in-lala-land

Everyone has at least one favorite cereal.  I know I have about five favorites and one of them is Lucky Charms.  Yes I am twenty five years old and I still love to have a sugary cereal in the morning… don’t judge.  I was browsing Betty Crocker’s website  looking for some inspiration and found a few recipes that incorporate my favorite cereal. Now if I plan this right I can have Lucky Charms three times in one day and not feel guilty.

First treat is Lucky Charm Pancakes

If you can get over the green color you will love these!  (my husband could not get over the green… he really missed out)

What you need:

• 2 cups pancake mix
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon green food color
• 1/2 cup marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal
• Whipped cream topping (from aerosol can), recommended
• Additional marshmallows from Lucky Charms cereal, recommended

In a large bowl mix pancake mix, milk, vanilla, eggs and food color.  Whisk until just blended (whisking is recommended not a regular old spoon.  A whisk increases fluffiness)  Dig through your box of cereal and pick out marshmallows.  This would be a great activity if you have kids, I just poured my box out on a baking sheet and picked them out.  Stir in marshmallows.  Be careful not to over stir your marshmallows, they will melt.  If they are too melted they make the outside of the pancakes extra sticky.

Heat skillet on medium-high and spray with cooking spray when necessary.  You know when your skillet is ready by shaking a clean wet hand over the skillet, if water drops begin to dance its ready.  Pour batter on to griddle in desired increments.  My family usually likes little pancakes because we eat leftovers all day.  Cook until bubbles start to form on top and edges.  Flip pancake until greenden (green’s version of golden) brown.

Top pancakes with whipped cream and additional marshmallows.  Go ahead and do it, you can’t take green pancakes too seriously so might as well go all out!  Besides, you already sifted through your cereal to get all the marshmallows out so you might as well enjoy them.

I really liked adding the Lucky Charms to pancakes because they gave the cakes an extra flavor boost.  I may include them in pancakes again without green food coloring.

Next is Lucky Charm Cupcakes

Sounds easy?  It is; basically make some cupcakes and add Lucky Charms as sprinkles.  Ingenious really, I may have to try out other cereals as a sprinkle substitute.

What you need:

• 1 box yellow or devil’s food cake mix
• Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
• 1 container vanilla frosting
• 3 cups Lucky Charms cereal
• Green sprinkles, if desired

Preheat oven to 350°F as directed on the box.  Prep your muffin tins with paper cups.  Follow directions on box for mixing and cook time.

Cool cupcakes in pan for 10 minutes, then on rack for 30 minutes or until completely cool.  Frost cupcakes with frosting, top with sprinkles and cereal.

Easy enough.  I am not usually a fan of frosting, I love to eat cupcakes plain but adding cereal made frosting worth it.

Now we have two new ways to use Lucky Charms.  Along with the traditional bowl of cereal, I can eat Lucky Charms three times in one day.  I know cereal and pancakes are both breakfast items but I am usually too lazy to do all the work for pancakes in the morning.  More often than not pancakes are a dinner food for me.  Then again cereal can be a dinner item as well, depending on my day.

With St. Patrick’s day coming up in a few weeks, I hope this will give you some inspiration to have some fun with the green holiday.

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