Good example

Recipe - Banana Bread

I've decided to add Recipes as one of the pages that run across the top of this page because as parents we always need to provide food for our children, but, unless you're a Jamie Oliver in the kitchen, thinking about what to prepare for them, in ideally a short amount of time, can prove to be a challenge. 

I definitely 'suffer' from this, added to the fact that I don't particularly enjoy cooking because of the amount of time that it takes, any recipes that are quick and tasty get a thumbs up from me. 

I'm starting with a simple yummy one that can come in very useful when you suddenly realise that your bananas are losing their bright yellow colour (something that seems to happen all too often!)

Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 bananas
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup milk
• 50 grams softened butter
• 1 ½ cups self-raising flour*
• ½ cup plain flour*
• ½ cup brown sugar*
• Pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius
2. Grease a baking tray/muffin tray
3. Add all the dry ingredients* into a large bowl and mix well (you can use an electric mixer or do it by hand)
4. Add the milk, eggs, butter and bananas to the above and mix together
5. Place the mixture into the greased tray
6. Cook for 40-45 minutes

That's it! It's really simple and makes for a great snack for all the family.

Stranger Danger?

I had a strange episode this morning that left me wondering whether there are any guidelines for such events and did I do the right thing?

I was at the grocery store with my LO who was in his pushchair and in his usual boisterous manner was saying Hi to everyone who walked in. He also waved at some people and at one point he reached out for a man's hand who very graciously took it and shook my LO's hand and smiled at him, but this is where things took a turn, the man got out his camera phone to take a photo of my LO and I, upon seeing that, took a step forward and politely, while smiling, asked him not to take photos. He seemed surprised but put his camera away without any issues.

A lady who saw the entire thing told me 'You did right. I'd have done the same thing.' I told her that I didn't know who the man was and although he might have been the nicest person on earth, I had no way of knowing, to which she agreed.

I'm very wary because I know that there is an Internet underworld and kids are their currency of choice. It might seem overdramatic and I'm quite certain that the man in question wasn't part of any shady organisation (he'd have been very brazen if he was!), but we're living in a world where you just can't take chances.

What's your opinion on the matter? Would you have allowed a stranger to take a photo of your LO?

Places to take kids in Malta

Children need entertainment. They want to run around and have fun, play and explore, be free and be happy. So where can you go in Malta that is suitable for kids?

Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of places to take your children for a few hours of fun. Note that not all places are suitable for very young kids.

I haven't included places like 'the swings' because practically each town and village has a small play area available.

I'd love for this list to remain updated and hopefully get longer so please do email me with your suggestions and recommendations and if I think that they are suitable I'll definitely add them.

Attard

• The President's Kitchen Garden - St. Anthony Street
• San Anton Gardens

Bahar ic-Caghaq

• Splash & Fun Water Park (open beginning May - beginning October)
• Mediterraneo Marine Park

Birzebbugia

• Playmobil Funpark - Industrial Estate, Hal Far

Bugibba

• Quattro Play Kids Cafe - Gifen Street
• Malta Bugibba Water Park - Promenade (summer only)

Burmarrad

• Bird Park Malta - Triq l-Imdawra

Fgura

• Jumperoo - Gallarija Shopping Complex

Marsascala

• Sant Antnin Family Park

Mellieha

• Popeye Village - Anchor Bay

Mosta

• Ludi Recreation Centre - Eucharistic Congress Street

Qawra

• Malta National Aquarium

St Julians/Paceville

• Eden Superbowl - St George's Bay
• Funland - St George's Street

Ta' Qali

• BoV Adventure Park
• Ta' Qali National Park
• Petting Farm

Bugibba Water Park

Please feel free to email me with other places - none of these are paid listings.

Second-hand clothes for kids

I recently bought my LO a huge bundle of clothes for €50 - a bargain! 

The only 'catch'? They're second-hand. 

Now I don't have a problem buying second-hand clothes for kids because they only wear them for 3/6/12 months at the most and then they simply grow out of them. Plus, with children's clothes being somewhat pricey added to the fact that they need so many changes - nursery, potty training, ice-cream, you name it - I honestly think that it just makes financial sense.

I've always gratefully accepted any clothes that were handed down to me and actively search the Facebook groups for good quality, good condition clothes at good prices. Some people price their items too high in my opinion - I think that items should be at least 70-80% less than what you originally paid for them. You're not going to get your money back anytime soon but you will get some money back, and you'll also get space back, which definitely starts lacking when children's stuff starts to take over the room.

How do you feel about buying second-hand clothes? What about other items like toys or accessories? Have you ever tried selling any of your LO's things? Were you successful?

I'd love to hear your opinion about this. I really think that we're lacking in this regard in Malta, and I wonder if it's due to social pressures.

This is a glimpse of the bundle that I bought