Author: canvas22creations

Carrot and Banana Pancakes

Stack of fluffy homemade carrot banana pancakes on a blue plate, golden brown and freshly cooked
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When my kids were younger, I was ashamed they didn’t eat vegetables – I mean I’m still a little ashamed. Now that they are older, they do eat string beans, carrots and broccoli (patting my shoulder). I used to make these carrot and banana pancakes when they were small, and it was always a hit. Now that they actually eat carrots, I make pancakes with Super Green Powder from the Vitamin Shoppe (which you can also add into this recipe).

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup steamed and pureed carrots
  • 1 banana
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup yogurt
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • maple syrup (to taste)
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil or any oil (virgin for subtle coconut flavor)

Mix dry ingredients together: Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg

In a separate bowl mix together the wet ingredients: Pureed carrots, banana, egg, yogurt, milk and maple syrup.

I always put my sweetener (in this case maple syrup) in the batter, so my kids never got used to slathering their pancakes in syrup. Its sweet enough this way and at least you have control of the sugar.

Pureeing the carrots is easy – wash and peel the skin (you can leave the skin on if you want for more nutrients). Cut and steam until soft then put them in a food processor. Mix the dry into the wet ingredients and in a hot pan with coconut oil, add the batter.

Enjoy!

Stack of fluffy homemade carrot banana pancakes on a blue plate, golden brown and freshly cooked

Easy Chia Pudding

Creamy chia pudding
| canvas22creations

To my surprise, my teen daughter absolutely loves this pudding. The pudding doesn’t look appetizing in the photo but trust me it’s delicious! It’s prefect for breakfast or as an after-school snack because it keeps you satisfied and is just sweet enough to curb those cravings.

What you need:

  • 2 Tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup milk (or milk substitute)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup (or less but we like it sweet)

Mix all ingredients and refrigerate for at least one hour. Give it a good mix before eating and enjoy!

We’ve made this with cow, vanilla oat and amount milk – it’s delicious every time, no matter which one we use. I also like to add berries and chopped nuts in right before eating, which really takes it to a new level.

Creamy chia pudding
A simple, nourishing chia pudding that’s perfect for busy mornings or after-school snacking.

Lazy Susan Pantry Organizers

Fridge and pantry organization ideas using rotating trays and simple storage solutions for a clean and functional home
| canvas22creations
Fridge and pantry organization ideas using rotating trays and simple storage solutions for a clean and functional home

We love our condiments, so we tend to have a lot of jars in our pantry and refrigerator. These small lazy Susans make it easy to grab what we need without moving everything around to get to it.

They are sturdy and compact, which works well in my small cabinet. I keep my oils on one tray and sweeteners – like maple syrup and honeys – on another. In the refrigerator, I use one on the top shelf for things like pickles and roasted peppers.

I like this setup because I can see everything at a glance without having to dig around for it. It’s simple and it works.

Click here for the Amazon Link

Everyday Uses of Essential Oils

Handmade wooden essential oil holder with carved design holding small essential oil bottles
| canvas22creations

My family has been using essential oils for years. My husband prefers to diffuse them while I usually use them topically or in recipes. Essential oils have saved me from a cortisone shot in my hip, numbing elbow pain and countless sore throats.

If you’re interested in purchasing DoTerra essential oils use this link for up to 25% discount off retail prices: https://referral.doterra.me/2152480

Melaleuca (Tea Tree):

  • When my daughter was younger and lice was a thing, we used to add Tea Tree to her hair gel every morning before school to keep the lice away. It does dry the hair, but it also kept the lice out of the house.
  • My son used to suffer from bad ear infections so to soothe him, we would put a dab of Tea Tree and Lavender behind his ears (not inside the ear canal!).
  • Now that my daughter is in her teen ears, the unfortunate pimple creeps up, so we tab a little tea tree oil on the unwanted pimple. This has really helped her – she even has her own bottle in her room.

Rosemary:

  • My tendonitis has gotten worse over the years, especially now from all the pickleball I play. A little Rosemary on the elbow really helps ease the pain – along with Lemongrass. When I use essential oils like this, I usually them to a lotion so I can spread it evenly.

Onguard (Doterra Brand):

This stuff is great!

