Best Ever Homemade Pancakes

Is there anything better than light, fluffy homemade pancakes for breakfast? Nope!! Homemade pancakes are so heavenly. My kids are big pancake fans and I knew I had to come up with the perfect homemade recipe for them to enjoy. It took me a couple tries but I've done it!! Here is the best ever homemade pancakes recipe you will ever have!

Homemade is best. Even though it takes a little extra time and effort, I prefer making homemade food for my family. I like knowing what is in their food and I like knowing that the food is fresh. 

Homemade Pancakes

Makes about 8

Ingredients:

1 cup all purpose flour

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tbsp light brown sugar

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup whole milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 tbsp unsalted butter (melted)

1 large egg

maple syrup for serving

Heat electric griddle to 350 degrees. 

In a bowl, with a wire whisk, stir flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add milk, vanilla, butter and egg. Stir until flour is moistened. Do not over mix as this will toughen pancakes. 

On a hot griddle, pour about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake. Cook until bubbly and then flip pancakes.

Flip pancake. Cook another 3 minutes and then remove from griddle.

Serve with warm maple syrup.

Honestly, these pancakes are amazing. Make them for your family for breakfast and you will be a star!!!

Strawberry Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal

Disclosure: This post has been sponsored by The Motherhood and McCann's Irish Oatmeal®. All opinions are mine alone. 

Who loves oatmeal? We definitely do! We have oatmeal for breakfast at least three times a week. Making this much oatmeal for my family has made me quite the expert on oatmeal and honestly, there is no yummier oatmeal than oatmeal made from steel cut oats. Sometimes we have plain oatmeal and sometimes I like to fancy things up like when I make this Strawberry Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal.

Told you it was fancy. Doesn't it look amazing? Well, not only does it look amazing, it tastes amazing too. Hearty steel cut oats cooked to perfection, topped with fresh strawberries, crunchy pecans and drizzled with honey. 

I know a lot of people don't make oatmeal, especially steel cut oatmeal, because it takes too long to cook or it's too complicated. Well, not any more. I am going to let you in on a couple tips to make an amazing bowl of oatmeal each time! First step, buy quality steel cut oats. I use McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal®. Why Irish oatmeal? Well, the climatic conditions and topography needed to produce some of the finest oats in the world are found in abundance in the lush Irish countryside. I mean, look at these hearty oats...

McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal® is made from 100 percent whole grain Irish oats and is minimally processed. It has also earned its first Non-GMO certification from the Non-GMO project on three of it's products: McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal® in the 28oz tin, McCann's Quick & Easy Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal® in the 24oz  canister and McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal Quick Cooking Rolled Oats® in the 16oz box. This are really better-for-you oats!!

Strawberry Pecan Steel Cut Oatmeal

(Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal®

2 cups water

1/2 cup milk

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 cup cut fresh strawberries

1/2 cup cut fresh pecans, halved

1 tbsp good quality honey

In microwave, heat 2 cups water to boiling. In a mason jar, add oatmeal and boiling water. Cover tightly and place in refrigerator overnight. 

In a small pot, empty contents of mason jar and bring to a boil. Add milk and brown sugar. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Remove from stove and pour oatmeal into a bowl. Top with fresh strawberries and pecans. Drizzle with honey and serve!

Making delicious oatmeal doesn't get any easier than that. With this method, the oats soften a bit overnight making them easier to cook the next morning. 

Now for some giveaway fun! Enter below for your chance to win a $25 VISA gift card that you can use to purchase McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal® to make your own delicious breakfast!

Entry-Form

For more information on where to purchase McCann's Irish Oatmeal® online, click here: http://www.mccanns.irish/

Spinach & Tomato Egg White Omelet

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #QuakerRealMedleys #CollectiveBias

I've decided that enough is enough and I need to start eating breakfast. While at work, I am starving and cannot concentrate on what I am doing. My excuse for not having breakfast is that I do not have time in the mornings. Well that has ended this week. I have had breakfast every single morning and I am feeling so much better throughout the day. I have been getting up only 10 minutes earlier and this has given me enough time to make myself a really yummy breakfast every morning!

I needed simple breakfast solutions that can be prepared in a cinch. While I was at Walmart the other day, I stocked up on the new Quaker® Real Medley® Yogurt Cups. I have never seen nothing like this before. We are big Quaker® fans in our home so I knew this new product would be good. The cups come in three different flavors: Strawberry Almond, Apple Cinnamon and Raspberry Pecan! Real Medley® Yogurt Cups contain a blend of yogurt and multi-grain granola with real fruit and crunchy bits.  Preparation couldn't be easier, just add cold milk, stir and eat! With 25 grams of whole grains and 10 grams of protein with  1/2 cup of cold skim milk, these cups are satisfying and delicious! Crunchy.Cool.Yum!

