Cinnamon Whole Wheat Flax Seed Meal Pancakes with Peach Compote

It's a mouth full to say the name of the pancakes but a good mouth full! Even my 10 month old loves these pancakes.

Cinnamon Whole Wheat Flax Seed Meal Pancakes with Peach Compote

 Pancakes
2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sugar
1tbl Sp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
Pinch salt
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups buttermilk
1tsp vanilla
1 egg

Mix dry ingredients together then mix wet ingredients together. Combined wet and dry in a bowl. Beat for 2 min. Then cook on a hot griddle

 
Peach compote:
2 peaches
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt

Put a little butter in a pan. Add chopped peaches. Cook on med heat. Add the salt and sugar as soon as the peaches start to sizzle. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Then add water. Simmer for about 5 min until it becomes a little sticky. You can always double this if you want lots of peach compote.

Blueberry Bagels

I saw a recipe for an onion bagel. But the directions were for someone with a bread machine. So I wanted blueberry and I don't have a bread machine. So here is my take on bagels.

Blueberry Bagels


1 cup warm water (100-110 degrees)
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp salt
3 cups flour

For Boiling

3 quarts water
4 tbsp honey
2 tsp salt



For Baking
1 egg for egg wash
(1 egg with 1tbsp water beat together)
 non-stick cooking spray or corn meal

Directions:

Add yeast, sugar, and salt to the warm water. Let it proof until foamy.

I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer and the dough hook for this next step. In your mixing bowl add the flour (I used 2 cups white unbleached flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour) Add the wet ingredients and kneed on medium speed for 8-10 min. Then add about 3/4 cup frozen blueberries or you can use dried. It will be easier to use dried fruit. Kneed until they become incorporated.

(I had to hand kneed some of the blueberries in by hand since the juice made the dough sticky)

Let rise in a warm place (to make sure the dough did not get too cold from the frozen blueberries, I cut on the oven on the lowest setting. Once it reached the temp, I cut it off covered the bowl and let it rise in there for 30-40 min.or until dough rises to about double in size.

(like I said if you use dried berries, it is a little easier and you don't have to watch the dough temp. I just wanted juicy berries in mine.)

Once dough has risen, separate it into 8 same size balls.

Flatten the dough balls out just a little and use your finger to poke a hole in the middle and stretch it out just a bit.

Cover with a towel and let rise for 5 min.

Boil water with the honey and salt

pull out a baking sheet and place parchment paper on it and spray with non-stick cooking spray or use corn meal if you have some. I used spray.


Once water comes to a boil, 2 at a time (only) add bagels. Boil for 30 sec. each side and remove with a slotted spoon.

Brush bagels with egg wash.

Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 min.

Dear Mom On the iPhone *Rant* of Sorts.

I know you have probably seen the post going around Face Book titled "Dear Mom On the iPhone."

Well let me first say that there is some truth in that. Sometimes we can all get carried away with our technology toys. I am guilty of spending too much time on Face Book and emails. I don't have a smart phone but if I did I could see myself jumping on Face Book or Checking emails at the park with my kids.Here is why.

 I home school my kids so I get a lot of time with them. Especially at home during school time. You were not with me at my house when we just made binoculars out of toilet paper rolls and went bird watching in the back yard. Or piked leaves and flowers together to make colorful nature collages. 

I am sure that even parents that don't home school spend lots of quality time with there kids. It is not about quantity of time but quality of time. There could be a mom at the playground completely drained and exhausted from the many demands of motherhood, not spending quality time with her kids, just being present. 

My kids love the park to explore and have some time for themselves to play and  be adventurous. Many times they want to have the freedom to be with their friends and siblings without me. It is also a great time for me to recharge myself. So If I want to go to the park and play around on a smart phone or chat with my friends, then I should be able to do so without mommy guilt, and being judged by others. 

Posts like that really do make moms feel guilty for taking time for themselves. You never know what someone had been going through that day or their reasons for being on their phone. I am sure that most parents that take the time to take their kids to the park are involved loving parents. 

It is okay for "me time" but remember not to get carried away with it. God has given us mommies the task of raising our children in a loving home.And sometime mommies just need to recharge. I love my kids and would do anything for them. On a daily basis I think of ways to interact with them, love them, and show them how special they are. I too need to feel special so finding that balance is key. Just please don't judge other moms.

Home Made Pop Tarts

Home Made Jam Pastries (Pop Tarts)

Home Made Pop Tarts 

I really don't like the ingredients in the store bought ones so here is my version. My husband said they taste like biscuits with jam.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup Unsalted  Butter Cold ( 2 Sticks)
1/2 Cup Ice Water
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1/2 Tsp Sea Salt
Natural Jam of Choice for Filling
1 Egg for Egg Wash

1.Preheat oven to 375.
2.In a food processor  mix the dry ingredients just until blended.
3.Then cut the cold butter into smaller cubes. Process the 2 sticks of butter with the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles corn meal size pieces.
4.Add the cold water slowly until the mixture starts to stick together (you may not need to use all the water.) 5.On a lightly floured surface turn the dough and need it just a couple of times so that it sticks together. You want the dough to stay cold so it is more flaky.
6.Roll it out into a large rectangle about 1/4 inch think or less.
7.Cut out 16-20 squares.
8.Place half of the squares on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
9.Put about 1 Tblsp of jam in the middle of the square and top with the other square piece.
10.Press down the sides with a fork and poke a few holes in the middle with a fork.
11.Mix a little water with the egg and beat together. Brush the egg wash on the pop tarts.
12.Bake for 16-18 min.

Bagel Chips

I have not posted in a while. 5 kids can cause you to neglect a blog. But I wanted to share a recipe I have tried. I am sure it is a common one out there but it is a good idea if you have left over bagels and don't want to throw them out. I am fortunate to have an awesome church that gives out left over baked goods from a chain bakery after their service.

I love hummus with bagel chips but the store bought ones are Ridiculously expensive.  So one day I decided to make my own. I did Google a recipe but did not like the time they suggested to bake the chips so I made it my own.


1st slice up your bagel this way to make round chips. The thinner the slice the crispier it will be. I still like them to have a little chew so this is how thick I like them.






                                                                                 

 


2nd coat them with a little olive oil and toss.










3rd Bake at 350 for 4-5 min then flip them over and bake for an additional 4-5 min.



You can really adjust anything with this recipe to accommodate your taste.

*For sweet bagels like cinnamon or blueberry I like to coat them in melted butter and bake the same way.

Flower Fruit Tray

I made this for Grace's 4th Birthday. Thought it would be a fun alternative to a fruit salad.

I bought a medium and small flower cookie cutter to cut the flower shapes out of  Watermelon, and Cantaloupe. For a splash of color, I just stuck Kiwi slices between the flowers.

The cantaloupe is just laying on top of the watermelon. Did not want to use toothpick to hold them together since it is for a kids birthday party.

Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is so good. And ready to pop in the oven first thing in the morning. I like these better than Cinnabon even.

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla     

 FILLING:

• 1/2 stick butter (soft)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Frosting:

• 1 Stick unsalted butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.
2. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in the milk mixture. Add the sugar, 3 cups of flour, salt, eggs, and vanilla; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10x 14 inch rectangle.  Rub the 1/2 stick softened butter over the whole surface, except the top edge. In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle over the rectangle.  Roll up the dough into a log and seal the seam.To seal the seam you can rub a little water on the unbuttered part.
5. Cut the dough into 12 to 14 equal pieces; place the pieces in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan.Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.
6. The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
7. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Meanwhile, combine the ingredients to make the frosting and beat with a mixer until fluffy.