Food Archives - Simply Sells Kitchen

Gluten Free Oat Flour Pancakes

Sandra Sells — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 05:09:55 +0000

Our Simply Sells gluten free oat flour banana pancakes are the easiest way to make whole grain pancakes for your family. So, for all the gluten free peeps out there – you deserve pancakes too! I love that the recipe calls for pantry staples because I always have the ingredients on hand. I have made pancakes that use store bought mixes, like in my paleo banana pancakes recipe, but if you don’t have a pancake mix on hand these gluten free pancakes really are the next best thing. Another plus with this recipe is the protein content that will keep you going for the day because of the number of eggs used! I only use natural ingredients to sweeten the pancakes, and they win my kids’ approval every time. It can be hit or miss with other foods, but I always seem to hit the mark with these. To be honest, I would rather save the sweetness for the toppings anyway. 😉 These Pancakes are Easy! For this recipe, I mix the pancake ingredients right in my Vitamix blender! I always say the less dirty dishes the better – can I get an amen? Haha! I start by putting two cups of whole grain, old fashioned, gluten free rolled oats in the Vitamix and blending the oats for approximately 10 seconds to flour consistency. Next, I add the bananas, eggs, almond milk (or milk of choice), honey, and vanilla. Admittedly, first mixing the liquid ingredients, and then adding the rest of the ingredients would be better, but as a busy mom I am just fine blending it all at once. One of my favorite kitchen hacks is to use the ladle that comes with my Instant Pot. The ladle has a little hook on it that can rest on the edge of the blender, and its scoop size portions the pancake batter just perfectly. Yes, I love finding little tricks – you’re welcome! Cooking the pancakes With the mixture ready and my ladle in place, I heat my griddle up to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. I prefer the griddle heat a little low so I don’t burn the pancakes and they cook evenly. Also, I only butter the griddle for the first batch to prime the griddle. The color of the pancakes seems to turn out better after the first batch and they don’t seem to stick to the griddle after this, but use your best judgement. It is a known fact that the first pancakes are not always as pretty as the following ones so don’t feel bad. I can fit eight small pancakes on the griddle. You can tell that they need flipped when the edges are slightly browned and look slightly dry (not shiny like the raw batter). The pancakes will also start to bubble a bit in the middle when they’re ready to flip, and they should be a light golden brown. I serve the pancakes with toppings of choice. Making ahead of time & storage I like to make extra pancakes and freeze them for when the kids want a quick morning breakfast before school. I lay the pancakes out on a cookie sheet and freeze them right on the cookie sheet. Once frozen, I store them in a zip lock freezer bag. You can either microwave a frozen pancake for 25-30 seconds or place it in your toaster to warm it up. On the weekends, to create a fun experience I love to set up a pancake bar for my kids. I lay out lots of fruits, chocolate chips, and even rainbow sprinkles in small bowls and put out a can of whipped cream. The whipped cream brings a huge smile. We even plan this same fun experience when hosting our adult friends around special occasions like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s day, or Christmas time. These Simply Sells gluten free oat flour banana pancakes really are a favorite staple in our house and we make many variations. They ensure a nutritious but delicious breakfast. We have been known to even make them for dinner. I really do hope you enjoy! 🍴

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Traveling and packing with kids

Sandra Sells — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 19:18:42 +0000

