Homemade Pancakes & Baked Apple Slices

My husband and I love to make pancakes on our slow mornings!  I used to use pancake mix until I decided to try to make my own batter.  After a couple of trials, I stopped on our favorite recipe.  We have been making these pancakes for a number of years now and we love them!  They are everything a pancake should be...in our eyes anyway!  Recently I have been dressing them with Baked Apple Slices.  These apple slices are super easy to make and so delicious!  Nothing says "Breakfast at Home" like these pancakes and baked apple slices!

Makes ~10 medium size pancakes

 

Pancakes

©      1 cup Flour

©      2 tablespoons Sugar

©      1 tablespoon Baking Powder-newly opened for best results (within 30 days)

©      1/2 teaspoon Salt

©      1 teaspoon Lemon Zest

©      Sprinkle of Cinnamon

©      1 Egg- room temperature for best results

©      1 cup Milk-room temperature for best results

©      2 tablespoons Oil

©      1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1.  Combine dry ingredients in a small bowl, mix well.  Combine wet ingredients in a medium size bowl and mix well using a whisk.  Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk well for 1-2 minutes.

2.  Heat griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat to medium when griddle is hot and apply a light coat of non-stick spray-I like to do this only with the first pancake.  Pour/scoop the batter onto the griddle, using about 1/4 cup for each pancake.  Wait until the entire pancake has "bubbles" before turning.  Continue with the rest of the batter.  Cover cooked pancakes with clear-saran wrap for a couple of minutes until you are ready for them!

Baked Apple Slices

©      2 Apples-peeled, cored, and sliced any variety (my favorite Fuji or Granny Smith)

©      2 tablespoons Maple Syrup

©      Sprinkle of Cinnamon

©      1 tablespoon Lemon Juice (optional)

©      1 teaspoon of brown Sugar (optional)

©      1/4 teaspoon Salt (optional)

Directions:

1.  Place sliced apples into a microwave safe bowl.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and if using; lemon juice, sugar and salt.  Toss gently.  Add good quality maple syrup and again mix.

2.  Microwave for 2-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of your apple slices and how tender you like them to be.  Test doneness with a fork.  Serve over pancakes!

I so hope you will give these recipes a try!  You'll not regret it!  At any rate, you can always go back to the box mix and canned apples  ;-)  Happy Monday Everyone!!

Blueberry-Banana Smoothie

I am a big fan of smoothies!  They make a delicious breakfast on the go or a nourishing afternoon snack.  This deep purple smoothie is made from only three simple ingredients:  bananas, blueberries, and non-dairy milk!  How simple is that?!?  

Do you ever have overripe bananas laying around begging to end their misery?  Here's a quick tip: freeze them!  That's right; peel them,  cut into chunks, and then place them into a bag/container in the freezer.  Freezing the banana will stop the ripening process and will make an excellent addition to a smoothie.  Using a frozen banana will give you a colder, more dense smoothie. 

Ingredients:

©    1 medium or large Banana (or two small ones)

©    1 cup frozen Blueberries

©    1 cup non-dairy Milk (Rice milk or Soy milk work the best)

Directions:

1.  Place the banana pieces(fresh or frozen), frozen blueberries, and the milk into the blender.  Blend until completely smooth, add more milk if needed.

Give this recipe a try and you too will become a fan of smoothies!  I hope this simple recipe will make your day a little brighter!!!

Energizing Green Smoothie

The holiday season is here!  I don't know how it's for you, but for me that usually means busy mornings.  This simple, yet sooo yummy smoothie is the recipe I use to nourish my family on such mornings.  My kids love this brilliant green drink for its taste. While my husband and I admire it for its nutritional wealth. The "skeleton recipe" is below.  I call it the "skeleton" because there are so many variations of this smoothie!  Try substituting the spinach leaves for kale, or adding some mint leaves.  Don't have a pear, no problem!  Just omit it and add some frozen blueberries.  You get the idea...  Ginger has a strong warming flavor for which you have to develop a taste.  For that reason, I exclude it when preparing the drink for the kids.

I love to pair this smoothie with a toast coated with pumpkin butter sprinkled with chia seeds or sunflower seeds.  I enjoy the pumpkin butter made by Kauffman's:

  (http://www.kauffmansfruitfarm.com/folder/%20%20318)  Kauffman's brand offers a variety of fruit butters without the extra ingredients.  Give them a try!

Ingredients: 

©      1 ripe Banana, peeled and broken into pieces

©      1 small Apple, cored and cut into chunks

©      1 small Pear, cored and cut into chunks

©      1 cup Baby Spinach leaves

©      1/2 to 3/4 cup Orange Juice (preferably not from concentrate)

©      1 to 2 teaspoons ground Flax seed

©      1 to 2 teaspoons fresh grated Ginger (1/4-1/2 teaspoons if using ground ginger powder (exclude if preparing for younger children due to ginger's strong flavor)

1.  Place the banana pieces, apple chunks, pear chunks, and orange juice into the blender.  Blend on high, stopping as needed to push the fruit down.

2.  Next add the spinach leaves, flax seed, and grated ginger; blend again until very smooth.  Add water or ice cubes if needed.  Blend until completely smooth and brilliant green in color. 

Whether you are getting up early for door-busters, getting started on the meal for a family gathering, or simply jumping into a hectic day with the kids; this delicious smoothie will recharge your body and give you the much needed energy to fully enjoy the joyful season!!!