A 12th birthday party!!!

Good morning!!

I have been on a bit of a blogger hiatus for the past 3 months. Not really a conscious hiatus... life was just busy and I think I needed to decide if I wanted to continue.

So.. while I was away my baby girl turned 12. Here is peek at her birthday party. We went to Laser tag, then came back for a sleep over. (I really dislike sleepovers. I break down on occasion and let them have one. I like routine, and control so they make me crazy. Throw in too tired, cranky kids the next day.. not my thing.) I do prefer my house though.. all my people under one roof makes me sleep better. I never liked them growing up so maybe that's my problem. Every once and a while I cave.. and I'm usually glad I did.)

We are past themed parties here.. which makes me kinda sad.. but the teal and leopard  color choices were pretty cute! 

A crate paper curtain and a basement filled with balloons. Those polka dot ones are my favorite.

Our basement has a theater screen in it and has tons of potential. I haven't done anything down there since we moved in but I am slowly working on making it a cozy place courtesy of Target and antique stores!

I love details. We had coke with pizza after a couple rounds of laser tag.

 They disappeared to the basement only to come up for food. This is the pile of staying up too late that I found in the morning. They were super good though and this was one of those times I'm glad I let her have a sleep over.

We made a pancake bar for breakfast. I wish I had better pictures.. but I wasn't blogging. ;)  

peanut butter, mini chocolate chips, whipped cream, sliced bananas, blueberries and raspberries,  sprinkles (not shown) and butter. served with sausage and hot cocoa. 

(yes, I do believe there is a pancake under neath that whipped cream!)

She had a wonderful time. I can't believe my baby girl is 12, time flies. It's good to be back, see you all soon. 

Almond French Toast

I came up with this french toast when I was somehow out of vanilla.  It is a fun, simple twist on ordinary french toast. I like to sprinkle sliced almonds on mine. I adds a nice crunch and looks pretty.

Almond French Toast

3 eggs
1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp almond extract
1 tsp. nutmeg (I like whole nutmeg)
few dashes of cinnamon


Whisk all ingredients together in a shallow bowl. I use a pie plate. Place bread slices in to egg mixture flipping to coat but not allowing to get too soggy.

Fry on  medium hot griddle or pan. Flipping after golden brown. Garnish with powdered sugar, syrup and sliced almonds if desired.

Enjoy!

Dutch Babies

These are another recipe from my neighbors front steps. Dutch Babies are sometimes called German Pancakes or a Dutch Puff. It puff sup all light and fluffy and then  the middle falls to so it is dense and gooey. They have a velvety butter flavor and are sweet but not to sweet. Maddie loves them best sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.  It is so not low calorie yet so delicious!! Plus it a snap to prepare. 

Dutch Babies

4 eggs beaten

1 c. milk

1 c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. butter 

Mix all ingredients except butter in large bowl. Preheat oven to 425* place 1/4 c. butter in a pie plate our square pan. (this is our dutch baby pie plate, my husband brought it for me in Las Vegas of all places. I adore it and have never made them in anything else.)

Place in oven while it preheats to melt the butter. Remove  from oven when butter is melted and pour in the batter. The sides will start to cook right away.

 Return to the oven and bake about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Slice and serve with syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, fresh fruit or preserves.

Buttermilk Pancakes and my 80-20 Rule

 I am a big fan of making things from scratch. Yes, I love to cook but mostly I like to know what is going in our bodies. I guess I have sort of created an 80-20 rule when it comes to food. If 80 percent of the time we eat real food, prepared in my kitchen and aren't eating the weird chemicals put in processed food then I don't have to feel too bad about the 20 percent we do eat. Realistically we all know our bodies weren't created to handle the chemicals we have in so much of our foods. Convenience foods have their place, even in my home... I just don't think they should be the base of our diets.

Artificial flavors, colors and preservatives are put into everything! Which is where I decided the 80-20 was a good ratio. My family wants to eat Doritos now and then. I will occasionally buy treats like frozen corn-dogs or grosser than gross... handi snacks (seriously that cheese smells like vomit.) I don't think depriving kids is the answer. Nor is depriving yourself, (I could learn to deprive myself a bit more but that is another story!) I put coffee-mate in my coffee every morning and until I find and alternative that tastes as good I'm going to continue to do it! 

We go through periods of time, usually when our schedules are off as well, when we (I) allow more fake foods into our diets. Then I have to reel it in. I allow more sugar and treats and then have to reel it in. We are back at a reeling in faze at our house. I have to get our schedules back on track and our diets. 

I clear out the cupboards and get back to real life, real bedtimes, real TV limits and real eating. 

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These pancakes are pretty much as easy as a mix. You need to measure 5 dry ingredients... how much longer will that take you? We love breakfast for dinner I will sometimes double or even triple this and freeze the pancakes for a quick breakfast, they are also great for a snack with peanut butter on them.

Buttermilk Pancakes


1 c. flour
1 TBSP. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 c. buttermilk
2 TBSP. oil

 whisk together dry ingredients and add to wet ingredients. mix well. pour batter on to coated (pam spray or butter) griddle, fry until edges start to bubble, flip and finish other side. Serve with real maple syrup or fresh strawberries and whipped cream for a special treat.


* if you do not have buttermilk you can make your own by combining just under 1 c. milk and 
   1 TBSP. vinegar or lemon juice. Add milk to measure 1 full cup. Sit about 5 minutes. That's it!

Yep, that is spray whipped cream, that's where the 20 % comes in. That stuff is FUN and is a special treat.

Happy Monday! ~Shelby

ABC muffins

This recipe started out as a lower fat banana bread recipe that I got from a neighbor when my kids were babies. I have tweaked it over the years. If you want just banana bread/muffins, simply omit the apple and cut down on the cinnamon if you wish.

Apple, Banana, Cinnamon Muffins

1 1/2 cups Flour ( I use half whole wheat)

1 1/4 tsp. Baking Powder

1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

1/8 tsp. Salt

2 Egg whites

1 cup Banana

1 Medium sized apple finely chopped

3/4 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Oil + about 1 Tbsp

Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in bowl. Mix egg whites, banana, apple, sugar and oil in another bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well blended. Pour into greased or lined loaf pan or muffin tin. Bake in a 350* oven for 30-40 minutes. Insert tooth pick or cake tester in to the middle to ensure doneness. 

 These freeze really well. My kids pull one out in the morning and microwave it for about 30-40 seconds. perfect for when I tell the kids this is "not a Momma make your breakfast morning."

Happy Friday! WoooHOO!! ~Shelby