Nicquee's Nook

Do You Like Playing Bingo?

Suggest playing bingo and you’ll either see people’s faces light up at the prospect or look like you’ve just suggested something horrible. In regard to the latter type, that’s probably because their experience of bingo is being dragged into a room full of chain-smoking, purple-haired, false-teeth wearing grannies.

However, the reason why so many people’s faces light up at the mention of the word bingo is that it has come a long way since those dark days; indeed it has grown into a global gaming phenomenon that is enjoyed by all ages, sexes and a variety of world cultures. The main reason that it has become so popular is the move away from the traditional bingo hall setting as it has now firmly embraced the online revolution. Courtesy of computers, tablets and mobile phones, you can sneak a game in whenever and wherever you feel like it, whether that’s at home from the comfort of your armchair or from the local park. Just imagine when your little one has gone to sleep on you and you’re just looking for a little fun without being able to get up. Or you can go to the other end of the scale and invite your friends round and have an online bingo girly night-in whilst the kids are sleeping upstairs.

[Read more…]

Red Velvet Cupcake Recipe

My first encounter with a red velvet cake is when Xocolat was featured in one of the groupon sites I frequent. I was still addicted to vouchers and deals then and I thought, it is time to try Xocolat’s cakes. Me and my sisters were not disappointed even if we have to travel the cake by two hours from Quezon City to Las Pinas!

Since I got our little oven, I have been dreaming of making red velvets on my own. I have realized that dream already! Woot woot!

Recipe adapted from Paula Deen’s original recipe of Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

red velvet cupcake recipeWhat you will need

For the batter
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons red food coloring
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the frosting
1 cup unsalted butter, slightly chilled and cubed
2 packs cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

What to do
1. Preheat oven to 150ºC. Line muffin pans with cupcake liners.

2. In a bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.

3. With an electric mixer on low speed, beat vegetable oil, yogurt, eggs, red food coloring, vinegar, and vanilla extract. Add sifted ingredients slowly and mix only until incorporated and there are no visible lumps. Fill liners to about two-thirds full. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

4. Make the frosting: Beat butter carefully with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Mix in cream cheese and vanilla. Add the confectioners’ sugar one cup at a time and beat until smooth, tasting the frosting after each cup of sugar.

5. Top each cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Ok, so my frosting isn’t really gorgeous but they taste great! And no, I am not saying that because I was the one who baked it, I am just telling the truth. Oh, except that the frosting was a little too sweet for my sweet-tooth.

It has been months since I last made a batch of this yummy cuppies. My cocoa and red food coloring are about to expire soon so might as well put them to good use.

Tips in Buying Maternity Wear

During pregnancy, your stomach will expand past its usual size. When this happens, you will need to purchase maternity clothes. While some women may not need maternity clothes until they are several months along, others are not so lucky. No matter how far along you are, consider the following tips to get more bang for your buck.

To shop for maternity clothes, consider your pre-pregnancy size. Purchase maternity clothes that are about the same size. Remember, maternity clothing will only give you extra space were needed. In most cases, this is in the stomach as well as the bust area. However, if you are having twins, consider going up a size or two. Next, look for clothing that is made from stretchable fabric. Spandex and cotton jersey are good fabrics to look at. Buy separates that are easy to mix and match. Not only will this save you money, but you can match the items to make several different outfits. When shopping for bras, only purchase one at a time. During pregnancy, your bra size will go up several times. Avoid buying nursing bras until the last month of your pregnancy. Whenever purchasing maternity clothes is not an option, you can always wear plus-size clothing.