What's up Wednesday--snow and pancake edition

So we had another snow day this week.  Luckily this snow was good snowman snow.

And good tunnel making snow.

Peek-a-boo!

And because it looked like this outside the kitchen windows this morning. . .

We made these to warm us up--mini chocolate chip pancakes.  Yes, it is kind of like having cookies for breakfast, but on a special snow day I think that is okay, and I used half whole wheat flour, so they were a little better for breakfast :)

Mini chocolate chip pancakes

2 1/2 cups flour (I used half whole wheat)

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 Tbl. baking powder

1/2 tes. salt

1 3/4 cups milk

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

In a large bowl combine flour, chocolate chips, baking powder and salt.  In a medium bowl whisk together milk, eggs, oil, and brown sugar.  Add to flour mixture and stir until just moistened--batter may be lumpy.  Pour by 1/4 cup onto hot griddle and cook until bubbles begin to burst.  Turn and continue to cook about a minute more or until golden brown.  

Some other yummy things we have made this week. . .

Creamy Swiss cheese bake served over rice--I am not a Swiss cheese fan, but these were really good!

Skillet creamy mac and cheese--move over Kraft, this is to die for, even adults love it :)

Delicious Greek Pastitsio-- I was kind of leery when I first made this last month, but everyone in my family loved it which is saying a lot to please 2 adults, 2 teenage girls, and 2 kids.  So it made the dinner rotation again this month, and will probably next month and the next and. . .

Slow Cooker Italian Beef has already been in my monthly rotation for the last several months.  It is to.die.for.  We had my dad over this past week when we had it, and he has called me twice since to tell me how good it was and how much he liked it.  Made my day.  My dad is awesome, and so is this recipe.  So easy and done in the crock pot, so I love it.  Please make it soon.  You will be happy you did.  Serve them on crusty buns with Monterey Jack cheese--oh my.

Crispy Southwest chicken wraps is another repeat performance at our house.   Yummy! 

What yummy things are you having at your house?

A Blue Jeans Week 3

What a week!  With the blizzard of 2011 we had 3 snow days, so lots of time at home--maybe too much for some of us :)

Sunday:  We celebrated Kansas Day.  We always make a sunflower cake to celebrate this day, and Saturday was technically Kansas Day, and we did make and decorate the cake then, but we didn't get around to eating it and officially celebrating until Sunday.  Some days are just too crazy.

Monday:  Another tradition we have at our house is our family Valentine's Box.  Ben, Mr J and Miss E work on our box for this year.  We make this as a family usually the first Monday night in February, but did it today on the last day of January.  Each of us takes a side to decorate and then during the days before Valentine's everyone in the family fills it with homemade cards, treats, and/or small prizes for each family member, then we open it together the evening of Valentine's Day.  The kids love this and can be caught often stuffing the cutest items in the box.   One year Miss E made 6 cards for each member of the family.  She was busy that year :)

Tuesday:  Snow Day #1, and Miss E still in her PJ's (which I think she stayed in all day) gets out the binoculars to check out the snowflakes coming down.  "Wow, Mom!  They are all different!"  That is an amazing thing to think about.  

Wednesday:  Snow Day #2.  We got the Valentine's Box all done.  Miss O did this side with Santa and his heart reindeer, and Santa has a balloon speech bubble that says "Happy Valentine's Day to all, and to all a good night!"  Love it! 

Thursday:  Snow Day #3.  Had to get out of the house today, so we made it to the store and bought new winter hats.  They were all on clearance now which is even better, so the kids modeled them on the snow hill in the front yard as they were working on 1 of 3 snow forts they have going on in different parts of the yard. 

Friday:  Finally had school today, but Miss O was home sick!  Not fun, but a routine Friday evening will have Dad reviewing the weeks' worth of papers brought home by 4 kids from school. (Normally about an inch thick of paper here each week!)   Miss E and Miss O watch while Dad reviews their graded papers. 

Saturday:  Time to start the school Valentines!  Mr J decided to do melted heart crayon Valentines.  I saw this in a Family Fun years and years ago, and every year since at least one of my kids has made these.  We never throw away any old or broken crayons here.  We always save them to use for melted heart crayon valentines. 

These are what the melted crayon hearts look like after coming of the the oven and cooling.  We attach them to a cut out red heart piece of paper and write on it "You Color my World" and on the back is where we put the "To" and "From."  So cute and super easy.