"Plain" Pancakes

We eat a lot of pancakes. My kids would eat them at least 5 days a week and sometimes we do! I love to try new pancake recipes -- looking for the perfect one! I have found that a minimum of 3 teaspoons of baking powder is required for fluffiness and butter is needed for good flavor. This pancake recipe is my current favorite. It produces light, fluffy pancakes that brown easily without burning. It takes a few extra steps, but it's worth it.

This recipe is from my new favorite cookbook The Breakfast Book by Marion Cunningham. I don't often buy cookbooks because I can usually find what I want on the internet for free, but this book is a keeper.

I suggest doubling this if you want any leftovers at all.

"Plain" Pancakes
2 eggs
5 Tablespoons butter
1 cup milk
1 1/4 cups flour
1 Tablespoon sugar (or sucanat)
4 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt

Put butter and milk in a small saucepan and warm on low until butter is melted.  Allow to cool. Beat eggs in a bowl. Mix milk/butter mixture in to eggs once it is cool enough -- you don't want to cook the eggs! Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Add wet ingredients. Stir just until combined. Cook on hot griddle or in a frying pan.

Goals for 2011

I can't believe it's been another year! I remember sitting down last year to write out my goals for the year. I'm pretty certain I failed miserably at most of them, but that's OK. It was an odd year for me.

This year I'm keeping it pretty simple. I know what I want to improve and it's just time to do it, already.

Goal 1: Get more sleep -- I am tired all the time because I am not going to be early enough. I need to carve more "me" time in to the middle of my day so that I'm not trying to fit in way too late at night.

Goal 2: Get more active -- I am also tired all the time because I do not get out and move enough. I just bought a bike and my dad bought one for my husband and a baby seat for our 2 year old so we are all set to go. In fact, we've spent a lot of time riding bikes over the past week and it's been great!

Goal 3: Get closer to God -- I'm already signed up for a women's Bible study at our church that starts in a week. I'm really excited to get involved and meet new people. It has the added bonus of forcing me OUT of the house one night a week.

Goal 4: Get this blog organized -- I've been working on this for over a year, but I am stuck on a name that has an available domain. I want to focus more on homemaking the "old fashioned" way and cooking from scratch. It's really the domain situation that is hanging me up!

That's it! Four totally "doable" goals for this year! I'm ready to go... bring on 2011!

What goals do you have for this year? Do you have any suggestions to help me with mine?

My Favorite Christmas Gift

My 4 year old daughter, Ella,  is one of the most strong-willed and independent people I have ever met. I spend much of my time trying to figure out how to stay one step ahead of her. Don't get me wrong -- she is also sweet, funny, creative and beguiling, but she definitely keeps me on my toes.

I would really like to homeschool my children, but my daughter has refused every single attempt I've made at any type of "school"ish activity. I really wanted her to learn her letters this school year. That's it. Just recognize the letter and put the correct name to it. Every time I attempted to engage in her a fun activity to learn letters, she refused to cooperate. I gave up on "A" sometime back in September.

Imagine my sheer delight and utter surprise when she drew me this picture at breakfast Christmas morning:

I cried I was so happy! I hate to admit it, but I think I have the PBS show "SuperWhy" to thank for this because I certainly have not been working with her.

I'm not much of a "keeper" -- I tend to throw things out quickly, but this piece of paper is going in a frame. Someday when Ella tells me she can't do it, I'll show her this and tell her, "oh yes you can!"

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

After perusing numerous breakfast casseroles for Christmas morning, I put together this recipe. Every single family member loved it!

You can double this recipe and bake in a 9 x 13 pan for more servings.

Sausage Breakfast Casserole
5 eggs
1 cup milk
Dash of salt
1/2 pound breakfast sausage
1/4 cup onion, diced
4 white mushrooms, sliced
1 cup cubed day old bread
1 cup shredded white cheddar cheese

In a frying pan, cook sausage until no longer pink. Remove from pan and put sausage in to a large bowl. Cook onion and mushrooms in the frying pan, adding butter or oil as needed, until onions are just starting to turn brown (about 10-15 minutes). Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, milk and salt in the bowl with the cooked sausage. Add bread and cheddar cheese and vegetables when cooked. Pour mixture in to a 2 quart casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes prior to cooking. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in casserole comes out clean.

Chocolate Waffles

I had a hard time choosing between these waffles or a casserole for Christmas morning. The casserole won for sake of ease, but I made these waffles the next day. I really love them, but they definitely need a good topping. I just served it with male syrup, which was just OK. Chocolate whipped cream or strawberries (or both) would be excellent on these.

Because these are brown, it's easy to hide whole wheat flour and sucanat in these waffles. I'd sub in 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and use all sucanat for the sugar. 

I have a large square Belgian waffle maker and this recipe made 3 full batches plus one single - 13 Eggo sized waffles. We had plenty of leftovers!

Chocolate Waffles
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

In a small sauce pan, melt chocolate chips and butter. Allow to cool.

In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk together.

In a small bowl mix together eggs, milk and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until smooth. Add in chocolate and mix to combine.

Bake in waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions.

How to Have a Stress Free Visit with Santa

As the parent of small children, going to see Santa is a nightmare. You're never quite sure how long the wait will be or how your child will react once they finally get up to see the jolly old elf. I find it so nerve wracking, that my 2 year old who is on his 3rd Christmas has never been to see Santa!

A few years ago a friend of mine mentioned that growing up Santa always came to her house on Christmas Eve. As an adult she now realizes that her mother actually hired a Santa to make the visit. This year she followed in her mother's footsteps and hired a Santa to come to her house. This, my friends, is the absolutely best idea ever. No waiting in line forever. If your kid freaks out, he can sit back and watch for a while and then try again and there is no pressure to hurry up.

The amazing thing is that a visit to your house from Santa costs about the same as pictures with the mall Santa. If even that is out of your budget, get together with other families and have everyone pitch in. Ask around to see if anyone knows of a Santa or even ask the Santa at the mall for a card. I've read two stories in the paper this week about different Santas for hire. I'm sure there is still time to find one for your Christmas festivities this week!

Off My Needles: Santa Hat Ornament