Lemon-Poppy Seed Ricotta Pancakes

I was at my sisters yesterday and caught just a few minutes of the Martha Stewart Show. They were making these pancakes. I thought that they sounded good so I made them this morning for breakfast. They were really good! 3 out of 4 of my kids liked them - I thought this was pretty good; how often can you please them all. However, none of them likes the syrup. I think next time I will leave out the lemon juice. I really enjoyed it all!

INGREDIENTS: (Makes 8)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch of coarse salt
1 cup fresh ricotta cheese, plus more for serving
3/4 cup milk
3 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
Unsalted butter, softened, for cooking
Honey Syrup, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, milk, egg yolks, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the cheese mixture and mix until batter is just combined. Stir in lemon zest and poppy seeds.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until stiff. Gently fold egg whites into batter.
Heat a griddle or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; brush surface with butter. Working in batches, ladle 1/3 cup batter for each pancake on griddle, leaving space as they will spread. Cook until golden and top begins to bubble, 3 to 4 minutes. Gently turn and continue cooking until bottoms are light brown, 3 to 4 minutes more. Serve immediately with ricotta and honey syrup.

Honey Syrup
Makes about 1/2 cup
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
Heat honey in a small saucepan until warmed through. Stir in lemon juice and salt. Remove from heat and serve immediately over pancakes.

Work Gifts

Here is what I made for my husbands' coworkers. They are really yummy. I had a hard time not eating them all myself.
Here is the link to the recipe.
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/recipe/buttermilk-cupcakes-in-a-jar?&backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/fancy-cupcakes?#slide_5

Not Your Average Spinach Dip

I really like spinach dip. The traditional spinach dip is always easy and yummy. Here is a hot spinach dip. Now, I really do not care for cooked spinach, but in this dip it is really good.


Hot Spinach Dip
INGREDIENTS:
10oz. Pkg. Frozen Chopped Spinach
1 ¼ C. Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ C. Chopped Onion
1 - 3oz. Pkg. Cream Cheese, Softened
¾ C. Mayo
1 tsp. Hot Sauce
1 tsp. Dried Italian Seasonings
½ tsp. Garlic Powder
¼ tsp. Freshly Ground Pepper
1 tsp. Paprika
INSTRUCTIONS:
If you buy the frozen block spinach, press spinach between paper towels to remove excess moisture. Combine spinach, 1 cup parmesan and next 7 ingredients. Spoon into 1 quart baking dish and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup parmesan and paprika, bake an additional 10 minutes. Serve with crackers or bread.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Making homemade cranberry sauce is so good and it is better than anything that you get out of a can. Cranberries are a hard commodity to find any other time of the year than now. I usually stock up and freeze them . I can't eat turkey with out this yummy sauce and I love fresh cranberry baked goods. These little berries are very healthy for you!



This is so easy...
3 C. Fresh Cranberies
1 C. Sugar
1 C. Water
Put all ingredietns in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat. The berries will begin to pop. You will know when it is ready!

Peanut Buter and Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

This pie is so yummy and easy. It is my husbands favorite pie.

Peanut Butter- Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

INGREDIENTS:
35 Nilla Wafers, Finely Crushed ¼ C. Butter, Melted
2 Medium Bananas, Halved Lengthwise, Quartered ½ C. Peanut Butter
2 Squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, Divided
2 C. Milk 2 C. Cool Whip Topping, Divided
2 Pkg. Jell-O-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding and Pie Filling

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven 350. Mix wafer crumbs and butter until well blended; press firmly onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely; top with bananas.
Make chocolate curls from ½ square of the chocolate; reserve for garnish. Microwave remaining chocolate and the peanut butter and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over bananas; set aside. Pour milk into large bowl. Add dry pudding mixes. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of the whipped topped. Spread over bananas; top with remaining 1 cup whipped topping.
Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight. Top with chocolate curls just before serving. Store leftover pie in refrigerator. Make 10 serving.

Stocking Stuffers

This seems to be a hard task for me! I hate spending a ton of money stuffing these things, but the kidos love them. I really try to keep the candy down to a minimum. So, I have found some different ideas to share with you.

We do not have cable TV - nothing but FUZZ - so, my kidos always get a movie to add to our movie collection.

My kidos love Gum, so this is always a good idea.

