Apple-Cinnamon Pecan Pancakes

A variation on the Better Homes and Gardens Buttermilk Pancakes recipe.

Gather Your Ingredients:

• 1 c AP Flour
• 1 T sugar
• 2 t baking powder
• 1/4 t salt
• 1/4 c chopped pecans
• 1 c milk
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 t vanilla
• 2 T oil
• 1 grated apple

Make It:

1. Combine dry ingredients (first five) and make a well in the center.  In a separate bowl combine remaining ingredients.  Stir together until just combined, do not over mix.
2. Heat griddle to a medium high temperature setting and lightly coat with oil.
3. Use about 1/4c to 1/2c batter per pancake.  When the pancakes get bubbly and set, flip them and cook for a few more minutes.
4. Serve with butter and maple syrup.

Fish Fry!

Yes, I could have done a better job staging this photo.  My excuse ... my family was yelling at me for making them wait while I took photos!  LOL

My husband is a fisherman and our daughter loves to go fishing with him!  I'm not sure what she enjoys more, the activity or the end results ... a meal of freshly caught, fried fish!  We have tried multiple ways of cooking up their catch of the day, and this is by far my family's favorite!

Gather Your Ingredients:

• Fish Fillets - We usually have about a pound or two, just depends on how they were biting that day!
• 1/2 c AP flour
• 1/2 c yellow corn meal
• 1 T Lawry's seasoned salt
• 1 t sugar
• 2 eggs - beaten
• Oil for frying

Make It:

1. Combine flour, corn meal, salt and sugar in a medium bowl or zip top baggie.  Beat eggs in a separate bowl.
2. Heat about 1 inch of oil over medium to medium high heat, depending on how your stove cooks.  Fish cooks quickly, you do not want to burn the crust but you also do not want the crust to absorb the oil. It's a fine balance.
3. Coat fish in the flour/corn meal mixture, then dip into the egg.  Next coat in the flour mixture again.  
4. Fry for about 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until it reaches a nice golden brown.  What it closely and check a piece before you serve it.  Once you get your system down, you'll be able to tell when it's ready :)  Drain on paper towels.

****Adjust ingredient amounts based on how much fish you are frying.****

Family Fun!

Just thought that I would share some photos from our Memorial Weekend trip :)

Kiddie Rides at The Track Family Fun Park

Bumper Boats at The Track

Such a good big sister, riding the kiddie rides at Silver Dollar City!

Roller Coasters are their favorites!  At Silver Dollar City

Completely tuckered out!  She said to me, "Mommy, I want to sleep in my stroller."  So precious!

Crock-Pot Mongolian Beef

This recipe was originally inspired by this Mongolian Crock-Pot Beef recipe from Once a Month Mom.  I have made it using her exact recipe and it's delicious.  I learned a few years ago how easy it can be to change recipes to better fit the tastes of my family.  For example, we do not really care for ginger ... so I took that element out.  We do, however, love garlic so I increased the amount used.  I also wanted to reduce some of the soy sauce and increase the veggies.  Here is the way I made this delicious recipe:

Gather Your Ingredients

• 1lb beef stew meat
• 1/4 c corn starch
• 1/2 c soy sauce
• 1/2 c water
• 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 c carrots, matchsticks or sliced on an angle
• 5 green onions, sliced on an angle

Make It

1. Place veggies and brown sugar in your crock-pot.  Pour soy sauce and water over them, stir to combine.
2. Lightly coat the meat with corn starch and place on top of the veggie mixture.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.  Serve on a bed of brown rice.

Drinking My Greens - Month 2

I have now been drinking "Greens" by Itworks for 2 months.  Please see the original post for background info.

After 2 months drinking Greens, I am still experiencing increased energy and less drowsiness.  Overall, I feel good.  Pain is at a manageable level.  I still gets spikes of severe pain, but it's not constant like it was a month ago.
I am also still experiencing decreased appetite.  I haven't really lost weight from this, but it's still a good effect.
Yesterday, I used one of the Itworks Body Applicator wraps.  It's a detoxing product.  I am having great results from it after one day and am excited to see what it does after the full three days!