Cinnamon Bun Pancakes with Maple-Butter Icing

I found this recipe from Real Mom Kitchen, and it is SO good! The maple-butter icing is to die for, I love it. It is really quick and easy to make up and worth it!

Cinnamon Bun Pancakes

1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
3 Tablespoons White Sugar
½ teaspoons Salt
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
2 whole Eggs Beaten
1 cup Milk
2 Tablespoons Corn Syrup
¼ cups Butter, Melted
1 Tablespoon Vanilla

In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and cinnamon with a whisk. Whisk well to make sure everything is combined.

In separate large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, corn syurp, butter and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium/low heat. Pour 1/4 cup batter onto griddle. Brown on both sides. Serve warm with maple-butter icing drizzled over the top. Makes 12 pancakes.

Maple-Butter Icing (I recommend doubling the recipe)

1 cup Powdered Sugar
¼ cups Butter, Melted
Dash Of Salt
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
¼ cups Whole Milk

Whisk all ingredients together until smooth, adding the milk slowly. Add enough milk for desired consistency.

Denver 2010 Free Days

Denver Zoo

http://www.denverzoo.org/

2300 Steele Street

Denver

Oct. 13

Oct. 21

Nov. 7

Nov. 13

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

http://www.dmns.org/

2001 Colorado Boulevard

Denver

March 1

Apr. 18

Aug. 8

Aug. 30

Sept. 13

Sep. 19

Oct. 3

Oct. 18

Nov. 14

Dec. 6

Denver Botanic Gardens

http://www.botanicgardens.org/

1005 York Street Denver

Feb. 15

Apr. 22

July 22

Aug. 25

Sep. 26

Oct. 28

Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield

http://www.botanicgardens.org/content/our-gardens-chatfield-location

8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road

Littleton

Mar. 5

April 2

May 7

June 4

Aug. 6

Nov. 5

Dec. 3

Denver Art Museum

http://www.denverartmuseum.org/home

100 West 14th Ave. Parkway

Denver

Mar. 6

Apr. 3

May 1

June 5

July 3

Aug. 7

Sept. 4

Oct. 2

Nov. 6

Dec. 4

The Children’s Museum of Denver

http://www.mychildsmuseum.org/

2121 Children’s Museum Drive

Denver

Free play the 1st Tuesday of every month from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Denver Firefighters Museum

http://www.denverfirefightersmuseum.org/

1326 Tremont Place

Denver

Aug. 7 Fun at the Firehouse

Oct. 9 Fire Safety Weeks Free Day

Sep. 11 Grandparent’s Free Day (Seniors and their grandkids are free)

Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys

http://www.dmmdt.org/

1880 Gaylord Street

Denver

Free day on every first Sunday of every month (contact the museum to find out what fun free craft of event will be offered on those days)

Hudson Gardens

http://www.hudsongardens.org/

6115 South Santa Fe Drive

Littleton

June 15, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sep. 11, 9 a.m. - 5p.m.

Lakeshore Learning Free Craft Projects

Every Saturday, Lakeshore Learning has FREE craft projects for kids. Here are the next few Saturday projects:

*For the Douglas County mom, there is Lakeshore Learning located at:

8680A Park Meadows Center Dr.
Littleton, CO 80124

(by the Park Meadows Mall)

Louisiana Chicken Pasta

I went to the Cheesecake Factory the other day and tried some of their "Louisiana Chicken Pasta" and it was AMAZING! So I of course googled it, found a similar recipe, made some changes here and there, and in my husband's words "You did it again Kylee." (I love trying to copy the delicious restaurant meals at home... and there are a couple that I can do pretty good now.) I don't mean to brag, but it did taste pretty good, and it was pretty easy to make, so try it out.

Chicken:
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour

Seasoned Salt (or if you like it spicy, add a little crushed red pepper or the Tony Chachere's Spicy seasoning...it's one of my favorite seasonings)

Cajun Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
1 small yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 small red bell pepper, chopped
1 small yellow onion, chopped
3 whole garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 1/4 pints whipping cream
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
1 cup grated parmesan cheese (make sure to not use shredded, I always get them mixed up)
1 package bow-tie pasta
1 cup mushrooms, sliced (I omit because I hate mushrooms)
salt and pepper (to taste)

Seasoned Salt (to taste)

Cajun seasoning (to taste)

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add yellow and red bell peppers, mushrooms, and onion to same skillet and saute until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes.

Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper to skillet and saute 2 or 3 minutes.

Add whipping cream and chicken stock. Simmer until sauce re-heats and thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Add basil and 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese to sauce, stirring to incorporate. Season sauce to taste with seasonings. Reduce heat to low, simmer. Sauce will reduce and thicken.

Cook chicken:
Wash and drain chicken breasts. Pound until very thin, as thin or thinner then 1/4-inch thick (the thinner the chicken breasts the better).

