Oatmeal Pancake Mix

It has been a very long time since I have put anything on my blog, I do have lots and lots of cookies that I could post but that would take a long time. However, I love looking for new recipes on blogs and on Pinterest. I found this recipe on one of my blogs I like to visit   I have a very very hard time getting oatmeal into my family. I have been making granola but only my husband eats that, and we have been only making cookies for treats once in a while. We have been incorporating whole wheat into our diets, by eating whole wheat breads and pasta. My 11 year old sometimes complains "does everything have to be whole wheat?" But they are warming up to the idea.

Anyway I found this recipe which uses oats and whole wheat and we really like it. So I thought I would share! It uses buttermilk and it nice to have on hand. I just keep it in the freezer. ( I do blend the oats to make a flour, and use all wheat flour).

Oatmeal Pancake Mix

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/oatmeal-pancake-mix.htmlake

 

Yield: Makes 10 cups of dry mix. One cup of mix will make about 6-7 4-inch pancakes.

Note (added 3/2011): I’ve updated this recipe several times to reflect that I generally use 100% whole wheat flour (five cups total, instead of using 2 cups of all-purpose flour). I prefer white wheat flour, although red wheat could be used and will lend an even heartier taste to the mix. Also, I made it the other day and before I added the oats to the mix, I threw them in my blender (yep, blender) and pulverized them to a powder. We loved the result! Loved it. Although the texture with the unblended oats is fantastic in it’s own right, blending the oats lends a smooth texture to the mix and finished pancakes. I’ll be doing it that way from now on!

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups rolled (quick) oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 cup vegetable or canola oil

Directions

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a mixer with a paddle (or by hand). If desired, grind the oats in a blender or food processor before adding to the other dry ingredients for a smoother mix. With mixer on slow speed (or gently by hand), drizzle the vegetable oil into the bowl slowly while the mixer is running. When all the oil has been added, stop the mixer and squeeze a clump of mix in your hand. If it stays together, it is just right. If it is still crumbly, add another tablespoon of oil at a time until the consistency is correct (I’ve never had to add additional oil). Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks at room temperature or indefinitely in the refrigerator or freezer.
2. To make the pancakes: whisk together 1 cup of mix, 1/2 to 1 cup buttermilk* (depending on how thick you want your batter), and 1 egg. The mixture may seem thin at first but the oats will soak up the milk as it stands while the griddle preheats. Heat a griddle and drop the batter onto it. When the edges look dry and bubbles come to the surface and don’t break, turn the pancake over to finish cooking on the second side. As a sidenote, buttermilk can be frozen indefinitely for future batches of pancakes, so it’s worth keeping it around!

Notes

Many people have commented that they have subbed plain yogurt or a mixture of lemon juice/milk for the buttermilk. Read through the comments to get the specifics - I always keep buttermilk on hand so I haven't made those substitutions myself.

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http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/09/oatmeal-pancake-mix.html

Printed from Mel's Kitchen Cafe (www.melskitchencafe.com)

Cookies, Cookies,Cookies!

I have been doing alot of cookies it seems, I did these cookies for a shower and making the same cookies for the same person again today for a different shower she is having.

These are one of the favorites, I like doing little girl babies best because you can add a pink bow on top of the head. After many dozen of these, I finally made a cookie cutter for this baby!

These are cuter in real life- I did these for a Stake Primary Leadership meeting on strengthening the home. They were a big hit, I guess! I did them in pink, blue, and yellow.

My new halloween cookie this year is Frankenstein! I made a cookie cutter for him too!

I love the electric green frosting!

I wanted to post the recipe for this toffee apple dip, it is so yummy!

It comes from a popular cookbook out here called "Favorites"

1(8-ounce) package cream cheese

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 t. vanilla

1/2 (11-0unce)package Skor or Heath toffee chips

Beat cream cheese, sugars and vanilla together until fluffy. Stir in toffee chips by hand. Serve with sliced apples.

Enjoy!

Hutch Makeover

I have wanted to makeover my 14 year old hutch for quite a while because it becomes the catch all for everything we want out of the way- I cleaned it out and organized the bottom cupboards, but the upper cupboard held all kinds of clutter, that you could see through the glass- So I used chalkboard paint on the glass. ( I am loving the chalkboard paint.) Then I wanted to add some color- Although, when it was finished I was not happy with the color- I wanted a darker grayish blue, oh well!
I learned that I  should have sanded it a little since it is laminate  and the paint chips off easily- I distressed it and wanted to use some stain over the paint, but because it is a laminate I can't really bear any wood and have it take the stain. Which is also one reason why I chose the lighter color. So no stain- it did not work. I'll have to post sometime my other chalkboard projects, a menu board and my boys bedroom closet- which has been great to put to do's on and for Parker to work on his Times tables.
So Stacey, it is wierd that you could see the picture of the hutch on the last post, because it is not showing up on mine.

So here is the before and after pictures.

