It doesn’t get any simpler than this – Beef  Tapa is a Filipino food staple that is totally integrated into the Pinoy Lifestyle.

Beef  Tapa is a very common breakfast choice in the Philippines and with Pinoys around the world.

It is a simple and easy dish for anyone to prepare at home. Tapa means cured or dried. It has a sweet and delicious taste to it. You will see many Filipinos in the Philippines selling this dish on the streets in small food stalls to those who are too busy to prepare it for themselves and their families.

For all our non-Filipino friends, give this incredibly easy recipe a try and it will surely open a whole new level of international dining – the Filipino food experience.

Ingredients:

1 kilo beef sirloin, thinly sliced cut

1 1/2 Tablespoon + 1/2 teaspoon salt

7 Tablespoon white sugar

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tsp. ground black pepper

2 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce

3 1/2 tablespoon vinegar

1/2 cup oil

Preparation time: 10 mins + overnight marinating

Cooking time: 15-20 mins

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Preparation:

* Combine black pepper, sugar, garlic, salt, soy sauce and vinegar in a mixing bowl.

* Coat each piece of beef in the mixture, making sure to coat all sides well.

* Arrange beef in a marinating pan. Pour any extra marinade over beef, refrigerate overnight.

* When ready to cook, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a frying pan.

* Fry beef slices in batches, just until cooked through.

* Add more oil whenever necessary to finish frying all the beef slices.

* Drain beef on paper towels.

* Serve with rice topped with fried egg and sliced tomatoes.

Cooking Tip: Add a little water in frying pan before frying the beef so that it comes out more tender.

Serving Tip:

Beef tapa goes great with any of the following:

* Atchara (pickled green papaya).

* White vinegar with hot chili peppers

* Sliced red tomatoes.

* With fried egg and fried rice (Tapsilog)

Technorati Tags: Beef Jerky, Beef Recipes, Beef Tapa, Breakfast Recipes, Filipino Recipes, Pinoy Recipes, Pinoylifestyles Recipes

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There is a tremendous problem today with global childhood obesity, one that medical researchers and physicians are trying to address head-on by identifying the factors that are contributing to this epidemic. One area of focus has been the possible connection between early feeding practices and a child’s risk for overweight or obesity. Certain aspects of the way children are fed and what they eat very early in life may be related to their later risk for obesity.

Already, years of research has shown that breastfeeding does protect against obesity risk later in life. With that in mind, most health care providers encourage new moms to make their best effort at breastfeeding, and to seek help from their pediatrician or a lactation consultant if they experience any difficulty.

When it comes to solid foods, though, there is still some debate over the relationship between the age at which solid foods are first introduced and later obesity risk.

In the United States the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents begin to introduce their child to solid food no sooner than four to six months of age.“Solid foods are great for a child to experience developmentally – learning how to swallow food from a spoon and tasting the flavor – but parents need to keep in mind that, for infants, breast milk still provides the best source of nutrients at a young age,” an AAP spokesperson stated.

When your child is old enough for solid foods, the AAP recommends starting with rice cereal, which is a great source of iron. After introducing rice cereal into their diet, it’s then time to move on to vegetables like pureed green beans or carrots.It is really important for a child’s first flavor experience to be something that’s healthy. The more a child tastes a particular food, the greater liking they’ll develop for it. For that very reason,it is extremely important to keep sweets out of your child’s diet when they’re first learning to eat.

Pudding or ice cream should not be the first foods your child experiences,” the AAP cautions. “The more kids eat sweets and sugar, the greater liking they’ll develop for them and the more they’ll want to consume them. Plus, there is some evidence that suggests that the type of food children eat early in life could contribute to their risk for obesity.”

So how do you get your child to eat – and enjoy – foods like pureed squash, carrots and sweet potatoes that will provide them with the best source of nutrient for their growing bodies? It may be as simple as eating healthy while you’re pregnant. According to AAP research, it has been shown that women who drink carrot juice through pregnancy have infants who will enjoy pureed carrots more at four months of age than those children whose mothers did not drink carrot juice during pregnancy.

