Oatmeal Pancakes

If you're looking for a hearty, yummy pancake. Here it is! The recipe says 8-12 servings, but really this last several meals for our family of 4.

Blend the following dry ingredients:
4 c. oats
1 c. flour
1/4 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
pinch salt
cinnamon to taste

Blend the following wet ingredients:
4 c. buttermilk*
4 eggs
1/2 stick melted butter
2 t. vanilla

Combine with dry ingredients with fork but not too much. Let stand 45 minutes. Batter will thicken; add milk if desired. Stores in the refridgerator for several days. :) I recommend adding blueberries to the batter and topping with peaches & real whipped cream. Mmmmmm!

*Tip: To "make" buttermilk. Use 4 c. milk & add 4 t. vinegar. :)

6 Weeks Bran Muffins

Here's a great heathful muffin recipe that is so convienent b/c it stores for so long in your fridge. :) Great for extra fiber during pregnancy. Grandma McKinley used to make a batch of these for each of the Grandkids to take home. We joke about how even though they're "6 Weeks Bran Muffins," they only last like 6 days! ;-) So good!

Grandma McKinley's 6 Weeks Bran Muffins

Makes 1 gallon dough, approximately 48 muffins.

2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 c. plus 3 tbsp. crisco
2 c. boiling water poured over 2 c. All-bran (do this first to cool)
1 qt. buttermilk plus 4 c. Bran Buds (Bran Buds are in the cereal aisle!)
6 c. flour
4 tsp. soda

Cream sugar, shortening, and eggs. Mix in buttermilk and flour to which soda has been added. Add All-Bran mixture and water. Add Bran Buds. Mixture will keep in refrigerator a month or 6 weeks. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Do not stir dough from jar, just lift out and put in pans as you bake. Store in loose lidded jar such as an apothecary jar.

Handmade Gifts under $1.50!

This Christmas, I handmade a few gifts. This was an apron I made from some fabric I bought on clearance after Christmas one year for $1/yard. (It literally cost less than a dollar, b/c I used less then a yard!) Despite the fact it took a couple hours, I loved the way it turned out. I also added a fabric rose to the side by the chest, but didn't get a photo taken after the add. (Here's a tutorial to make a VERY easy fabric rosette: http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/2011/07/fabric-rosettes-tutorial.html)

For teachers this year, I busted out those pears & peaches that I canned last fall. My in-laws brought tons back from the West Coast. They are SUPER yummy and a delicacy in our house; however really a great frugal gift for us! Just the cost of the mason jar & I added some of that same Christmas fabric. I also purchased some reusable shopping bags with the phrase "#1 Teacher" in the fall for 25 cents each. Each bag held a jar of pears & a jar of peaches. :) (Total cost per gift about $1.25 plus fruit)

Lastly, I made these photo coasters. They are made from tiles (cost 11 cents each), felt, photographs, & modge podge. Such a simple, yet fun gift. The total cost of the craft was $1.16!! (Plus ribbon & modge podge which I just had on hand.)

Tangled Birthday Cake- Abbey's 7th Birthday!

My niece wanted a Tangled cake for her birthday! I made a whimsical tower out of rice crispy treats and texted it with a quilting-like fondant tool. The little cobblestones are covered in sparkle gels. The cake was a 3 layer 9" with creme cheese frosting covered in fondant.

Detail. I wrapped her extra long hair in plastic wrap until the piping was dry.

Full cake!

Here's Princess Abigail with her cake!

Bearded Dragon Cake

My amphibian lovin' nephew requested a "Bearded Dragon Cake!" :) Here it is:

He said, "I want the exact same cake NEXT year!"

Scarecrow cookies!

David was on the treat schedule for preschool today! They took a field trip to our local scarecrow festival display and we thought a scarecrow snack would go along nicely! We made 24 of these yesterday together! I think they turned out okay. :) He was such a great helper.

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/sweet-scarecrows-686957/

Dora Map Cake ~ Anna's 2nd Birthday

For Anna's 2nd birthday, I asked her what kind of cake she wanted and she yelled, "DORA, DORA!!" :) I thought it'd be fun to do a "map" scene like on the Dora show. In order for Dora to get to the birthday party, she had to first go to the apple tree, next the lake (watch out for swiper!), and finally the birthday party!

The actual cake is two layers (2- 9x13) with a white cake and a strawberry cake as well! :) It was fun to have the variety in flavor, but also in color! The more pink the better! :)

My precious 2 year old! Happy Birthday Anna!