Non-Messy Maple Syrup Pancakes

My kiddos love pancakes. They also really, really like syrup. This also means a really, really big sticky mess. I've found syrup in places I didn't think it could ever exist in, after serving up a batch of light, fluffy pancakes. So I thought, why not add the syrup to the batter? The kids will get the same maple syrup flavor they love, and I have less of a mess to clean up. Genius! So here's my super simple recipe for Maple Syrup Pancakes.

Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup 2% milk
2 Tablespoons canola oil
1 Tablespoon maple syrup (this can be adjusted...I add more for more flavor!)

Directions
In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl combine the egg, milk, oil and syrup. Stir into dry ingredients until blended.

Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle. Flip when bubbles form on top of the pancakes. Cook until golden brown on both sides and serve!

And for my fellow Bisquik users, you can do the same thing...just mix the syrup with the liquids before adding to the dry mix.

Snow Ice Cream

Yes, we had to jump on the bandwagon of making snow ice cream. It's so easy, how could we pass it up?! First collect your non-snow ingredients and mix them together...

1 cup milk
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a pinch of salt
8 cups snow

I am a horrible cook - hence why I sell Tastefully Simple! The food is easy to make and is delicious and makes me look like I know what I'm doing hahaha. I am also probably the only person that doesn't have vanilla extract in their pantry. So, I substituted with the only other thing I had...chocolate extract. Don't ask me why I have it, I didn't even know it existed but it somehow found it's way to my pantry. Anyway, whisk the four ingredients together and pop them in the fridge while you run outside to grab the snow.

Mix everything together until you have the consistency that you like. I used a spoon and mixed until it easily clumped together and was scoop-able.

The chocolate extract didn't quite give it a standard ice cream chocolate-y flavor, but it wasn't half bad and the kiddos didn't seem to mind at all (and I have some picky eaters!) they were even asking for seconds! Just don't forget to eat quickly before it all melts!

Snow Day!

I don't know about you, but we are in the middle of a nor'easter here in Pennsylvania and what better way to enjoy it then by baking? I don't usually plug about my side business as a Tastefully Simple consultant but the kids really enjoy being able to help make all the delicious treats - and they couldn't be more simple - each product only requires 2 ingredients or less to make!!!

We started off by making Multi-Grain Beer Bread. M had a blast mixing the batter together. It only takes one 12oz can of beer or any carbonated beverage and that's it! Mix and bake and you're done! Next we mixed up some Fiesta Party Dip Mix. Some sour cream, mayonnaise and the mix - stir together and refrigerate while the bread is baking. Snack time was a hit!

We rounded off our day with the best boredom buster around - play doh! Hope everyone stays warm and safe while the foot of snow we already have continues to grow (at 2" per hour!!!) We'll be staying bundled up in front of the fire having a movie marathon! :)