Potato Pancakes

I know this potato pancakes recipe is very unhealthy, but, my word they are good! James and I are always asking his father to make them for us but he never wants to! James begged him for the recipe and he 'gave' it to us. I think hes holding out on something because they did not taste like his. Sneaky man. Anyways, James whipped up this batch and they turned out good but as I said before, not like my father-in-laws!

Here is the recipe exactly as given to us.

4 large potatoes
1 yellow onion
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
salt and ground black pepper to taste
2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Directions
1. Finely grate potatoes with onion into a large bowl. Drain off any excess
liquid. 
2. Mix in egg, salt, and black pepper. Add enough flour to make mixture
thick, about 2 to 4 tablespoons all together. 
3. Turn oven to low, about 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). 
4. Heat 1/4 inch oil in the bottom of a heavy skillet over medium high heat.
Drop two or three 1/4 cup mounds into hot oil, and flatten to make 1/2 inch
thick pancakes. Fry, turning once, until golden brown. Transfer to paper
towel lined plates to drain, and keep warm in low oven until serving time.
Repeat until all potato mixture is used.

Served with sour cream makes it even tastier!
Now just to find the missing ingredient!

By Mommy Melissa

The Cleaning Power of Baking Soda

Everyone knows that baking soda is great at keeping refrigerators smelling fresh. But when it comes to cleaning, baking soda is a miracle worker!

James decided one day, he was going to try and make clove oil (lord knows why). He had no clue what he was doing but he saw it on YouTube so it couldn't be that hard... a black pot and a house smelling of burnt cloves later he tells me he might have done it wrong and will have to throw away my pot. I was mad! The pots I use are the best! They were my mom and dads, which they bought many, many years ago. I would not believe it was trash. I WOULD fix it! With a little effort and baking soda.

Check out his handy work!

You can see the burnt coming off

Almost good as new! 

First you will need to collect a sponge and baking soda. Pour a generous amount into the pot and scrub your heart out! It will take some elbow grease but its worth the effort. Give it a good wash down and good as new! Since the clove smell was very prominent, I boiled some water and vinegar in the pot for a few minutes then scrubbed it down again and the smell was gone.

James gets to live another day, thanks to the cleaning power of Baking Soda!

Works great to remove tea stains from mugs too!

by Mommy Melissa

Tiny Outfits

If your new to the mom world and just had a little boy, you will soon realize it can be tough finding cute clothes for your little one, I find that most stores cater to the girls more so than boys. It's sometimes hard to find something adorable at a reasonable price. Then I came across Old Navy's Baby/Child selection, there clothes are unique and at a way reasonable price! I know with it cooling down out there you might need to restock on some fall/winter attire, check out Old Navy! Here are just some of my favs currently:

If you like what you see and would like to see more, visit Old Navy!

POST BY MOMMY OLIVIA

Gummy Bear and Sprite Ice Pops

Pinterest is always helpful to look for fun ideas to do with children. I came across this cute idea that would  be great as a summer treat. Gummy bear and Sprite ice pops. Simply pour Sprite into a popsicle mold, add gummy bears, freeze. This was a project perfect for my youngest niece Madison. It took us maybe five minutes to complete and then a day to finally taste them! The kids say they tasted great but I am still calling this a flop. The original picture (here) shows them being clear and having the gummies everywhere. So cute and colourful! Our bears sunk to the bottom and the Sprite froze strangely.

Gummy Bears and Sprite Ice Pops. Nailed it!

I had high expectations but was disappointing with the end result. Maybe the Sprite should be flat, that may help.

Have you tried making them? Did yours look right?

By Mommy Melissa

Labour Day Camping Trip

My sister Jennifer and her family were going camping to take advantage of the Labour Day long weekend. They invited my family along as well, but since James not feeling very well, Amelia and I hoped a ride with them and went camping too! Logan stayed home with James because last time we went camping he decided he would escape from the tent. Terrifying, but thankfully it was during the day! Especially if I were alone without James! So the boys had special boys time playing cars and watching Thomas the train.

