Make a Pancake Log Cabin

What You Do:

1. First make the pancakes (if using boxed pancake mix instead, prepare the pancakes according to the package directions). Have your child carefully sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt in the large mixing bowl.
2. Whisk together the eggs and milk in the small mixing bowl, taking care not to overbeat the eggs, then add the yogurt, oil, and honey and stir gently to combine.
3. Ask your child to make a small well in the center of the dry mixture and pour the wet mixture into it. Gently mix until smooth.
4. Have your child carefully fold in the walnuts.
5. Lightly grease the griddle or frying pan, then preheat over medium heat.
6. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and let cook until bubbles begin to form in the batter and bottom begins to brown. Carefully press several slices of apple into the pancake, then flip.
7. Cook for another 1-2 minutes or until lightly browned and cooked through. Transfer to a plate to cool.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until all the batter has been used.
9. Set the pancakes aside to cool.
10. Now it's time to make the log cabin. Once they're cool enough to handle, cut all but one of the pancakes into long uniform strips with the chef's knife. These will be the logs for your cabin.
11. Now you're ready to build! Have your child lay two pancake strips on the plate parallel to each other, then lay two strips over the first two to create a box shape.
12. Help your child continue stacking pancake strips on top of each other as she did in step 11. Once your stacks are several levels high, secure them together by carefully inserting a toothpick down through each corner of the cabin.
13. Continue stacking pancake strips on your cabin and securing with toothpicks until you run out of strips.
14. Once you run out of strips, have your child place the pancake you didn't cut on top of the cabin to form the roof. Trim the edges of the pancake with the knife so it fits perfectly on top of the cabin.
15. You can also make a sloped roof for your cabin using the graham crackers (or chocolate bars) and peanut butter. Spread peanut butter on either side of the cabin's top with the butter knife, then stick the graham crackers in the peanut butter and prop them against each other so they form a triangle-shaped roof. Spread a little more peanut butter between the graham crackers where they meet to help them stick together.
16. Now you're finished! Take a moment to step back and admire your log cabin, then add some syrup, fruit, or powdered sugar and dig in!