Mix breadcrumbs, flour, Parmesan cheese, and seasoned salt together. Place milk in dish for dipping.

Dip chicken in milk and then in breadcrumbs mixture.

Place in fry pan that the oil has been heated and fry at medium high temperature until golden, crisp, and cooked through. Add more oil as needed. Remove and drain chicken. Keep warm.

Meanwhile, cook bow-tie pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain and return to pot. Add sauce and toss to coat.

Place pasta with sauce on plate, and top with chicken breast.

*The easiest way to make this is to first read the recipe through, and then kind of do everything at the same time. I started the peppers sauteing, then started pounding out the chicken, then started the water boiling, ect. I think it is easiest to kind of do the first step of each one at the same time, then they will all finish at the same time.

Scoreboard Pizzeria

Just had a pizza from Scoreboard Pizzeria and it is DELICIOUS! My husband is a HUGE fan of the wings. They have daily specials going on:

Tuesday: $20 Buck Tuesdays (Lg. 1 topping and pitcher of soda)

Wednesday: .50 cent wing night

Thursday: "Family Night" all you can eat pasta $7, and kids learn how to toss dough.

"Castle Rock's Neighborhood Family Restaurant"

"Scoreboard is more than just GREAT pizza!

We offer a fun and spacious place for you to bring your family, friends or sports teams to hand out in a fantastic and friendly environment. Let the kids have fun playing in our game room while you catch your favorite game. Enjoy our hand tossed pizza, fresh salads, home made pasta's and more! "

Scoreboard Pizzeria

138 S. Wilcox Street (In the DC Library center)

Castle Rock, CO 80104

Michael's Crafts

This Saturday (Feb. 27) Michael's Crafts has some FREE kids crafts going on:

The Knack Free Family Event

Feb. 27, 2010 10am - 1pm

Free make-it take-it Molecule Project. Kids will use the periodic table to create 3D models using Crayola Model Magic. While Supplies Last. FREE

Science Explorer Demonstration

Feb. 27, 2010 10am - 1 pm

Join us for a demonstration of projects available from Scientific Explorer. Science Explorer is the perfect science introduction for younger kids! Kids will set u a color mixing lab, grow gobs of crystals in 24 different colors and capture the rainbow in a test tube. Most importantly, they'll learn how to think like a scientist. Perfect for ages 4+. FREE

*Make sure you check with your local Michael's to make sure they are participating.

**For the Douglas County Mom, here are some Michael's locations:

5650 Allen Way Ste 108

Castle Rock, Co 80108

9565 E. County Line Rd.

Englewood, CO 80112

11425 S. Twenty Mile Rd.

Parker, Co 80134

9291 S. Broadway

Highlands Ranch, Co 80129

Cinnabon Cupcakes

I just found out that Cinnabon now has cupcakes; and being a lover of the cinnamon rolls, I am SO excited to try a cupcake! They are only available at participating locations, so find out before you go, but Denver Metro people can try them at the Cinnabon in the Southwest Plaza in Littleton.

Broccoli Salad

4 bunches fresh broccoli (cut up small)

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1/2 - 1 lb. bacon, crisp and crumbled (I have used one bag of bacon bits before)

1/2 purple onion sliced (I usually omit)

add all together and add dressing at least 20 minutes before serving

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayo, 1/2 cup miracle whip, 1/3 cup sugar, 2 tab. red wine vinegar. Mix together and add to salad. Can add raisons and/or dried cranberries (I love it with the dried cranberries and always add them.)

Parmesan Chicken with Tomatoes and Basil

Skinless boneless chicken breasts, or tenders

Shredded parmesan cheese

4-5 roma tomatoes, fresh basil leaves

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Make sure pan is hot when chicken is added. Pile the parmesan cheese on wax paper or tin foil. Season with a generous amount of seasoning salt, and if desired, bread crumbs (I used the Italian bread crumbs last time and it was really good).

Season chicken with pepper. Press the chicken breasts or tenders firmly into the cheese. Coat both sides of chicken with as much cheese as possible.

Put chicken into the skillet and cook about 7-10 minutes on each side until cheese forms an even golden coating on each side (make sure that the cheese has goldened, and then it will stick to the chicken; if you try to turn it over before, it will stick to the pan) .

Topping: Combine chopped tomatoes with basil (chopped) in a small bowl, season with salt and pepper, Serve with chicken. *To cute basil: pile leaves on top of each other. Roll them up together and thinly slice.

