Make-It-Yourself Pancake Mix

We make a lot of pancakes around here.  Not a weekend goes by without them.  I loathe nothing more than buying packaged pancake mix.  Just seems like something I should be putting together myself.  Alas, here is the recipe I'm test driving, compliments of Pinterest, of course.  What isn't? 

That container?  It is the container that the Kirkland Organic Animal Crackers from Costco come in and it holds a double batch of the recipe listed below :)

Below is the recipe for the mix and directions for making either pancakes or waffles out of said mix.  Good morning to you!

Perfect Pancake Mix
Ingredients :
6 C. Unbleached flour
2 C. Whole wheat pastry flour
2 C. Nonfat dry milk powder (or buttermilk powder)
1/2 C. sugar
3 Tbsp. baking powder
1 1/2 Tbsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt

In a large bowl, whisk all ingredients together.  Store in large airtight container.


To Make Pancakes
Ingredients:
2 C. perfect pancake mix
1 1/2 C. water (or to desired consistency)
1 egg
2 Tbsp. oil

In a medium bowl, combine egg, oil and water.  Whisk in pancake mix.  Let stand 2 minutes.  Add additional water, if desired.  Cook on preheated griddle or pan.


To Make Waffles
Ingredients:
2 1/2 C. Perfect Pancake Mix
2 C. water
3 eggs, separated
1/4 C. veg. oil

Combine pancake mix, water, egg yolks and oil in large bowl.  In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff.  Gently fold egg whites into batter.  Bake in preheated waffle iron.

Credit: Hearts, Hands, Home Blog, via Pinterest

Crock Pot Chicken Parm

Ingredients:
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 t kosher salt
1 TBSP olive oil
1 egg, beaten
sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese
favorite jarred marinara sauce


1.  Spread the 1 TBSP of olive oil into the bottom of your crockpot.
2.  Beat the egg with a fork in a separate bowl.
3.  Mix the bread crumbs with the seasonings and the Parmesan cheese in another separate dish.
4.  Dip the chicken into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides with crumbs, cheese and seasonings.
5.  Place the chicken breast pieces in the bottom of the crockpot.
6.  Layer 2-3 slices or 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese on top, depending on how much cheese you like.
7.  Cover chicken and cheese with entire jar of marinara sauce.
8.  Close lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4.
9.  Serve with your favorite pasta.

Credit:  Chef In Training via Pinterest

Korean Ground Beef

This is not the greatest photo and in real life this dish doesn't look super appetizing to me.  BUT I have to tell you, I was delighted with the texture and flavors.  It was delicious!  The original recipe called for it to be topped with scallions, but knowing my little ones wouldn't touch that, I substituted broccoli.

Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar (I like it sweet so I usually do closer to 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup soy sauce (I use low-sodium)
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (see note)
1/2 - 1 teaspoon crushed red peppers (to desired spiciness)
salt and pepper
broccoli (or scallions)

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown hamburger with garlic in the sesame oil. Drain most of the fat and add brown sugar, soy sauce, ginger, salt and pepper and red peppers. Simmer for a few minutes to blend the flavors. Serve over steamed rice and a side of steamed broccoli (or chopped scallions).

Credit:  Lizzy Writes, via Pinterest

Nutella Mini-Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 5 tablespoons butter or Earth Balance
• 2 heaping tablespoons Nutella
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 generous pinches coarse salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1 cup Ghirardelli semi-sweet mini-chips

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. (Recipe makes one sheet of small or large cookies.)
2. Cream together the butter/Earth Balance, Nutella, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Make sure the Nutella gets well incorporated by scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
3. Add in the egg.
4. Add in the baking soda and whole wheat flour. Then stir in the chocolate chips.
5. Scoop heaping tablespoon amounts into your palm, roll, and flatten. Place on cookie sheet. Or scoop larger amounts, roll, and flatten. Just depends on if you want big or small cookies.
6. Bake for approx. 10 minutes -- until golden brown.

Credit: Never Home Maker, via Pinterest

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti

We were craving spaghetti the other night, but with these unseasonably warm temps meat marinara was sounding a bit heavy.  This is a light and refreshing alternative.  I'm sure it will make several reappearances at our table this summer.

Lemon Garlic Spaghetti
Ingredients:
-garlic, as much as you can handle :)
-2 Tbs olive oil per serving
-whole wheat spaghetti noodles
-3 lemons (mine were small), juiced
-basil, fresh or freeze dried
-walnuts, chopped
-shaved parmesan cheese

1.  Prepare noodles according to package directions.
2.  Warm oil and garlic over LOW heat.  Cook until garlic begins to brown, then remove from heat.
3.  Combine noodles, garlic oil, basil, lemon juice and walnuts. 
4.  Serve topped with parmesan.

Raw Brownie Fudge

Simply life changing.  Seriously.  Try it.  (AND notice that there is NO sugar, could you ask for more?)

