Cookie Cutter Pancakes

I am boasting BIG TIME, I totally "mom scored" on these bad boys! I had a stroke of brilliance two days ago and wanted to share it with YOU!!! I'm sure most of you have seen the cute idea of pushing a cookie cutter into your kids' school lunch sandwiches (if you haven't its DARLING), well this is along the same lines; only with PANCAKES!

My kids LOVE pancakes, but ever since my dad started adding food coloring to the batter on special occasions I just can't compete. They seriously won't touch mine because they're not colored! So, I decided to make good old buttermilk pancakes two days ago. I was DETERMINED to make my kids LOVE THEM OR ELSE!!!! So.... I started making the pancakes before the kids woke up, and while I was cooking them on the stove my mind started wandering of things I needed to get done.... 

"I still have to make the kids' lunches... hmmm.... what kind of sandwich will I make today?.....how about you surprise the kids today with a cookie cutter sandwich..... change it up a little you know...?"

I look down at the pancake and DING!!!! A HUGE light bulb went off!

"Let the kids play and cut out the pancakes with cookie cutters! They'll want to eat them more than "rainbow pancakes." Easy, no mess, PERFECTION!"

This was the BEST surprise breakfast EVER!
My June even said, "MOM! YOU'RE A GENIUS!" 

HA HA!!! MOM SCORE!!!

So have a FUN breakfast with your kids and use cookie cutters! They're only kids for a little while, enjoy every morning you get!

Cookies & Cream Cake Mix Cookies

I had a bunch of left over chocolate cookie crumbs after my attempt at my son's birthday cake. 

(Click Here to see the HILARIOUS experience) 

I put the extra chocolate crumbs in a zip bag and saved them for later. The day after the birthday party I remembered I volunteered to take a meal to a friend who just had knee surgery. I made them a meal and needed a dessert. I looked in my pantry for something quick. Everyone likes my cake mix cookies, but I only had a white cake mix in my cupboard. I ALWAYS have chocolate! Oh NO! What am I going to do with a white cake mix?! 

(Back track) Cookies and cream ice cream has been on my mind for the past few months. My husband and kids have always asked me what my favorite flavor of ice cream is, and I never could answer, I like so many! Well, I finally decided that my MOST favorite is cookies and cream! 

(I just wish there were more cookies in it! 

More cookies+less cream=perfect ice cream)

So, I saw the cookie crumbs and saw the white cake mix and a literal light bulb went off over my head. Our kitchen light sometimes flickers on and off. I took that as a good sign and went for it! 

These cookies were AWESOME! Keep this recipe in your back pocket for a quick delicious treat!

Cookies and Cream Cake Mix Cookies

1 White cake mix

2 Eggs

1/3 c. Oil

1/3 c. Chocolate Chips

1/2 c. Chocolate Cookie Crumbs (Oreo or Knock off Brand)

Mix all ingredients together. 

Scoop and roll batter into balls. 

Place them on a greased cookie sheet. 

Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.

Let cookies sit for 2-3 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

Serve with cold milk! Yummm.....

Need more cookie ideas?

Click HERE!

Birthday Cake - NAILED IT!

I just have to share this. Not everything I make turns out as planned! This is REAL LIFE! I am not going to publish my only perfect recipes or crafts. I also want to share with you my funny mishaps and moments that definitely DID NOT work out! I've had my share of recipes that didn't turn out, but this one "takes the cake," pun TOTALLY intended.

This was my effort at my son's birthday cake yesterday. It brought some much needed comedy and relief to my day. I had found this cake idea in a magazine ages ago and kept it just in case my little boy would want a cake like this! It had the recipe and it seemed simple enough that I could give it a try. Well, my Connor LOVES Captain America, so much that this is his third super hero party. (The other 2 he didn't really care what the theme of his party was.) He also loves motorcycles so I printed and cut out this picture of Captain America riding a motorcycle and decided the perfect cake to put it on would be this 

"dirt mound cake."

I wish there was a hidden camera in my kitchen, because I would have made a million dollars on America's funniest home videos! I was laughing, squealing and ugly/funny crying for over an hour as the cake kept falling, crumbling, and moving as I frosted it. Tears of continuous laughter streaked my face as I tried to keep it somewhat upright. Frosting splattered my walls, cake crumbs were all over my floor, and frosting covered my hands as I attempted to adjust it to keep it from falling over. This cake was the funnest, most HILARIOUS cake I have ever attempted; too bad I was the only one to witness this shenanigan. I took lots of pictures so I could share my "NAILED IT" moment with you!

NOTE TO SELF: Just because it looks easy in a magazine or on Pinterest, doesn't mean it will always end up like the picture. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn't.

Needless to say, Buddy the Cake Boss will NOT be begging for my assistance in his bakery. 

But Hey! I should get points for it looking realistic don't you think?!