Pumpkin / buttermilk pancake with apples

To wean my dependence on Nutella for creating contrast, I chose pumpkin pancake mix to create the darker areas.

Armed with two full squirt bottles, the outline of Dracula was drawn first and the rest was filled in with instant buttermilk batter.

Teeth, blood and eyes were carved from a Red Delicious apple.

Tips: Pumpkin batter is clumpy in comparison and clots in the bottle, so contrary to the photo above, I would recommend a larger tip opening to avoid blowouts (just cut with scissors).

I’ll admit it – I love me some breakfast carbs. OBVIOUSLY. Pancakes, waffles, scones, croissants, and doughnuts are treats that have a hold over me since most mornings I just eat tasteless cereal.

While on vacation last week, we stopped at the oh-so-quaint-but-hip(ster) Dun-well Doughnuts where they serve warm vegan doughnuts on slabs of wood. It was a comforting atmosphere furnished with aged wood furniture and swinging to the sounds of the 1920′s.

Vegan or not – I don’t really care – those doughnuts were the best I’ve ever tasted. I’m easily tempted by flavors like pumpkin, apple glazed, and pear, but the chocolate with sprinkles turned out to be the family favorite with its strong cocoa flavor.

But alas, we missed eating pancakes. It’s funny how you realize a little ritual’s large impact after it’s gone. So I stocked up on pancake mix (Trader Joe’s is carrying the pumpkin pancake mix again – yay!) and I’ll be baking up a storm this weekend in time to bring you some Halloween goodness next week. The possibilities are endless and I’m excited to explore them all.

Have an idea for a pancake you’d like to see? Share it in the comments.

Nutella

Two salivating, hungry boys hovering over the griddle simplified the process this weekend, so there was time for a quick squirt of the batter but not enough for adding toppings.

The older boy, who is nearly six, looked up at me with big serious eyes and  said, “I’ve seen these on the computer and I’ve always wondered how they were made.” So we pulled up a stool and I demonstrated the squirt bottle technique by drawing the contour first and letting it sit for a minute before adding in the rest of the batter. Amazingly, his eyes grew even bigger, his head started nodding as a smile grew from ear to ear. “I’ve got it!”

After eating every morsel of his breakfast, the boy excused himself from the table and exclaimed, “that was the best pancake ever!” I highly doubt, since it’s instant pancake mix, but it’s funny how the visual preparation can influence your taste buds.

Tips: Definitely use a pancake spatula when flipping the robots. Gently wedge the spatula under all of its extensions to make sure nothing is sticking before sliding it under the body to give it a quick flip.

Nutella

A backyard showing of The Adventures of Tintin was the inspiration for this week’s breakfast.

It shall go down in history as Avery’s first “big boy” movie, characterized by the presence of guns, which is a big step from Caillou. Surrounded by friends and lying on blankets under the stars, he mustered up enough courage to watch the entire film.

Tips: Draw the outline first with a squirt bottle and fill in the rest a few minutes later to achieve a darker border.

Blueberry and apple

Exactly when I feel like I’ve exhausted my pancake ideas, taking a request from someone besides Avery is all I need to get me back in the mood. We spent the holiday weekend with another family in Chincoteague and their toddler Fen has an affinity for elephants.

Tips: The tusks were made from Granny Smith apple and the skin was used to give the pancake color.

Nutella & seedless grape

Sometimes a blank face can say more than any expression, but in case you disagree, I’ve included some options below to match your mood.

Our mood today? Bummed. So I’d pick the top right panda if Avery had the stomach to eat breakfast. It was our first orientation day of Pre-K, which he’s supposed to start tomorrow, and I took the day off so I could escort him to school to meet his new teacher and classmates. But a morning tummy ache, which I first attributed to nerves, turned into the real deal with a side order of puke. Needless to say, our first day of school was anticlimactic.

Tips: Sliced grapes can provide great circular shapes  

Nutella hair, banana nose, nectarine mouth, greek yogurt/raisin eyes, strawberry jelly on hat

Captain Hook has been an ongoing request (successfully ignored!) for the past few months and it wasn’t until recently I figured out how to achieve his likeness in pancake form without relying on his trademark hook.

Folks, it’s all in the brow, large nose, signature mustache and long chin.

Peter Pan is on the brain these days and I’ve been happily pinning everything pirate related because we’re in the midst of planning Avery’s fourth birthday party. You know, the one in November (cue eye roll now). And if you think we’re overly obsessive with the pancakes, well, let’s not even discuss birthday parties. Let’s just call it an only child perk. I had them growing up and now I give them – that’s just the way it is (cue chorus of “get a life, woman!”).

Tips: Drag a knife through Nutella to create texture for hair.