Healthy Pumpkin Pancakes

I love this recipe for pumpkin pancakes.  They have lots of whole grain, pumpkin, and raisins to add fiber to the little one's diet.  She will even eat them plain, though she generally requests syrup.  For syrup, I like to simmer some maple syrup, water, and frozen blueberries to make a slightly lower sugar syrup.  These are also delicious with plain maple syrup or just with whipped cream.

1) Whisk 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup oat bran (I find it in the bulk section at Whole Foods), 2 T brown sugar, 1 T sugar, 2 t baking powder, 1 t baking soda, and 1/2 t salt until thoroughly combined.

2) Combine a 32 oz can of pumpkin puree, 1 t cinnamon, 1/2 t ginger, 1/2 t allspice, 1 egg, 1 1/2 cups milk, 1 T canola oil, 1 T applesauce, and the juice and zest of one lemon.

3)  Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and stir until combined.  Add raisins if you like.

Meal Plan for the week of 2/2/13

I am borrowing a friends cookbook, Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker, this week so all of my meals are from it.  I love the variety of recipes in the book, so I have already decided to purchase it.

Saturday: Pork roast with apples and sweet potatoes (never got around to making this on Thursday)

Sunday:  Leftovers

Monday:  Moroccan Chicken Thighs from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker

Tuesday:  Leftovers

Wednesday:  Slow cooker turkey meatloaf (using a ground beef meatloaf recipe in Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker)

Thursday:  Leftovers

Friday:  Carrot Soup from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker and boule bread from Artisan Bread

*See this post for more info on the cookbooks I use.

100 Reasons to Love Urban Family Living: #1 The Science Center

Days like today remind me why I love city living.  When it's super cold out, instead of going to our visit the duck pond and playgrounds and fountain at our huge, just blocks away Patterson Park, places like the Maryland Science Center become our playground.  A trip to the Science Center is no big deal when you live downtown, so museum visits become the rule rather than the exception.

And on the way home, through the Harbor Tunnel and then via Keith Avenue to Clinton Street, we get to see the big boats and the sun setting behind Ft. McHenry!  What could be better for a 2 1/2 year old?

Disclaimer:  This post is neither intended to spark suburbs vs. city debate nor offend suburb dwellers.  Rather, it is my way of enjoying the moment and reminding myself of what makes my current situation so terrific!