Toothbrushes! We are always in need of new toothbrushes. I love the Firefly ones because they light up telling the kids how long to brush.

Flashlights - What kid doesn't like flashlights.

Rice crispies cut out with Christmas shapes and wrapped up special.

Hairbows are always great for that little girl.

A new Tie for the boys.

Traditional Orange.

A date night certificate with mom and dad.

Make a Paper Airplane book. My boys love making Paper Airplanes. If you type in How to make Paper Airplanes on line, a ton of different models come up. I want to make a special little book.

Homemade Playdough.

A certificate to the Home Depot Children's Workshop. This one is a great one. I looked into this. The workshop is free for kids ages 5-12. It is on Saturdays from 9-12 on every first Saturday of the month.

Bathtub Paint: Kids absolutely love making messes, and mom's like anything that keeps that mess contained. Even better if the mess actually helps clean up a bit, too! That is why this is a win-win stocking stuffer! Find a few small tubs to keep the paint in. Baby food containers, small plastic food containers and icing tubs work great. Start by mixing 1 Tablespoon cornstarch, and 1/3 cup liquid dish detergent (be sure to use something that won't irritate your kids' skin!) Keep mixing in cornstarch until it is the consistency you want. I use quite a bit of cornstarch for bathtub paint since if they are taking a bath the water will already dilute it. Separate the mixture into containers and add food coloring to the color you want and mix. Let the kiddo's enjoy!

Homemade holiday crayons: gather up all of those broken crayon pieces and make some use out of them! Cut them up into small bits, get a cute candy or soap mold from a hobby store such as Michael's, and make some new crayons! Preheat your oven to 150 degrees. Put the slivers of crayons into the mold (you don't have to do only one color, you can put more than one in each!) Bake for about 15-20 minutes until the wax is melted. Let the crayons cool, and pop out of the mold when cool. Wrap in cute little cellophane to keep other items from getting all colored on and stuff that stocking! (if you have a little helper, please make sure the adult is the only one handling the hot materials.

Tub-Time Bath Crayons

You will Need:
1 cup grated Ivory Soap
1/4 cup warm water
Food Coloring
Plastic Cookie cutters
How to:
Mix water, soap & food coloring together in med. size bowl. Stir the crayon
mixture until it begins to stiffen. Remove the mixture from the bowl and knead
until it is the consistency of a very thick dough. Spoon Crayon Mixture into
plastic cookie cutters or other plastic molds (playdough molds work great too!).
Press down firmly. Place the plastic cookie cutters in your freezer for 10 mins
or in your refrigerator for 30 mins. When firm, Pop the bath crayons out of the
cookie cutters (or other molds) and allow them to air dry overnight or until
hard.
Ideas for Molds:
Ice Cube Trays
Playdough Molds & Cutters
Tupperware Cookie Cutters
Plastic Cookie Cutters
Plastic Guest Soap Molds (buy at local craft store) The Plastic divided tray
that comes in choc. candy boxes and so forth!

Homemade Finger Paints

2 cups of Plastic Liquid Starch
1 cup of Ivory Snow Detergent Flakes
Food Coloring
Beat with rotary beater or mixer until the volume is tripled. Divide and add in
food coloring as desired. Store in covered containers in refrigerator. Freezer
paper is GREAT to let the kids finger paint on!

Homemade Blowing Bubbles for Kids!

1/2 cup of handwashing dish detergent
5 cups of tap water
1 container with lid
1 bubble blowing wand
Mix Water and dishwashing liquid together well but dont over stir it!


Matchbox cars are $.98 and are always a big hit with boys.

Crossword puzzles or Sudoku

Small Puzzles are always a good idea.

Lip Balm or Lotions.

Certificates:
1. Good for 2 hours of Lego building with mom.
2. Good for 1 homemade meal of choice.
3. Good for 1 dessert dinner.
4. Good for 1 cookie baking session
5.Good for 1 video rental and a friend over
6. Good for late, late bedtime
7. Good for 1 lunch out with mom

There are so many ideas. I hope that these help with some frugal ideas.

You're Gettin' Muffin For Christmas

I thought that this idea was really cute. This came from Budget101.com

What you will need:
1 Dish Towel
1 Package Muffin Mix & Gift Tag
1 Wooden Spoon

Fold dish towel and place wooden spoon on folded towel. Place muffin mix package on utensil and tie all together with ribbons and attach a tag.

