Pancake Bites

School will be starting back soon and we are always looking for ideas for quick breakfasts. This recipe is very easy. The kids can make it and it is as healthy as you want it to be! 

Pancake Bites

1 batch of pancake batter (Can be from a mix or homemade) 

1/2 pound of filler.         

We used sausage in the picture and it was great. Another time we used blueberries. They were great too. 

6 tsps of syrup 

Fill the cups of a cupcake pan half full of pancake mix. Add a 1/2 tsp of syrup in each cup. Then Evenly distribute the filler between the 12 cups.  

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool and eat. 

To use later: Store in a sealed bag so they last longer. Heat in microwave for 15 secs before you enjoy!  

Tips for When Daddy Travels

My husband has been traveling recently and being left at home with four kids is not always a cake walk. Each trip has been a week long and he goes every month. I have discovered some tips to make life so much easier.
 

1. Grocery shop before he leaves.

2. Fill the car with gas. and maybe clean it out!

3. Plan meals and make sure you have all ingredients. Keep it simple. Now is not the time to try new things.

4. Get all laundry done ahead of time. And put away, this never happens at my house, but it is a great dream.

5. Set up a time for Face time. If the kids know that they will talk to daddy everyday they will fair better.

6. Stay with normal routines. Just as much for mommy as it is for the kids.

7. Have fun with the kids! It reduces everyone's stress. Take a walk or do something special.

Good Luck!!

Easter Basket Ideas for Boys

Here at our house we think candy is a treat. I usually put 2-3 pieces of candy in the kids Easter baskets. The Target $1 bin is great for girls stuff. If you have a boy you know it is difficult to fill their Easter baskets without candy. Here is a list of inexpensive stuff to fill an Easter basket.

1. Tools. My boys love to build things and have their own set of tools, but they loose them!








2. Craft supplies. Not crayons, but fun stuff for older kids.








3. Fishing supplies!! Also, a great way to get dad involved.








4. Baseballs. It is almost baseball season.








5. A deck of cards. You can use any kind of cards. My kids are into yu-gi-oh.




6. Lego packs. The little ones at the check out stand.




7. Books. My boys have to read every night for school, so they read a lot of books!!

8. Baseball hats. They are a favorite at our house and see above about baseball season.


9. Socks. My boys like special socks.

3 Make Ahead Breakfasts for Kids of All Ages

We are busy most every week, but I like to make breakfasts ahead of time to keep my family eating healthy. On Mondays, we usually have muffins, Muffin Mondays. Here is a great recipe for Orange Poppy Seed Muffins. I use some whole wheat flour, but you would never know. My husband was telling me that he does not eat whole wheat, while eating one of these muffins.  My boys really like breakfast wraps, so they are included. The key are the fiber one tortillas, They only have 80 calories and are loaded with fiber. Finally, Cinnamon French Toast Sticks finish off our week. Using the cinnamon and vanilla makes them sweet without syrup. Cut them into strips and they are ready to eat in the car.

French Toast Sticks

4 eggs
1/8 cup milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp vanilla
8 slices bread

Use a fork to combine eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a baking dish. Dip bread in egg mixture coating well. Place in warm greased skillet. Cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes.


Enjoy with syrup immediately or cut into strips to be reheated and eaten on the run.

Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour (I used 1 cup multipurpose and 3/4 cup white wheat)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 salt
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup veggie oil
1 orange, juiced and zested
1 tbsp. poppy seeds


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in medium size bowl. Make well in dry mixture. In another bowl, combine egg, milk, orange zest, orange juice, poppy seeds, and veggie oil. Add liquid mixture to dry mixture. Stir until moist. Place mixture in 12 greased muffin wells. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Egg and Sausage Wraps

4 eggs
2 pieces of cooked turkey sausage (I buy them already cooked and in the freezer section)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Fiber One tortillas




Scramble the eggs with a fork. Cook eggs in a skillet. When eggs are starting to get firm add sausage cut into pieces. Cook until eggs are firm. Place eggs in the center of tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and wrap.

A Craft for My Thanksgiving Turkeys

We eat Thanksgiving dinner about 2 in the afternoon. Which means lunch is late for my boys and boy do I hear about it!! I try to have snacks available, but I don't want them in the kitchen. This year we made snack for them to eat anywhere, especially no the kitchen. Take a glove and fill the fingers with colored gold fish. Then fill the hand with popcorn. We wrapped a rubber band from the rainbow loom kit around the bottom to close. The boys drew faces with a sharpie. They clearly have never seen a turkey face.   Hope this helps keep your turkeys out of the kitchen!!

Check out how to make your own butter!!

Make your own butter!!

We are starting a new tradition this year. The boys are making their own butter! We filled a baby food jar with heavy whipping cream and shake. If you don't have an empty baby food jar handy, you can use any glass jar. We filled it up about 3/4. The kids take turns shaking for about 10 minutes. There will be some whey and a ball of butter in the middle. The butter will be white, the store bought kind is dyed yellow. The butter does not have preservatives and will last about a week in the fridge. Enjoy!!


Check out my other suggestion for keeping your kids busy, A Craft for My Turkeys

A Gift For Our Teachers

Our teachers gifts are a little different than gifts from other families!!! I believe sometimes it is more about what your students don't give you that really counts. For my children's teachers, I give them disinfecting wipes, tissues and alcohol hand foam.

They usually get this gift at the start of the year and at Christmas. Actually, I usually forget to send it in time for Christmas and send it after the start of the
New Year!!!

Hauling Around Sports Equipment

This week we picked up football equipment for our 8 year old twin boys.  Our family is from Oklahoma were football is king. The start of football is a big deal in our family. Although, one of them has a broken wrist and won't be hitting for a few weeks. 

With the start of practice, comes tons of stuff!!!! I somehow become responsible for said equipment.  I don't even know what pads go where.  And apparently, you are not supposed to wash uniforms with bleach. Oops!!

This year I have found a solution. Thirty one large utility tote holds everything.  I bought one for each boy in team colors, one with stripes and one without. They can haul them to practice and they have a spot in the house.

One small thing that makes my life easier!

11 Quick Meals Before Football Practice

Next week my boys start football practice, Go Spartans.  It starts early, in the evening, and it is always a race to feed them between work and practice.  They get hot and sweaty, so we keep it light. The coaches don't appreciate puking, because they ate a heavy meal. All meals have carbs for quick energy and protein to sustain them through practice.

1. tomato soup and Barilla tortellini (cook all in one pot)

2. hard-boiled eggs and fruit

3. French bread pizza

4. grilled cheese

5. scrambled eggs and toast

6. ham and cheese sandwich

7. chicken noodle soup with cheddar cheese

8. peanut butter with celery and raisins

9. pretzel rods wrapped with cheese and turkey

11. tortilla pizza

They will eat again when they get home, but these usually hold them over.  Tell me about your quick meal ideas.