First Attempt: Handling and Cooking pumpkin puree 'porridge'

Ok, I am trying this for the first time in this blog. Would like to blog about the breakfast that I had came out with this morning.  Note that I am not a chef, I am only a wife that's currently all about healthy diet for myself and my bestest beloved husband.

Bought a nice huge pumpkin from Tesco few days back and have not tough it. Reason being? I have not handled pumpkin from scratch before, myself.  Slicing a pumpkin (with the skin on of course) is not as easy as I thought. It is quite hard to even have the first cut. So make sure your knife is sharp enough.

I deskin the pumpkin using the same knife, slicing the skin off to make sure no touch skin will be found in my 'porridge'. Slicing the pumpkin into about 1.5cm so that I would be able to use my slicer dicer to dice them. Use a flat plate and carefully place the diced pumpkin on it, place it on a steamer to steam it soft. Some may prefer to bake them, but I heard you will get the same result but quicker if it's on a steamer so I rather go for the quick solution.  I only have an hour to get the breakfast done so that hubby will be able to bring the breakfast out to work.

So, use a spoon to gently cut your pumpkin dice.  If you could go through it easily without much strength, you know your pumpkin is ready. Now then you can start your next step.

Pour the pumpkin into another pot, add two cups of water and bring it to boil.  Mash it a little while it's boiling using a ladle to fasten the process.  Throw in the diced capsicum and stir together.  Continue to mash until you get the desire consistency.  Add in Italian Whole Seasoning powder and some Ground Oregano for the fragrance.  Pour some milk in, add a small amount of butter and throw in some cheese.  I wanted to thicken the puree a little and have the smell of cheese.  Continue smashing it and you will get the porridge type puree for breakfast.

It tasted so yummy and I am so very proud and happy for my first ever pumpkin handling and cooking experience.  Sorry for the missing of weight for all the ingredients.  I don't cook using measurement but each time I go by taste and how I want my finishing dish to taste like.  So it's more of the taste and cook kinda experience. =) Again, don't judge. It's just the way I enjoy my cooking.



Ingredients:
Water
Pumpkin
Capsicum
Salt
Italian whole seasoning
Ground Oregano
Cheese
Milk

The final result? The sweetness from the pumpkin and the other fragrance all add together just perfectly.  I hope I could still get this taste the next time I am cooking it.  Though, chances of me adding different things will be pretty high too.

Give it a try, it's not as difficult as you think.  Pumpkin seems tough, but it's pretty easy to handle actually.  All the best!

21 Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks

 I saw that this is too good, in case I lost it somewhere it's better for me to 'clip' it here. Hope these tips would help you too!

Borrowed from http://diyhshp.blogspot.sg/

 

21 Spring Cleaning Tips & Tricks

Have you completed your spring cleaning?

If not I'm here to help with these 21 amazing tips and tricks to make your spring cleaning routine go as smooth as possible.

Fill a dish wand with half vinegar and half dawn dish soap. Keep the wand in your shower. Before taking a shower, scrub the walls with the wand then rinse off.
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To clean fan blades, toss a pillowcase over the blade then slowly pull off. All of the dust and dirt will stay contained inside the pillowcase.
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Clean your burners without scrubbing. Place in a sealed ziploc bag with a 1/4 cup of ammonia. Leave overnight then wipe clean with a sponge.
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Spend less time shining your facuets, sinks, and tiles by polishing them with turtle wax. The wax acts as a protective barrier preventing water and soap buildup.
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Mix a few drops of essential oil with one cup baking soda. Sprinkle on your mattress and let sit for one hour before vacuuming. The baking soda will absorb any dirt, moisture and odors while the essential oil will leave the mattress smelling fresh.
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Make your own citrus vinegar cleaner. Place citrus peels in a jar and cover with vinegar and let the solution sit for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, strain and dilute 1:1 with water.
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Use a lemon to remove hard water stains from your faucet.

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Make your sink shine by mixing borax with lemon juice to make a paste. Rub it on, then rinse it and wipe clean. 

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Use a rubber glove to pick up pet hair.

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Fill ice cub trays with vinegar then drop a lemon slice into each one. Drop a couple cubes in your garbage disposal with some water to clean it.

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Use a binder clip to air dry your sponges and keep them smelling fresh longer.
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 Clean your pans with tea tree oil.

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Use a qtip to cleat tight spaces in your window tracks then wipe with a clean paper towel.
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Clean stuborn stains by spraying with a water and vinegar solution and then use an iron to lift the stain.
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Pour vinegar and water into a bowl and heat it in the microwave for a few minutes. The steam will help loosen any grime for easy clean up.
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 After cleaning your vents, apply a layer of wax to them to help repel dust.
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 Clean the glass on your fire place by dipping a wet paper towel in the ashes then wipe your glass with it.
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Clean cabinets by mixing 1 part vegetable oil with 2 parts baking soda then scrubbing with a toothbrush.
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Make your floors look new again. Spay on a mixture of 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia (or lemon juice) and 1/4 cup vinegar. Let sit for an hour then scrub off.
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Remove rust spots from your kitchen knives by soaking them in lemon juice.
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Sprinkle baby powder on shirt underarms and collars to help prevent sweat spots.
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Fully utilise every inch of your space

 

Oh man, I love this... seriously!!! But, will it be a bit scary if you forgot the fact that you are sleeping 8ft off the ground? =)

Recycle Inspiration: Plastic bottles into table vase

Home Idea: Dog house

Oh how I love this idea of actually fully utilising the space under your staircase as your furry friend's home. Now I can't wait for the time I get to buy my own home. =)

Party DIY: How to turn Paper plate to Party Hat

Don't waste money purchase expensive party hats, you can DIY any design you want with just a low cost paper plate!! AWESOME!!

Home Idea: DIY Laundry Baskets with super low budget

You know like you have to separate all the different categories for different wash and all those looking pretty awesome but crazy price setting is just not your cup of tea. Here, this is so superb brilliant! Just get the rack bar from Ikea with the 'hook' thingy and purchase any Quality looking baskets and tada... you got your own Pretty Awesome looking laundry baskets!! Woo... I like this!!!