My Multigrain Buttermilk Pancake

What the?!  How long has it been since I've been on here?!  I don't even know if anyone even looks at this dumb blog anymore!  It has been a while....I have no excuses.

Wait, yes I do.  I do have excuses.  Alone with 4 kids, no Love Nugget for 6.5 weeks, moving across the country into a much smaller house with boxes from floor-to-ceiling, trying to dig myself out.  Literally.  We had to dig.  I'm still digging.  We're okay now--thanks to a storage unit and some hard work.   Now things are pretty normal, my Boy has joined us and started his new job, and all is well.  We're basking in the sunshine, swimming at the pool, loving the sunshine, and getting together with some awesome friends!  Love it!!  Did I mention there's sunshine?  Tons of it.  Yes, it's warmish...okay maybe even a little HOT at times.....but I'll take it!  The evenings cool down and the sunsets are breathtaking.

Anyhoo.  After sampling, testing, and tasting, I think I have found my personal favorite pancake and it's time to pass on the love to you.  I don't know if you know this, but I am a bit of a pancake snob.  {gasp!}  I don't eat them often, and when I do, I expect them to be incredible.  {I know....so snobby and picky...I feel terrible.}  I also want to feel less guilty eating pancakes...so if I can throw something healthy in them, then I somehow feel justified.  Right?  I'm justified, right?  At least these have more fiber in them than a Hershey bar.  Now that's saying something.

...and now a little about my griddle.  My treasured griddle.  My sweet, small, simple, little round griddle.  Okay, it's not huge, I get that.  It can't crank out 10 pancakes at one time, which makes feeding large groups challenging, but this griddle ROCKS.  It's got flavor like nobody's business.  {where does that phrase even come from?!}  It also serves as a weapon.

...so I do two at a time, customize them how I want, and the pancakes are FULL-FLAVOR, baby.  We're talking days, weeks, months, and years of butter seasoned cast iron.

My favorite topping is pecans.  LOVE the flavor of this combo.  My kids like chocolate chips or blueberries---but not together.  eww.

And now....the recipe.  It's all in my head, too.  No running and getting a book for me.  Are you impressed?!  I can whip these out in no time!!  Too bad I never want to.  Cereal is so much easier.

Abby's Multi-Grain Buttermilk Pancakes

(a.k.a. SOME PRETTY AWESOME PANCAKES)

In a batter bowl, whisk & combine dry ingredients:

1 1/2 c. unbleached flour

3/4 c. wheat flour (I use white wheat)

1 t. salt

1 t. baking soda

2 t. baking powder

2 T. sugar

1/2 c. quick oats

2 T. chia seed

2-3 T. wheat germ

In a large measuring bowl, whisk together:

2 c. buttermilk

1 c. whole milk (or whatever milk you have--canned milk is heaven, too)

3 eggs

1 t. vanilla

2 T. oil (I just eyeball it)

With wet and dry ingredients mixed together well, pour your wet into the dry, and combine until smooth and lump-free.  If it's too thick, add a little more milk as you need.  Cook on a buttered, sesoned, cast iron griddle for the most flavor.  

Of course, you all know what you like on your pancake--but here's our top 3 favorites:

Strawberries & Homemade Whipped Cream

-put strawberries, a squeeze of lemon, and some sugar in a food processor, pulse until desired consistency.  

-heavy cream, a few scoops of sugar, and some vanilla - whip until soft peaks form.

Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips

Pecans with Kadie's Buttermilk Syrup --- seriously gourmet if you have the syrup done ahead of time.

And now my toddler is nude and I have no idea what kind of mess she has created.  Bye for now!  

Home, at Last!

Made it to beautiful, sunny Arizona!!  Wahoo!!  I underestimated how much I would love being back home - it's truly amazing.  I can't wait to get settled and post some pics!!  We're still waiting for our moving truck {barf} and in the meantime, I'm borrowing my mom's computer. {thanks, Mom!}  The good news is that our rental house is going to be perfect, and I've already got fresh basil and oregano planted out back!  {gasp!}  Here's to hoping they don't die.  I thought I hated watering plants in Michigan--this is going to be a challenge.

Did I mention that there is sunshine here?!  The happiness is abundant.

I'll be back with photos soon!!!  Love to all of you!!

Key Lime Coconut Bars

Key limes are tiny.  Like, walnut sized tiny.  Aren't they preshessss?!

If you take this whole batch of limes, and hopefully a really good juicer (not like the manual one I have that will give you hand cramps for a week), you can DO this!  It's beyond easy. 

Except the jucing limes part.  I never want to do that again.

Yes.

It tastes as good as it looks.  Even better.

Stop licking the screen.