I would have left the handles off and just used the knobs on the bottom but there were some holes that showed through.

Tis' The Wearin' Of The Green Day!

Are you wearin' your green? That tricky Leprechaun hid gold chocolate coins for us to find this morning.

Lucky Charms for breakfast- Sugar cookies for dessert and Irish Soda bread for dinner.
Every year for St. Patrick's Day I make Irish Soda Bread, it is so easy and something different. Tonight we are going to have Hamburger Pie. Although not Irish it sounds good with this bread. And it does have mashed potatoes on top, isn't that Irish?
Irish Soda Bread

2 cups flour

2 T sugar

1t baking powder

1 t soda

1/2t. Salt

3T butter, softened

½ c raisins

1 c. buttermilk

1 T melted butter
Preheat oven to 375*.

Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter- add raisins. Add buttermilk mix with a fork until moist. Turn on to floured surface. Knead- shape into a ball. Make a cross with a wooden spoon handle. Bake for 30 -40 mins. Brush with butter.

I also did St Patrick's Cookies too!

 I can't find where I found this free Subway Art- but I just copied it and put in a frame that I painted green- easy!













Feeling the LOVE!

Another Valentines Day has come and gone- so are the Maids of Honor, so sad :(  there are a few Sugar Cookies hiding out in the freezer, but that is only because we have not been feeling well. Anyway we are on the mend and  I thought I would post our February activities and projects before February is over.

The title of this blog after all  is An Occasional Cookie so here are some COOKIES!

This is a Bouquet that my neighbor asked me to make for her son's basketball coach.

 I tried a new technique to make polka dots, I have seen it done using thinned royal icing,but wanted to try it out with my recipe. You just frost the cookie then while it is still wet, make the polka dots on it. 

You've Got Mail!  I saw this idea  and wanted to try it. I bagged them and sent them in their lunches. I even made one for you Randall. It is still in the freezer.


The I LOVE YOU Party!

 Making a Valentine Holder

Menu

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

PBJ 

Cheese Sandwiches

Chips 

Strawberry Pretzel Jello

Maids of Honor

Sugar Cookies

Pink Lemonade

Candy Cane/Valentine Suckers and other treats!

We also celebrated Emily's 18th Birthday- she is not really into Disney stuff, but we played up the theme since her B-day present is her trip to California next month with her Ensemble Group and Concert Choir.

Which includes two Broadway shows-Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera! 

  Wish we could go with her,(well maybe not with her, 150 HS kids is too many)

It would be fun to see her perform at Disneyland .

A pair of sunglasses, Tinker bell fruit snacks and her favorite cookies!

Her Itinerary!

Cheesecake

"Love One Another"

I have always loved Valentines Day, memories of sugar cookies, Maids of Honor and I Love You Parties, traditions started by my mom. I remember her helping make this large flower in a pot to use for a Valentines box for school. The pot was one of those large ice cream containers that they use at Baskin Robbins.

I especially love to make Valentines crafts. I have really added to my collection in the last few years.

I made this wreath last year and I love it. It was so easy to do. I found it here.http://www.theidearoom.net/2010/01/felt-heart-wreath.html

A couple of years ago, my husbands grandpa died at the age of 99.  His motto was

" To Love One Another". He said that there wouldn't be so many problems in this world if we would just love each other.

We sang Love One Another at every family gathering and after he was finished bearing his testimony, during Fast and Testimony meeting at church he would give us a note and have the entire congregation sing with him. We sang it as we gathered around him shortly after he passed away. And again at his funeral.

Parker calls that hymn "grandpas' song".

Since then I have wanted to put in on the wall as a reminder of him and that we should all

love each other. So when I was visiting my mom at Thanksgiving I used her silhouette cutter and cut the letters. I finally got them hung up a couple of weeks ago.

As much as my family hates it when I bring out "THE TREE".

Granted it does tend to get in the way and the only place to put it is on the kitchen table, so every time we set the table for dinner they have to move it.  So I found another branch( I am always looking for the perfect one) and made a couple of new ornaments for it.

The other new decoration I made is a banner, I made one for Halloween and liked it so I made this one, I only wish I had used a different colored felt for the letters on the light colored fabric. I am looking forward to making a Happy Birthday Banner!

Then today as I was looking through blogland I found this wall quilt. Several years ago when we were living in Michigan, a couple of my friends made some wall quilts. I have wanted a Valentines one and I came across this darling quilt.  I am putting it on my to do list to be finished by next year!

I found it here. http://homesweethideaway.blogspot.com/2011/01/rouenneries-valentine-quilt.html 

What do you think Mom?

I also found these framed Love One Another quotes and made several of them.  I just downloaded  them from her sight and had them printed at Walgreens, I bought dollar store frames, painted some of them, left others the way they came, and took them to the women that I visit teach.

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/freestuff/  

It's been a crafty couple of weeks, I have probably crafted more in the last 6 months than I have in a long time. But it has been FUN!!!