Snowman Pancakes

Our    fluffy pancake lovin recipe  blinged out for the holidays! Merry Christmas!

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Recycled Celery

Recycled Celery 

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Recycled What?  Yes, that was my first reaction too.  So, I'm interested in recycling and organic food.  One saves me money and the other costs me money.  I saw this concept on pinterest, pinned it, and promptly forgot about it.  Sound familiar.  The next time I was chopping the base off my two expensive organic celery bunches (are they called bunches?)

 I decided to stick them in a small bowl with a little water in the bottom.  I planned on researching that "pin"...yep....that was the plan.....Needless to say, things don't always go as planned.  Please note:  change the water everyday, they will eventually start to root, but if you leave them too long they will start to get mushy (Yuck!)  Yes, mine started to get mushy.  That's when I decided it was an emergency, they had to be planted right away.  So I hoofed it out to the driveway and planted them by moonlight.  Most of my best gardening is done at night.  Don't ask me why.  I don't know.  My neighbors did call the police one time, they thought someone was trying to break in.  Nope, just me, my head lamp, and wheelbarrow.  The police officer did ask to see my husband.  Ha, just making sure he was okay, I guess. 

first day

I did have to scramble to figure out what to plant them in.  Luckily someone gave me a gift card to Starbucks and since I don't drink coffee, I had purchased two tins of tea.  I had been fretting over what to do with these tins.  Poked a couple holes in the bottom and two cute planters were born. Fortunately I had purchased some organic soil previously.  

Very excited to watch them grow!  Thanks to 17 apart for posting so many great tutorials!

Memory Box

Memory Box

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I have boxes full of little paper stubs:  movies, concerts, water parks, plane trips, and the list goes on.  I just don't want to throw them away.  So when I noticed my kids doing the same I decided we shouldn't stuff them in a box to gather dust and be discovered in 20 years.  I've seen several versions of memory boxes on Pinterest.   This is what we came up with.

I started with an unfinished wood memory box with a glass front.  

I like the clasp, easy to open and close.

 

Tape glass and hardware

Spray paint

Ask father-in-law to use his fabulous carpentry skillsand cut a "mail slot" in the top.  Have kids decorate scrapbook paper and adhere to interior (I used double sided tape).  Fill with memories!

 

Healthier Blueberry Pancakes

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Healthier Blueberry Pancakes

Dry ingredients:

1c flour (I used unbleached all purpose)
1/2 c rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 packets Stevia
1 and 1/4 c frozen blueberries

Mix dry ingredients and set aside.

Wet ingredients:


1c milk (I used 2%)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat griddle to 300 degrees.

In a separate bowl, mix 1 and 1/2 c dry ingredients with 1/2 c wet ingredients.  Lightly pat hot griddle with the end of a stick of butter, in the shape/size of the pancake you want.  Pour batter and watch the magic begin.  **Temperature is the key...not to high, not too low.

I mix two batches.  Do not mix and let sit.  The oatmeal absorbs too much liquid.  Next time I'll try gluten free flour.  Made a batch to eat and one to freeze for breakfasts this week!

This recipe was adapted from Chocolate-Covered Katie .

Simmered blueberries and agave for a sweet topper.

Cherry pitter

For the lazy cherry consumers, like me.  One of my favorite low-tech, seasonal gadgets.  Because nobody wants to waste time in the pits!

An Eggstra Cool Project

Purple egg after six days

PIN 6    An Eggstra Cool Project

After - both eggs started out the same size and color

So it's a little harder than I thought it would be to post a "pin" a week.  However, we've been keeping up with our weekly projects, sometimes more than one.  Oh, I love Ironman.  When did Robert Downey, Jr. become so awesome (that's code for "Hot")?  Therein lies the problem; I get distracted easily.  Now, what was I saying...oh yes, eggs.  

I ran across an old science project on pinterest and enlisted my kids and a few of their friends to help out.  This is a great way to get the kids interested in using the scientific method.  Together we discussed the problem/question.  Then each child developed their own hypothesis, documented their materials and procedures, noted their observations, and finally- recorded their results.  Each child decided what ingredients and the ratios to be added to their egg project.  The project called for white eggs but we only had brown eggs...that sort upped the ante for us. 

All five cups Day 1 covered with plastic so no stinky!

Ingredients:                                                                   

five brown eggs

five porcelain mugs

white vinegar

tap water

dye tablets (for Easter eggs) 

Cup 1:  Ginger Ale and one egg

 Cup: 1 - Ginger Ale grew a little mold (that one said was "AweSome!") by day six.  The shell was hard and the inside intact when we cracked it open.

Cup 2:  Day 1, one egg, vinegar

 Cup 2:  egg and vinegar

Bubbles started to form immediately after pouring vinegar over the egg.  Over several days we removed the egg to observe.  Rinsed with water and watched the pigment dissolve a little each day.  So much liquid had been absorbed into the egg by day four that we had to add more vinegar to cover the egg. 

Cup 2:  Day 6

Cup 2:  Day 6

So rubbery we could drop it from 7 inches above the bowl and it bounced without breaking -COOL!

Pierced the skin and it was super thin! 

 Cup 3:  Absorbed the blue dye into the egg white, but did not pass through the second membrane into the yolk.  The kids found this very interesting and started asking about the layers of the egg.

