Thursday, October 27, 2011

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes with Cider Syrup

I just got done making some delicious Fall pancakes.  I took two normal recipes and made them healthier.  I do this with most recipes and sometimes it turns out well.  This one happened to be really good so I wanted to write down the changes I made and thought I'd share it.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes
3/4 C.  dehydrated apples slices (from the cannery) or 1 peeled and chopped apple
1 1/2 C.  Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk (Trader Joe's brand is best) or regular milk
1 C. Water
1/4 C. olive oil
2 C. whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 C. whole rolled oats

If you are using dehydrated apples, put them in the bowl first with the milk and water so they have time to soften.  You can add the oats at this time too. Then add everything else on top.

Apple Cider Syrup
3/4 C. apple juice
1/2 C. brown sugar
2 Tbls. Butter
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
dash of nutmeg
dash of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Let simmer for 15 minutes.  I removed the corn syrup this recipe called for so it is runny, but still very sweet.  I attempted adding corn starch to thicken it but that only clumped.  It still pours great over the pancakes.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

4th Annual HH Howl

 We held our annual Halloween party this weekend.  The boys, especially Bug (note his "tough" Viking faces in all the pictures), are in love with their costumes and had a GREAT time battling with the rest of the boys in the backyard for the majority of the party.
 My Mom and Dad, the Calgary Flames Hockey Fans.
 The kids enjoying some grub.
 The chilled IBC's were a hit and will definitely become a party tradition to go along with our traditional Chicken Tortilla Soup.
The Stoddard's in their fabulous costumes, the only entire family to dress up.
Bond and I really put effort into costumes this year, I was a pumpkin patch growing a ready to be picked pumpkin and Bond was Irish.  Lame.  But I didn't even have time or energy to get makeup on that day although I really wanted to make THIS.
The Parker brothers. 
All of the villians battling it out in the backyard.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

The Nursery

I have been unabashedly sewing  for the past few weeks.  The nursery is pretty much finished now except for a few things.  Here are the results.   
 Fitted Crib Sheet Tutorial found HERE.
  I made two of the exact same quilt so that if one has to be washed or gets lost, then we always have a backup.  The edges are made of gathered flannel-backed satin and the back is minky. Bug likes the minky on his blankies and Bear likes the satin side of his blankies so I made sure to include plenty of both.

The patterns for the Owl Mobile are found at HERE.

I saw these fabric totes HERE and thought I should make a few for under the crib.  Not a good idea, one was enough for me.  I don't think I can bring myself to make another one, even though I liked how it turned out.

The boppy got a a new cover with the left over fabric from the quilts.  I can't WAIT to snuggle up with my baby girl and this.
The other night Bond and I started watching Robin Hood and I was so tired that I passed out after the opening scene.  After the movie was over I couldn't fall asleep so I stayed up way too late making these. 
Five more weeks to go!!!