Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Learn Something New and Have Fun by Taking up a New Hobby

The Internet has made it so easy for people to learn how to do something new. In the past, a person would have to get many books from a library, take classes, or talk to an expert in order to learn how to do something new. Nowadays, a person can simply sit in their living room while using their laptop and search for videos on how to learn a new hobby. They will be able to get expert advice as well as many tips and suggestions on how to learn how to do something new. Learning a new hobby is a great way to have some fun.

One thing that has been of interest to many people is learning how to do woodworking. One of the first things that may have made them interested in woodworking is making pallet furniture. Individuals who had absolutely no woodworking experience have been able to look at videos online and learn how to take apart pallets, clean up the wood, and then make beautiful and interesting pieces of furniture. Thanks to the Internet and the many how-to videos that have been posted there, they have learned a completely new skill and found something that they enjoy doing.

The same thing is true when it comes to working with metal. There are so many videos that teach beginners how to work with metal. Metalworking can be something small like making jewelry or pens and then go all the way up to making large pieces of decorative metal items. It is also easy to purchase tools for metal cutting, including carbide inserts for example, online. Even if a person lives in a small town or in an area that does not allow them to have a lot of access to metalworking tools, the Internet allows them to search for tools they need and then have them shipped to their home in just a matter of days.

When it comes to learning how to do something new, your imagination is the limit. You can find things online about how to crochet, how to knit, how to work with wood, how to cook, and how to do many new things. You could build a boat, build a tiny house, do nail art, and much more. You just need a little bit of patience in order to learn how to do something new and then you have to practice.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Homemade Ice Cream

In connection with my new KitchenAid Stand Mixer, I got a free KitchenAid Ice Cream maker worth 8,000php. I think I got a pretty good deal in terms of getting freebies from KitchenAid for every KitchenAid mixer.

Here's one of the best things I made from my kitchen--- Ice Cream!

KitchenAid made everything easy with their KitchenAid Mixer, you can basically connect any KitchenAid attachment using the very same machine and that includes an ice cream maker. Again, I never thought that I'll be making ice cream on a regular basis at home. A lot of ice cream recipes are featured online and you can watch demos on Youtube as well. Being a chocoholic, of course, Chocolate Ice Cream was first in my list to try.

In order to achieve a good result, I watched demos online on how to attach and use the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker first. I suggest you do the same. After securing myself of the how tos of the machine, I immediately searched for ice cream recipes with actual demo using the featured KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker.
With a good equipment at hand, making ice cream was easy. The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker is just right for the size, it's not too big or bulky. To describe, it's a bit smaller than a 5qt. mixing bowl.
My children are always excited... I mean, isn't it fun just to have the thought that we can make ice cream anytime? Experiment with flavors and ice cream container sizes. We can go unlimited even. The last thing I enjoyed making with my children was a banana split using homemade ice cream. 

Fresh bananas, rich chocolate ice cream, oozing whipped cream and dark chocolate ganache, nuts and caramel to top... who can say no to that!

Three Lifestyle Changes That Can Optimize Your Daily Living

If you want to live an incredible life, remember that you will not obtain this outcome in a magical fashion. Rather, people develop amazing lifestyles by consistently implementing strategies that take their level of living from good to great. You can get on the road to optimized living now by utilizing some or all of the behavioral changes outlined below:

1. Optimize Your Home.


If you're not in the habit of systematically updating your living space so it is aesthetically appealing and functional as possible, now is the time to make this behavioral change. Doing so is important because optimizing living space promotes an enhanced mood and general sense of well-being. There are many ways that you can get the home optimization process underway, and one is by hiring a renovation contractor to remodel a room in your house. You can obtain a listing of contractors in your local area by visiting the Renovation Experts website at www.renovationexperts.com.

2. Implement An Exercise Program
.

Another lifestyle optimization strategy you should employ is the implementation of an exercise program. This technique will enable you to reap several health benefits, some of which include enhanced immunity, better mood, improved self-confidence, and a speedier metabolism. If you don't know a lot about how to exercise properly, you may want to hire a personal trainer. You may also want to consider joining your local gym. There are several different types of exercise you may want to engage in, including:

-weight-lifting
-tae-bo
-swimming
-basketball
-running
-jump rope

Remember to select a form of physical activity you enjoy to increase the likelihood that you'll stick with your exercise program.