Cup 3:  Day 6  Vinegar, blue dye, egg

Cup 3:  Day 6 after removing skin and piercing yolk membrane

Cup 4:  Day 6, Egg, 1/2c water, 1/2c vinegar, purple dye

Cup 4:  Day 2

Cup 4:  It took longer for the shell to dissolve on the fourth cup.  The purple dye stained the membrane and created a "lace" like effect on the inside of the egg shell.  Again, the yolk membrane was not permeated. 

Cup 5:  Still soaking.  We're thinking about adding a solution to see if we can dehydrate this one.  Not sure yet.  We'll keep ya posted.

Cup 5:  Day one 1/3c water, 2/3c vinegar, red dye tablet, one egg

 

 

 Tying it all together...

-There is a great explanation of the parts of an egg at The Accidental Scientist/exploratorium

-This experiment demonstrates permeability well - ie:  outer membranes more permeable than the yolk membrane.  

-The Department of Physics at the University of Illinois has an easy to read scientific explanation of why the egg shells dissolved. 

This was a fun experiment and has prepared the kids to tackle their science fair project next school year!

Guilt Free Ice Cream

Pin 5   Guilt free ice cream

Ingredients:

Variations:  bananas and nutella

                  bananas and peanut butter

                  bananas and maple extract with crushed walnuts

                  bananas and hersheys syrup

  

Directions: 

peel and freeze bananas

let bananas sit out ten minutes to soften slightly

combine desired ingredients 

Blend (I use a Ninja Smoothie Maker)

Serve soft - like soft serve ice cream or freeze to serve like hard packed ice cream

Either way...its delish!

Popcorn Pizzaz

Popcorn Pizzaz  

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Tasty popcorn...made tastier with a few little additions.  Blue Raspberry and Cherry were the flavors of the day.  Cherry was the taste testers favorite and happened to be the one made with Kettle corn. 

Ingredients:

2 packages microwave popcorn approx 6 c popped corn each bag

(I used one plain and one kettle corn)

14oz  evaporated milk

3oz package jello powder

Optional additions:  semisweet morsels, mini marsh mellows  

Directions: 

1.  Preheat oven 275 degrees.  Line sheet pan with foil and lightly grease foil with butter.

2.  Pop microwavable popcorn according to package directions

3.  In small saucepan pour 1/2 can evaporated milk, stir in 1 1/2 oz jello mix.

4.  Stir constantly 5 minutes, until it thickens slightly.

5.  Place 5-6 c popcorn into deep pot, pour warm jello mix over it and stir with a wooden spoon.

6.  Once coated, pour onto lined pan and bake for 15 minutes.

7.  Remove and allow to cool 

Repeat steps with second flavor.

Tip:  Wash pans immediately, as jello mix will harden and be difficult to remove.

We made a third batch and added chocolate chips and mini marsh mellows.  Placed in oven 4 minutes, removed, and allowed to cool.  Kids loved it!

Enjoy!

   

This recipe adapted from Mari who found it at the Eagle Brand website.  Thanks, Mari!

Fluffy Pancake Lovin'

   Fluffy Pancake Lovin'

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Oh, I love pancakes!  Sadly, I have never been able to make a good one...until now.  I have made it my mission to overcome my pancake failures.  Yesterday I participated in the annual Marine Corps sponsored Run Amuck, a "3.5 mile course through grueling obstacles, steep hills and deep mud pits".   Yep, it was an amazing experience!  I awoke with renewed resolve this morning.  
PANCAKES...my next mission!  Oorah!!! (Just a little left over from yesterday)
My version is adapted from one posted by Kris @ allrecipes.com.

Ingredients: 
3/4 cup milk
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 c all-purpose flour
2 tbsp white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
2 tbsp butter melted

Blueberry Bonus:

I added a little blueberry goodness, because blueberries make pancakes happy.
3/4 c frozen blueberries
1/4 c sugar 

Directions:

1. Combine milk and vinegar, set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, set aside.
3. Whisk egg and butter into "soured" milk. 
4. Pour wet ingredients into flour mixture and mix.
5. Heat a griddle (I think of it as heavy artillery) 230-300 degrees.
6. Pour batter onto hot griddle until they are your desired size (add frozen blueberries if your feeling frisky) and cook until they start to bubble, flip and cook until lightly browned.

Blueberry Bonus:

Add 3/4 c frozen blueberries and 1/4 c sugar to saucepan and heat on high until boiling, stir constantly.  Reduce heat and simmer five minutes, stirrrrrrr, stirrrrr, stirrrr.

The only challenge you will find here is - how to share!  Yummo! 

Meet the Crusterator

Meet the Crusterator

If your kids love sandwiches without crust...meet your new best friend!  Our kids have dubbed this "The Crusterator"!  It effectively removes crust and seals edges.  It's like PB&J gone WILD!  Very little waste too.  My kids weren't too excited about getting sandwiches shaped like hearts, dolphins, and dinosaurs in their lunch bags anymore (one more jab in Mama's heart).  I almost walked past this little gadget at the grocery store.  It was hanging inconspicuously near the jam.  

Wonder-Sandwich-Sealer-N-Decruster

Easy to use and clean.  We use organic: whole wheat bread, strawberry jam, and peanut butter. Slap the ingredients on and press both plastic pieces firmly onto sandwich.  Voila!  Unless, you've just been to see the Avengers, in which case you have to use a hammer for everything, including making a sandwich...because that is how Thor would make a sandwich.

Hammer not necessary

I found mine at the grocery store, you can find yours here:

Wonder-Sandwich-Sealer-N-Decruster

My new favorite gadget

You'll be glad you got one!