Breakfast To Go

On any given school day morning, someone at our house is probably having this for breakfast.

First, pop a whole wheat English muffin into the toaster. (We use the No Name ones from Superstore, which seem just as good as the much more expensive name-brand ones.)




Then pick a jumbo farm-fresh free-range brown egg. Yum!




Next, spray a small bowl with non-stick spray, crack the egg into the bowl, and scramble with a fork.




Zap the egg in the microwave for 30 seconds on full power.




Immediately place a slice of cheese on top of the egg so it starts to melt.




Once the muffin is toasted, assemble and enjoy!




Or if you're running to catch the bus, slip it into a sandwich bag, grab a juice box, and go!

Mmmm - Apple Pancakes

I made this scrumptious recipe the other day - first time in probably two years. I grew up eating them - I think the recipe is German and was handed down in my dad's family. Whenever Grandma came to visit, or when we went to visit her, these pancakes were a MUST! Mom included the recipe in the books that she was making up for my sister and I when she was battling cancer. We didn't find the recipe books until after she died - tucked away in a drawer. I really treasure that book!



I usually double this:

4 eggs, beaten slightly
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup vegetable oil
5 medium apples, peeled and sliced very thin. Set aside. (I don't slice the apples until I've made the batter)

Add milk, suger, salt, flour, and oil to eggs. Blend well but do not overbeat.

Pour about 1/3 cup batter on 350 degree griddle. Place sliced apples on top. Flip when browned on underside. Remove from griddle when apples are browned.



Make each one a little smaller than a dinner plate. Two fit on my griddle, but I only pour the second one once I've got apple slices on the first one.






This is the apple side when done:



They are so yummy spread with butter, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and rolled up. We won't talk about the calories and carbs. It's not something I make every day!



Mmmmm - pure comfort food!

We made Puppy Chow!

No, not the canine variety, but the yummy peanut butter/chocolate snack that does kind of resemble dog food! For the past few years during the pre-Christmas season, the local IGA has put out a stack of Puppy Chow recipes next to all the ingredients needed. This year I thought I'd give it a try. Here's the recipe:

1 box Crispix cereal
1 package chocolate chips
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups icing sugar

Melt chocolate chips, margarine and peanut butter. Pour over cereal in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour the icing sugar into a large brown pager bag and add the cereal. Fold the bag to seal and shake well to coat evenly. Spread on waxed paper to cool and dry.

Sounds easy enough, and it was. K helped me and even A had to give the bag a few shakes. Kind of weird to use a paper bag, but it worked! The icing sugar only seeped out a little during shaking. It's really quite a yummy treat. And of course, if you eat it on the weekend, the calories don't count. ;o) Right?

Asthma attacks and a yummy recipe. What a combo.

K has been waking up in the night with asthma attacks - worse than I've seen with her. Not sure what is up with that, except that maybe with the snow melting the wind is blowing spores around or something?? Anyway, I started her on Flovent this morning, in addition to Ventolin for attacks. I hope they end soon - we're having some short nights.

Here's a recipe I tried for the first time yesterday. I've been wanting to make these for a long time. Everyone in the house loves them, and they're easy.



Double Good Raisin Bars

2 cups California raisins
1 can sweetened condensed milk (I never said they were low-cal)
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind (omitted - I don't usually stock lemons)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup butter, softened (I used margarine)
1 1/3 cups packed brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour (I used whole wheat)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 cups rolled oats

Combine first 4 ingredients in medium saucepan. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture bubbles (okay - this started burning onto the pan for me, so I immediately transferred it into a glass bowl and did that part in the microwave). Cool. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour and baking soda. Add oats; blend until crumbly. Reserve 2 cups; press remainder into bottom of greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Spread raisin mixture to within 1/2 inch of edge. Top with reserved oat mixture; pat lightly. Bake in 375* F oven, 25-30 minutes or until golden. Cool. Enjoy. :o)