  • When we have a sore throat, we add 2-3 drops of Onguard and Lemon to a spoonful of honey and take it like cough syrup. This shouldn’t be done too many times a day – we keep it to 2x a day. This is very soothing.
  • We pop a few Onguard beadlets whenever we start to feel like we are coming down with something.
  • Doterra makes an Onguard cleaning concentrate which I put in a spray bottle along with water. I usually add some Lemon and Peppermint to the cleaning spray. This cleaning spray lasts and is great for cleaning grease off the stovetop.

Frankincense (This is a pricy oil):

  • I had bursitis on my hip – I was doing some weird ballet exercises at the time and working muscles I probably shouldn’t have been working so aggressively. The Dr told me that I needed to get a cortisone shot in the hip. This sounded awful to me, so I did a little research. Frankincense and Rosemary soothed the pain, and I was able to get through the bursitis without any needles.

Cooking with Essential Oils:

You can’t cook with every essential oil so do your research, but below are a few I use in my kitchen. You usually don’t need too many drops – one drop can add a lot of flavor to a dish. I prefer not to actually cook the oils but use it more at the end like a garnish. Lemon is great in tuna salad or green salad – you really only need one drop. I’ve found when using essential oils in broths or in recipes with long cooking times, it’s best when added at the end of the cooking time – it really makes the dish pop with that flavor.

  • Lemon
    • drinking water
    • marinades
    • tuna salad
    • pancake batter
    • cake batter
    • green salad
    • chicken
    • seafood
  • Oregano
    • marinades
    • soup
    • chicken
    • use sometimes in my bagel chip recipe
  • Orange
    • drinking water
    • cake batter
  • Grapefruit
    • drinking water
  • Thyme and Rosemary
    • marinades
    • chicken
  • Peppermint
    • I don’t LOVE the taste of peppermint, but I have put it in chocolate for Christmas treats
    • peppermint and lemon along with local honey are supposed to be great for allergies

It’s important that the essential oil is pure, especially when using them internally. There are a lot of essential oil companies, so do your research. I prefer DoTerra oils for topical or internal use. They harvest their oils from regions of the world where the plant is flourishing and when the plant is at its peak. They take great care when processing their oils and I find DoTerra to be of high quality. When diffusing oils, I ask my husband to use the cheaper brands because he uses many drops in the diffuser and DoTerra is not cheap!

I’ve made and sold essential oil holders that can be hung on the wall or placed on a tabletop. These holders make it easier to organize the oils room by room. If you’re interested in a custom essential oil holder, please reach out to me.

Handmade wooden essential oil holder with carved design holding small essential oil bottles
A simple holder we use to keep our everyday oils organized and easy to reach

Clear Pantry Storage

Stackable clear plastic drawer organizers used for pantry snack storage inside a cabinet
| canvas22creations
Stackable clear plastic drawer organizers used for pantry snack storage inside a cabinet

Our pantry was a mess. The kids’ school snacks were all different shapes and sizes scattered all over the shelves. The cabinet itself isn’t huge, so I needed something that could but also pulled out like a drawer. It also had to be sturdy – my kids are rough.

The setup I needed cost about $100, but it was worth it. These clear storage drawers have rubber on the bottom, so they stay put when you pull the drawer. Each drawer also comes with a divider so it’s easy to adjust for different snacks. I leave the divider flat on the bottom of the drawer when i need more space, and slide it in when I want to separate snacks.

This system was a win in our house!

Click here for the Amazon Link

Cement Easter Eggs

Handmade concrete eggs with a natural textured finish, displayed outdoors in a garden setting
| canvas22creations

It was the week before Easter 2020, right in the middle of the global pandemic, when my kids asked if we were going to decorate eggs. We were quarantined in NYC due to COVID and didn’t have many eggs to spare, so I had to get a little creative. Luckily, I had some fast-setting concrete in the shed and a few balloons in the cabinet and just like that, a new idea was born. (This works just as well with Plaster of Paris, too.)

What you need:

  • Quick set cement
  • Balloons
  • Stick for Mixing
  • Bucket
  • Funnel
  • Somewhere to hang filled balloons

Mix the quick-set concrete with water in a bucket until it reaches a smooth, pourable consistency—not too thick and not too watery. It should be easy to stir and pour through a funnel.

