Homemade Pancakes From Scartch oh so easy!

Sometimes it's always good to get in the kitchen and not pull out the generic box of pancake mix that you just add water (yuck). Today I opted in making my own pancake mix and  I was so shocked at how simple, quick and easy it is to make. This is a fun thing to do with your older kids if they like to help mommy/daddy in the kitchen. Who says we can't use the extra lil' helping hands anyway?

Here's the recipe I used below and I hope you enjoy making it and that the kiddies enjoy eating em cuz who doesn't love pancakes?

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 tsps baking powder (Quick Pro-tip: If this stuff has been sitting aroundtoo long, you'll get flat pancakes).
• 1 tsp salt *
• 1 tbs granulated sugar
• 1 1/4 cups Milk (Note: I use whole milk, but 2% works as well. I've never tried this recipe with 1% or skim, so I don't know if the much lower fat content has any effect)
• 1 egg
• 3 tbs butter, melted

* Don't worry, these don't taste salty. Salt helps make the insides fluffy. Science!

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, sift together all the dry ingredients -- the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Or, just dump everything in there. Lumps in the batter actually make for better pancakes.
2. Mix the dry ingredients
3. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until just combined. Don't worry about lumps (see above).
4. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.
5. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Note: If you want a lot of little pancakes, use about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. If you want fewer large pancakes, use about 1/2 cup of batter per pancake. Or use any amount inbetween or above or below. They're your pancakes. Go nuts (But don't put nuts in them. Well, unless you want to)
6. Cook the first side until bubbles have formed uniformly over the top surface. Flip, and cook the 2nd side for about 2 minutes.
7. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Enjoy your pancakes!

the mix. ( i added a touch of cinnamon)

(puree strawberry preserves to go on top)

nice and fluffy!

Hubby helping me out while i blog and photograph. my awesome helper.

ta-da! finished product

xo, vanessa

Macarons Review

Macarons are so popular and I just needed to see what the craze was about. A friend of mine has a wonderful lil baking design business and she had a taste sample box for sale so I snagged those up with the order I placed for my birthday. Once I ate one i just couldn't stop eating them. I didn't think I would enjoy the other flavors because I'm such a die hard chocolate fan but my favorite one is the Pina Colada! They were beyond perfect to me and by far the best lil cookies I have ever had. Each of my kids even had one and let me tell you they are cookie monsters! Husband was super impressed as well and was like oh man those are so good, she did a good job! So if anyone wants to place an order or even check out her wonderfully designed cakes head over to her site! http://ccxcd.com/ Please make sure you said Vanessa from four times blessed sent ya!

the chocolate one was my first victim :)

Being able to help other small business is something I would love to do even more often then not. Just wish more would be willing to let me help them.

On a brighter not those macarons made my day. Thanks Crystal! Keep on baking!

xo, Vanessa.

The mommy milk lactation cookie recipe

I'm a breast feeding mom. I wanted something that will help keep my milk supply up plus be healthy for me so my milk can be even more healthier for baby. If you're a breast fed dint mommy I highly recommend you to make this cookie. There's tons of other recipes and ways you can do it. This is the version I enjoyed best for myself. Make a batch freeze half and bake the other half. Try to eat two cookies a day :) enjoy the recipe xo

The ultimate mommy milk cookie recipe 

1 1/2 cup flour (whole wheat or regular)

1 3/4 cup of oats (not the instant one)

1 tsp baking soda 

1tsp salt

1 cup flax seed

3/4 cups of peanut butter

3 tablespoons of yeast (brewers)

1/3 cup of water

1 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (I used light brown)

2 tsp vanilla (you can even use almond)

2 large eggs (I used organic)

2 cups of chocolate chips

And 1 cup nuts of your choice but I didn't add that to mine

Pre heat oven to 350

Combine flour, baking soda, sienna on and salt in one bowl

In another larger bowl beat peanut butter, butter, sugar (both of em) vanilla and yeast, flax seed and water till creamy 

Mix in eggs.

Gradually beat in flour mixture from the first bowl 

Mix in chocolate chips and nuts if you opted to use nuts as well

Add oats slowly 

Make em into balls 

(We had to mix it with our hands cuz the batter was a but too tough for a whisk and I don't have a mixer)

Place balls onto baking sheet and press down a bit with a fork. 

Bake for 12 mins. 

I baked enough for a few days cuz I'll be eating two a day. And froze the other batch I didn't use for when I run out. 

Let me know if you tried it. God bless xo

That's what they will look like ;) 

Recipe: Apple Butter Spread

It's fall which means its apple and pumpkin season. I'm super excited to try new things especially with my favorite new little device the crockpot. I am marveled at the things I continue to come across of on what I can make in this fab device. If you don't have one yet I surely recommend you do especially if your a busy mom like me.

I came across a recipe for apple butter and I just had to try it! The two little ones take lunch to school and peanut is not allowed so I had to find a spread for them other than just the regular ham and cheese on the daily. So fishing around PINTEREST I came across it and I just thought wow that would taste amazing!

This is the recipe below and I will love to know who tried it:

One bag of apples (I used red ones)
3 cups of sugar (I didn't use the sugar because the apples were really sweet)
1 cup of brown sugar
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
1/4 tsp of cloves
1/4 cup of water

Peel and core the apples
Cut them in quarters
Combine all into the crockpot
Let it cook for 10 hours on LOW
(your home will smell like fall)

I used a hand mash device because I don't have an electric one so it still worked wonders

Mash the rest of the apples that didn't break down

Place in canning jars or mason jars

Viola! You have your very own apple butter spread.

Mines made 2 cans and a half.

I need to make more already so hopefully by next week.

Enjoy and happy fall.