Ninja Turtle pancakes

We decided to make Raphael pancakes this morning.  I wanted to try it out with one turtle before I committed to mixing all the colors.  Next time, we will have all the turtles! :) 

Raphael: 

I used chocolate chips for the eyes and food coloring in the batter for the mask and face. 

Turtle Power! 

Rainbow Dash Pancakes

This morning I decided to try something a little more difficult and make Rainbow Dash pancakes.  I originally wanted to make one large pancake, but with all the colors I had to make multiple and assemble it.  It still turned out great, and I am very pleased.  The most important critic was absolutely tickled, and that's what matters! 

I made several bowls of different colored batter and sketched Rainbow Dash in parts (head and body, mane, tail, eye, and legs) on the griddle with a spoon.  I didn't use any special pancake squirt bottles or decorating kits, so anyone can do it! 

Happy creating! 

Organized junk drawer

I tackled one of our junk drawers a few weeks ago.  Yes, that was plural, we have two.   One drawer is mostly manuals to electronics, random tools, and odds and ends.  This one was craft supplies.  The drawer was a huge unorganized mess with everything mixed together.  You could reach in looking for a pen and come out with a safety pin stuck to your finger.    

Now, it is organized and kid friendly.  I have waited to see if the kids would maintain it, and they have!  I used plastic bin organizers to keep everything sorted. 

Yes, there are actually sharpies in the drawer the kids use.. I may be asking for it, but they don't take markers or crayons without asking.  It hasn't been an issue yet, but if so, I'll have a reason to blog about removing sharpie off random things.. 

Happy Organizing!

Mango Salsa

If you are looking for a refreshing and addictive salsa, this is the salsa for you.  Mango salsa has a sweetness with just the right kick to it.  This is by far my favorite salsa to make and eat.  It's not a traditional salsa because it does have mango, but so delicious.  

Mango Salsa

1 mango (peeled, seeded, and diced)

5 tomatoes (diced, I usually cut in different sizes for some chunky bits) 

1/4 cup red onion (diced) 

1/4 cup sweet onion (diced) 

1/2 cup fresh cilantro (chopped) 

3 cloves garlic (minced) 

3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 

1 teaspoon salt 

1 jalepeno seeded and diced (optional) 

Add all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly together.  Refrigerate for at least an hour to blend all the flavors together.  It only gets better the longer it sits!  :) 

 

Happy Dipping!  

Delicious Guacamole

I am a huge guacamole fan, and it's one of my favorites if it's made fresh.  The hardest part is making it the same day I am craving it.  Avacadoes have that short sweet spot of readiness.  Most stores sell them green and hard, and you have to wait for them to ripen.  I always seem to find some ripe and ready for eating if I look hard enough through them.  ;)

I found a recipe on all-recipes a while back and have been using it since, with a few modifications of my own.  

This recipe is very forgiving except for the limes.  Do not add extra lime juice without tasting it first.  I once added too much, and it was very tart.  If you do add too much you can try to counter by adding more avacado.  If you're like me and don't have extra avacado lying around, letting it settle overnight in the fridge can calm the tart flavor quite a bit.

I usually double this because we love guacamole and leftovers.

Here is how I make guacamole.  

Guacamole:

4 avacados

2 tomatoes (diced) 

1/2 cup sweet onion (diced)

1 lime (juiced)

1 teaspoon minced garlic 

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 tablespoons fresh cilantro (chopped)

Peel, pit, and mash avacado in a bowl.  How much you mash depends on your preference for smooth or chunky.  Add remaining ingredients and hand mix together.   Refrigerate for at least an hour for flavors to blend.  

It is even better the next day!   ;)

Happy preparing!

Guacamole and Mango salsa

We all have those things we do when feeling sad or stressed.  Mine is baking and cooking.  Usually it's cookies for me, but today I made guacamole and mango salsa.  

I will post the recipes for each here soon, because they are amazing!  The downside is, I can't stop eating them once I start. 

Recipes to come! 

Happy Eating! 

Fiona's 3rd birthday cake

Fiona was a huge My Little Pony fan on her third birthday.  What cake to make her was a very easy decision.  We decided to make her a cake of her favorite pony Rainbow Dash.  The cake inside was even rainbow colored.

We actually struggled quite a bit and were disappointed at first.  We were decorating this on little sleep, and grew very frustrated with the icing and shaping.  Looking back now and seeing how much Fiona loved it, I am happy and very proud of it.   Here are her cake pictures. 

We also made rainbow jello cups for guests. 

 

It was a great birthday, and she had a blast!  

Happy Baking!