House,Kitchen Tips

Ants Problem: Ants hate cucumbers. Keep the skin of cucumbers near the place or ant hole. To get pure and clean ice : Boil water first before freezing. To make the mirror shine: Clean with sprite To remove chewing gum from clothes:

Keep the cloth in the freezer for an hour.



To whiten white clothes:
Soak white clothes in hot water with
a slice of lemon for 10 minutes



To give a shine to hair :
Add one teaspoon of vinegar to hair, then wash hair.


To get maximum juice out of lemons :
Soak lemons in hot water for one hour,
and then juice them.



To avoid smell of cabbage while cooking:
Keep a piece of bread on the cabbage
in the vessel while cooking.



To avoid tears while cutting onions:
Chew gum.



To boil potatoes quickly:
Skin one potato from one side only before boiling.



To remove ink from clothes :
Put toothpaste on the ink spots generously and let it dry completely,
then wash.



To skin sweet potatoes quickly :
Soak in cold water immediately after boiling.



To get rid of mice or rats :
sprinkle black pepper in places where you find mice or rats.
They will run away.

Remedies for your Aches

Is the economy beating you up? It’s time to get creative. Next time you have an ache or pain, forget about a costly trip to the drugstore and test-drive some of your grandmother’s remedies instead. It’ll save money and be gentler on your body and the environment. Recessionistas (and gents), welcome to the DIY medicine cabinet.

1. Stop Bleeding

You’d think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.

2. Toothache

There’s nothing so bad as the shooting pain of a toothache. You don’t want to ignore a tooth problem, because an infection that close to your brain can be extremely dangerous if it spreads. But in order to reduce swelling and pain while you wait for a dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your tooth and gums, and bite down on a smashed piece of garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties). This has always worked for me.

3. Rashes and Allergies

Prescription and OTC antihistamines can cause some serious side effects. Before you head for the strong stuff, try green tea, which contains compounds with antihistamine properties. You’ll need to drink 2-3 cups a day to get the full effect.

4. Athlete’s Foot

It’s a foot fungus, and it stinks. Air those piggies, then soak them in salty water, wash them with garlic juice, or soak them with diluted white or apple cider vinegar. All of these things will help kill the fungus.

But you have to be persistent, consistent, and diligent: No matter what treatment you use, do it a few times a day and stick with it until at least a week after you think the symptoms are gone! Fungus excels at hiding out and coming back when you least expect it.

5. Acne and Sensitive Skin

First, you really have to look at your lifestyle, because imbalances in your health can show up in your skin. But in the meantime, wash your face with oatmeal. It’s a gentle exfoliant and draws out oil and impurities.

6. Ear Infections

Ear infections can become quite serious and cause permanent damage, so please see a doctor if your ear ache has become severe.

But if you feel like your infection is mild and at the beginning stages, put a few drops of garlic oil or white vinegar into your ear canal and lay down on the opposite side to let those drops do their work. Garlic and vinegar create an environment that won’t support the bacteria causing the infection. Repeat a few times a day until the symptoms disappear. (If your symptoms last longer than a few days, you should definitely see a doctor!)

7. Sore Muscles and Bruises

After a hard afternoon of rowing with a friend, I resigned myself to a few days of burning muscles and soreness. But my friend saved the day with a tube of arnica cream. He rubbed it on my shoulders and voila, instant relief and absolutely no aches the next day. Use it immediately to speed up the healing of bruises, sprains, sore muscles, and other general aches.

8. Flatulence

Some foods, like beans and raw veggies, are more likely to cause gas, but if you find flatulence to be too common of an occurrence, try taking a digestive enzyme with your meals. You can find these at any health food store.

In the meantime, make use of digestive spices such as ginger, anise, peppermint, coriander, and dill. You can make tea with these ingredients or incorporate them into your food.

9. Dandruff

Have you looked at the ingredients in dandruff shampoo? Better to try something natural first before resorting to chemicals. Many people swear by rubbing aloe vera gel onto the scalp (leave it on for 20 minutes than rinse it out). This will certainly help with dry, itchy scalp.

Another remedy is a rinse with apple cider vinegar. Try these remedies a few times before deciding if they work for you. Even dandruff shampoo requires regular use to see results, so give the natural stuff a chance!

10. Headache and Migraine

Try rubbing peppermint or lavender oil on your temples and the base of your neck; sniffing these oils may also help.

Rub a fresh cut lemon or lime on your forehead. Feverfew is a good herbal remedy for headaches.