Ingredients:
2 cups whole walnuts
2 ½ cups Medjool dates, pitted and quartered
1 cup raw cacao or unsweetened cocoa
1 cup raw unsalted almonds, roughly chopped
¼ tsp. sea salt

Directions:
1. Place walnuts in food processor and blend on high until the nuts are finely ground.
2. Add the cacao and salt. Pulse to combine.
3. Add the dates one at a time through the feed tube of the food processor while it is running. What you should end up with is a mix that appears rather like cake crumbs, but that when pressed, will easily stick together (if the mixture does not hold together well, add more dates).
4. In a large bowl (or the pan you plan on putting the brownies in), combine the walnut-cacao mix with the chopped almonds. Press into a lined cake pan or mold. Place in freezer or fridge until ready to serve (it is also easier to cut these when they are very cold). Store in an airtight container.


Credit: Recipe from My New Roots

Vegetable Fried Rice

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked rice (day old or leftover rice works best!)
3 tbs sesame oil
Chopped Veggies - broccoli, carrots, onions, peas, etc.
Shelled Edamame (optional)
2 tsp minced garlic
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 cup soy sauce

On medium high heat, heat the oil in a large skillet or wok.  Add the peas/carrots mix, onion and garlic. Stir fry until tender. Lower the heat to medium low and push the mixture off to one side, then pour your eggs on the other side of skillet and stir fry until scrambled. Now add the rice and soy sauce and blend all together well. Stir fry until thoroughly heated!  

Kale Chips

This will satisfy your craving for potato chips, I promise!  And now they are carrying a LARGE bag of organic baby kale at Costco - yippee!

Ingredients:
Baby kale
Olive oil spray
Salt

1.  Preheat oven to 350
2. Spread kale on a parchment lined cookie sheet
3. Spray lightly with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt.
4.  Bake for 5-7 minutes.  Watch them carefully, they can burn quickly!!

Enchilada Pasta

Another Pinterest recipe!  It was AMAZING!!

Ingredients:

Shredded chicken (optional)

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 {4 oz.} can diced green chiles

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

2 {10 oz.} cans green chili enchilada sauce

2/3 cups red enchilada sauce

2 cups shredded colby jack cheese

1 cup sour cream

Penne pasta

1.  Cook chicken, drain, and shred {or shred your rotisserie}.  Meanwhile boil pasta according to package and chop the veggies.  

2.  Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet and cook onions for about 3-5 minutes.  Add garlic & red pepper and cook for another 3-5 minutes.  

3. Add cooked chicken, green chiles, cumin, chili powder, salt, & enchilada sauces.  Let sauce simmer for about 8-10 minutes.

4. Add cheese and stir until the cheese is melted and heated through.  Now toss in the sour cream, but whatever you do, DO NOT bring to a boil!  Cook on low heat or the sour cream will curdle.  Gross.  Stir until sour cream is well mixed and heated through.

5. Drain pasta & return to pot.  Pour sauce over pasta and mix well.

Optional Toppings:

Avocado

Green Onions

Black Olives

Tomatoes

Sour Cream

Natalie's Frosting

My new go to homemade frosting recipe.  What more can I say?

Ingredients:
-1 c butter, softened at room temp*
-1 tsp vanilla or almond flavoring
- 7-8 tsp milk**
-1 lb powdered sugar
-1 Tbs meringue powder***

1.  Cream butter, flavoring, and water in a stand mixer.
2.  Add dry ingredients, about a 1/4 c at a time and mix on medium until all ingredients have been thoroughly mixed.

• Add 3/4 c cocoa powder and 1-2 Tbs water to make it chocolate 

3.  Blend an additional 2 minutes until creamy.
4.  Color with gel food coloring, if desired.

*Do NOT use the microwave to soften the butter, the consistency will be a mess!
**This will create a stiffer frosting, one good for making stand up flowers, decor, etc.  For thinner frosting, add an additional 5-8 tsp of milk.
***The Wilton brand of this powder can be found at Michaels.

Flower Cupcakes

My new found discovery is the super thin and stiff painting canvases from Micheals.  Super cheap and they make GREAT reusable cake boards.  For this munchin's second birthday, I just painted the canvas blue, added the decorated cupcakes, wrote the message in permanent marker, and painted on stems and voila - a cutie cake!  I can prime over the paint and start over for the next project :)

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes

I realize I'm probably going to get some of you thinking "No Way!" on this one, but let me tell you, it was great!  It even got a big thumbs up from the meat-eating hubby and the picky kiddos had clean plates.  I served it up on buns with salty chips alongside (if you're really cool, you put the chips right into the sandwich!).  This would be a great vegetarian option for summer BBQs.  Meat eaters could enjoy it as a side (it's a lot like baked beans).

Ingredients:
-2 c broth
-1 c dried lentils, rinsed
-1/2 c onion, diced
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 tsp salt
-1/2 c ketchup
-1/4 c honey
-2 Tbs brown sugar
-1 Tbs mustard
-1 Tbs cider vinegar
-Hamburger buns

1. Combine broth, lentils, onion, garlic, and salt in the crock pot.  Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours, until lentils are tender.
2.  Whisk together ketchup, honey, brown sugar, mustard, and vinegar.  Add to crock pot.  Cover and cook on low for another 30 minutes.
3.  Serve on buns with pickles, chips, or any other bbq favorite!