Great Evaporated Milk Substitute if find you're without it

I just learned something today and I'm ecstatic about it. I planned on making cornbread for dinner, but I realized I didn't have any evaporated milk. I hate it when I don't have ONE thing. Anyway, I looked up a substitute online and found this:

2/3 c. non-fat dry milk powder

3/4 c. water

Mix together and use in place of evaporated milk.

It's GREAT. I actually have a huge box in my pantry of dry milk that I haven't used. Great thing is I won't have to go out and buy any evaporated milk! Yippee!! Had it share it with y'all.

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes and Apple Syrup

This pancake recipe comes from the Our Best Bites blog. I wish I could put into words how much I LOVE these pancakes! I've made them multiple times now, and have been blown away each time. They smell so good while they're cooking, I'm always tempted to just eat them straight off the griddle! I love how fluffy they are. I love how they have a slight sweet taste. I love how I can premake batches by mixing together the dry ingredients, and then throw them together quickly in the morning. I love that they are whole wheat and healthy. I love how you cannot tell that they are whole wheat. In my book, these are the perfect pancakes!

See how fluffy they are?!

They just puff right up on the griddle

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Pancakes

*Makes about 10 large pancakes*

3/4 c whole wheat flour

3/4 c all-purpose flour

3 Tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

(If desired, mix dry ingredients together and store in a ziploc bag. Then mix together with remainder of ingredients in the morning)

1 1/2 c low fat buttermilk (Have you been converted to buttermilk yet? I sure have! Regular milk just doesn't cut it!)

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp oil

1 large egg

1 large egg white

In a medium bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix. (I always have to add a little milk to the batter to get it to my desired consistency). Heat a non stick griddle to medium heat. Cook pancakes. (I'm assuming we all know how to cook pancakes, so I won't go into a lot of detail here.) Delicious!

I found this recipe for apple syrup randomly online somewhere. It is very yummy! I like that it has simple ingredients and is a healthier alternative to the sugar, additive-laden syrup from the store. (Not to say I don't like the store version; just trying to be a tad bit healthier on occasion:)) This made our house smell like fall, which I loved! But I also loved that it didn't taste like eating wassail on my pancakes. It was a light, subtle apple taste. Very good! Apple Syrup

1 c granulated sugar

2 Tbsp corn starch

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice *

2 cups apple cider or juice

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup butter

*I didn't have pumpkin pie spice, and almost had a heart attack when I saw how much it cost at the store- 7 bucks for lik 4 tsp?!! So I checked out the ingredients in pumpkin pie spice: allspice, nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon. That's it. So I skipped the pumpkin pie spice and just seasoned to taste with the much cheaper spices that I already had on hand. Turned out perfect!

Mix dry ingredients in a medium saucepan. Add juices and bring to a boil. Boil one minute, stirring constantly. Off heat, add butter and stir until combined. This stores great in the fridge! Just reheat before serving.

Happy breakfast, everyone!

Snicker doodles

My little girl LOVES to make cookies! These by far are her favorite to make because I roll them in balls and she gets to roll them in the cinnamon/sugar mixture all by herself :) I like to make these cuz they are so delicious!!

*1 1/2 C Sugar

*1/2 C butter-softened

*1/2 C shortening

*2 Eggs

*2 3/4 C Flour

*2 t. cream of tarter

*1 t baking soda

*1/4 t salt

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix sugar, butter, shortening, and eggs. Stir in flour, cream of tarter, baking soda, and salt. Shape dough into balls. Mix 2 t. cinnamon and 2 T sugar. Roll balls in mixture to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 (soft) to 10 (crunchy) minutes! Enjoy!!