Monday, January 19, 2015

Snow Days

Winter time in Indiana means many things. Snow on the ground, bitterly cold temps, sunset at 5 pm...you get the picture. And two of those add up to one other guaranteed thing about wintertime in the Hoosier state...School Cancellations!

I know for many parents snow delays/cancellations cause a major headache with work schedules and daycare arrangements, and I respect that. But for me, since I have the complete blessing of being a SAHM, they mean I get extra days at home with my little man. When they announce our school system as being CLOSED, I don't know who gets more excited, me or Alex.

Two weeks ago, it wasn't so much the snow on the ground that called schools all over Indiana to close, but the -30 wind chills. Yep, with so many kids walking and/or waiting at bus stops, that is just too darn cold for school, so for two days straight, my little man was at home with me, all nice and warm.

One of the activities we love to do the most on snow days is get into the kitchen and bake together. It's never anything major, but it's always something yummy and usually I even get to throw in a math lesson in there somewhere too. After all, there have been times when these snow days go on for 3-5 days at a time, and we have to have some sort of learning!

This recipe came to be because we love cinnamon raisin bread. It's a treat for us, and I usually head to our local bread outlet to buy it on the cheap. Well, when it is snowy, bitter cold and yucky, I don't head anywhere, so we haven't had any in about a month. So my craving got the best of me, I discovered I had everything in the house to make these, (After all, I wasn't going anywhere!), and we got to baking!

If you get the joy of living in an area where the winter weather can get you down, take some comfort in the fact you might get a snow day with your kids. Get into the kitchen and have some fun with them. Enjoy these times, for they will pass way too quickly!

Cinnamon Raisin Muffins
1 c. sifted flour (sift flour first, and then measure out 1 cup)
1/4 c. sugar 
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. old fashion oats
1/2 c. raisins
3 TBS vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten
1 c. milk
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Topping:
2 TBS brown sugar
2 tsp. flour
1 TBS cinnamon
1 TBS butter, melted

In a small bowl, combine ingredients for topping. Mix well with a fork until crumbly. Set aside. Preheat oven to 425. Line muffin tin with papers or grease well. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a large bowl. Stir in oats and raisins. In a small bowl combine egg, milk and oil. Pour into dry mix. Stir until just combined. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Sprinkle with topping. Bake for 15 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks. 

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