Favorite Pancakes

We eat these once a week. I was using the Best Recipe Book recipe for pancakes, but made a few changes.

(For a double batch, or about 14 4-inch pancakes)

2 C flour (I use half all-purpose, half hand ground wheat)
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 C buttermilk
2 eggs
2 tsp butter, melted
2 Tbs non-fat greek yogurt, vanilla or plain

Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk or fork. Add wet ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Using an ice-cream scooper or 1/4 measuring cup, cook on a pre-heated skillet, about 300 degrees.

Picture of the Day : Best Track

I am pretty proud of this one- two connected train lines and an elevated turn. All of the kids love the "Noisy Thomas" because he is battery powered and can tow 6-7 other trains behind him.

Picture of the Day: Polling Place

The children glued stars to a headband to get ready for a trip to our polling place. Naturally, the voting volunteers loved the kids.  They love seeing the fire trucks and ambulance up close. Though it would have been pretty exciting to see some action, we are glad the firemen could get some rest.

Cereal Necklaces

Trader Joe's started stocking a new fruit O's cereal (without corn syrup or food coloring) and it seemed perfect for fun necklace making. The children were pretty good about only eating the broken cereal pieces, then stringing the rest for afternoon snack time.

Picture of the Day: Flying High

This was great exercise for all of us. The wind seemed great but for some reason I couldn't get the kite much higher than 15-20 feet from the ground. Even then we were all running back and forth furiously to keep it up. A fair amount of the time it was just being pulled by the children across the grass.

High Fructose Corn Syrup

I have learned over the years that high fructose corn syrup is particularly dangerous for people battling weight and blood sugar diseases. I read an article a few years ago written by a pediatrician who thought high fructose corn syrup is as addictive as many illicit drug and should be available by prescription only for children who are not able to maintain a healthy weight (!).  So, I found this article interesting; a study shows that HFCS "alters your brain's ability to learn and remember information." Just another reason to avoid it (except maybe for once yearly homemade caramel indulgences.)

4 Thumbs Up Smoothie

-1 cup frozen organic strawberries
-1 cup frozen mangos
-1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries

-1 big handful of kale, washed with stems removed

-add Trader Joe's organic orange juice (tastes like a fresh orange, double yum) until the contents of the blender are covered completely.

{Everything above is just about an estimate. We also love frozen raspberries and peaches.}

When the kids asked, with their noses wrinkled, "What are those greeeeen things?"

I was really relieved that 'sparkles!' came to mind and was approved. Phew. They love these sparkly drinks!

And as a side- I think the blender makes a difference. We get to test drive the BlendTec for a month. Love it! It will be hard to part with.