President's Day

My kids are a little bit too little for this, but I thought this would be such an awesome idea for older kids:

Valentine's Heart Brownies

How cute are these, and so yummy! From Little Birdie Secrets, "I got the idea for these brownie bites from Betty Crocker. Make a pan (or two) of brownies (fudge style, not cake-like), let them cool, and cut them out with a heart cookie cutter. Then melt a scoop of chocolate frosting in the microwave for about 10 seconds (or less--don't let it boil). Spoon it over the hearts. I had mine laid out on wax paper to help with clean-up. Before the frosting sets, add sprinkles. For the pink drizzle, I mixed some red food coloring into some vanilla frosting and warmed it like the chocolate frosting, then drizzled it over with a spoon. Easy-peasy!"

Fabric Baby Blocks

So I got this idea from Ashley at Make it and Love it, which is awesome. I am a very beginning sewer, like I mean my mom gave me her old sewing machine and I had to write down instructions on how to thread the needle and the bobbin so I could do it by myself. Anyway, I made these for my baby boy for Christmas, and they were pretty easy to do. I tried doing a plush fabric (with the pokey out dots) and that one was very hard to do but an experienced sewer could do it. Anyway, here is my work and here is the tutorial from 'Make it and Love it'.

*After I stuffed the blocks, but before I did the final sew up, I put little bells in. I got a pack of 9 bells at the dollar store. You could also put crinkly paper, or rattles or anything else that would make a cool sound.

Valentine's Heart Lei

"These fun heart-shaped leis are helping to spread Valentine's cheer. They are the perfect activity for your child's classroom party or to make ahead of time to give out as Valentines" from Craftzine, click here for directions; but here is what you need:

Cardstock paper in Valentine colors
Yarn in Valentine colors
Straws in Valentine colors
Clear tape
Scissors
Hole punch
Crayon or black pen

Chicken Rolls

2 pkg. crescent rolls

1 can chicken

1 8 oz. chicken

melted butter

Italian breadcrumbs

salt and pepper

Unroll the crescent rolls and separate. Mix the cream cheese, chicken, and salt and pepper together. Add about two teaspoons in the center of each crescent roll. Roll up folding in the corners so no chicken mixture is showing. Roll in the melted butter and then in the breadcrumbs. Put on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Pair it up with some fruit and veggies and you are good to go.

Valentine's Wreath Tutorial

I saw this cute wreath made by Sachiko at Tea Rose Home, and thought it was so cute, and it is easy to make! Click here to get the step by step instructions and pictures.

Valentine's Hair Accessories

My mom just sent these in the mail for my daughter, and how cute! She has a yo-yo maker, which is very easy to use, but if you need directions on how to make fabric yo-yos, click here, and while you are there, check out the Zakka Life blog, it is pretty cool. So you just need:

some fabric

a plastic headband

some cute Valentine decals

a little felt

metal clip

and feathers

Pretty easy and cute to make, you can of course use whatever color or themed ribbon and fabric to create whatever look you want.

Chicken Marinade

We had short notice dinner company last night, so I decided to marinade chicken and have a BBQ. The only problem, I didn't have any marinade, so I just added a bunch of stuff together and I think it was pretty good. My husband loved how the marinade was flammable and would drip all the extra across the grill and watch huge flames go up. Anyway, here is the recipe:

1/3 cup vinegar

1/2 cup oil

1 tsp. fresh ground pepper

1 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. fresh minced garlic

1 tsp. chicken bouillon

pinch of paprika

a sprinkle of crushed red peppers (it adds a little kick, but you can omit if you don't want it spicy)

Marinade the chicken for a couple hours and BBQ, I paired it up with oven herbed potatoes.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Tacos

This is probably one of my favorite recipes. My friend gave it to me, but I have also seen similar recipes that are called the Cafe Rio copycats (they use Dr. Pepper and I use Coke though). I always make this recipe with the Cilantro Lime Rice.

8-12 chicken tenderloins

20 oz. coke classic

1 cup sugar

7 oz. can Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. ground mustard

Put everything in a crock pot and cook on high for around 6 hours. (The more chipotle pepper you put in the spicier it will be, I usually put 4-5 in with all the sauce from the can). When chicken is done, take out and shred, (I take out the chipotle peppers and then just throw them away because I think they are too spicy to eat, but add good flavor). Put chicken back in crock pot to absorb juices. Serve on tortillas with black beans, ranch, lettuce, salsa, cheese, cilantro lime rice, whatever you like.

These are the mandatory sauces: Pace picante, Ranch, and La Victoria Thick 'n Chunky Salsa Verde

Roll up and Eat!

Valentines Day Kids Craft

First a good joke I heard:

A woman woke up and told her husband, "I just dreamed you gave me a diamond necklace for Valentine's Day, what do you thin it means?" "You'll know tonight," he said. That evening the husband came home with a small package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it--to find a book entitled “The Meaning of Dreams.”

Don't we all love Valentine's Day! :) I know it is technically a 'lovers' holiday, but I am really a holiday person, I like to celebrate all the holidays, and make them special for my children as well. So every year, I look for fun things I can make and do with the kiddos.

