the plain yogurt when making this naan, baked Indian bread

Cookies to celebrate spring

We made these cookies to celebrate the arrival of spring. These soft, delicious cookies would be wonderful to take on our upcoming trips to the park.

Crocus

These cookies are also easy enough for little ones to help make and give as gifts to grandma, mom and loved ones. Adding Callebaut Crispearls* to the cookies give it a slight crunch and adds colour. Callebaut Crispearls* are tiny toasted biscuit kernel coated with chocolate.

Healthy Muffin recipes

I am always looking for muffin recipes that are easy to make, which are low in fat and have high fibre.
Everyone at home will appreciate these muffins.  We can make these muffins ahead of time and store it in the freezer to enjoy it as a healthy snack or for breakfast.
Once I heard my 7 year old daughter explaining to her younger brother that the difference between a muffin and cupcake is the icing :) I think this is a neat way to explain.

Check this page of muffin recipes that are sure to please all of you.  

• Peach Streusel Muffins: Chunks of fresh peach and crunchy pecans add flavour and nutrition to these delicious streusel-topped muffins.
• Breakfast Muffins: Perfect for breakfast, these muffins provide an energy boost we need to start our day.  It is filled with fibre-rich ingredients.  These muffins are packed with vitamins and minerals.
• Summer Berry Muffins: Fresh berries add delicious flavour, colour and nutrition to these muffins. They are best fresh from the oven, but are also good once cooled.  Would be wonderful snack for to send for school or have as breakfast on the go.
• Banana-Cinnamon Muffins: These are delicious, moist muffins with a crunchy sweet topping.  These low fat muffins have bananas, oat bran, soy milk and soy flour.
• Fruity Vegetable Muffins: Not only do grated vegetables and dried fruit add food value and flavour to these muffins, but they also make them deliciously moist.  These muffins are not too sweet.
• Apricot and Pecan Muffins: Packed with fresh fruit and nuts, and delicately spiced with cinnamon, these homemade apricot and pecan muffins are lower in fat and sugar than store-bought muffins, and contain no trans fats or preservatives.
• Cherry-Oatmeal Muffins: Dried fruit adds flavour to these muffins and would be a great portable snack or breakfast idea.  I adapted the recipe from the site and made these Raisin Oatmeal muffins.  If you want it to be sweet add more sugar into the mixture, this recipe is not too sweet.

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ or flax seeds
1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
3 tbsp olive oil
1 large egg
1 tbsp grated orange zest optional
3/4 cup dried cherries, cranberries, or raisins

Preheat oven to 375°F.  Line twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with paper liners. Toast oats in a jellyroll pan until golden brown and crisp, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Or we could do this over a pan and dry roast it until it has a golden colour.  Transfer to large bowl and cool to room temperature. Add all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the roasted oats, stirring to combine.

Whisk together buttermilk, oil, egg, and orange zest in small bowl until blended. Make well in centre of dry ingredients and pour in buttermilk mixture. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in the dry fruit, using a wooden spoon.

Spoon 1 tbsp of batter into muffin cups; sprinkle top of each muffin with 1/4 tsp (1 mL) sugar. Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in centre of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the muffins from pan to wire rack to cool.

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Party in a Box and Flower shaped Brownie Cookies

When we plan and prepare for a party it is much easier if we can find all the things we need to decorate and serve from one place.  I am glad that we can find many themed party kits online at BirthdayinaBox.com such as Brave, Tangled that are sure to please any little girl.
I am planning on having a fairy party for my daughter in spring and wanted to get started.  This deluxe kit from BirthdayinaBox has 8 knives, spoons, forks, cake plates, cups, 16 napkins, 12 birthday candles and table cover, which is good for a small gathering of children.  This kit also comes with pink and hot pink streamers that would look beautiful when we decorate among balloons.  Having this kit with everything in it makes me feel like I am already set with the little details, and am looking forward to plan on what to serve for her friends.

I am thinking of including these flower shaped brownie cookies adapted from the smitten kitchen cookbook that would fit this theme.

Here is what you will need to make these brownie roll out cookies we will need... (I halved the recipe)
3 cups flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
16 tbsp unsalted butter softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

Whisk flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder in a bowl.  Beat the sugar and butter until fluffy in another bowl then add eggs one at a time.  Mix in the vanilla and dry ingredients.  Wrap the dough with a plastic and chill for 1 hour.  Roll out the cookie dough on a floured counter to 1/8" or 1/4" then cut desired shapes, I used the flower shape cookie cutter from the Wilton cake decorating kit.  Place the shapes on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake in a 350F for 8 (for 1/8") to 11 (for 1/4") minutes.  The edges will become firm and the centre will be slightly soft and puffed, transfer to a wire rack and cool.

All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2011 - 2013. Please Ask First