Pancakes from the Pantry

I woke up pretty early this morning and decided to go to the grocery store before it got too busy.  I usually go during the week, but didn't get my menus done early enough.  The store was great, everything was well stocked because no one was out shopping yet.

When I got home I was ready for breakfast-a breakfast I was looking forward to.  We had pancakes and bacon.  Cliff made the bacon-thanks!  I made Amazing Christmas Pancakes which is a dry mix you make ahead of time.  It makes a big batch to use as gifts or to store for your own use!  I had some stored from a while back so all I had to add was egg, oil, and water.  They are cozy pancakes-slightly dense with a great cinnamon flavor.  I put chocolate chips in some of them!  They are also great as leftovers with peanut butter-pretty much I love these pancakes...and so does Cliff.  I recommend you make them sometime during the holiday season-I will be making some as gifts (see recipe below)!

Here they are on the griddle!

Pancakes, butter, syrup, bacon, grapes, and COFFEE!

This breakfast was delicious.  We ate it pretty late and then I did some cleaning and crafting.  I am making some magnets right now.  I will show pictures soon.  I am working on Christmas gift ideas already because I am going to be making a lot!

I also went for a long run-the weather was beautiful.  I ran 23 minutes, walked 3 minutes, and ran 20 more minutes-then cooled down.  It felt so good to run like that.  Usually I have to stop earlier because my knees bother me but not today!  For dinner, we went to The Goose's Acre (an English Pub), with my Aunt and Uncle.  We all shared an appetizer of Sun-dried Tomato Artichoke Dip-it was so good.  Then my husband and I shared a pizza and dessert which was a brownie with ice cream and toffee pieces.  After dinner we walked around the river walk-they already have Christmas lights and it was really pretty.  It was a fun evening.  We are about to head over to Ben and Danielle's to watch Captain America!!!  I really like that movie.  We get to roll back our clocks tomorrow-I am looking forward to the extra hour of sleep.  

I am making a new recipe for dinner tomorrow that looks amazing-see ya then!

Amazing Christmas Pancakes

PANCAKE MIX:

4 cups quick-cooking oats

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup nonfat dry milk powder

3 tablespoons baking powder

2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

5 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

PANCAKES:

1 egg

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 cups Pancake mix (above)

1-2 cups water

Directions

In a large bowl, combine dry pancake mix ingredients.  This recipe yields 8 cups.  You can store in an airtight container, or divide into 4 airtight containers (I like the jar idea above).  One batch uses 2 cups of pancake mix and it makes about 10 pancakes.

To make pancakes:

Beat 1 egg in a small bowl. Gradually beat in oil. Add 2 cups mix alternately with water; mix well. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a light greased hot griddle on medium-high heat; turn after about 5 minutes (or until bubbles on tops of pancakes start popping).

Cook until second side in browned.  These are dense and I usually like them with peanut butter if eating them leftover.

Recipe adapted from: Taste of Home-Pancakes from the Pantry

The Fun of Friday

There is something about Friday that seems to put me in a good mood!  Maybe it is because it is nice to be at the end of a work week.  Also, I use Fridays as my day to catch up on things (because I don't go in to work until the afternoon)!  It was a very busy day yesterday, so I did not get a chance to post.  I did have a yummy salad for lunch.  I like some weird combinations in salad; yesterday's salad had green leaf lettuce, turkey lunch meat, green beans, grapes, tomatoes, bell pepper, sunflower seeds, and croutons.  For dressing I did half ranch and half light honey mustard!  Salads like this help to use up some of the random things taking up room in my fridge.  Plus, it is a good way to get my vegetable servings in for the day.  I had a cup of hot peppermint tea with sugar to warm me up!

For dinner, we went to our friend Ben and Danielle's.  We met them at our Bible Study and they live in our Apartment complex, so it is easy to meet up with them!!  She made a delicious dinner of pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and bacon-wrapped green beans (lol I love green beans so when you wrap them in bacon it makes me very happy)!  I also took over my Oatmeal Scotchies from Wednesday night.  We watched Thor and it was a very relaxing evening.  

This morning I woke up modivated to get things done!  I did my 20 minute pilates (I have it memorized).  Then I made myself a big cup of coffee (black with sugar thank you Kristen)!  I also made my favorite smoothie-recipe below!

 Do you think I have enough to drink???

This smoothie reminds me of the Pat's Peanut Butter Chocolate milkshakes I used to drink in college.  It is so delicious.  I know it is a high calorie smoothie, but it has a lot of nutrients and keeps you full for a long time.  I usually drink half, put it in the freezer and drink the rest an hour later because it is so rich!  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  I am off to get things done around our apartment.  If I have time, I will be going to the grocery store also!  Have a great Friday.

My Favorite Smoothie

1/2 cup milk

1/3 cup plain yogurt

1 spoonful of blueberry yogurt (optional)

1 Tbsp chocolate carnation instant breakfast

1 heaping tsp. dark chocolate Hershey's Cocoa

1/3 of a frozen banana

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

4-5 ice cubes

1 giant scoop of peanut butter (I do not measure peanut butter...I know it is more than a serving and I don't care it tastes so good!)

