Buttermilk Syrup

        

I got this recipe from my aunt, Ginger when she served it at our annual cousin (now 2nd cousin) sleepover. It is amazing! It's similar to the syrup at Kneeder's if you've been there. 

1 cube butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup buttermilk (or regular milk with a 1/2 tbsp of vinegar mixed in. Let sit for a few minutes)

1 tsp Karo syrup 

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla 

In a large pan bring first four ingredients to a boil stirring frequently. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. It will fizz. Serve hot!! 

Banana Berry Smoothie

Not the best picture, I know.  But I was in a hurry to eat it up!
Lately I've been trying to lose my weight from having the twins.  This has been working great!  For breakfast this is what I have.

1 large or 2 small bananas
1 cup of frozen berrries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
1 cup of Juice - usually white grape

Blend well and enjoy!

Breakfast Cookies

I had a dilemma.  We were going camping (until the thunderstorm started) and I had no idea what to pack for breakfast for my kids.  I already had enough junk food packed, I didn't want them eating it for breakfast, too. I searched the internet and found lots of recipes for breakfast cookies.  This was last week and I should have written it down, but I didn't so I will do my best to remember what I put in and how much.  My measurements were also pretty random.  I just threw stuff in without measuring.  Also, this recipe makes only 9 large cookies so definitely double or triple it if you want more.

1 cup Rolled Oats
1/2 cup Craisins
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Applesauce
2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Cloves
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/2 tsp Ginger

I think that's it.  Next time I would maybe add 2 Tbsp of Honey and possibly chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.  I think.  I would keep an eye on them.

Zucchini Bread

When we were in Utah this summer, we went to Park City with my mom, sister and her family.  My sister brought with them some zucchini bread that her friend, Jenny Williams had made.  My kids went crazy and I'm pretty sure ate the whole thing.  Sorry, Suz.  So I wrote to her and begged her for the recipe.  It is pretty amazing.

3 Eggs
1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup Applesauce
2 cups Sugar
2 cups Zucchini, grated
3 tsp. Vanilla
3 cups Flour
3 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
If you have any Flax Seed throw some of that in, too

Preheat Oven to 325 degrees.  Grease and flour 2 loaf pans.  Beat eggs until frothy.  Mix in oil, applesauce, and sugar.  Stir in zucchini and vanilla.  mix in flour, cinnamon, soda, powder, salt, and flax seed.  Divide into 2 pans.  Top with a cinnamon streusel.  Bake for 60-70 minutes.

Cinnamon Streusel:
1/4 cup Flour
1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed in
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
2 T. Butter, melted

Combine all ingredients with fork until well mixed.  Place on top of whatever you wish!

Blueberry Muffins

I got this recipe from the Essential Mormon Celebrations Cookbook by Julie Badger Jensen. And it rocks.


Muffins 
1 1/2 cups Flour
1/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
1 Egg, beaten
1/2 cup Butter, melted
1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp. Lemon Zest
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 recipe Muffin Topping (see below)
1 recipe Muffin Glaze (see below)

In a large bowl (not a mixer), combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until well blended. Make a well in center of mixture. Place egg, butter, and milk in center and stir just until blended. Carefully stir in lemon zest and blueberries. Fill 12 muffin cups. Sprinkle with Muffin Topping. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle with Muffin Glaze (not pictured above)


Muffin Topping 
1/2 cup pecans, chopped (not pictured above)
 1/2 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Flour
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Lemon Zest
2 Tbsp. Butter, melted

 In a bowl, combine above ingredients and sprinkle over muffins.


Muffin Glaze 
1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1 Tbsp. fresh Lemon Juice

In a bowl, mix powdered sugar and lemon juice together. Drizzle over muffins after baking.

Pumpkin Pancakes

I was going to do this for our Halloween breakfast, but we were dragging in the morning and let's be honest, it was just easier to have cereal.  But for lunch, I made Pumpkin Pancakes.  The idea had actually just come to me early early that morning and I didn't have a recipe.  But I figured, how hard could it be?  It was super easy and they were actually really good.  I was scared they would be awful but everybody loved them!

 If I had been better prepared, I would have tried to actually make them look like pumpkins.  My kids thought that was more of the idea vs. taste.  So after this first batch, I added red and yellow food coloring to make theirs orange.  Sorry, no pics of that.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Bisquick

1 Cup Milk

2 Eggs

1/4 Cup canned Pumpkin

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/4 tsp. Cloves

1/4 tsp. Ginger

1/4 tsp. Nutmeg

And a couple drops of Vanilla

Mix it all together and cook on your greased griddle.  Serve with Maple Syrup. 

Spinach Smoothies

I know this is the least appetizing sounding smoothie you could possible create while still edible. But I keep hearing about people LOVING these smoothies. Each recipe I find is different so I did what I thought sounded the best.


Prettier before the mixing

Doesn't look edible but I promise it is. And it's good.
I didn't add blueberries but I'm sure they would be pretty good

2 Bananas
4 Strawberries
1/2 Cup Raspberries
1/4 Cup Orange Juice
1 -2 cups of Spinach
1/2 T. Honey

These are a great way to get your fruits and veggies in or if you're not a breakfast person, this would be great for breakfast, too.

Green Eggs & Ham

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DR. SUESS

Yesterday was Dr. Suess' birthday and at my son's school they've been celebrating. Today was Wacky Wednesday, for the book. I didn't know there was a Dr. Suess book named that. Anyway, that's why my son's hair is like that. He also had his shirt on backwards, different color socks, and different shoes. The point to all of this nonsense is, I actually made Green Eggs & Ham at his request. I'm not suggesting you do, just thought it'd be fun to post.

Skillet Meal

This recipe is so easy and self-explanatory. It is also super delicious.

Ham
Scrambled Eggs
Hashbrowns
Salt & Pepper
Cheddar Cheese

Start browning your hashbrowns since that will take the longest. Cube the ham. When the hashbrowns are close to being done, throw the ham in and season the hashbrowns with salt and pepper. Now you can start your scrambled eggs. When those are finished, you can add it all together and mix it up or you can serve it individually. Top with cheddar cheese. Throw in the microwave if it needs help melting the cheese.
You could also add green peppers or any other veggies you'd like.

Melt In Your Mouth Cinnamon Rolls

Use my Mom's Homemade Rolls recipe listed under the bread label.

1/2 cube melted butter or margarine
Brown Sugar
Cinnamon

Follow directions of Mom's Homemade Roll Recipe until you get to where you've just rolled out the dough. Don't cut it. Instead, spread the melted margarine around with a pastry brush. Then add enough brown sugar to cover that, I'm not exactly sure how much that is. Then sprinkle the top with cinnamon.
Roll up very carefully and cut with a bread knife into pieces. Place in greased baking pans, (I use round cake pans) and let rise for about an hour. Then cook at 375 for 8-9 minutes.

Frosting:
3 Cups Powdered Sugar
6 Tbsp. Margarine or Butter melted
3 Tbsp. Milk
1 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla

Mix well and pour over warm cinnamon rolls.

Banana Shakes

I grew up with my mom making these for me. She always used to say that it was healthy because it has bananas and milk in it. So I'm going to stick with that.

These measurements are more of a guess than anything. I don't ever actually measure when I make it, I just do what I think looks good. But when I made them today I paid pretty close attention to what I put in and did the best I could at guessing how much it was.

2 Ripe Bananas
1 1/2 Cups Vanilla Ice Cream
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 Cup Milk

I used store bought chocolate milk today
and it didn't taste a ton different but it was definitely yummy

Mix all ingredients in the blender until there are no more chunks.
Serves 3 medium size servings or 2 large servings