Have a little caffeine by way of green tea, and don’t forget to use an ice pack for 20 minutes to dull the throbbing.

11. Indigestion and Heartburn

It almost goes without saying – but consider why you’re getting heartburn in the first place. Did you overeat? Too much grease or spicy food? Eating late at night? Scout out the cause and try to stop this before it happens. Then, put down the antacids.

The belching, bloat, and heartburn caused by indigestion come about because you don’t have enough stomach acid to do the job right. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar will help break down the excess food that is causing you trouble and bring your stomach back to balance.

12. Constipation

First, drink more water and eat more fruit and salads. You’re backed up for a reason and taking lots of laxatives is not the answer. Meanwhile, drinking a few teaspoons of olive oil mixed with a bit of orange or (diluted) lemon juice can help things get moving.

Another surefire remedy is 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts drunk in 1/2 a glass of water. Sometimes calorie restriction or avoidance of healthy fats (such as the good fats found in fish, nuts, and avocados) can worsen constipation.

And though it’s counterintuitive, some people relieve their constipation by actually cutting back on grain consumption! True, grains contain fiber, but some people don’t digest grains very well. Other causes of constipation include stress, depression, inactivity, and nutritional deficiencies. If your constipation is chronic, it may be a sign of a more serious problem, so please seek medical advice and adjust your lifestyle.

13. Sore Throat

Sore, scratchy throats are usually a sign of a cold or flu coming on, so you don’t want to ignore this symptom, but you can relieve the pain by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day and then drinking a soothing honey-lemon tea.

14. Burns

So you bumped up against the stove again? Ouch. Rinse first with cold water, but then immediately apply aloe vera gel to the burn.

For those of us who don’t have aloe in the house, slice a potato and rub its cool, soothing juices all over the burn.

And honey, is also good topical ointment. If you can catch the burn immediately, mustard is also reportedly a great salve.

15. Nausea

The classic cure for nausea or carsickness is ginger tea or candied ginger. You can chew on the stuff raw, if you like, but it’s so spicy and strong it might just make you feel worse.

Sniffing real peppermint or lavender oil can also help.

Give some of these remedies a try – and share your own tried-and-true treatments, too.

Brazo de Mercedes

This is my weekend recipe to cook for my family.Hubby always ask me every Friday about my weekend recipe as we seldom go to the mall and eat in the restaurant every weekend.We can save money  if I baked  and we eat  in the house every Sunday.




Ingredients :
 Filling
5 cups milk
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 egg yolks
1/4 cup toasted and finely ground
cashew nuts


Directions:
1.In a saucepan, simmer milk over low heat until reduced to 2 cups.
2. Add suger, butter and vanilla extract, stirring all the while. Remove from heat.
3. Beat egg yolks in mixing bowl. To egg yolks, gradually add milk mixture by spoonfuls, beating all the while. Stir well to avoid curdling. 
4.Add cashew nuts and continue cooking entire mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture has consistency of a paste. 
Set aside.


Ingredients
Meringue
10 egg whites
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Beat egg whites until stiff.
3. Gradually add 1 cup sugar, beating continuously. Stir in vanilla.
4. Line large cookie sheet with parchment paper greased with butter and spread meringue on top.
5. Bake until brown. Spread filling evenly on top of meringue and roll into a log.
6. Brush with butter and brown again in oven.


Serve!

Baby Crib

Hubby and I are looking for baby's crib in the mall.There are different types of baby's crib but we prefer to buy an adjustable baby crib.I look up different designs there is a convertible crib to bed or chair, curve footings that you can swing your baby or a fixed footings .I plan to buy an adjustable baby crib  with fixed footings because it is safer for my baby girl especially if she can sit and walk.

What Kind of Therapist is Right for me

I feel pain in my left arm.I do not know what happen  as it suddenly ache when I try to twist or left an object.I told hubby to massage my arm but still I can feel the pain.I drop the object I am holding.When, I had my last visit to my OB I ask her if  it is  fine for me  to have a therapy in my arm.She told me "Yes" provided no medicine should I intake.I forgot to ask what kind of therapist should I go. A physical therapist or massage therapist? I am  confused the function of  the two so I tried to look up the difference of their job.


Massage therapist :focus on the manipulation of body tissues by manual methods to assist the body in its natural processes of pain reduction,improved health and well-being , stress reduction and healing trauma.


Physical therapist : uses equipment and apparatus to facilitate the rehabilitation of specific physical injury to the body and measures its progress.

Now, it is clear to me where should I go to relieve the pain of my left arm.