A store bought muffin mix would be cute, but here is a recipe for muffin in a jar...

Breakfast muffins in jar
1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 C. rolled oats
1/2 C. brown sugar
3 T. finely minced candied lemon peel (I would omit this, or add dried lemon peel instead.)
1/2 C. finely minced dried cherries, apples or apricots
1/3 C. chopped almonds or walnuts
Combine all ingredients in Jar (in Layers) Or vacuum seal bag.
Add Tag:
1/4 c vegetable oil
1 c. milk or vanilla yogurt
1 egg
1 Jar Mix
Combine the above, mix well, Batter will be slightly lumpy. Spoon into 12 greased or lined muffin cups. Bake at 400° F. for 20-25 minutes.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix(12 servings)
1 one-quart wide-mouth jar
2 and 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Pour half of this mixture into the jar and pack it down.In a small bowl, mix together the sugars and cinnamon. Add this mixture to the jar. Follow this layer with the rest of the flour mixture. Pack down the layers and add the chocolate chips.Seal the jar.Note From Mr Breakfast:When I created my jar, I layered the the chocolate chips between the flour and sugar layers. Next time, I'll put the chip at the top. The smaller ingredients tend to sprinkle down and obscure the chips layer. Good luck with your jar!
To Prepare:(Attach these instructions to your gift of breakfast.)

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffins(12 servings)
1 jar muffin mix
2 eggs - beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 12 muffin cups with cooking spray or muffin papers.Pour the muffin mix into a large bowl and stir to combine. In a seperate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the mix and stir until just moistened.Distribute the batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.


Mini Pumpkin Muffin Mix in a Bag
3 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup raisins, sweetened dried cranberries, or chopped nuts (optional)
1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin
Combine all ingredients, except pumpkin, in large bowl. Pour into 1-quart resealable plastic bag; seal. Set bag of muffin mix and can of pumpkin in a paper sandwich-type bag. Tie top of bag with raffia or ribbon.
Attach the following recipe:
Mini Pumpkin Muffins
Pour muffin mix into large bowl. Cut in 1/2 cup vegetable shortening with pastry blender until mixture is fine. Add 1 cup pumpkin, 1 cup milk and 2 large eggs; mix until just moistened. Spoon into greased or paper-lined mini-muffin pans, filling 2/3 full. Bake in preheated 400 degree F oven for 15 minutes; remove to wire racks. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.Makes about 60 mini muffins.

Christmas Potpourri

I received this one year for christmas from my friend Caitlyn. It will now be forever a tradition in our home. This makes your whole house smell so good.
Here is her recipe:
Ingredients:
½ Orange, sliced
1/2 Lemon, sliced
3 sticksCinnamon
10 Fresh Cranberries
22 Whole Cloves
2 Bay Leaves
1 sliceGinger Root
1 sprig Pine needles
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients and give in clear cellophane bags for Christmas with tag saying “fill your home with the sweet smell of Christmas”,
2. Add all ingredients to 1 quart of water and bring to boil; don’t eat!


***I have made this with oranges, cranberries, cloves and cinnamon sticks and it still smells great.

Texas Two Step in a Jar With Corn Bread

A few years ago I gave out this mix for Christmas. It was a jar with the chili mix in it and a cellophane bag with a cornbread mix in it. I ties the cornbread mix with twain. I placed both items inside of a red bandanna and closed it up with twain. It was pretty cute. Sorry I don't have a picture, but here is the recipes:

Texas Two – Step in a Jar
This yummy mix will have ‘em dancing in the streets!
1.6 – oz. Pkg. Brown Gravy Mix 1 tsp. Garlic Salt
2 Tbs. Mild Chili Powder 2 tsp. Cumin
2 tsp. Dried Oregano 1 tsp. Dried, Minced Onion
10 to 12 Tortilla chips, Corsley Crushed 1¼ C. Pasta Wheels, uncooked
Pour gravy mix into a one-pint, wide mouth jar. In a small bowl, combine chili powder, oregano, cumin, onion and garlic salt; pour on top of gravy mix. Add tortilla chips and pasta to fill jar; secure lid. Tie on a gift tag with instructions. *You can put the chips in a seperate little bag and place inside of the jar.
Instructions:
Brown ½ pound ground beef in a large saucepan. Add jar contents and 5 cups of water; bring to a boil. Stir in 15 ounce can corn and 16 ounce can chopped tomatoes. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until pasta is tender. Garnish with tortilla chips and shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Serves 8.