I am pairing up my Real Medleys with other yummy breakfast dishes like an omelet that I can share with JC. Our favorite is a Spinach and Tomato Egg White Omelet. So delicious and so simple to make. In less than 10 minutes I have breakfast set out for both of us!

Spinach and Tomato Egg White Omelet

Ingredients:

5 egg whites

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 handful of spinach

4 grape tomatoes

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Over medium-high heat, add oil to pan. 

Add onions and cook for one minute.

Add spinach and cook for another minute. Meanwhile, add egg whites to a small bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Add tomatoes. Stir.

Add egg whites and lower heat to medium.

After the sides have cooked, push them in and let the egg liquid spill out the sides. This will help your omelette cook faster.

Once the bottom has cooked, flip omelet (you can flip in the pan or use a plate) and let it cook for another few minutes. When you can slide a spatula under the omelet and it comes out dry, your omelet is ready! Just flip onto a plate and serve.

Isn't this the most delicious looking omelet ever? 

Quaker® Real Medleys® Yogurt cups are available at Walmart in the cold or ready-to-eat cereal asiles!

Download the Blippar app from your Apple or Android store to scan your package and receive information tutorials on Quaker® Real Medleys® Yogurt Cups.

Need more? Check out more delicious recipes on QuakerLove.com or check out Quaker® on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube!

Holiday Party Recipes: Easy Spanish Omelette #SeasonedGreetings

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeasonedGreetings #CollectiveBias

Looking for that perfect brunch dish? A delicious party food that's different yet breakfast-themed? Well I have the dish for you, a Spanish Omelette. I make this omelette various times a year and it always makes an appearance during Christmas brunch. It's a super yummy omelette that seems fancy but its very simple to make!

When I make this omelette as a brunch dish, I like to shake things up. While I was at Publix shopping for my ingredients, I decided to peruse the condiment section for something fun to add to my dish. I wanted to add a smoky sauce that would enhance the flavors just a bit and decided on Tabasco. Coming from a Cuban family, we normally don't use Tabasco in any of our dishes but I had heard about how a little Tabasco can really add to a dish, so I decided to give it a try.

EASY SPANISH OMELETTE

Serves 8

Ingredients:

8 large eggs

1 red potato, peeled and cubed

2 links spanish chorizo

1/2 cup diced ham

1 small diced onion

1/2 tbsp original Tabasco sauce

1/4 cup milk

1 cup shredded cheese (I use a Triple Cheddar mix)

salt and pepper to taste

olive oil for pan

Directions:

Peel and cut potato into small cubes. Place in small pot of cold salted water. Put over high heat and boil about 10 minutes. You want soft but not mushy potatoes. Drain water and set aside.

In a large fry pan over medium heat, drizzle olive oil in pan. Remove casing from chorizo, cut in half and then slice. If you are wondering what spanish chorizo looks like, here you go:

Add onions, chorizo and ham to pan and saute about 5 minutes. Meanwhile in a bowl, add eggs, tabasco, milk and whisk together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add potatoes and mix together. 

Pour mixture into pan. Make sure heat remains on medium, if not you will burn the bottom of the omelette. Cook about 6 minutes. You can check if your omelette is ready to flip when the sides are coming off the pan and the bottom is cooked. 

Now comes the part that scares people about making a spanish omelette on the stove: flipping. It's not hard. Take a plate that is a little larger than the pan (I use a serving platter) and coat with olive oil. Then place the plate over the pan, put your palm over the center of the plate and using your other hand, grab the handle and flip. Then you slowly push the omelette back into the pan, wet side down to cook. Add cheese. Cook about another 6-8 minutes and then slide back onto clean plate. 

Sprinkle with basil or cilantro (your choice) and set aside for a few minutes. I don't like to serve it right away, I let it cool off a bit. I think it helps the flavors fuse together a little better.

NOTE: If you would like to bake this omelette, add your ingredients to a round greased pan and bake for about 40 minutes at 375 degrees. This method makes the eggs super fluffy but takes a lot longer than cooking over the stove. Both are delicious!

I pair my omelette with a nice mimosa. Oh and the Tabasco really gave it a delicious kick to my regular omelette. I can't wait to try it in other recipes!!

Have you ever tried a Spanish omelette? If you haven't I really recommend that you do, it will rock your world!

