Oatmeal Pancakes with Milk

This post is sponsored by got milk? in partnership with local California organizations that educate kids about the importance of proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

Since returning home from Liv's Vegas Competitive Dance Nationals, my main focus has been to put a little weight back on her exhausted frame and some energy back into her body.  With 12 hour days for nearly a week, Liv had the time of her life while competing against some incredible talent from as far away as Hawaii.

National Champions!!  (Liv's boots designed by... me!)

The Spotlight Dance Cup proved to be a most successful event for our team.  Remember those boots I spent hours (over 14 to be exact...) on earlier in the season?  How about 1st place, baby??  Yep... the small group tap number, Kixmix, was named the National Champion small group in Vegas last week.  I think I may be stretching my resume to add "National Champion Costume Designer" to my all around qualifications.

4th Place Lyrical Solo

Liv once again brought tears to my eyes as she performed her lyrical solo to near perfection, earning herself a 4th Place Overall standing in the finals.  Her second solo, a musical theater number, brought her a 7th place standing along with a 3rd runner up position in the Miss Teen Spotlight competition, and again, emotional tears to Mom and Dad.

Being on the road though, sometimes makes finding not only good, but healthy food difficult to come by.  With three to four hour long rehearsals (sometimes twice a day) combined with hours of competing, I found myself attempting to refuel her little body at any opportunity.  By the end of the week, however she was running mostly on adrenaline and ended up losing weight.

3rd Runner Up (Liv, left)

Shortly after returning home, the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program in combination with the California Milk Processor Board (the creators of the "Got Milk?" campaign) provided me with the opportunity to promote a product near and dear to our hearts, pure dairy milk.  An ingredient this Dance Mom uses on a daily basis, especially to refuel my young teenage dancer's body, highlighting the benefits of milk is not hard to do.

Filled with calcium, milk helps meet the requirements necessary for the growth and proper development of growing adolescent bones.  In addition, researchers have provided scientific support that milk is even better than sports drinks for serious athletes recovering from exercise.  Containing carbohydrates, electrolytes, calcium and Vitamin D, dairy milk sets an athlete's body back on the recovery track, and with casein and whey being two of the best proteins for rebuilding broken down muscles, milk "does a body good".

In an effort to educate consumers about the wholesome goodness of pure, dairy milk, the CMPB is partnering with the Bay Area based Community Resources and Central Valley After School Foundation, THINK Together, to sell limited edition Got Milk Glasses which contrast the pureness of dairy milk with some of the multiple ingredient imitation milks.  During the four week sale (July 9 through August 5th, 2012), the limited edition glasses are available at www.gotmilk.com/glasses for $15 with 100% of the purchase price going directly to the community organizations to support nutrition education programs in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco/San Jose, and Fresno.  The goal of the sale is to raise $10,000 for each area for a total of $50,000.

Making milk a part of our lives is vital to Liv's growing body, and while she has never been keen on sipping it from a glass like me, the ingredient is part of many recipes that have become family favorites.  Adding milk to smoothies, making ice cream, eating cereal, enhancing baked goods or stirring up pancakes, milk and all of its benefits are helping her to recover from her long week at the Spotlight Dance Nationals.

As her growing body finally eases into the lazy days of summer and rebuilds those torn down muscles, pancakes have been a frequent request.  Staying with simple, pure and wholesome ingredients, Oatmeal Pancakes have graced our table multiple times in the last few days.

Featuring rolled oats, whole grain flours, eggs, a touch of brown sugar and of course, pure bone building milk, Liv tops her pancakes with bananas, walnuts and maple syrup while my son prefers his with a banana on the side.  I enjoy mine with a tall, frosty glass of pure dairy milk.

Thanks to the CMPB and the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program for giving us the opportunity to share our love of milk and to help promote their charity event in support of the THINK Together community.

Oatmeal Pancakes

Oaty and substantial, yet light, this batch with feed two hungry teenagers.  Topping with bananas, strawberries or other fruits along with your favorite nuts adds a nutritional punch to these already healthy pancakes.

3/4 cup rolled oats

1 cup milk

1/4 cup whole grain flour (we prefer oat or spelt flours, but may sub all-purpose flour)

1/4 cup + 2 Tbs All-Purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbs brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 Tbs vegetable oil

Garnish with fruit and nuts of your choice (Liv's favorite is banana and walnut)

Place the rolled oats and milk in a large bowl and set aside for 30 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine the whole grain flour of your choice, the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Whisk to combine.

After 30 minutes of resting, add the brown sugar, vanilla, egg and vegetable oil to the rolled oats and milk.  Whisk to combine.

Add the dry ingredients to the oatmeal mixture and stir lightly to incorporate.  (Add a little extra flour or milk as needed to obtain your desired consistency).

Ladle the batter onto a medium hot pan on the stove, or an electric griddle.  Allow to cook until bubble form on the top of the pancakes, then carefully flip with a spatula.  Cook for another minute or two, until the pancakes are browned, then remove and serve.

As part of the Foodbuzz Featured Publisher Program, I received a stipend and got milk? glassware in exchange for my participation in this program.