3. Enhance Your Eating Habits.

One final life optimization techniques that can take your daily existence from average to incredible is enhancing your eating habits. Doing so can enable you to look and feel better, thereby optimizing your self-confidence and giving you the energy necessary to perform your best at work and/or school. There are several ways that you can get on the road to optimized eating, and one is by logging in your daily food intake through www.cronometer.com. This site enables you to critically analyze your daily eating habits so you can tweak and optimize your food routine.

Conclusion

If you want to lead an incredible life, you need to make the behavioral changes necessary to see the positive lifestyle changes that generate ever-increasing levels of happiness and productivity. Get on the road to optimized living now by implementing some or all of the helpful tips and tricks outlined above.

Make Your Living Space Your Own

You love your home and you wouldn't trade it for anyplace else in the world. You might have some changes you want to make or some features that you really admire in other homes. That doesn't mean you have to contact a real estate agent to get what you want. You can transform your living space into exactly what you want with a home renovation project. Whether you have outgrown your existing space and need to put on a new room or you want the bathroom of your dreams, the possibilities are endless. You simply need to think about where you want to begin.

Prioritize
 
Think about what you want out of your home. You may want to freshen up your kitchen or put a deck on the back. Maybe it's time to take that unused spare room and turn it into a home office. Make a wish list of improvements for your home. The next step is to consider your budget. You may not be able to do everything at once. If you must be choosy, think about the changes that you want to see the most. You can always take on other improvements in the future.

Find the Right Person to Do the Job

One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is trying to do their own remodeling jobs. Even if you, your friends, or your family actually know what to do, time is always a factor. You want someone who can be completely dedicated to completing your project in a reasonable time frame. When you turn to people you know or family members, you may run into trouble. Your best bet is to find a contractor who is a good fit for your home improvement plans.

Cut Down on Your Options

There are so many contractors out there. It can feel like you are looking for a needle in a haystack. To make the process easier, you can get a contractor near you now  by turning to Renovation Experts. A large network of participating contractors is at the ready. All you need to do is complete an online form. Include your location, what kind of job you have in mind, and what your budget is. Contractors in your region will be in touch, offering you free quotes. From that point, you can narrow down the list, meet with candidates for the job, and make your decision. You'll be on the way to improving your home sweet home.

Saturday, April 2, 2016

KitchenAid Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS

When I started baking, I thought that it will just be an additional hobby, a past time. Since I love to cook, baking came with a breeze. I gotta say, quite an achievement for someone who did not study baking at all. But in everything that involves the kitchen, one must have a good equipment to aid you to be more efficient and to be able to get better results. I am already happy with my Homemaker Stand Mixer but at some point, knowing that I bake a lot, I don't want to over use my only and the very first mixer I have. Other than that, my husband offered that he'll help me start up a small business so I can share my creations. 

Share... sharing is a strong word. To be honest, everytime I would bake something, I always make a little more so that my husband can bring some for his co- workers. Not to sell but just to share, since their working hours are intense. In the end, those same people who had a piece of what I make later  encouraged us to sell the pastries so we earn something instead of giving it out.  So eventually I agreed and created a pastry that's not often sold in the market and it became a hit. From then on, and as we reached the Christmas Season, I decided to upgrade to a more suitable mixer in order to meet  demand and also preserve the old one.

What else will I get but a KitchenAid Mixer. The choice went around an Artisan and the Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS mixer. I ended up with the Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS mixer (at 33kphp) because of its functions and simply because it is in the Professional Heavy Duty Series, a more powerful batch more than the Artisan and Classic KitchenAid mixers. So if you're in search of a good mixer that's not too expensive yet, powerful, this is the one.