Nursing moms should be vigilant about the foods they eat,too. “Any woman who’s eaten certain foods and then smelled the breast milk knows that those flavors are passed on to the infant. So eating vegetables while nursing should increase your infant’s acceptance of vegetables once they’re ready for solid food.” And if your child still won’t eat his vegetables, don’t give up hope. Most infants will need to be exposed to certain food 10 to 15 times before they will begin to accept it and like it.

Lessons in healthy eating shouldn’t stop there. It’s important to continue to teach your children healthy eating habits, especially between the ages of 3 and 5 when experts believe they begin to develop their food preferences, and ability to respond to their hunger.

“Parents play a key role in helping their children to recognize when they’re full,” says AAP researchers. “Let them know that when they’re done eating, it means they’re full. It’s important to use the cues that you’ve picked up on as a parent and give them a word for it. It also will help children understand when they’re actually hungry and when they’re just feeling, bored, tired or frustrated.”

During this critical developmental stage, the AAP also recommends that parents encourage their child to eat a wide variety of food. Allowing them to sample a range of healthy foods may translate into a healthier diet as they age, potentially lowering their risk for obesity.

Technorati Tags: American Academy of Pediatrics, Breast Feeding, Child Obesity, Proper Child Nutrition, Toddler Obesity

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Here is another quick recipe for a busy family. This recipe is healthy and only takes about 40 minutes. Most of the prep work can be done the night before so that you can slip it in the oven and eat in 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup olive oil

3 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-1/2 inch pieces

1 pound fresh white mushrooms, halved (about 6 cups)

1 pound small red potatoes, halved (about 3 cups)

3 medium onions, cut in wedges (about 3 cups)

1 large red bell pepper, cut in 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups)

6 large garlic cloves, peeled

Servings: 6

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425ºF. In a large bowl combine oil, rosemary, salt and pepper until well blended. Add chicken, mushrooms, potatoes, onions, red bell pepper and garlic; toss until well coated. Divide mixture into two baking or roasting pans. Roast until chicken and vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally and rotating pans on shelves once during roasting.

This is a delicious recipe that is sure to delight your family.

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If you feel like your family hasn’t had a moment to catch its breath since school started, you’re not alone. Between parents’ work schedules and children’s activities, many families today are coping with levels of stress that were unknown 10 or 20 years ago. Many kids are over-programmed in extracurricular activities; some are also dealing with new or step-siblings, separation, and frequent moves. Between work and family obligations, many parents are busier than ever. And with extended families so dispersed, there are few support systems in place.

As a result, many parents are so stressed out that they’re not always aware that their children are stressed out, too—-until the stress begins to cause disruptive behavior or physical problems. While you can’t insulate your children from many of the stressful psychological and physical changes of growing up, there are things you can do to help your family minimize the negative effects of stress.

Manage your own stress more effectively by being more selective about what you commit yourself to do and allowing time for relaxation, meditation, exercise, and enjoyable activities. Kids feed off their parents’ moods, so you might unwittingly be aggravating your child’s stress.

Make time for the family to be together for quiet activities such as having dinner, reading, putting together puzzles, doing a simple art project, or just talking together.

Set limits on the use of television and high-tech toys. Kids often get over-stimulated by technology and don’t realize that it’s making them grumpy and tired. They might protest at first, but they’ll quickly adapt–and get involved with other activities.

Help your family get more organized to minimize stress. You might, for example, want to get clothing laid out and lunches made each evening for the next day; designate special places or receptacles for school items; or create a centralized family calendar so everyone can see what’s going on at a glance.

Encourage your children to “just say no” to activities that are simply too much for them to handle. They need to learn how to recognize–and communicate–that they’re too tired, too busy, or simply not interested.

Make sure your children get plenty of sleep. The American National Center on Sleep Disorders Research recommends at least nine hours of sleep a night for children ages 7 to 11.

