Instant Pot Banana Rice Pudding

 

My family loves rice pudding and I often make it in the instant pot. But, we had some over ripe bananas and I thought maybe, I could put them to use in the pudding we all love so much. And let me tell you, this is one of my most delicious ideas yet!

This is such an easy recipe. You can have it ready in minutes if you like it warm, but if you like it cool, no worries! Just give it a little time to rest and cool.

This is a great recipe to keep on hand because it is cheap to make, and it tastes like a million bucks when you dig into it. It is a great way to stretch your grocery budget by adding in affordable rice to your desserts. Plus this no bake goodie won't heat up the house on a hot day.

Ingredients:

1 c white rice

1 ½ c water

2 cups of milk

½ c sugar

2 overripe bananas

1 tsp vanilla

Add rice and water to the instant pot.

Seal and select high heat.

Set the timer for 3 minutes.

It will take about 10 minutes before the timer begins to countdown.

When the timer beeps, turn off the instant pot. 

After 10 minutes, quick release the steam.

Add milk and sugar.

Stir.

In a small bowl, smash the bananas and add vanilla and cinnamon.

Pour this into the rice.

Turn the instant pot to saute, and allow to cook until it comes to a boil. 

Remove the liner from the instant pot and allow to cool and thicken.

Serve warm or cold, with cinnamon sprinkled over the top and sliced bananas if you like.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

Makes 6 servings.

If you are looking for more affordable dessert ideas you might like these peanut butter cream puffs or  my homemade stove top rice pudding recipe.

Turn Your Summer Dinner Party Into The Best Foodie Event Of The Year

 While there are several foodie events that people can attend throughout the year, there is nothing quite as wholesome as hosting your own food event. 

Food events are most popular during the warmer months thanks to being able to spend more time outside. From home barbeques to food festivals, there is always a lot that happens during the summer to satisfy those foodies among us.

Should you be someone that loves to host people and cook good food, then why not host your own summer dinner party and turn it into the foodie event of the year? Whether you want to cook a barbeque or an inside dinner party, here are all of the tips that you need to host the best foodie event of the year.

Wine Glasses Vino - Free photo on Pixabay

Make homemade dips and sauces

Although you might think that cooking all of your ingredients from scratch is enough, it will enhance your dishes if you make your own sauces and dips. 

Store-bought dips and sauces are nice. But, they aren’t the same as a homemade concoction. The great thing about homemade dips and sauces is that you can add more flavor or diverse ingredients to make them unique. You might be able to throw something together that your friends and family ask you to make them time and time again because it was just so yummy.

For example, you could make a homemade tzatziki for your crudite platter and a sticky orange sauce for your barbecued chicken. 

It can take a lot of time to make all of your sauces and dips from scratch, so you might want to get started way ahead of the party so that you can enjoy cooking the main ingredients on the day.

Have a range of drinks on offer

The best parties are those that have a wide range of drinks on offer. You might only host adults, however, some guests might want a soft drink. 

Therefore, having a range of soft and alcoholic drinks will ensure that every guest is satisfied. 

To make your soft drinks extra special, you could throw together some mocktails and hand out your drinks in fancy glassware. 

Allow guests to bring their own recipes

Whether your friend wants to bring their fantastic summer sauteed corn and squash or lentil curry, let them. The more food, the merrier the party will be. 

When a guest asks to bring a dish with them, it isn’t because they don’t trust your cooking. Instead, it will likely be because they want to show off a new recipe that they have mastered. 

Sharing recipes and allowing people to bring their own food will also ensure that there is plenty to go around. If your food is that good, your guests might demolish it. Hence, having some extra food will make sure that guests never go hungry. 

Set the atmosphere

Like a professional food event, you should set the atmosphere. To do so, you could:

• Add decorations. Having your home and garden fully decorated will make the summer dinner party feel like an expert summer foodie event. Making your interior look the part will not go unnoticed and you will look like a host that really cares about their guests. 

• Create a theme. To make your foodie event unique and memorable, you could create a theme. This theme could run into the food choices, drink options, decorations, and dress code. For instance, you could create a Mexican-themed dinner party and make tacos, and margarita cocktails, and ask guests to dress in red, white, and green. 