KEY LIME COCONUT BARS

Original source found here

The original recipe calls for an 8 x 8 square baking pan.  Heaven knows that an 8x8 bunch-of-nothing is going to be enough for my key-lime-lovin' family.  I increased the recipe by half, so I upped the amounts and fit it into my 8 x 12 pan (or something like that - it's smaller than a 9 x 13).

However, here is the original recipe and you can do with it what you want!  

Crust:

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs (I just buy a container of crumbs so I don't have to bash crackers)

2 T. sugar

1/2 c. sweetened, flaked coconut

1/3 c. melted butter, melted

Filling:

3 cans sweetened, condensed milk (the smaller 14 oz. cans)

1/2 c. sour cream

3/4 c. key lime juice

1 Tbsp. grated lime zest

Topping:

Whipped cream and toasted coconut for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8 x 8 square baking pan with parchment paper, overlapping the paper over the sides to create handles for later.  Mix crumbs, sugar, coconut, and butter in a bowl and press into the pan; bake for 8-10 minutes.  Remove and cool slightly.

While crust is cooling, make the filling.  (the FUN part!)  In a bowl, add the remaining ingredients: sweetened, condenced milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime zest.  Whisk to combine until smooth and creamy.  Pour on top of crust; bake for 8-10 minutes until firm to the touch but not browned at all.   Cool at room temperature, then chill completely.

Top with some homemade whipped cream and toasted coconut.

(to toast the coconut, line a baking sheet with parchment paper; spread a thin layer of sweetened, shredded coconut on top, and bake at 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes until it's lightly golden brown)

Change is Good...

As you know, I've been giddy for some time about moving home to Arizona this summer.  The projected date was the end of June, you know, after the school year ends and my Love Nugget finishes his fellowship at the hospital.  Then we would take this amazing road trip across the country--everybody so happy, looking at the beauty of America, no fighting, and nobody gets hungry or has to use the bathroom ever, and we would have a glorious time riding into our home state with tears streaming down our faces.

{uurrrrrch!}  Slam on the brakes to my daydream....change of plans.  Our home has tentatively sold much sooner than we thought it would in this bad market. {yay, but...dang it!}  We have to get out of our house before school lets out and before my Love Nugget is done.  I can either 1.) move our junk into storage and live in an apartment with 4 kids for 1.5 months {barf}, or 2.) head west with the kids, get settled into something, and have Love Nugget join us when he's done {barf}.  Niether is perfect, but I'm opting for the latter.


SO...it's been chaotic here at my house to say the least, hence the lack of posting.  Having to keep the house spotless to perfection was agonizingly exhausting (can I get an 'amen' from you who understand this?!) and I'm glad that part is over...so now it's on to a whirlwind of packing, preparations, and moving forward.  Wahoo!

Our little family is so happy/proud/anxious to finally see the end of my hubby's training and go HOME.  This will definitely be an exciting adventure!  Stay tuned...this should be a fun ride!

And...talk about change....my baby girl is 2 years old now!!  Can you believe it?!

 
Oh, and although I cried a little tear about not taking a 'before' pic, I recently had nine inches of my long, blonde hair cut off.  {gasp!}  I know, I know...but it was time.  And my hair was at that 'gross-cut-it-off' stage.  I've been growing it out for about 2 years, did it...enjoyed it...now I'm done.  I LOVE fresh, new, flirty haircuts and my Hair Goddess did an amazing job.  Now I have to learn how to style it correctly.....still learning....  Change is good!

Coconut-Lime Tropical Smoothie

Since Mother Nature is loving me, and wanting to help me through my stress, we were granted a full week of 70-ish degree (give or take) weather.  Pure. Heaven.  I wore skirts, flip flops, and the weather was warm on my skin.  Whatta sensation!  I'm definitely not used to that.

So what you do when there's a house full of kids, it's toasty outside, and everyone is tearing off clothing?!  (well, maybe it was just me tearing off clothing... kids were begging me to stop...I can't remember now...)  

We make smoothies!!

This was one of those things where I was craving something and I happened to have some key things in the pantry/fridge.  So I started playing!  Food is play for me.

Here's the gist of what we put in this triumph:

A blender 2/3 full of ice to start with..then...
3/4 can of coconut milk (or the whole thing depending on how much liquid you need)
1 can crushed pineapple, juice included
Juice of 1 lime (no zest, though--makes it too zesty)
2 bananas
about 1/2 c. sweetened, shredded coconut
1 T. sugar (or you could use honey) to taste.  Add more if it's not sweet enough.
1/4 c. wheat germ
Handful of chia seeds
(you could even put spinach in this and tell the kids that it's lime!  haha.  How sneaky of you!)

Blend and serve.  As it is with all smoothie recipes---if it's too thick, add milk or liquid as you go.  You could also add some yogurt - I'd suggest something mild like vanilla. 

Cooking 101 - Favorite Jam Bars

Happy Valentine's Day! 

or Single Awareness Day...