Family Cook Book

Cooking is a very good bonding moments with your kids.However, some kids do not like to cook instead they enjoy watching television , movies or play computer  games.What is an effective motivation to catch the interest of your kids? It can be cook his or her favorite viand , teach her or him to bake a colorful muffins, buy a very nice apron  or buy a family cook book .The family cook book that will also serve as compilation of your cooking output and activities pictures in the kitchen.You can also post here your favorite recipe.Give your child an assignment to design his or her cook book.The cook book with  a very nice design and content will have a price, I think this way kids will get an interest in doing things in cooking ,baking and dining.For a family cook book I would  chose one below.

Cough

I had a bad night this week. My cough is killing me at midnight or at dawn.I sleep early but I get awake because  I feel that I am having a short breath.My  throat itches ever! Hubby also get awake , it takes 2 hours or more I never stop coughing.Hubby give me a warm water with salt to gargle to relieve my throat after a minute it  itches again .If I wake up at midnight it is difficult to sleep back.If I get awake at dawn I cannot sleep back . I eat citrus fruits and drink plenty of water but still this cough likes to stay with me.It is difficult to take away cough and cold nowadays maybe because of the weather.In the morning I feel good no cough, no throat itches.Hubby, told me to visit my OB  for medication because we do not know the right meds  for pregnant.Today, I gonna go to my OB for check up .
I hope I can get rest coughing tonight.

Why our Body Need Fats

1.Fats play a vital role in the delivery of vitamins A, D, E and K which are stored in fatty tissue and the liver
 until your body can use them.

2.Fats assist in the production of testosterone, which helps trigger muscles growth.

3.Fats can help to control your appetite.

Peanut Butter Recipe

Do you love peanut butter like me? One of my favorite sandwich spread is a creamy peanut butter.I tried to think of a recipe to improve my snack using peanut butter.

Here is my recipe :

Ingredients:
1 whole wheat tortilla
1 1/2 tablespoon Peanut Butter
2/3 cup chopped pre cooked chicken
1/4 cup carrots
3/4 cup mixed greens
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Steps:
1.Warm the tortilla according to the package instructions.
2.Spread peanut butter down the center.
3.Add the chicken and the remaining ingredients
4.Fold the outside edges in, then Roll.

Serve! Yunnmy...try it now!

Constipation

I do have to always remind myself to eat fiber fruits.My baby girl is in trimester , I experienced constipation although this is normally happen to pregnant women but the OB advise to eat fruits with fiber and drink plenty of fluids.Yesterday, I had my monthly check up in my OB.I told her about my problem of being constipated.I eat fruits with fiber however I still missed to discharged a day or two days.I feel uncomfortable.She advise me to take fibrosine, a high fiber supplement that is mixed and dissolved in a water.It is effective to me but I still have to drink cereal like Nestiva.It really works.I do not call my husband anymore as I usually do to give me a glass of water in the comfort room.

Airport Tax in Singapore

The passenger service charge in Singapore is S$21, this should be incorporated  in the air ticket including tickets issued outside Singapore.If this tax has not been incorporated  you may be required to pay S$21 during check-in.However, some airlines absorb  the service charge.For passengers who are in transit for less than 24 hours may leave the airport without paying the service charge upon departure from Singapore.

Pickled Ground Pork Bites

Ingredients :
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 piece large onion, chopped
1/2 kilogram  ground pork
1 piece small carrot,chopped
1 piece small potato,chopped
50 grams kinchay,chopped
1/4 cup pickle relish
1 can tomato sauce
78 piece wrappers



Procedure:


1.Saute garlic and onion in 2 tablespoon oil.
2.Add the rest of the ingredients except the wrappers.
3. Cook for 20 minutes.Drain if  necessary.
4. Place every 1-1/2 teaspoon of sauteed mixture in wrappers.
5.Seal the edges then fold to make triangles.
6.Fry until golden brown.Drain on paper towels.

Serve with Banana Ketchup!

How to Shop Tax Free in Singapore

Visitors in Singapore are entitled  to get the full refund of the 7 % goods and services tax that you paid on your goods.There are two service  providers in Singapore processing Goods and Services Tax  refunds.The Global Blue Tax and Premier Tax Free.To avail a Tax refund in shopping shop where you see the signs "Global Blue Tax" or  " Premier Tax Free " and ask the salesperson for a Global Blue Tax refund cheque or a Premier refund Voucher when you make at purchase of S$100 and above.When leaving Singapore simply show your  vouchers or cheques with your purchases,receipts and passport to the Customs officer  at the Refund Inspection Counter.

