Once upon a time, I started a food blog.  My kids were one, two and four years old and what else was I to do with myself while they napped each day?
I had friends who scrapbooked their children’s memories, others who journaled, and many who updated the pages of their kids’ baby books with the latest developments.  I’ve never been creative enough to scrapbook, diligent enough to journal or even organized enough to update a baby book.  Cooking and baking, those were my things!  The kitchen was my happy place!  I figured I could move past the guilt of not having beautiful baby books for my children, if I could instead one day pass on my memories and recipes to them.  That is how Eat at Allie’s came to be.  A blog where I could write down my random thoughts and include a step by step recipe, in the hopes that one day my kids would be able to read, taste and remember their childhood.

I was doing good for a few years.  My kids took naps and I blogged.  It was a great little system we had going.  And then it happened… my littlest started Kindergarten.  I had a hard time adjusting to my new life with all three kids at school, I didn’t know what to do with myself all day!  It took about a month for my house to be completely clean and organized and me to be completely stir crazy.  It was at that time, that I decided to go back to work.

Now I should let you in on a little secret… If you have kids AND you work, you no longer have ANY free time! 

So it’s no coincidence that around the time I returned to work was the same time that my blogging became a thing of the past…

However, I still have no scrapbook, no journal, no baby book for my kids.   So I am not finished with this blog!  My kids need more memories, more recipes, more of me to hold on to as they grow old!  I am not done with this chapter yet, it’s just going to take me a really long time to get through.  I’m a teacher most days, a wife and a mom every day, and a blogger OCCASIONALLY. 

And with all that said, today I’m a blogger!

Now, let’s make some breakfast!  These Chunky Monkey Pancakes have taken way too long to post but they have been worth the wait!  They are a favorite in my house and I’m sure they’ll be a hit in yours as well!

Chunky Monkey Pancakes
(aka: Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes)

3 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3  cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter, melted
2 eggs
3 bananas
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Maple Syrup
2/3 cup  100% real maple syrup
1/3 cup peanut butter

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.

Slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.

Fold in the mashed bananas.

Stir in the chocolate chips.

Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat and coat lightly with butter.
Cook pancakes until bubbles form and then flip.
Repeat with remaining batter.

While the pancakes are cooking, place the peanut butter and syrup in a microwavable safe dish.

Heat the syrup in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, then whisk to combine.

Serve pancakes warm topped GENEROUSLY with Peanut Butter Maple Syrup.
Enjoy!

source:  adapted from Our Best Bites

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We just got back from our first ever family trip to Disneyland!

Our youngest Drew finally reached the magical height of 40 inches so we thought it was the perfect time to make the trip down to the Magic Kingdom.

Things were not looking so magical though when the moment we arrived at our hotel, Drew was struck by the flu!  Fever, chills, shakes and aching all over, the only thing Drew wanted to do upon our arrival was take a nap.  Thankfully, I had prepared for the worst.  Children’s Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl and cold medicines had all been packed in the car “just in case”.  After giving Drew some medicine to bring his fever down, he was back to his silly self within an hour.  So off we went…

2 days at Disneyland, 2 days at California Adventure, I day at Legoland, 5 nights in a hotel with 3 small children.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect but I can honestly say that we had the best time ever!!!

Taking the kids to Disneyland and experiencing it through their eyes truly was magical.  Watching their faces, their reactions, their little eyes lighting up, it was incredible!

For one solid week, Kevin did not go to work, the kids did not attend school, I did no laundry or dishes or carpooling.  Our one and only responsibility was to each other, to embrace each moment of togetherness and to have fun!  And that we did!

We arrived home happy and exhausted late Thursday night.  The harsh reality set in when I was struck by the flu two days later…

I’m on my way to recovery now so I thought I would share this delicious apple snack with you…

Citrus Soaked Apple Slices
2 apples (I like Gala)
1 large orange
1 small lemon

Juice the orange and the lemon into a glass dish.  Set aside.

Cut the apples into thin slices.

Place the apple slices into a shallow glass dish.
Pour the orange/lemon juice evenly over the apple slices.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

My kids love these apple slices too!
Perfect for an afterschool snack as well as a too much sugar at Disneyland detox :)

source:  adapted from Lets Talk Fitness

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