1/4 cup oats

I blend all of the ingredients except peanut butter and oats.  Once the above ingredients are blended, I add peanut butter and oats and blend a little bit longer!  Pour into a cup and enjoy-I got giant smoothie straws at Bed, Bath & Beyond (they are awesome). 

A Better Evening

I felt very scattered today.  I had a lot to do and it was hard to get it done.  I DID eat a yummy breakfast of a half a pumpkin bagel with scrambled eggs, went to the Chiropractor, cleaned a little, went for a walk, ate a toasted whole wheat bun with peanut butter and banana, and went to work.  My Mom did send me this much-needed verse (thank you so much):  "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 

Work was very stressful and kind of disappointing.  I work with kids and have a lot to learn.  Things got better when I got home and I am thankful!

Tonight I made Tater Tot Casserole for the first time!  I used to hear of people making this, and I would think, "That doesn't sound healthy!"  That all changed one Sunday when I tried it at a Church potluck.  It may be slightly unhealthy, but I like to look at is as a serving of potatoes that happen to have grease on them.  It is very easy to make-I browned my meat, onions, and peppers before I went to work.  When I got home I just had to add cream of mushroom and milk.  Combine that with the meat and top with cheese and vegetables, I mean tater tots.  Twenty-five minutes later you have:

 I served this with a side of green beans, which you could've seen except my hunger got the best of me and I forgot to take a picture of my plate..haha!  I really enjoyed it as you can see:

After dinner, I felt the need to bake.  I looked at my Cliff (Husband) and said I need to bake, what sounds good?  His response- Oatmeal Scotchies!!!  I used to have this recipe memorized because it is Cliff's favorite cookie;  it has been a while so I had to look at the bag!  Nestle Butterscotch Morsels bag has the best recipe for these cookies.  I make a few changes (listed below). Beware:  this cookie dough is very addicting and you might make yourself sick!  I waited until all the cookies were in the oven, left a chunk of cookie dough in the bowl so I could "lick the bowl".

These cookies are amazing!  You have to try them, you won't be disappointed. 

Tater Tot Casserole

1 pound ground turkey(could use beef)

1 medium onion

1/2 green bell pepper

1 can cream of mushroom

1/4 cup milk

1 Tbsp. Ketchup

1 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce

1 cup cheddar cheese

2-3 cups Tater Tots

Preheat oven to 425.

Cook ground turkey, onion, and bell pepper in a large skillet over med-high heat until well browned.  Stir in cream of mushroom soup, milk, ketchup, and Worcestershire.  Spoon turkey mixture into a 2-quart baking dish (almost the size of a cake pan).  Top mixture with cheese and potatoes.  Bake at 425 degrees F for 25 minutes.

**Note:  The meat mixture could be made ahead of time if needed!

Modified from:  Allrecipes Tater Tot Casserole  

Oatmeal Scotchies (Lauren's Modified Version)

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup butter or margarine,softened (I use one stick of each)

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups oats (I use 1 1/2 cup quick and 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned-either is fine)

1 cup Nestle Butterscotch Morsals

1 cup chocolate-chips

Preheat oven to 375.

Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in small bowl.  In large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in oats and chips.  Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.  

Bake for 7-9 minutes depending on crispy preference (I do 8 minutes-soft and goey with a tough of crisp on edges).  Cool on wire racks.  

Makes about 4 dozen.

Modified from Nestle Toll House Oatmeal Scotchies (found on back of Butterscotch Morsels bag).

Pizza for Breakfast Please!

Making Breakfast Pizza this weekend was a very good choice!  I have had breakfast pizza before, but never made it.  It turned out great.  It made six servings so we have had it for breakfast each morning since Sunday!  It is very easy to make so check out the recipe below and hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Breakfast Pizza

1 pre-made pizza crust (such as Boboli or H-E-B brand garlic-herb crust in bakery section)

1 cup pre-made gravy refrigerated (I used Pioneer powder gravy or you can make your own)

7 oz sausage patties cut up or ground breakfast sausage (cooked night before)

2 slices ham or bacon

6 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 Tbsp. cream cheese (optional)

1/3 cup frozen peppers and onion

1 1/4 cup shredded cheddar (could use more or less)

1 Tbsp. Butter for cooking eggs

Preheat oven to 450.  In small skillet saute the pepper and onion mix.  Heat butter in large skillet over med. heat.  Wisk eggs and milk in bowl.  Make sure butter is evenly coating large skillet then add eggs.  Stir occasionally and as they are starting to lose their moisture add the cream cheese and pepper mix and take off the heat (they will continue to cook in the pan).  Get your crust and put a layer of gravy as your sauce (a nice light coating will do).  Spread sausage evenly over gravy.  Then add eggs to cover sausage.  Last, add the cheese and it is ready to go in the oven.  I put mine directly on the oven rack and cooked it for 12 minutes.  Keep an eye on it because each oven is different.  Take out of oven and cut into 6 slices.

Enjoy with a cup of coffee, orange juice, or both!!