Best Waffles Ever!!

I purchased this on Black Friday.  It's not super heavy duty or anything, but it was one of those screaming deals that I just couldn't turn down:

I immediately made a batch of waffles just using some Krusteaz Mix which is my go to mix for pancakes.  Love how the pancakes turn out, but wasn't really happy with the waffles.  They were okay.....but just okay.  I wanted something a little better.  So then I tried the Bisquick mix.  Love it for making chicken pot pie.  Waffles.....not so much.  So I headed to the internet to find a recipe.


This is the recipe that resulted after experimenting with a couple of batches. This batter is much runnier than the box mix batter, but the waffles came out light, fluffy and crispy.

Waffle Batter Recipe
1 1/3 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs separated
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.  Add in melted butter, milk, vanilla and egg yokes and mix well.

  (Doesn't look very tasty yet!)

Place egg whites into mixer and beat until they start to get stiff (almost like you are making merengue) 

Gently fold in the egg white mixture into your batter, just until you can't see them anymore.

Cook according to the directions of your waffle maker.

This makes more batter than I need for our family of five, but I usually just cook all of it and then put the cooked waffles in the fridge or freezer.  Then I can just take them out and pop them in the toaster - they crisp right back.

Enjoy!

Advent Calendars

Riley wanted this Lego Advent calendar this year.  He has actually wanted one for several years and this year I was actually able to find one.  (Note to self - look for advent calendars in September next time!)

The nice ones the girls were interested in were either sold out, or the sellers were over inflating the prices because they were so hard to find.  So I ended up making my own.

I literally made these the morning of December 1st, so that they would be ready when the girls came home from school.  Thank goodness for Amy of Living Locurto.  She had some advent calendars available as a download on her amazing website. 

I didn't quite make these quite like Amy did.  I actually just stuck the punched out numbers to the background with double stick tape.  Every day the girls pulled a number off and got to pick a prize out of a bag.  Ella's prizes were Squinkies and Littlest Pet Shop toys.  Ciara's prize was a jewelry kit that I broke down into little baggies.  By Christmas she will have the entire kit.  The girls loved these and couldn't wait to get their prize everyday.

Be sure to head over to Amy's site if you are ever in search of some really great ideas and printables.

Diabetic Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup Crisco Shortening

1/4 cup Splenda - Granulated

1/2 cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

2 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup milk chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together flour, salt and baking soda.  Set aside.

In medium size mixing bowl.  Mix Splenda Granular Sugar, Splenda Brown Sugar Blend, Butter and Shortening till nice and fluffy.  Add in vanilla.  Add in eggs one at a time beating after each addition.

Add in flour gradually, and beat just until flour is incorporated.  Mix in Chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded teaspoon onto an ungreased non stick cooking sheet.  Flatten the cookies slightly and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

I like to use a small ice cream scoop when baking cookies.  I flattened the cookies with the back of the scoop.  I baked them on parchment lined cookie sheets.  I got a total of 33 cookies.

Here's the nutritional info courtesy of LiveStrong

First Aid & CPR Training

August 11th, 2011 - First Aid and CPR Training

Mark off in Faith in God: Developing Talents

Next Activity: October 18th - Plan for Fall Festival

Bring your ideas for decorating a room at Fall Festival

Since we recently had a lesson about babysitting, I thought it would be a great idea for the girls to learn about basic first aid and CPR.  We are fortunate to have a former nurse in our ward, who was more than willing to come and teach the girls.  The girls just love having guests come and teach the class.

Sister M. brought a CPR training doll with her that the girls were absolutely fascinated with.  Her name is Annie.  They each got a chance to perform chest compressions on CPR Annie.  We also asked them to bring a baby doll to practice infant CPR.

Impromtu Trip to the Fabric Store

August 9th, 2011 Activity

Shopping Trip to the Fabric Store

Mark off in Faith in God: Developing Talents

Next Activity: August 23rd - Sewing our Scripture Tote Bags

Bring Scissors and any other sewing notions you can use.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks when it comes to Activity Girls.  We've had to cancel, re-schedule and come up with a new plan.  Different things came into play:  girls out of town, conflicts with other organizations, and an almost identical event as we had planned held by the Relief Society.  Sigh!

 

Monday rolled around and I was still trying to figure out what we were going to do.  Something my daughter said to me inspired me.

 

So on Tuesday night, when the girls showed up at the Stake Center, I told them we were going on a field trip.  Of course they all wanted to know where we were going but I wouldn't tell them.   

I'm such a meanie!

So as we were driving along, the girls started speculating.  When we were on the freeway, they thought we were going back to my house.  Then they thought maybe we were going out for a food treat.  Then when we were driving through a residential neighborhood, they thought maybe we were going to one of the absent girls house.  Or maybe to a member's house.    So I said "Yep, you guessed it.  We are going to a member's house and we are going carolling.  Have you ever heard of Christmas in August?"  "Nooooo" they all reply.  

