Chocolate Pancakes - Freezer Friendly!

This is one of my early morning "cheats." When I make pancakes for my family, I always at least double the recipe and freeze the extras. I let them cool before I put them into a container so that they do not stick together once frozen. Then, whenever I'm having a harder morning or want a special treat for the kids, I take out a few and heat them in the microwave. They turn out wonderfully and breakfast is a snap. I do this with regular pancakes and the family favorite, Chocolate!

Chocolate Pancakes
2 c pancake mix
3 T unsweetened cocoa
2 T sugar
1-1/2 c water
1/4 c chocolate chips

I hope you enjoy this recipe on Menu Plan Monday!

-Julie

Happy Sunday!

A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom. Proverbs 10:23 NIV

Do Big Chores Together

I always find it amazing that we end up with so many leaves in our yard each fall. When it is time to remove them, we take the opportunity to work together and have some fun.

It is always fun to see how easy a task seems when you work together and how much fun you can make the thing you have been dreading.

-Julie

Give the Gift of Art Supplies

I think the best gifts you can get for kids are craft and art supplies. Our daughter recently turned three years old. She was thrilled when we bought her painting supplies and construction paper. Kids love to draw, paint, and use their imagination. Many of the supplies you find now are non-toxic and washable, so they are relatively safe for children. Art supplies give hours of entertainment and a chance for you to encourage your child's creativity.

For more Christmas gift ideas click here!

-Robin

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday filled with happy memories.

Freezer Meals

I was so excited when I heard that our church was looking for cooks to help fill our church freezer with meals. I love cooking and real enjoy making meals in bulk from my Fix, Freeze, and Feast cookbook. The purpose of the church freezer is to store meals so that when a family is in need of a meal, we can provide them one quickly. Mostly, the freezer is used if someone has an illness in the family or a death in the family. I love this idea and am excited to help out with it. I recently made mashed potatoes and pork roasts for the freezer. If we get a call that someone is in need for food, I have labeled my dishes so that someone will be able to take them from the freezer, warm them, and take a hot meal to a family.
Freezer meals are a great idea for any church. Many people are willing to help fill the freezer with premade meals for a help a family in need. Making freezer meals Works for Me.

-Robin

The Ability To Stay Calm

I'll admit it. I didn't always possess this ability. Things like I have pictured here would have, at one point in my life, made me pretty angry. Now, it made me laugh.

A recent order of children's art supplies arrived at my home. I wasn't able to open it until late in the evening. A smaller box was inside the larger one and I lifted it out and placed it on my cream colored carpet. THIS is what I saw below it. Yes, it was on the box I put on the floor. Yes, it was now on my carpet. Yes, I laughed out loud.

I am happy that I have been able to teach my children that we can't always control the situation we find ourselves in, but we CAN control our reaction. Getting angry wasn't going to do any good. It wouldn't lift the red stain from my floor or repair the damaged product in the box. It would only make things worse for me and set a bad example for my kids.

I am grateful that I have the proper perspective in most situations now. This Gratituesday, I hope that you are able to laugh, no matter what life brings you.

-Julie