• Don’t forget the music. Any ultimate summer party (food-based or not) will have music playing in the background. This will set the mood and get people in the party spirit. Again, this could align with your theme and further enhance the fun of your foodie event. 

Small and picky snacks and desserts

Before and after your guests eat, you will want to give them a little something to satisfy them. They might have not eaten all day to save themselves for your feast. Therefore, don’t forget to put out some pre-dinner snacks. This could be fancy canapes or a simple table of crisps, vegetable sticks, homemade dips, and nuts. 

Likewise, don’t forget to offer your guests a sweet treat to finish off their meals with. If you have prepared a large meal, then it is often best to make small and picky desserts. Something like bite-sized brownies, cookies, or homemade chocolate is perfect so that guests can balance out their palates. 

Your guide to moving to Texas

 Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the US. There is a lot about the place that is attracting people from outer regions to come and live here from the scrumptious food options to the booming economy, the low living cost to the higher job opportunities, and much more. The place also has a lot of entertainment opportunities that one can enjoy with their families as well. But before you hire the best LA movers from Moving Apt, the trusted moving service broker, to embark on your relocation journey to the place, it is great to know some important facts and things about the state so you can prepare yourself well to start over a new life journey here. Check out these:  

Be ready for the heat 

The city is hot and getting hotter. The temperature in the high 90s is the norm for August month. Depending on what region of the state you like to live in, you will either experience dry heat or sticky humidity. But overall, the temperature will remain higher here. 

Cost of living 

Based on where you choose to live, the living cost can be higher or reasonable. Like if you live in Austin then you have to pay 3% lower than the national average while the housing cost is higher here. In the same way, Houston is 2% lower while housing cost is 5% higher. The median household income of the residents living here is also low. 

Taxes are lower here 

It has a lot of o cities where residents don’t need to pay any state or personal income tax. So, you won’t feel the burden of taxes here. There are the highest property taxes in this area but sales taxes are not as high as you would expect. There are also several tax incentives given to businesses so you can save a lot.

Booming job market 

Even the population of the state is increasing every year but luckily the robust job market of the place can sustain it. Still, the newcomers can get a lot of job opportunities in several sectors such as healthcare, technology, petroleum, and any other sector of their choice. There are a lot of opportunities present to grab according to your preferences and choices. 

A paradise for foodies 

If you are foodie then this is just the perfect destination for you. Buffets, different cuisines, and barbeques are just everywhere and you can enjoy experiencing these. this is the most buzzed food destination where almost all the people have a love for food. You won’t also be able to resist the temptation of scrumptious food options available here.

But at the same time, it is tough for vegetarians to find food options to enjoy. You will wonder even if the Texans know what green bean, onions, and celery is. Whenever you will visit a restaurant, you will find a lot of beef and non-vegetarian dishes.  

Heavy traffic 

The things are spread out geographically in the state but because of higher traffic, it becomes tough to reach and access these things. All the residents find it very irritating to spend long hours in traffic. Make sure you find a home location that is just 3 to 4 miles away from your workspace else you will find yourself commuting for a long time every day which will be very frustrating for you. 

It is home to fortune 500 companies 

As the new start-ups establish each passing day, the job market is great here. There are plenty of fortune 500 companies' headquarters present here. Some of the huge companies are GameStop, Texas Instrument, Phillips 66, and so on. 

Best places to live here 

If you are a couple then considering San Antonio is great because here you can enjoy exquisite nightlife and the houses are also affordable when compared to other big cities such as Houston, and Dallas. If you are moving with family then Frisco is good because the school and education quality are really good here. Now, where you live depends on your personal choices and needs. 

Wrapping it all up!!!

As thousands of people are moving here every year, therefore, the place might have a charm. But this can be a life-altering decision as you are going to live completely a new life. So be sure you know everything about the place at first and then decide whether it is a perfect destination for you or not.

How To Set Up Your Home Office For Productivity

 

Photo by Mikey Harris on Unsplash

During the pandemic, many people who usually work in a traditional office space, found themselves working from home for extended periods. From setting up in the spare room to taking over the kitchen table, it was a case of making do with what you had. 

