Pancakes for the Busy Mom

Ok, so I am not a morning person. I also hate cooking when I'm half asleep and hungry. I hate letting food go to wast too. So I have started making baked waffles then storing them for later.  I say baked because I don't have a waffle maker, but I have a waffle sheet pan (thank you, Pampered Chef). I make waffles at night before going to bed, stick them in the fridge, and all the kids have to do is help themselves while I enjoy my morning coffee in peace. Now, I'm not one of those fancy moms that make them from scratch; I keep it simple. I used pancake mix (follow the recipe on the box), extra vanilla,  and whatever fruit I just so happen to have that's about ready to expire. It's simple, it's yummy, and I can secretly give my kids fruit that they swear they never liked, although I watched them eat it a few days ago.

Now you don't have to use a waffle pan. You can make these in a waffle iron or other shaped baking pans. (I currently have another Pampered Chef summer-themed backing pan on its way). Don't think you have to buy the overpriced pampered chef stuff. I have a Pampered Chef addiction and a shopping problem.

Now to the pancakes. I love this recipe because it is excellent for a busy mom like me. It helps save money because, let's face it, those freezer waffles are thin. The kids go through them way too fast for the price, unlike the homemade ones. The homemade ones are something the kids can feed themselves without help. The kids fill them up better off of them. Plus, pancake mix is super cheap, and you can mix almost any fruit into it. Which, for me, makes it the perfect breakfast item. 

First, you start with whatever brand of pancake mix you like and follow the recipe on the back of the box, substituting any ingredients you may need to. However, before adding the milk, put it in a blender or food processor with any fruit you may want to add. (Use your judgment. Different fruit means different amounts. Just make sure the fruit milk mix is still runny). Next, mix all your ingredients until it is smooth.

If you are baking, set your over to 350 and let it heat up while you fill your molds. I fill mine about 1/2 to 2/3 full. When the oven is heated, put it in for 10 min and keep an eye on it. Depending on the pan you are using, how much batter is in the pan, and other things, cook times can vary. If you are using a waffle maker, you will have to do whatever the manufacturer suggests because I do not have a waffle maker, and I have not used one in years.

Try not to open the oven too much while cooking because it slow the cooking time down. I was also told it would release too much moisture from the oven, making what you bake dry and crack. When you think the pancakes are done, pull them out of the oven. They should be golden brown, and a butter knife or toothpick can be stuck in the center and come out clean. 

When the pancakes are done, you can put sugar or any other topping on top and enjoy unless you are like me and are making them for late. You can out in the fridge, bread box, or even freeze. It just depends on how long you plan on waiting to eat them. To reheat, you can do it in the oven or even in a skillet with some butter. The toaster works great, too, depending on the pancake's shape and size. We have even taken them camping and reheated them over a campfire in a basket steamer! 

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Apple Cider Vinegar and Toenail Fungus

I'm sure many of use (Exspeashly if you are reading this entry) have notices that their toenails have started to change color, thicken, or maybe even crack. If this is so you may have toenail fungus. If so it is ok, do not freak out because in your kitchen you may have one of the best and cheapest ways to heal your poor toes. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a great remedy for toenail fungus, foot smell, and it will also soften the skin of your feet (and any other body part you use it on). so let's talk about why this is.

(Disclaimer: before we go any further I do want to note that I am not a dr. and with some of these claims I have not found any credible study proving that they help, only my own personal use, research, and old wives tales that have been passed down from my community. So I suggest you talk to your health care provider before trying this, or if you do not get the desired results)

Why It Works

So let's talk about ACV and how it helps with foot fungus and smell. The idea behind why it is said to work is simple, Vinegar is an acid, which gives it antifungal and antibacterial properties. This in theory should slow down the growth of fungus and bacteria. (So you could even use it as a deodorant in a pinch since armpit smell is caused by bacteria mixed with sweat)  Not only that but it will also affect the pH levels of the skin making it harder for the fungus to grow and spread. 

As I said earlier it will also soften the skin. (So yes you can use this on your face as well I do it all the time). ACV considered an alpha hydroxy acid which will help chemically exfoliate your skin by removing dead skin buildup. So don't be scared to use it on other parts of your body (after doing a little research of course) that way you can show off that nice new soft healthy skin.   

Organic ACV vs Non-organic ACV

So the big difference between the two types of ACV is non-organic is pasteurized, filtered, and has had man-made pesticides used on the products that are used to make it. (I use the word man-made pesticides because many people believe organic has no pesticides use when that is not always the case, some organic farmers do use natural pesticides) while the organic one is not. Since organic ACV is unfiltered and unpasteurized it still has the live bacteria and yeast used to ferment the apples in it. Now when it comes to foot soaks I do not really think it matters if the ACV is organic or not (Some people will tell you otherwise though) since the main thing we want it for is the acidic property. Now I do use organic in my household but in the case of foot soak it just because of personal health beliefs not because I think one kills foot fungus better than the other. 

How to Use it to Kill Foot Fungus

So ACV is pretty easy to use to get rid of foot fungus. All you have to do is just get a foot tub of warm water (I use one of the plastic sponge bathtubs you get from the hospital) Then I add a splash of ACV to it and just soak my feet for 15 to 20 min at least once a day. ( you should really do it twice a day for foot and toenail fungus but let's face it when you have kids, you don't always get the time to do something twice a day). 

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