Kids crafts:

I love doing fun kids crafts for the grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, ect. ect. Here are some cute, easy, cheap, simple ideas that you probably already have everything for:

Children's Handprint Bouquet

(to see step by step directions and pictures, go to "Artists helping Children".

*I think the lilies are so cute, but I did this for my mom once with my kid's handprints on all different colored paper, and put them in a vase.

(mine)

The Valentine's Day Scroll

Got this idea from "All Free Crafts". I think it is so cute. The directions are to first put the painted handprints on canvas or construction paper, then paint on simple leaves and stems, then have the child write a message. Sponge gold paint around the edge of the paper, dry, then roll it up and tie ribbon around it like a scroll.

Cream Filled Strawberries from Cafe Johnsonia

Don't these look so delicious and yet simple - something you could do easily with your children.

Recipe:

2-16 (more or less depending on the size) large strawberries
4 oz. cold heavy cream
4 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
2-4 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar (make is as sweet as you like)
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
a little vanilla extract

Beat the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar with an electric mixer. Add the heavy cream. Continue beating until the mixture thickens. Add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Place in the fridge for several hours, or overnight.

Cut an "X" into the bottom of each strawberry.

Fit a pastry bag with a star tip and fill it with the cream. Carefully pipe the cream into the center of each strawberry, allowing some of it overflow from the cuts you made on the strawberry.

Serve immediately, or cover with plastic film/wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.

*if you want REALLY simple and quick., you could always, just 'X' cut the strawberries and spray whipped cream inside.

Valentine Cookie Pops

This was taken from Pillsbury; however, my favorite sugar cookies are the powdered Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix. These stay soft and every time I make them, I always get compliments, so I would make them with that mix, rather than the Pillsbury refrigerated dough. Then place cookie dough pieces 2 inches apart. Into side of each piece of dough, insert wooden stick 1 inch, overlapping wooden sticks as necessary. Bake according to package directions. Cool completely. Spread with frosting and decorate with candies Tie 18 inches of red ribbon into bow around each stick next to the cookie.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Diaper Cake Tutorial

Diaper cakes are pretty popular, and why not, they are so cute, practical and not too expensive. I threw a baby shower for my friend and made this one for her as the table center piece. It was very easy to do, and the total cost was about $25-$30, and I just saw someone charging $78 dollars for one pretty much exactly to mine. These are also extremely boy/girl versatile, you can pick different themes, colors, pretty much the sky is the limit.

So, Directions, I will give directions based on the cake I made, but you can obviously tweak it how you want/need.

First you need:

1. Pack of diapers (I bought the newborn ones because they come with the most, the Huggies newborn ones are about $20, and there is 84, to make a 3-tier cake, you will need about 75 diapers. I bought the Luvs brand (I think they were around $16), they are cheaper than Huggies and Pampers and the diapers are mostly white). *this obviously is the bulk of the cost

I got the rest of my supplies at the dollar store

2. Thick ribbon (I bought two things of ribbon)

3. Flowers (I bought small pink ones-two bouquets)

4. pack of Rubber bands

5. Stuffed animal for the top

6. Big bottle of baby powder

7. A serving platter to put cake on

• To start, just roll up all the diapers and put a rubber band around the middle. Try to roll them up so that the most of the colored part or picture is rolled up inside.

• Then grab your baby powder and start putting your rolled diapers around it. I put about eight rolled diapers around it, then grabbed a big rubber band and rubber banded them all around the baby powder. Sometimes it is easier to work with someone to help hold the diapers up till you get them rubber banded in place (or the ribbon will hold them when you are done with the first tier).
• Do 3-4 layers around the baby powder (or however big you want your cake, and how you want it to look) then measure the ribbon to fit around the tier and just safety pin it. *You may want to wait to do the ribbon till the last just in case you need to add another layer to make it look right, or a couple rolled diapers here and there.
• A little part of the baby powder will be sticking up from your first diaper tier, and you just add onto of that, adding rolled diapers around the baby powder on top of the first tier. I did two layers of rolled diapers around it.
• Now the third top tier was just set on top, I just grabbed one rolled diaper and worked my way around it adding diapers till it resembled a roll of toilet paper. Now set it on top and see how it looks.
• Add diapers here and there where ever you think it needs it, then measure the ribbon for each tier and safety pin it on.
• Then grab your flower bouquet and start cutting off the flowers. Make sure you leave about 1 inch of stem to push into the diapers. Then do just that, put a flower on top of each diaper, making sure you push the stem part inside to secure the flowers.
• Top with your stuffed animal (or cake topper) and set on cake platter.

*for a boy cake, instead of the flowers, you can add the crinkle cut shredded paper on top of the tiers, or whatever else your creative mind can think of.

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