Step Up Your Nighttime Snacking With Kellogg's®! #GoodNightSnack #CollectiveBias

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 

Nighttime snacking, Yay or Nay? In our home, we say YAY! We have early dinners, around 6pm, so we are usually in need of a snack prior to bedtime. Our snack of choice as family? Cereal! It's the perfect good night snack!

Once a month, I head to Wal-mart to stock up on our favorite cereals. With the low prices available, under $3 a box, I can afford to purchase everyone's choice of cereal. There are so many Kellogg's cereals available for your family to choose from. Two new cereals have been added to the mix: Kellogg's® Jif™ Peanut Butter cereal with a yummy peanut butter flavor and Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® Multigrain Shapes which is a lightly sweetened graham flavored cereal that comes in fun shapes. 

Two adults and three kids means at least five boxes of cereal. Everyone likes a different kind. This is what the top shelf of our pantry normally looks like! I count 9 boxes of cereal in there right now.

I have a weakness for Kellogg's® Frosted Flakes cereal. I have it with a splash of milk. It's my go-to snack while I catch up on my blogging and really anytime of day I feel a little hungry and am craving a sweet snack!

I can have it plain or with cut-up bananas! YUM!!!

JC works out everyday and he is always hungry. Around 8-9pm, he grabs a bowl of Kellogg's® Raisin Bran cereal, sits down on the couch and "coaches" Adrian through the next level of a video game. 

Adrian likes the new Kellogg's® Fruit Loops with Marshmallows as his nighttime snack. No milk for him though, he likes it just as it is!! 

For our family, cereal is a fun good night snack. We have it while playing games, watching movies, while reading bedtime stories and even during some epic gaming battles! I'm the current bowling champion!

Do you have cereal as a snack? Which cereal is your favorite?

Creating Healthy Habits For My Family with Lifeway Kefir Smoothies #KefirCreations #CollectiveBias

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

I started 2014 on a health kick. I was eating healthier, exercising and walking around with a positive attitude. While the positive attitude has become my thing, eating healthier and exercising have all but disappeared. I've been lazy and undetermined. I really needed a boost. One day last week, as I was stuffing my face with chips, Adrian asked me "Mami, why are you fat? Look at your belly!" Hearing this from your child is an eye-opener. I decided then and there that I needed to change, but change at my own pace. No extreme dieting or crazy exercise fad. First step, eating healthier. While shopping for groceries at Winn-Dixie this week, I stopped by the yogurt aisle and spotted Lifeway Kefir smoothies. I had read about how good these smoothies are so I decided to try them out. 

I purchased a strawberry flavored one since I like strawberry smoothies and a plain flavored one since I could always add any flavor of my choosing and create a custom smoothie!

#KefirCreations #CollectiveBias

Lifeway Kefir is a smooth, tart, refreshing cousin of yogurt. Lifeway Kefir contains 12 live and active probiotic cultures that support the immune system and balance digestive health. It's naturally gluten-free, 99% lactose free and contains no artificial sweeteners. It's also rich in calcium. Lifeway also only uses milk that comes from cows that are not treated with pesticides, antibiotics or synthetic growth hormones. 

I have a serious yogurt-lover in Adrian. Since Lifeway Kefir is a yogurt-type drink, I knew he would be the perfect tester. 

He seriously loved it! Check out his Kefir-stache!!!!

Lifeway Kefir has become his new favorite drink. In three days, he has gone through both bottles! I'm happy because I know it's a healthier alternative to a sugary juice drink. I have also used Lifeway Kefir to better my eating habits. I am now starting my mornings with a Lifeway Kefir smoothie, whether it be the strawberry or a banana-mango smoothie I create with the plain Kefir, fresh fruit and some ice in the blender. I love the smooth consistency and they taste so yummy. I also love that they contain probiotics, which I have been trying to incorporate for a while now but hate taking pills. I love smoothies!

 You too can try Lifeway Kefir smoothies and save some money if you sign up for coupons on Lifeway's website.

Blueberry French Toast Bites

Disclosure: I was provided this product and compensation in exchange for this post. However, this recipe and opinions are 100% my own. 

I'm not a huge breakfast fan but I love french toast. It's so delicious. I could have it any time of day. I especially love blueberry french toast. It's my favorite. I was craving french toast the other day but I didn't have any bread in the pantry to make it with. Then I remembered I had a package of Rhodes dinner rolls in the freezer. I know what you're thinking "Frozen dinner rolls for french toast?" but yes, they work and they actually are perfect for this dish. 

To see how I turned frozen dinner rolls into delicious Blueberry French Toast, check out my guest post over at Rhodes blog!