I have tried many methods of packing for kids and keeping organized. What seems to work for me is that packing cubes and/or Ziploc bags are your best friend. I used Ziploc bags on our last trip but I have added a link to some awesome packing cubes here. I have two children and I don’t usually unpack the suitcase when we are staying in a hotel or vacation rental unless the clothing item needs to be hanged. I tend to iron most items that need ironing before folding them very neatly. I stack by outfit with socks and underwear right on top of the outfit. Then I place the stacks in gallon size Ziploc bags and place the bags in the suitcase. The number of bags you need depend on the size of your child and the amount of outfits needed for the days away. You may get some creases due to folding, so if you would rather roll outfits that is fine too. I am ok with a little crease here and there, but thankfully most of the clothing items survive the trip and are not that creased. If the occasion requires perfection a little touch up ironing is done on location. Most hotels or vacation rentals have irons available as part of their amenities. Overpacking is sometimes inevitable. I have learned it’s not the end of the world, but when you are flying it can be costly. To avoid over packing and being charged for heavy bags, it is ok to let your children rewear clothing items. It really depends on the climate and activities done in the clothing, but, if able, you can launder them. Most of the places that we stay in have a washer and dryer. To suit our family needs, we opt for a vacation rental with multiple bedrooms more often than a hotel. They usually have a full kitchen and laundry room. I am not saying I want to do laundry when traveling but throwing the play clothes in the laundry is not that hard. This is very helpful when you have young children. If we are traveling for at least one week, for each child I pack 2-3 play outfits, 3-4 pajamas, two nice daytime outfits, and one nighttime/dinner outfit per child. Another tip is to have the pants and tops match more than one outfit. This way in pictures it looks like you packed an outfit a day but you are just mixing and matching. Pack one pair of dressy shoes, flip flops and/or water shoes, and one pair of sneakers. Bathroom items are a personal choice on what is needed, but I would stay within airline guidelines and know you can always run to WalMart or its equivalent. If you are going to a cold climate you will want to make sure that you are thinking about longs sleeves/layers, a coat, hats, gloves, and boots. I usually pack enough socks and underwear for all the days away because I feel as though we may need extra anyway with kids, and they do not weigh much. I also always pack the on-the-go diaper bag with a full change of clothes and emergency items for whatever may occur at any time, especially when flying. A sweatshirt is also brought along with any cozy item or stuffed animal required by your child. I tend to offer a lot of grace to my children when traveling because it is out of their normal routine. I always let them pack a Ziploc bag full of favorite toys to bring on the trip. We know that they may get restless so iPads are charged and headphones brought along to help occupy them. Snacks are a must when traveling I always bring healthy items and treats as well. Vacation is meant to be fun and I want the kids to feel like it is an exciting thing that we are doing. With young children it feels like you are bringing your whole house with you sometimes. Bringing multiples of things really isn’t necessary unless you are going to a place with no civilization. In that case good luck! I probably wouldn’t be going there with kids anyway. With young children, baby items are a must and can take up the whole suitcase, but be as minimal as you can. We bring one milk cup/bottle for each child and their water cups. We have learned that if able, bring shelf stable milk (for children over one year old) in your diaper bag. This will reduce any need for a cooler and can hold you over until you can get to a refrigerator. I have added a link to the shelf-stable milk that we buy here. The milk for children may need to be brought in your carry-on-luggage if flying, but it is allowed most of the time since it is baby milk. Bring as many shelf-stable milks as you think you will need for travel and also for a few days until you can reach a store. In the past we brought enough baby food and diapers for a few days with a plan to purchase more when we arrive at our destination. These items are important and a priority when traveling with a baby, so do your best. Give yourself some time to prepare when packing for your family. Don’t do it the night before as it could mean being up all night. If you want to avoid being disorganized follow these tips that have worked for me. I can also simply tell my husband to go to the suitcase or drawer and know that the children will be wearing what I have planned. My children are my pride and joy. It brings me a lot of joy to dress them and honor them in this way. I want them to look cared for. If all you take from this is to use a Ziploc bag for packing, then I have done my job. It really helps!

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☕️ Our Favorite Coffee Shops!

Sandra Sells — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 14:53:57 +0000

I dream of moments like these, sitting in the most perfect coffee shop, with the most perfect person, experiencing the most perfect day! Everywhere that we travel as a family we always make sure to stop at a local coffee shop. We’ve even taught our kids to enjoy coffee shops growing up. No we’re not talking about your Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, or other corporate coffee companies. (Unless we’re doing a long road trip, Haha!) This means coffee places that roast their own coffee or have a local supplier. Businesses that are owned by locals that live in and love their communities. Places where you know you’re going to get the best experience and amazing connections with great coffee, food, and people. Also, I have a passion for latte art! For me, beautiful artistry just tops off one of my favorite experiences on the planet. You can’t go wrong with coffee, a cookie, and great company! At home a few years ago, we decided to invest in a certain latte machine on our family gift list. Seeing as we loved coffee so much and refused to spend $5 plus on a latte everyday. This machine is called the Phillips 3200 Latte Go. We use it everyday, sometimes twice a day. This particular machine is fully automatic. Although I want to learn the art of the latte by hand, the functionality of having it fully automatic makes a great addition to my busy life. Coffee for Kodi and I brings a lot of joy. We love the art of food, but we are also always on the hunt for the most perfect coffee shop. Kodi and I have grown to enjoy a good dark roast that has come from years of brewing. Grab yourself a warm mug of freshly brewed coffee, smell the aroma, sweeten and cream it up how you like it, and then find a comfy corner and enjoy! We wanted to include a list of some of our favorite local coffee places we visited throughout the years of travel. 👇🏻 (not in any specific order)

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