Gluten Free Pancakes {recipe}

gluten-free-pancakes-july-4th-firework-breakfast-blueberry-strawberryThis 4th of July firework pancake breakfast will be enjoyed by those who are GF, and those who are not. We have found some gluten free store-bought pancake mixes to be decent. Some are better than others. This homemade, gluten free pancake recipe is easy to make, and our favorite thus far on our gluten-free venture.

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Gluten Free Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 2% milk {almond milk can be substituted}
  • 1/4 cup butter {4 tablespoons}
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup gluten free quick cooking oats, ground {we use a Magic Bullet to grind it}
  • 1/2 cup Pamela’s gluten free flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl, add the dry ingredients, including flour, ground up oats, baking powder, salt, sugar and flax seeds.
  2. In a separate medium bowl, add two eggs and whisk.
  3. Melt the butter in a pan on the stove with the milk until butter melts.
  4. Stir the milk and butter into the eggs and whisk.
  5. Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the bowl with dry ingredients.
  6. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk to make it a consistency you like.
  7. Pour and flip.
  8. To make the pancakes festive for July 4th, use a star cookie cutter to create star pancakes that can resemble fireworks.
  9. Spread butter on top, decorate your plate with blueberries and strawberries to make the stars look like fireworks, sprinkle powdered sugar on top and then pour maple syrup over the pancakes.

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DIY Balloons to Celebrate the 4th of July

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Up, up and away! Wouldn’t it be fun if we could travel via balloons just like Carl did in Disney | Pixar’s Up? We’re not saying our fear of heights would totally subside, but the joy, color and adventure that a balloon adventure would bring could be worth all the helium and panic attacks.

Balloons are just all-around happy. Wouldn’t you agree? They make our kids smile. They embody childhood. Plus, they symbolize the word celebrate.

We recently had fun inside creating a simple balloon backdrop for the 4th of July during a rainy day. Kids explored their creativity with paint, and balloons as their canvas. And, we got some good photos for the memory books.

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Materials Needed:

  • Acrylic paint {red, white and blue}
  • Paintbrushes and roll brushes
  • Martha Stewart glitter
  • Tape
  • Balloons {helium or non-helium}

Directions:

  • Blow up balloons {of if you purchased helium balloon, pick up from the store}.
  • Paint. We painted our balloons with hand-drawn stars, fireworks and stripes.
  • For the stripes, we used a roll-on pattern brush. And, for the fireworks, we sprinkled glitter on the fireworks while the paint was still wet.
  • Add red and white striped twine to the balloons.
  • Tape to the wall. If your balloons have helium, tape them on the bottom of the wall so they don’t fly away.
  • Snap all the fun photos of your kids pretending to float up, up and away!

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red, white & blue

Show your patriotism this 4th of July holiday, and celebrate our freedom with a little red, white and blue.

P.S. When I refer to ‘it’ below, I’m referring to red, white and blue!

1. Wear it

2. Bake it
Mini Cherry Pies by Country Living

3. Or, don’t bake it…this No-Bake Strawberry Blueberry Mini Cheesecake Trifle by Glorious Treats looks amazing

4. Plant it
My father-in-law built these planters with antique red barn wood, and my mother-in-law planted beautiful red, white and blue flowers

5. DIY it
I couldn’t sleep at 5 am today, so I woke up and thought of a quick and easy DIY project. I re-used Budweiser Platinum beer bottles my husband happily consumed last week. The base of this simple patriotic centerpiece is an antique piece of wood, the beer bottles are vases to red and white daisies, and I used a hot glue gun to attach a burlap ribbon with red stripes to decorate the bottles.

6. Hang it…and the tissue fans will look like fireworks, via Martha Stewart

7. Sip it
Red, White and Blue Sangria by Punchbowl

7. Most importantly, thank a soldier serving our country who fights everyday for our freedom. Among two of the many organizations are A Million Thanks and Operation Gratitude.

{images via Glitter Guide, Glorious Treats, Country Living, Tutto Bella, Punchbowl and Martha Stewart}