Banana Pancakes without Flour

Makes 6 small pancakes

Ingredients:
1. 1 large banana
2. 2 eggs
3. Dash of cinnamon powder (optional)
4. 1/2 tsp brewser's yeast (optional)
5. 1/2 tsp wheatgerm (optional)
6. 1/2 tsp oil (for frying the pancake)

Directions:
1. Mash banana with a fork.

2. Crack in 2 eggs, beat and mix well.

3. Sprinkle some cinnamon powder.

4. Heat pan until hot (Its temperature is just right when a few drops of cold water dropped on the pan will jump and sizzle. If the pan is not sufficiently hot, the water will lie there and boil. If it is too hot, the water will evaporate instantly).

5. When the pan is hot, add some oil just enough to spread a thin layer on the pan by rubbing it with a piece of kitchen roll when making the first piece of pancake.

6. Turn to medium-low heat (no. 7 on my stove) and pour in a ladle of mixture just enough to spread it to cover the whole circumference of the pan.

7. Cook until the surface of the pancake is filled with bubbles and the underside has turned slightly brown (about 45 secs to 1 min). Raise the edge of the pancake with the wooden spatula to test if it is firm and brown.

8. Flip over and cook the other side for 30 secs more. DO NOT flip again or the pancake will be tough. (Although you may be tempted to do so, don’t use the spatula to press down the pancake or it will be heavy).

Additional Information:
I found this awesome recipe from Facebook. This is a very simple, tasty and healthy pancake that is very easy to make. It doesn't need any flour and there is no sugar added. Only two ingredients are needed - banana and egg, the rest are all optional :-) We tried it out this today on Christmas Day's morning for the first time, and J loved it.

References:
http://goodmorningcenter.com/no-flour-banana-pancakes-easy-and-healthy-fitness-recipe/

Danish Christmas Orange Clove Decoration

Age: From 5 years old

Materials:

1. 1 orange

2. A handful of cloves

3. Ribbon

Directions:

1. Insert the cloves into the orange in whichever pattern you wish. 

2. Tie it with ribbon. 

3. Hang up and display.

Additional Information:

We are still busy with preparing for Christmas and making Christmas decoration. December is a super hectic month! This year, I am wiser, I took the cue from other Danish moms to take some days off from work before Christmas, to reduce the stress - but ouch burned some annual leaves as a result!Last year I worked right through to Christmas Eve. In a way, Christmas time in Denmark is like the Chinese New Year time in Singapore, a busy festive preparation time.

Unfortunately, I am not the crafty type. Thankfully, J was very happy and initiated to make the Christmas decoration on his own. The ribbons can be bought from Tiger at 10 DKK per roll. He (6Y8M17D) made a pair of Danish Christmas Orange Clove Decoration today. 

As you can see, after making the first orange, J got tired, and the second orange looked... kinda bare... Since I am not the crafty type... no complaints... better than nothing :-)

J Summary (6/8M15D): Decorating Christmas Tree

We only managed to start decorating for Christmas today, even though I am working part-time and should have more time. I told myself that I will start early this year, but the shops in Denmark closes so early, that by the time we got there, they were closed. We finally managed to get our Christmas tree today, and J is busy decorating the tree now :-)

The only consolation is that we were earlier by one day than last year - still an improvement nevertheless :-)

  

Healthy Pebernødder Danish Spice Cookies with Quinoa

Makes 130 pebernødder

Ingredients:

1. 1 cup almond ground
2. 1 cup mixed nuts ground (walnuts, pecans and hazelnuts)
3. 1 cup oatmeal ground
4. 1/4 cup quinoa ground
5. 1 tsp brewer's yeast
6. 1 tsp minced ginger (1 cm ginger ground)
7. 1/2 tsp cinnamon ground
8. 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
9. 1/2 tsp star anise ground
10. 1/2 tsp clove ground
11. 1/2 tsp cardamon ground
12. 3 TBS olive oil
13. 6 TBS honey (or maple syrup, brown rice syrup or sugar)
14. 1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp of vanilla extract
15. 1 egg (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together and blend in a food process until mixed well.
2. Add olive oil, honey and egg white and blend them again into a soft dough.
3. Roll dough into finger thick sausage dough.
4. Cut into 1 cm pieces and roll into balls.
5. Place in baking tray laid with baking paper.
6. Bake at 150 degree celsius for 25 minutes or at 200 degree celsius for 10 minutes.
7. Once done, let it cool at room temperature, before storing.

Additional Information:

I am trying to find ways to include more quinoa in our diet, and I experimented with this recipe with quinoa and J loves it. He has eaten almost half of them, until I stopped him. Made this way, it is a very nutritious Danish Christmas cookies, so we don't have to feel guilty indulging in it. I am using baby blender, thus I blended the ingredients in batches.

References:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=142

Healthy Pebernødder Danish Spice Cookies Using Almond & Oats

Makes one jar of 60-70 pebernødder

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups or 200g almond ground
2. 1 cup oatmeal ground into flour
4. 1/2 tsp minced ginger
5. 1/2 tsp cinnamon ground
6. 1/2 tsp nutmeg ground
7. 1/2 tsp star anise ground
8. 1/2 tsp clove ground
9. 3 TBS olive oil
10. 4 TBS honey (or maple syrup, brown rice syrup or sugar)
11. 1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp of vanilla extract
12. 1 egg (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together and blend in a food process until mixed well.
2. Add olive oil, honey and egg white and blend them again into a soft dough.
3. Roll dough into finger thick sausage dough.
4. Cut into 1cm pieces and roll into balls.
5. Place in baking tray laid with baking paper.
6. Bake at 150 degree celsius for 20 minutes or at 200 degree celsius for 10 minutes.
7. Once done, let it cool at room temperature, before storing.

Variation:

If you prefer, you can just use 280g of almond (approx. 2.5 cups) and without the oatmeal. I prefer to add 1 tsp of ginger, instead of 1/2 tsp, because we like the smell of ginger. You can add more honey or syrup, if you prefer it to be sweeter.

Additional Information:

This is a healthy version substituting flour with oatmeal and almonds, and butter with olive oil. In general, for every 250g, 1/2 tsp of spices each is used. I also reduced the sugar. Danish Pebernødder can be very healthy, if it is homemade with nutritious ingredients. And spices are known to have health benefits too. We made this today.

References:
https://www.thehealthychef.com/2012/11/gluten-free-gingerbread-men/
https://thehealthychef.com/blogs/recipes/oatmeal-gingerbread-men
https://thehealthychef.com/blogs/recipes/chocolate-gingerbread-men
https://thehealthychef.com/blogs/recipes/healthy-spelt-cinnamon-gingerbread-men
https://www.thehealthychef.com/2014/12/gingerbread-cookies/
http://www.arla.dk/opskrifter/krydrede-pebernodder/
http://www.dk-kogebogen.dk/opskrifter/visopskrift.php?id=23760
http://www.valdemarsro.dk/perfekte-pebernodder/

J Summary (6Y8M8D): After Sleeping A Night on Hay...

 
Fast asleep...

After sleeping on hay for a night...

Mommy: So wasn't it not as comfortable sleeping on hay. Baby Jesus didn't have a place to sleep, and he slept on hay. Poor Baby Jesus, right?

J: Mommy, Baby Jesus was a baby. He just slept anywhere. He didn't know or feel anything. Although I didn't feel so comfortable, I think Baby Jesus felt totally comfortable.

Mommy: @@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!????????

For my earlier post on sleeping on hay, please see here:
http://www.familyfecs.com/2015/12/sleeping-on-hay.html

Fast asleep... (I turned on the light to snap a shot)

The next morning...

Teaching Maths Skills with LEGO

Chance upon this from a posting of a friend from Facebook. Thought it is really a cool and creative way to teach Maths. Enjoy :-)

http://brightside.me/article/lego-blocks-an-incredibly-effective-way-to-develop-your-childs-math-skills-56055/

More Links:

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/12/using-lego-build-math-concepts

http://homeschoolencouragement.com/fantastic-lego-math-learning-activities-ages/

http://www.mathematicshed.com/lego-maths-shed.html

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2013/12/using-lego-build-math-concepts

http://homeschoolencouragement.com/fantastic-lego-math-learning-activities-ages/

http://www.mathematicshed.com/lego-maths-shed.html

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2014/08/11/tactile-learning-lego-math

http://www.learningliftoff.com/10-fun-lego-math-ideas/#.VnsO6RUrKuU

http://discoverexplorelearn.com/25-lego-learning-activities/

http://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/05/04/build-a-lego-balance/

http://www.littlebrickschoolhouse.com/mathactivities.pdf

https://legoeducationuk.wordpress.com/category/lego-education-moretomaths-1-2/

https://youtu.be/ILUJdSsT32c

Here is a video demonstration too:

Posted by Bright Side on Friday, December 11, 2015

Oatmeal Chocolate Delights

Ingredients:
1. 250g oatmeal ground
2. 50g cocoa powder
3. 50ml almond oil or 125g butter
4. 5 TBS orange juice
5. 1 stalk vanilla pods
6. 3 TBS honey or maple syrup or 200g sugar
7. Coconut or pecan ground (for coating) :-)

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients except coconut or pecan.
2. Roll into dough and leave in the fridge for an hour.
3. Form into small balls.
4. Coat with coconut or pecan.
5. Leave in fridge for another hour, but if you can't wait, you can also eat it now.
6. Ready to serve.

Additional Information:
J made this in school today. He wrote down the recipe and wanted to try it at home. Today, I picked him up early at 2.30pm. So we had a cozy time making this together before heading for his piano class.

Although the original recipe uses oatmeal, the amount of butter and sugar makes it very unhealthy. For those we made together at home, we made it healthier. I basically cut down the 200g of sugar to one-third. I did not use butter. It still tasted super chocolaty and sweet.

J Summary (6Y8M) - J's First Musical

We went to the Sound of Music musical this Saturday, J's very first musical. We watched the movie on DVD during the holidays, and I thought it would be interesting to go and see the musical. I love this musical for the songs and the heart-warming children scenes. However, there was the part where they were escaping the Nazis during World War II, that J was afraid of. So we came out briefly to avoid that scene.