We had a blast at the Voyageur Provincial Park in East Hawkesbury, Ontario! It is a wonderful camp ground. There are three sections you can stay at. We always go to Portage. It is the best! It is private and you barely see your neighbours. I am not a fan of camping in an open field where your neighbours are right there. In Portage, you are surrounded by trees. The other sections are Iroquois and Champlain. Champlain is very open and the closest to the park entrance/exit. Iroquois is a mix of both. Open but with more trees and a little more privacy. The beaches there are good too. Swimming, fishing, boat rentals, and a roped off part where you can feel a bit safer to let little children play.


Here are a few things I would like to share with everyone about the camp out!

Lets start with the food! Jennifer made one of the best steaks I have ever had! Before we left, she placed the steaks in a zipper seal bag and poured in pesto. When it was time to cook them, the pesto was infused into the meat. Cooked over the fire, oh my gosh! You will need to try this! Even cooked on a bar-b-q would be great! For dessert that night, bananas wrapped in foil then cooked in the fire. An ooey-gooey master piece! Camping is just not complete without s'mores!

The perfect steak

Campfire bananas

hmm, not the best pic

The beach day was a lot of fun!Amelia loves the water. She thought it was hilarious when she would hit the water and it would splash her in the face! Sunscreen was being put on every half hour that day! It was very hot and the sun was strong.

Me and my baby girl

Its name was Sally

Wildlife is everywhere at Voyageur, my brother in law Nick learned that one night! Everyone had gone to bed but he stayed enjoying the fire. Well, he dozed off and woke up to a skunk right beside him! He stayed still and it walked off out of site. He figured it left, oh no! It was under his chair! Once he was sure it was gone, he decided not to push his luck any farther and went to bed. Smart man!
We also had a more pleasant time with a little salamander that decided to come and greet us! He was so cute! When it walked on you it felt like little tickles! After Annabelle taught Madison all about how they can regrow their tail, we let him go in the woods. The girls wanted to keep him but we told them about how this is its habitat and it wouldn't be fair to it. The best thing is though, James brought my tent to our yard when we got home, a freaking salamander came scurrying out! It came home with us!!  He got away too fast into a crack to pick him back up but how awesome is that!?

We are planning another fall camping trip soon! It will be interesting to see how that turns out. We want to try and make a stew over the open fire!

What are your favourite things to do while camping?

By Mommy Melissa

Pumpkin Cupcakes

So continuing on fall posts, I thought I'd share this little number with all of you. I made these cupcakes last fall for Thanksgiving, there were delicious! Just the right amount of pumpkin and were a bid hit at our traditional family dinner! This recipe came from thejoyofbaking.com, they have amazing recipes I advise you all to take a gander for yourself!

So here's the recipe for these cups of heaven:

What you will need:

Pumpkin Cupcakes:

1 1/2 cups (195 grams) all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup (200 grams) granulated white sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup (75 grams) solid packed, canned pumpkin puree

Cream Cheese Frosting:

4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

2 tablespoons (25 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (175 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

Garnish:

1 cup (110 grams) pecans or walnuts or English Toffee Bits

Pumpkin Cupcakes:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Place rack in the middle of the oven. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or spray each cup with a non stick vegetable spray.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground spices, and salt. 

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and pumpkin puree, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.  

Fill the muffin cups evenly with the batter using two spoons or an ice cream scoop. Place in the oven and bake for about 18 - 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center of one of the cupcakes comes out clean. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the butter and beat until incorporated and smooth. Add the vanilla extract and confectioners sugar and beat until fluffy (2-3 minutes). Pipe or spread the frosting on the cupcakes. Sprinkle with toasted and chopped nuts or English Toffee Bits.

Want to know more about this recipe? OR do you want more ideas to make your thanksgiving dinner perfect? click here

 

Almost Fall!

Hey guys, I know we all never want to summer to end, but Fall is the most beautiful time of the year (literally) how can you not go outside and see all those colours in the trees and hear the crunching leaves with every footstep and not love the fall! So in preparation for an awesome holiday... HALLOWEEN! I am conduring up some costume ideas for my little Noah... but came across some adorable girl ones as well that I will share! If you see something you like just click on the word and it will take you to where you can get it! :D

Pink Poodle

Baby Bat

Minion

Lion

Monster

Owl

Peacock

Iron Man

Super Why