As a result of this, many companies introduced remote or hybrid working permanently and others decided to pursue careers that let them do this. Long-term remote working needs something a little better than a kitchen table, so setting up your own home office space is something that you’re going to need to do. 

Here are some tips on creating the perfect home office for you. 

Be creative with space

Having the space to work is important but not everyone has a spare room at home that they can convert. Try and be clever with your use of space, section off a small part of the room with a room divider, and buy compact desks or desks that fold into the wall when you’re done so it’s not permanently taking up space you need for living. 

The point is that you have somewhere that is dedicated to productivity when you’re working and that you can leave behind when you’re not. A lot of remote workers have trouble completely switching off from work, as it bleeds over into their free time. Being able to shut the door or close the screen on your work when you’re done is a powerful thing and will benefit your productivity and mental health in the long run. 

Design it with you in mind

You know best the optimum working conditions for you. Don’t set up your office in a space you know is going to be very distracting. James Bond author Ian Flemming used to write his books from his beautiful home in Jamaica, but because the scenery was so beautiful and distracting, he had his desk facing the wall so that he could do his work. If you can, set up where you aren't going to be distracted by people walking by, kids, or the TV. 

Make sure it is well ventilated

Fresh air and natural light make a huge difference to your energy levels and productivity. Try and set up your remote working space to take advantage of both. If you can’t then take regular breaks to get outside for some. 

Learn how to set up your desk

A great remote working setup isn’t only about looking great but needs to support your health too. Poor lighting, unsupportive chairs, and incorrect screen placement can cause you all sorts of issues with your health, which in turn will affect your productivity. 

Key points 

A great home office is something that works for you. Whether you’re in a bespoke build area or making do with what space you have, the principles are the same. As you get used to remote working, you’ll find out more about the best working patterns and environment for you and can change things up to take advantage of them. 

Making Sure You Meet Your Kids’ Nutritional Needs

 

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When you have children, you take full responsibility for their health, happiness and well-being. At the end of the day, they are entirely dependent on you and it’s up to you to ensure that all of their needs are being met at all times. This can feel like a lot, but it’s one of the basic responsibilities of being a parent. Of course, there are countless areas you can focus on when it comes to catering to your kids’ preferences and needs, but one area you should take into consider is their diet. You need to make sure that your little ones are eating the right amounts, eating the right foods and receiving all the nutrients their bodies need to grow and thrive. Here’s some information that can help you with this.

Making Sure Your Kids Are Eating the Right Amount

Start out by making sure that your kids are eating the right amount of food. They should be having three meals a day, as well as some healthy snacks in between. This will fuel them, giving them energy for school, play and other activities they engage with on a routine basis. Generally speaking, infants and young children can generally self-regulate the amount of calories they need each day. They may ask for more if they’re hungry or not want to finish meals if they’re already full. Avoid forcing your children to finish meals they don’t want. If you have concerns that your child wants too much or too little, visit a doctor or nutritionist who will be able to help you further. In general, it is recommended that one year olds should have roughly 900 kcal per day. 2 to 3 year olds should have 1000 kcal per day. Girls ages 4 to 8 should have 1200 kcal a day, while boys of the same age should consume roughly 1400 kcal per day. Girls aged 9 to 13 are recommended 1600 kcal a day, while boys in this age bracket are recommended 1800 calories a day. Finally, girls aged 14 to 18 require 1800 kcal a day, while boys of this age group require 2200 kcal a day.

Balanced Meals

It’s not enough to simply eat the right amount. Your child needs to be eating the right kinds of foods too. This means a healthy, balanced diet that provides your child with all of the food groups in moderation. Focus on ensuring your kids get their five a day when it comes to fruit and vegetables and consider kids multivitamins to make up for occasional shortfalls.

Junk Food

Junk food is often advertised towards kids. Bright and bold packaging with characters can draw in little ones more than adults. But it’s up to you to limit the amount of junk food, fast food and foods with high saturated fat, salt and sugar levels for your children. While these foods are okay on occasion, they shouldn’t form a regular part of your children’s diet.

Hopefully, some of the suggestions above will make all the difference when it comes to managing your kids’ diets well!