Be aware of signs of severe stress in your children. Chronic stomach pains, frequent diarrhea, temper tantrums, or frequent falls might just be symptoms of burnout and exhaustion. If your child shows these symptoms and has been under unusual or chronic stress, talk to your medical care provider about how to help your child. For families with complex situations or severely stressed children, a developmental pediatrician or psychologist can also be helpful.

Above all, give children time to just be–and to involve them in decisions about what activities they do. What’s right for one child might be too much for another. That’s why making the time to be together and talk with each other is not only beneficial in itself, but will help you make the right decisions about how your family spends the rest of its time.

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In-Home Drowning Prevention Tips

•  Never leave a baby alone in a bathtub for even a second. Always keep the baby in arm’s reach. Don’t leave a baby in the care of another young child. Never leave to answer the phone, answer the door, to get a towel or for any other reason. If you must leave, take the baby with you.

•  A baby bath seat is not a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device. Babies have slipped or climbed out of bath seats and drowned.

•  Never use a baby bath seat in a non-skid, slip-resistant bathtub because the suction cups will not adhere to the bathtub surface or can detach unexpectedly. Babies could tip over and drown.

•  Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. When finished using a bucket, always empty it immediately. Don’t leave buckets outside where rainwater can collect in them.Young children can drown in a small amount of water.

•  Store buckets where young children cannot reach them. Buckets, accessible to children, that are left outside to collect rainwater are a hazard. Toddlers have fallen headfirst into 4- and 5-gallon buckets and drowned.

•  Always secure safety covers and barriers to prevent children from gaining access to spas, hot tubs and swimming pools when not in use. Some non-rigid covers, such as solar covers, can allow a small child to slip in the water and the cover would appear to still be in place.

•  Keep the toilet lid down to prevent access to the water and consider using a toilet clip to stop young children from opening the lids. Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door out of reach of young children.

•  Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) — it can be a lifesaver when seconds count.

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ATMs (automated teller machine) are a great convenience, allowing us to do our banking 24 hours a day. Given the widespread availability of ATM access and the convenience it affords, using an ATM card has become an important part of our everyday life. By following some common sense guidelines, we can help ensure that our transactions will be safe, as well as convenient. Please practice the following safety tips every time you use an ATM:

1. Be Observant

The most important key to using your ATM card safely is to be observant and look around for any suspicious persons or activity near the ATM machine. If you see anything that looks suspicious, go to another machine or return later.Make sure that the person next in line to use the ATM is keeping a safe distance from you.

Do not use ATMs that appear to have tampered card or cash slots. Report anything that seems suspicious to the corresponding bank immediately.

2. Guard Your PIN

Do not entertain strangers who attempt to engage you in a conversation or pretend to offer help while you are transacting in an ATM. This person may just be after your PIN and card number.Never divulge your PINs to other persons. Change your PIN if you think it has been compromised.

3. Have Your Card in Your Hand

It is a good idea to have your ATM card in your hand and ready to use as you approach the ATM machine so that you do not have to take extra time at the machine to take the card out of your wallet or purse.

4. Shield Your Transaction

Use your body or hand or an object to shield the ATM keyboard when you enter your PIN. Do not give someone else the opportunity to see the number that you are entering.In case there is a hidden camera attached to the machine, covering the keypad with your other hand while entering the numbers could prevent the capture of your PIN.

5. Don’t Leave Your Receipt

Be sure to take your receipt or transaction records with you when you leave.

6. Put Away Your Cash

Put your cash away immediately in your pocket, wallet or purse. Do not display or count it at the machine. You can always count it later.

7. Keep Your Car Secured

Lock your car if you have to get out to use the ATM machine. If you use a drive-up ATM machine, lock all doors and be sure the passenger-side windows are rolled up.

8.Using an ATM at Night

* If possible, take another person with you.

* Park in a well-lighted area as close to the machine as possible.

* Do not use the machine if the lights on it are not working.

* If the view of the ATM machine is blocked by overgrown shrubbery or trees, or any other objects, use another machine.

* Notify the bank about the visibility problem.

When in need of  assistance, you should  immediately contact the ATM hotline numbers which are normally posted on ATM machines.

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