Basic Information in Singapore

There are lots of Filipinos working in Singapore however there are still some who dream to work in this industrial and economic growing country.To those who are planning to apply and work in Singapore I will give you essential information that will help in your journey.

1.Money Matters :
The currency in Singapore is the Singapore dollar.The money changing services in this country can be found at many shopping centres and hotels around the island.The ATM services are open 24hours daily and accept main credit cards such as Visa, Mastercard and  American Express.

2.Drinking Water:
The Tap Water in Singapore is perfectly safe to drink.The mineral water is quiet expensive.

3.Weather :
Singapore weather is hot and humid, with little variation throughout the year.The daytime temperature is 31deg Celsius dropping to 24deg Celsius.If you plan to go around the city please dress accordingly.


4.Cell Phone Usage:
The Singapore international dialing code is +65 however if you have international roaming on your mobile phone there is no need to dial +65 it will automatically connect you to the local numbers  you wish to call.

5.Lost / Stolen Property:
If you lose any valuables things during your stay in Singapore, call the Tanglin Divisional Headquarters to report the incident.

6.Smoking:
If  you are a smoker,you will have to resist the urge to light up in the air-conditioned areas such as shopping centres,restaurants,entertainment outlets and cinemas.Smoking is also an offense to MRT station,trains,taxis and lifts.A maximum fine of S$1,000 can be imposed on first-time  offenders.

ENTRECARD

I would like to thank to all bloggers who drop my entrecard.To those who support and visit my newbie blog your effort and time is very well appreciated.To bloggers who recently drop my entrecard , thank you so much!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL READERS AND BLOGGERS!

Leadership Book

I was chosen as a leader in our team this year.At first, I was hesitant to accept the position because I am busy to other stuff.Hubby encouraged me to be a leader of the team as it was  a different experienced too. I become a leader last June  2011 . At first, it is difficult to adjust the work load and responsibilities.It is tough to be a leader in a services team because only few can appreciate your handwork most of the time you hear are complains or feedback's.I take it as a challenge.I was inspired when my team won as "BEST SERVICES TEAM" of the company.

Last, leader's Christmas party the team department  give us a "One year Mini for Leaders " by Jim Seybert.It is like a daily bread book which content thought provoking insights on leadership.It is nice and inspiring book which can be used not only for leaders.

POST CARD

 I was so touch when hubby created this simple post card. It is priceless, simple and nice!

Pandan Leaf

The Pandan Leaf comes from the Screwpine tree, which can be found in Madagascar, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the tropical areas of Australia.

The medicinal uses for this tree are as follows: The entire plant is used as a diuretic, the roots have anti-diabetic properties, and the leaves are used for treating diseases of the skin.

In cooking, the leaf is used in making grass green Pandan cake which is similar to the American sponge cake. The Pandan leaf has also been used in rice and making different type of curries.

Strips of the leaves are used in making woven baskets, which are used to serve rice or other food items.

In the province, mother always put pandan leaf in the rice.Yesterday, I saw pandan leaf in the supermarket.I bought one small pack which cost 23pesos.I put 4 strips of leaves in the rice.Hubby was amazed because the rice smell's good and delicious to eat.He told me I have to put pandan leaf always in the rice :-)

Easy Butter Cake Recipe

Recipe :
Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup evaporated milk

Procedure:

1. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder.

2. Cream the butter and blend in the white sugar and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternately with the milk.
 Stir until just blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.

3 .Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. 
Remove from pan and allow it to cool.


NOTE: Linen a wax paper  and grease a small amount of butter in the baking pan .

1. The preparation.

2. Baking at 50 minutes

3. Muffin pan for the excess

Craving a Cake

I am planning to bake a chocolate cake this morning.I am looking for a simple easy recipe which I will not have to go to a big supermarket just to buy the ingredients.While, I was online my friend send me a message in my face book.I was surprised  that she was  here in the Philippines.She invite me to attend the christening of her baby boy.We really missed each other.We talk long and I already feel tired to bake a cake.
Before, we end up our conversation my friend remind me not to eat chocolate because it is not good for a pregnant mother instead  eat more fruits and veggies.I change my mind, I gonna find a butter cake recipe now! However , I will bake it this coming New Year.
After, I clean the house hubby call me that he gonna  extend his duty at work until  to 11:00 o'clock in the evening.I decided to bake a  cake again while waiting for hubby.I go to the supermarket nearest my place.I buy  the ingredients and look for  measuring cups.I feel  sad that I could not find a measuring cup.I intend to use the saucer. I go home and prepare for baking.