Cowboy Cornbread Mix
½ C. Yellow Corn Meal 1 ½ C. all Purpose Flour
2/3 C. Sugar 1 Tbs. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt 3 Tbs. Melted Butter
2 Eggs 1 ¼ C. Milk
1/3 C. Vegetable Oil
Mix all dry ingredients in bowl. Add vegetable oil, melted butter, eggs, and milk. Mix. Pour into greased 8-inch square pan, or muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees – 20 minutes for the muffins, 35 minutes for the pan.

***Just put dry ingredients in a small bag. Write on a tag the we ingredeints needed along with the instructions.

Gift Ideas for the Budget Minded

We had an Enrichment in our ward about different gift ideas. Here are someof the ideas that were shared. *Thanks Christa!!
Gift Certificates/Service
-For babysitting
- For lunch or ice cream with you
- For caregivers, shopping time or even time to themselves in their own home while you care for their loved ones
- For something you are good at: painting a room, re-organizing, haircuts, story time, preparing and planting a garden, prep and run a garage sale…
- Give an experience: trip to the zoo, hike, picnic, afternoon fishing…
- Write a letter of appreciation and deliver and read it in person
- For a school teacher, write a LOA and send copies to the principal and superintendent
- Instead of gifts to each other, perform service and share the experience & feelings with your families
Simple Sewing & Craft
- Rice bag with flannel casing
- Fleece scarf-cut strips 7-8 inches wide and fringe ends (no sewing)
- Lap quilt from fleece or flannel
- Fun pillowcases for kids. Get a couple of coordinating prints and trim and it's all straight line sewing.
- Homemade ornaments
- Homemade jewelry
- Ceramic tiles with vinyl letters
- Felt finger puppets- use hot glue
Food- always a hit
- Frozen bread or cookie dough with instructions for baking later
- Pretty pie plate with homemade pie
- Dip your own chocolates; it can be as expensive or inexpensive as you want
- Apple or pumpkin butter
- Homemade cocoa/cookie/brownie/soup/chili… mix in a pretty jar
- Purchased or homemade preserves
- Pound of pistachios
- Bottle of sparkling cider
- Giant cookies
- Home baked bread, include recipe
- Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
- Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
- Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
- Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
- Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup, or fun syrup flavors

- Jar of sourwood or pure honey & biscuit mix
- Basket w/ ingredients & recipe for taco soup
- A nuts and trail mix gift bag (could go with hike)
- A six pack of a specialty root beer, can be dressed as reindeer with a few pipe cleaners, goggle eyes and pom-pom noses
- Pasta Lovers' Bowl : fill a colander with different pastas & sauces, pasta ladle, parmesan cheese
- Chocolate spoons: dip spoon in melted chocolate with a little butter. Can add flavorings.
- A pitcher filled with lemons, bright curling ribbon and a cup of sugar in a baggy
- Pick a theme, brainstorm and build a basket
Other ideas
- Winter garden seeds started in fun containers ready to plant in the garden
- Cuttings from an indoor plant planted in their own attractive container
- A board game with bag of treats as prizes
- Deck of cards and book of card game rules
- Homemade play dough & cookie cutters
- Recipe box with favorite recipes inside
- Homemade cards or plain stamped paper and envelopes tied in bunches with pretty ribbon or raffia could include stamps
- Framed photos or an inexpensive album
- Child’s artwork, framed
- Collage of special photos
- Gel pens and pretty stationary
- Disposable camera& gift card for processing
- Set of dish towels and dish cloths
- Nail polish kit
- Travel size toiletries
- Winter skin care kit (small lip balm, hand lotion, etc.)
- Pretty night shirt
- Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
- Flashlight & batteries or 72 Hour Kit items
- For pet lovers: pet treats and a chew toy
- Flash drive for computer
- Puzzle book & nice pen
- Homemade geoboard: Tap 1 inch nails into a flat board using graph paper for spacing. -make sure they are level. Add colorful rubber bands for making patterns.
- Make CDs of family photos or videos for grandparents screensavers
- Copies of family history stories and genealogies for family members
- Bag of birdseed in a container with lid
- Something goofy just to make them laugh!