I LOVE Pinterest!

My first attempt at DIY canvas photo. I used the tutorial using tissue paper. It was a little challenging. I didn't get my picture completely smooth there were some wrinkles, but I really like the way it turned out. I am tempted to try some different products on the next canvas I do. This tutorial uses a workable fixative, which sets the ink and keeps it from smudging. Which would really help, because when I was done with this one, my fingers were a little black.

We amended our menu this week after I found out that it was National Pancake Day. So naturally we needed to have pancakes. I made the traditional pancakes along with trying Banana Bread Pancakes. The only difference I made was adding oatmeal. I soaked 1/2 cup of oats in the milk while I combined the dry ingredients. Since I added the oats I cut the flour down to 1 1/2 cups. 

Whole Wheat Brown Sugar Banana Bread Pancakes

makes 12 pancakes

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2/3 cup milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 large ripe bananas, mashed

2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl. Measure out the milk and add the vanilla extract to it. Whisk together the dry ingredients and add in milk and vanilla, stirring to combine. The mixture will still be dry. Add in mashed bananas and mix. Add in melted butter and stir until batter is somewhat smooth.

Heat a skillet or grilled on medium heat. Using a 1/3 cup measure, spoon batter into rounds and cook until bubbles form on top – about 2-3 minutes. Flip and cook for a minute or two more. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve hot with butter and syrup, or the vanilla maple glaze.

Note: if you don’t have/can’t find whole wheat pastry flour, use 1 cup of regular whole wheat and 1 cup of all purpose. Or 2 cups of all purpose.

Vanilla Maple Glaze

1/2 cup maple syrup

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Pour over pancakes. 

I have been waiting to make these beauties for a while now. Some little munchkin kept eating my marshmallows. I LOVE anything cinnamon! So Cinnamon Roll Rice Krispie bars were a definite try! They are quick and easy way to get a cinnamon roll fix. This recipe will be a repeat!!

This is an old project, but I found the basic idea for Jayden's Valentine box from greenzebracrafts.com. We used cereal boxes to make the shape of C3PO's head then used paper mache. It was a fun, yet messy endeavor. The kids didn't really care for touching the goo.