Conference and Colorful Swirled Pancakes

The first weekend in April, and the first weekend in October is always a special one for me. It is Conference weekend...and I'm always a bit sad when it's over. It is a time when we can watch on television and listen to the Prophet speak to us, as well as the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I am always so overwhelmed, after watching Conference, with the feelings of gratitude for this life I have here on Earth. As hard as it can be, there are always things to be thankful for. I know that the reason for my gratitude stems from the things I know to be true...and because of that knowledge I can have a clear understanding of why we are here on Earth and what we were sent here for.

With that said, weekends like these always include a special breakfast...So my partner in crime helped me make swirls of color in our cornmeal yogurt pancakes. I'm pretty sure we go through food dye around here like nobodies business... :-)

Red Velvet Pancakes...

What can I say, we are a pancake family. We choose pancakes over waffles, french toast, eggs, bacon, muffins, crepes...they always out trump any other breakfast food in this house.

When I saw this red velvet pancake mix from World Market it was a no brainer. 

Seriously you guys, you have to try this stuff. So, so good...and who's to say that heart pancakes are only for Valentines Day? I say every day is a heart pancake kind of a day :-).

^^^ pac man pancakes lol ^^^

Breakfast Cookie Balls

I originally was going to title this post "breakfast balls" and then...well...nevermind. I just decided to add the cookie part because it just flowed better :-).

Actually, they were originally suppose to be cookies; but then something went totally wrong, and that wrong reversed into totally YUM!

I have mentioned this before, but my three year old NEVER wants to eat breakfast. It's like trying to pin down a kangaroo on a trampoline...pretty much impossible.

Normally when I ask her what she wants to eat she will reply with one of the following, "chocolate" to which I say "that's not a breakfast food"...than she says "icecream" to which I reply the same as the last. Then she usually sighs or cries and says "chips" and than I sigh and want to cry and give her three options to which she then doesn't want any of them and by 10 AM she is ornery as can be and wants lunch. To which I then feed her lunch food because that's the only thing she wants. Sometimes you have to pick your battles.

Anyways, that was a super long explanation as to why I'm posting about these cookies. I'll get to the point...when Sage said cookies the other morning I said "okay let's make cookies". I just started adding ingredients I knew she wouldn't mind eating (or actually wouldn't KNOW she was eating).

The cookies came out super flat and crumbly with a sticky texture (b/c of the molasses).  So, after I let them cool, I molded them into little balls. This is the kicker...she loved them! She would pop them in her mouth one by one with a big ole' smile on her face. Oh, the joy of being sneaky! :-)

Do any of you have picky morning eaters? What do you do?

 ^^^my tiny helper...always there to lend a hand^^^

Color Issue's Breakfast Cookie Balls

2 beaten eggs

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 tsp molasses

1 cup crushed honey nut cheerios

1 cup quick oatmeal

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup TOTAl cereal

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

combine everything. Bake on a PAM-sprayed (or wax paper covered) cookie sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes at 350°. Remove onto a rack, and let cool completely. Roll into small balls. 

Valentines Day German Pancakes...with a touch of pink

We love german pancakes around here, so last weekend I did a little pre valentines day breakfast...(the kids and husband didn't even know the difference). I added pink food dye and took the only heart cookie cutter I own (the one I used for these sugar cookies) to use as my powder sugar stencil! Worked like a charm...and for some reason that secret ingredient (aka LOVE) was just the right touch. :-)

If you need a little breakfast idea for your lovies (or hey, for YOU) than here's a good option! Hope your day of love is glorious tomorrow! It really is one of my favorite holidays...because LOVE is totally worth celebrating!

 ^^^put the pan in the oven while its warming up and let the butter melt

Pink German Pancakes:

6 eggs

1 cups flour

1 cup whole milk

1/4 tsp. salt

3 drops food dye

***mix until smooth***

take about 1/4 of a stick of butter and melt in the bottom of an 9x13 pan and than pour batter inside.

Cook at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes 

***it'll start growing up the sides which is always the neatest part!

***sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with fruit and syrup

For another Valentines Day breakfast recipe head on over to my guest post on 

Pretty Shades of Geek