Breakfast with Peppa Pig

Like many little girls, my daughters both love Peppa Pig. And pancakes.  In my local supermarket they sell a pancake mix in a bottle with the little cheeky piggy on the front. You may have seen them.
I'm a purist when it comes to cooking I'm afraid and I really do roll my eyes at a lot of the 'instant' products you can buy. Some have their place, don't get me wrong. I have been known to pick up the odd bread mix and the little cupcake kits for the kids. But some just encourage laziness (ready made mash? Really??) and quite honestly save you neither time, money or effort. Pancake mix comes into this category for me. What can be easier, or cheaper, than flour eggs and milk whisked together? So I have always steadfastly walked passed pancake mixes. Until a couple of weeks ago. I bought a pancake mix in a bottle.  The one with the pig on the front.
In my defence it was in one of those bargain shops so was well under a quid, and i bought it to take away with us so we could still have pancakes. They were obviously a hit, as is anything remotely chocolaty. When we got home, I had to try it out myself.  So I did, and they were enjoyed by both girls (anyone with kids will understand the importance of that!) This is how I did it.
I make no excuse for using American measurements by the way despite disliking the Americanisation of our culture (don't start me off on that!) But using cups as a measuring tool when you need to be quick and/or have toddlers pulling at your leg nakes things so much easier.
Mash a ripe banana, the riper the better, and add an egg and a generous dollop of honey. Mix well and then add 3/4 cup of flour (whatever you have to hand) and a desert spoonful of cocoa powder. Add 1/2 cup of milk and mix well. Be aware you will have some lumps - it's the banana! Pour small amounts of the mixture into a preheated frying pan. And treat as you would any pancake. This is a little thicker than the pancakes we make for Shrove Tuesday.  Cook until bubbles form on the surface and flip over to brown the other side. Serve with fruit, syrup or whatever else takes your fancy. The mixture makes about 6 pancakes depending on your generosity,  and 1pancake with a helping of fruit is enough for my 2yr old, while my 4 yr old will often have 2. 
I suspect this will make a good weaning food when my son is ready for food, but obviously if you are making this for children under 12mths old you must omit the honey. It's not good for their bellies. The banana is sweet enough not to require additional sweetness I think.
Give it a try :)

A little holiday project.

I couldn't come away without bringing a little bit of something to do, even though I've not managed to do much yet. So I brought the little bag I made (and shared) a few weeks ago, which I've turned into my 'little project' bag...it's just the right size to hold a few balls of yarn and a hook. Inside there are several balls of different coloured yarns, a hook and scissors and yarn needle. I am making a granny square throw,  something I've said I'll make for ages but not quite got round to. I'm know I'm not alone with the planned-but-never-quite-started project! What's yours? I'm aiming to make squares as and when I can, in between other things, though being honest I do seem to have a few unfinished projects lying around. ...

I've also brought a little project for Caoimhe to do. We watched Kirstie Allsop together a month or so back and Caoimhe was fascinated by the cross stitch she did. So I searched for a little child's kit for her, eventually finding one for a couple of quid in Wilkos. We've made a little start on it but really need to get time on our own to do it I think as Tig was desperate to get involved too. It has been some time since I last did a cross stitch too so I am a bit rusty!

It's time to have a look at  Handmade Monday  and see what everyone's been up to. And we should get ready for a (rather wet) day out in York. Have a great week.

Til next time!