 

Finally I pulled into a parking lot.  The fabric store was right there but they still didn't get it.  So, with a completely straight face, I told them I brought them out here cause I was going to teach them how to drive.  They actually looked at me for a few seconds with that confused look on their face.  You know the one where they are actually trying to figure out if you are serious or not.  "Um......Really sister Jordan?"  

"Oh yeah!  And if you are really good, next week I'll teach you how to hotwire cars!"  "Awesome!!!" yelled Miss M!  The other girls are now understandably skeptical.

 

So I finally point out the fabric store and tell them we are going shopping for fabric to sew our own Scripture Tote Bags.

 

I gave them the following instructions:

   (To be on their best behavior, and remember who we were representing)

To pick out two complementary fabrics of their choice.

Both fabrics had to be on sale and I limited them to one section of the store.

I was really proud of the girls.  They helped each other choose and were on their best behavior.  When we went to the cutting table, we asked for half a yard of each fabric.  The girls were very polite and thanked the associate that helped us.  The cashier was nice enough to bag their fabric choices individually so each girls could hang on to their own.

 

 See Toyota dealer guy.....this is why I need an eight seater van!

I had such a blast shopping with these girls.  Their enthusiasm is so contagious.

It was also fun to see the different fabrics that each girl picked out.  I felt like I could match the fabric to the girls based on their personalities.

Can't wait for us to sew up some cute tote bags. 

Hopefully this will encourage the girls to bring their scriptures every Sunday!

Slow Roasted St Louis Style Ribs

I like Ribs but I don't love them slathered in BBQ sauce like most people do.  I found this great recipe for a dry rub.  The great thing is, you can slow cook them in this rub and then finish them off on the grill.  Then if you are a sauce lover, you can slather it on and they still taste great.  And the best part......the meat just falls right off the bone!

Dry Rub for Ribs

1/2 cup sugar

1/8 cup salt

1 1/2 tablespoon black pepper

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Trim excess fat of the ribs.  My favorite to use lately has been St Louis Style.  Generously pat the rub onto the ribs.  I usually use half of the above rub on two racks of ribs and just save the rest in a Ziplock bag.

If I happen to plan ahead, (Hey it does happen once in a while!) I'll put the rub on the ribs the night before and just leave them overnight in the fridge.  Or you can do it first thing in the morning if you don't plan on eating until later in the day.  I like to use those disposable foil pans.  I cut the ribs into sections of about 3-4 bones each and usually place about one rack in each pan.  (I will admit however, that I have made these without any "marinating" time.  Just put the rub on, and popped in the oven.  They were still delicious!)

About three hours before our planned dinner time, I place them into a 250 degree oven and just leave them in there for about two and a half hours till nice and tender.

Then I hand them off to the hubby and he pops them onto a nice hot grill.  Half of them get slathered in BBQ sauce.  Around here, it's just something out of a bottle, but you could whip up your favorite award winning recipe if you like.  Half of them stay plain jane!  They don't have to stay on the grill long, just long enough to get a nice crust!

Get out some napkins and enjoy!

Itty bitty Quiches

With the first day of school right around the corner, I was digging around looking for some quick options for breakfast for my picky little eater as well as some lunch options.

My little one loves quiche so I thought we would give this recipe a try.  Unlike a previous recipe that we tried that was disgusting that one came out quite yummy.  And it's fun for the kiddo's to help out with too.

I adapted this from a recipe I found on Eating Well

5 eggs
3 egg whites
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded cheese
8oz cubed ham and turkey
1/8 tsp seasoned salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Because I am lazy and don't like to scrub pots and pans I lined a regular muffin pan with paper liners and then sprayed them with pan.  I really don't want these quiches to stick!

In a large measuring cup, beat the eggs and milk together along with your seasonings.  I used 2% milk cause that's what was in my fridge.  You could even use egg beaters if that's what floats your boat.

In the lined muffin cups, evenly distribute the cheese and the ham and turkey.  I used some chopped fresh deli meat.  You can use anything you love in quiche here.  (Or that your picky eater kid will eat!)  Sausage, mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, bacon, green onions etc.  Use any kind of cheese that you like too.  I used a shredded cheese blend.    Next pour in your egg mixture.  I had enough for 11 mini quiches.

Pop them in the oven and bake for 25 mins until nice and golden brown.  Allow to cool in pan for about 5 minutes and then remove them to a wire rack.  Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 3 days.

If these are a big hit in your household, make a big batch of them and you can freeze them for up to a month.  Once fully cooled, wrap in plastic and place in freezer. To reheat, remove plastic, wrap in a paper towel and microwave on High for 30 to 60 seconds.