Theme Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqqQePPg6Sw&feature=player_embedded#at=204

Healthy Recipe - Pumpkin Pancakes

Thanks to my cousin Michele Heiner...www.sweetluvininthekitchen.blogspot.com, we had a very healthy breakfast this morning!  Pumpkin Pancakes!!  My kids devoured them dipped in regular syrup (I didn't have enough pumpkin to make the pumpkin syrup).  I put vanilla yogurt on top of my pancakes it was super yummy...almost like pumpkin pie for breakfast...only much healthier.  This recipe has only whole wheat flour which boosts fiber and whole grains (HEART HEALTHY), plus pumpkin is packed full of caratenoids (antioxidant) or Vitamin A and it is a good source of fiber as well...with some iron to boot!  Add yogurt on the side or on top and you add those wonderfully awesome probiotics.  Plus, buttermilk in the pancakes and the yogurt give a nice dose of Calcium to your morning...who said healthy had to be boring!  With Probiotics and Fiber...your colon will be happy and healthy...and who doesn't want a happy colon, right??  Give these a try they are fantastic!

PS. this makes quite a few, hearty, pancakes...I halved the batch for my little family and we still had a few to put in the fridge for later.

Pumpkin Pancakes with Pumpkin Maple Syrup

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
2 T vegetable oil
2 T vinegar

In a medium bowl, mix together the buttermilk, pumpkin, egg, oil and vinegar. In a separate bow combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Stir dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine. Let batter rest for a few minutes while griddle warms up!

Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Brown on both sides and serve hot with Pumpkin Maple Syrup.


Pumpkin Maple Syrup
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup maple syrup
cinnamon, to taste

No Brainer!

So for lunch today I made Mac and Cheese at Krysta's request...it is the end of the month and we don't have much food in the house anyway until payday.  So, after I served the kids lunch, I took a bit of the Mac and Cheese.  I thought, "Oh that tastes good!  One day of mac and cheese for lunch won't hurt me."  But instead, I got out a bowl and put the rest in the fridge...and made myself a really yummy taco salad.  I put deer burger in a pan to cook and added black beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms...then about 1 tsp of taco seasoning.  I sauteed them all together...meanwhile I mixed 2 Tbsp of sour cream and 1/4 cup salsa together for topping...put it all over a large bed of fresh salad greens! (All stuff I had on hand) It was quick and easy, yummy and much more filling than mac and cheese.  Plus...more food, fewer calories, not to mention protein, fiber, vitamin A..ya know all those good for you things that mac and cheese doesn't have!  So I took a pic to actually SEE what a better deal I made for myself...and yes, No Brainer which meal was the better choice!

Fun Times with Papa

Papa was here at our house on Tuesday and the kids had some very priceless wrestle time with him!  I'm glad I caught it because I just love him so much and I really love when he gets to play with my children...they had a blast and they love Papa!

My Diva Baby

This is Krysta in her sunglasses that she loves to wear everywhere...inside or out...I think she is so stinkin' beautiful!

Tax Return Time

I am so excited about our tax return this year, it is such a blessing for us to receive what we do because we have always been able to stay in the black and I am so very very thankful for that.  Sometimes it's hard not to be able to go on trips or buy the nice things that everyone else seems to have money for...but then when I look at how few bills we have and the bit of money we have in savings...those "things" and trips don't look quite as fun and shiny as I had first thought.  If we can make better choices this year we could even have fewer bills to pay off with next year's tax return...our education credits are only gonna last for 2 more years...and that is very sad.  We are giving ourselves a very small chunk to spend and I need a new backpack and some belts, mine are totally hashed.  Hopefully I can find both those things on clearance somewhere and then spend the rest of my money on something that I want!  I do love tax returns!

Healthy Recipe - Chicken and Veggies Stir-Fry

 This has a fresh, mild flavor. 

8 oz uncooked, Whole Grain, angel hair pasta
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 med onion, cut into chunks
2 cups broccoli flowerets
1/2 cup sugar snap pea pods
1 cup chicken broth
1Tbsp chopped, fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1 tsp. grated lemon peel
4 tsp. cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp. lemon pepper
1 cup chopped tomatoes

Cook and drain pasta as directed on package.  Meanwhile, in 12-in skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add chicken and onion; cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until chicken is starting to brown.  Add broccoli and pea pods to chicken mixture.  Cook over med-high heat 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until veggies are crisp tender.  In small bowl, mix broth, thyme, lemon peel, cornstarch and lemon pepper; stir into chicken mixture.  Continue cooking 1 or 2 minutes until sauce is thickened and veggies are coated.  Stir in tomatoes and heat through.  Serve over Pasta.