Pop Up Pancakes

These pop up pancakes are actually German pancakes baked in a muffin tin. I have made them before in a 9x13 and my kids did not care for them. Then I saw on one of my favorite sites "Make and Takes" these pop up pancakes (she has much better pictures). My kids love them this way, it's all in the presentation. Here's how you make them:

Pop Up Pancake Recipe - makes 24 muffins or fills a 9×13 baking pan

• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 6 eggs
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• dash salt
• Preheat oven at 400*

Combine all ingredients in a blender (it works best) and blend together. Then grease your muffin tins or baking pan. Bake them for 15 minutes, or until puffy and golden on top. Top with your favorite pancake toppings (syrup, powdered sugar, and fruit).

Almond Poppy Seed Muffins

I love Poppy Seed muffins! This is a really good recipe. Good flavor, Good taste and good texture!

1 3/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
4 teaspoon poppy seed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare 12 muffin cups with cooking spray or paper liner.
In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, poppy seeds and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream together butter, sugar and almond and vanilla extract.Add the eggs and beat until well mixed.
Add butter and egg mixture to flour mixture, add milk and stir all until just mixed.
Fill muffin tin about half way, bake for 25 minutes.

Macaroni & Cheese Recipe

I got this recipe from my aunt. It is my favorite mac & cheeses recipe! It had been a while sence the last time we had this so I made it for dinner and was amazed at how much my kids eat. We had no leftovers. The next night everyone wanted more so, I made it again.

2 cups of milk
1/2 teaspoons of salt
2 Tablespoons of cornstarch
2 Tablespoons of butter
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
Heat on medium heat until thick.

Add 2 cups of grated cheese
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
1-2 Tablespoons dry onion
Mix until cheese is melted. Mix with cooked macaroni (2 cups dry)
Top with Italian style bread crumbs.
Bake at 350 degree for 20 to 30 minutes!

It is really good when you mix in some Ham!

The Best Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe

This is the best peanut butter cookie recipe that I have had! My Husband loves them so much he will even make them himself, The recipe is from a cookbook that I got for free at Costco, got to love Costco!

2 Cups Quick-cooking Oats
2 Cups All-purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Butter, or margarine or shortening
1 Cup Peanut Butter, creamy or crunchy
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 Cup Brown Sugar, firmly packed
2 Each Eggs
3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
2 Cups Peanut Butter Chips, or chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. In a small bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

3. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in sugars, then eggs and vanilla until blended. Beat in flour mixture just until blended. Stir in peanut butter chips.

4. On ungreased baking sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart.

5. Bake for 13 minutes, or until golden. Remove the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely.

6. Makes 6 dozen.

It's That Time Of Year!

I am so happy! I just finished doing our taxes and it was easy and fast! We usually buy Turbo Tax, because it is so easy and makes doing taxes less of a headache. This year with money being so tight I was stressing on how we were going to get our taxes done. I was so excited to find out that Turbo Tax has a free edition out! If your filing simple returns you can go here to file your federal taxes for free and it includes a free e-file. If you do direct deposit you can get your return in about a week! You can also do your state taxes through Turbo Tax for $25.95 and that includes e-file. However, if you live in California, you can go here and file your state taxes for free right over the internet! If you do not live in California I'm sure if you go to your state website they may also have free tax filing! I hope this helps and makes your tax filing less stressful

Valentine Candy Cars

I saw these in the Family Fun Magazine and thought they were so cute (I could not find them on the website). They are really easy to make. You can use double sided tape or a hot glue gun. I used a hot glue gun. I put a dab of glue down and the kids stuck the candy on. All you need is a box of candy hearts, 4 Reese's peanut butter cups and 3 miniature candy bars. If you have a Winco you can go there and buy just what you need to make 1, 2 or how every many you want to make (and you won't be stuck with a bag of extra candy you will feel obligated to eat). Hope you have fun making these with your kids. I know I did!

Oven Apple Pancakes

This is a yummy recipe that we have eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It takes a little prep work, but it is worth the effort! Hope you like it too!
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 tablespoon butter
4 tablespoons sugar, divided
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 whole eggs
1/3 cup flour, all-purpose
1/4 teaspoon salt

Spray 9-inch glass pie dish with pam then put butter in pie dish and place in oven, turn oven on to 450º. After butter melts combine 2 tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon and stir into butter. Add apple slices and coat with butter mixture. Place back in oven for 4 minutes. Meanwhile mix eggs, salt, flour and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar(6 ounces of egg beaters can be substituted for the eggs for a lower fat version). When apples are cooked pour the batter around the edges and then in the middle of the apples. Bake for 10 minutes then turn the oven down to 350º and bake for 4-6 minutes more. Enjoy!!!