The set includes:
Powerknead™ Spiral Dough Hook, Flat Beater, and
Stainless Steel Wire Whip
5-Qt.
Actually I was torn between the Artisan and the Heavy Duty. I like the Artisan because of its color choices and it comes with a pouring shield. But I don't really need those. It's really all about the bang for the buck thing. As expected a freebie came with my purchase. I guess it was meant to be because I got the best deal. I got a free KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker worth 8Kphp! 
I'll post about it soon!

It's about time that I made this upgrade. Whether my humble business will be a success or not, this mixer will make people happy through my pastries given or bought from us. I don't spend so much on my personal needs, but for every gift I give myself, there will surely be a story behind it and why it's worth it.

Three Fun Food Businesses You Can Start from Home


Food Network is one of the most popular television stations in the United States today. Even if you don't watch that network, you might come across shows like Hell's Kitchen or Top Chef that show professional and amateur chefs competing for big prizes. If you keep watching those shows and thinking about how you could make better dishes, now might be the right time to start your own food business. There are some great business ideas that require a small investment upfront and help you make big money.

Create a Brand

Creating a brand around your food is a great way to make some extra cash, especially if you have a few recipes that others love. No matter where you live, the odds are good that there are flea markets and farmers markets that have space available for sellers like you. You can sell products that your customers can use at home, including spaghetti sauce or salsa, but you can also sell prepared items that they can eat while wandering around the market like pulled pork sandwiches or cupcakes. Check with your state regarding the rules you need to follow to sell food products made at home.

Become a Cart Seller

You can also make money setting up a food cart in your city or at special events like car shows. Some owners of food carts even go directly to local businesses and sell food to employees on their lunch breaks. With ice cream carts, you can purchase packages or ice cream or make your own ice cream and sell cones and dishes to customers. Other carts let you sell hot dogs, sandwiches and other foods. Unlike food trucks that are often large and bulky, food carts are easier to handle.

Develop Your Own Blog

If you love the idea of starting a food business but have limited funds and time, you can create your own blog. Take clear photos of all the dishes that you prepare at home, post those photos on your blog and give detailed instructions on how readers can whip up those dishes themselves. Once your blog becomes more successful, you can reach out to advertisers, sell products through affiliate programs and even sell e-books that feature some of your top recipes. No matter how much time, money or even experience you have, you can find a food business right for you.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Marinara Sauce

Marinara is now one of my pasta sauce, anything made of fresh tomatoes and basil, I like. Anyway, aside from that it is easy to make, Marinara Sauce is very healthy. Just think of the health benefits of red tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil combined. Put it all together, use less salt, you're good to enjoy a plate of pasta.

In making Marinara Sauce, think tomato soup. Only, Marinara is just a bit chunkier and has basil. My Marinara recipe is very basic and easy to make.

Important tool:
Blender/ hand blender

If you don't have a blender, replace whole peeled tomatoes with diced or simply triple the amount of red fresh tomatoes and mince it. Skip the blending process and just follow the Pasta Procedure by adding the diced or minced tomatoes and the chopped fresh basil with the tomato sauce.

Ingredients:
  • 1 whole garlic (minced) and divided into 2 equal parts
  • a handful or fresh basil (chopped)
  • 5 fresh red tomatoes ( chopped)
  • 1 cup mushrooms (any)
  • 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • 400g Rigatoni or any pasta of your choice (cooked)
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Parmesan cheese and a bit for toppings
  • salt and ground pepper

Procedure: Marinara Sauce
  • Drain the 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes and place its contents in the blender.
  • Add chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and half of the minced garlic.
  • Blend until smooth.
  • Set aside in a separate bowl.

Procedure: Pasta
  • In a sauce pan, heat olive oil and saute remaining minced garlic until light brown.
  • Add mushrooms and saute for a few seconds.
  • Add the cup of tomato sauce and simmer in low fire for about 15 seconds.
  • Add the Marinara sauce part by part.
  • Add cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese then mix everything until well- combined.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste. 
  • Plate the pasta and top with fresh basil or Parmesan cheese.
As a personal preference, I find Marinara fitting for white meat than beef or pork because of its natural flavor. I like chicken or tuna. From this recipe, you can add any meat of your choice. Anything that taste healthy can perfectly match another healthy item too, like vegetables.