Insert the funnel into the balloon and carefully fill the balloon with cement to your desired size, then tie it off and hang it to set.

To help speed up the drying process, I gently poked a tiny hole near the top of the balloon with a pin. Mine took a little over an hour to fully harden.

Once the concrete is completely set, cut the top of the balloon and peel it away to reveal your concrete egg.

If the tops come out a bit too pointy (like mine did), you can sand them down. Tying the balloon more evenly before it sets can help avoid this step, but if you do need to sand, be sure to wear a mask and gloves.

Once fully dry, apply a few coats of gesso or primer to create a smooth white surface.

Now they’re ready for the kids to decorate. Problem solved.

Pouring wet concrete into a balloon using a funnel for DIY concrete egg project
Using a funnel to easily fill a balloon with concrete for DIY concrete eggs.
Concrete-filled balloons hanging on a rod to dry for DIY concrete egg project
Hanging concrete-filled balloons to dry and set into egg shapes.
Smooth gray concrete eggs removed from balloons and ready for painting
Concrete eggs fully set and ready for sanding, painting, or decorating.
Handmade concrete eggs with a natural textured finish, displayed outdoors in a garden setting
A simple project we made at home—turning basic materials into something lasting and beautiful

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

| canvas22creations
  • 3 cups oats
  • 1-1/2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 stick of softened butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar (or other sweeteners)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1-1/2 cups shredding carrots

Combine all dry ingredients: Oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt

Whip the softened butter and add sugar. Once fully combined, add the egg.

Add dry to the wet ingredients and mix until completely combined. Then add milk, coconut and carrots.

Spoon cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 mins depending on oven.

Homemade oatmeal cookies baked until golden brown and served on a plate

Pea and Oatmeal Muffins

Homemade pea and oatmeal muffins on a plate with soft texture and wholesome ingredients
| canvas22creations

When my son was small, he refused to eat any vegetables (he still does) – except carrots. There were only so many carrots a child should eat before they turn orange, so I created this recipe to introduce a different vegetable. To our surprise he loved them.

  • 2 cups pea puree
    • steam or boil peas and add about 1/2 cup of water (directions below)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • 3/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract (I use pure vanilla extract)
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 310 degrees.

Cook the peas for about 5 minutes then shock them in ice cold water and drain. Place the peas in a food processor or blender with about 1/2 cup water.

Set peas aside and start mixing the dry ingredient: Oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

In a separate bowl, whip the softened butter and start adding the wet ingredients: Eggs, vanilla extract, maple syrup and peas.

Once the wet ingredients are combined, slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.

Fill a greased muffin tin approx. 3/4 the way up and cook for about 20-25 minutes.

We start to check on anything baking as soon as we start smelling it. Stick a knife in the middle of the muffin and if comes out clean, its done.

Enjoy!

Homemade pea and oatmeal muffins on a plate with soft texture and wholesome ingredients

How to Make Homemade Play-dough (Playdoh)

Child playing with homemade playdough at a table, shaping and molding dough with hands
| canvas22creations

This recipe makes approximately 4 playdoh containers

What you need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 tsp cream of tarter
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp cooking oil
  • Food coloring

Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl: flour, salt and cream of tarter and set aside.

In a saucepan, add water, oil and food coloring. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the saucepan, mixing as you pour. Continue to mix and cook over low to medium heat. At first, it has the consistency of icing, but after a few minutes it starts to get thicker. Remove from the heat once a solid ball forms (3-5 minutes) and let cool.

*Do NOT undercook the playdoh because it will be sticky and do NOT overcook because it will crumble.

Store playdoh in an airtight container.

Mixing pink homemade playdough ingredients with red food coloring in a saucepan
Adding color while mixing ingredients for homemade playdough – liquid stage right before it thickens
Homemade playdough mixture thickening while being stirred in a pot
The mixture thickens as it cooks and begins to form playdough – icing consistency
Smooth homemade playdough mixture being stirred as it finishes cooking
The playdough is almost ready—thick, smooth, and coming together perfectly – just before it forms into a ball.
Homemade playdough finished and ready to use with smooth soft texture
The final stage of homemade playdough—soft, smooth, and ready for play.