...or whatever you choose to call this day...

I always try to do a fun Valentine breakfast for the kids,  you know, because I don't show them enough love during the rest of the year.  I kind of save it all up for Valentine's Day.  Don't we all?  Especially for my 12-year-old boy--I hug and snuggle, kiss his face, and hug and snuggle him all morning long and I am 99.9% positive that the pre-adolecent boy enjoys this.  Especiallly if he has a friend over.

Anyhooo--this morning's breakfast came straight from our dearly, dearly beloved Pioneer Woman sister, whom I do believe is another soul sister of mine.  Someday, we're going to get together, my soul sisters and I - BFF Kadie, Paula Deen, The Pioneer Woman, Betty White, Madonna - no, wait, not her - definitely Cheri Oteri, though - and she'll be wearing the Spartan Cheerleader suit. Oh, and Jim Gaffigan.  He will be there, too.  

These were incredibly good.  I served them with some cheesy scrambled eggs for a little protein to go with their dessert/breakfast.  Delish!

FAVORITE JAM BARS

original recipe from The Pioneer Woman

(I say 'favorite jam' because you can use ANY flavor of jam you want, as long as it's seedless.)

1 1/2 c. Flour
1 1/2 c. Oats
1 c. Brown sugar, packed
1 t. Baking powder
1/2 t. Salt
1 3/4 stick salted butter, cut into pieces
1 jar (10-12 oz) Preserves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients except preserves.  Press half of the mixture into a buttered 8" square (or small rectangular) pan.  Spread preserves.  Sprinkle second half of mixture over the top and press down lightly.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until lightly golden.  Let cool completely, cut into squares.

Embroidered Felt Bookmarks

Recently, I was honored to be asked do a feature for Simply the Sweet Life, which happens to be a FANTASTIC magazine, as well as a blog site.  This was so much fun for me {thanks, Heather!!} and I couldn't have been more thrilled to take on the challenge of coming up with a fun, new project.  I have to say, though, that I always sound like such an idiot on someone else's blog!!!  I can say anything I want here on my blog, and, well, it's fine--but on someone else's blog it's so lame!!!  What a nerd!

Aaaaaaannnd....as you are all aware, we've been so very sick for the entire month of February, so that makes it hard for me to post a Valentine project in a timely manner.  However, I think this one is fairly easy  and it doesn't take much time or resources.  You could also start on these now and have some great end-of-year teacher gifts, or just something nice to have on hand for those spontaneous moments when you forget-then-suddenly-remember a friend's birthday!  Then you'll feel so amazing because you're PREPARED.

Here is my post on Simply the Sweet Life 

Click here to get the instructions for the bookmarks

My goal was to think of a fresh idea for a Valentine gift.  We often give food items or flowers--but what about books?!  Who doesn't love a good book?  {maybe even a romance novel...*wink*...but I think it would be awkward if you gave a romance novel to your kid's male teacher.  Or your elderly neighbor lady who only comes outside to water her plants.}  But anyway.  These were fun!  They're a great gift idea for the book lovers in your life.

Happy Stitching!!!

Cooking 101 - No Bake Cookies

Whatta Classic!!!

While I had a house full of sickies, and while I cleaned and took care of people, I had this burning desire for....No Bake Cookies...???  Honestly--who doesn't love a No-Bake?  I'm embarassed to admit that I devoured *ahem* a lot of these.  They're freakishly good.

And since I had these cute little paper wrappers, I thought I'd try making my cookies into an oblong shape--and I love it!  What a fun way to package and give your cookies away! {gasp!}

CLASSIC NO-BAKE COOKIES:

Original recipe from:  One More Moore

1/2 C. Butter

2 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Milk

4 T. Cocoa powder

1/2 C. Crunchy peanut butter (I love Skippy All-Natural Super Chunk...no hydroginated oil)

3 1/2 C. Quick oats

2 T. Vanilla

Combine butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan; cook on medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.  Boil for one minute.

Stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla.  Spoon onto waxed paper and let cool for a few hours.

And then try hard not to eat all of them!!  

Thinking of Warmer Days

Don't get me wrong---this winter has been the most mild, wonderful winter I have ever experienced in my 8 years of living in Michigan.  {thank you, Nature! I love you!}  We have barely had any snow, which means my world hasn't been total gray blah-ness, the sun has popped out occasionally,  and the temperatures have been so mild.  No complaining here!

But I'm still dreaming of warmer days.
Sun dripping off of everything it touches.

Foliage. Warm nights.  Bare feet.  No bundling up.  Flip flops.  Skirts.  Eating grilled food on the deck.

{these are all my photos, by the way.}

 Golden colors.  

You don't realize how much you miss 'golden' hues during a long, gray winter. 

Thank goodness for winter---it gives us such a greater appreciation for some of the little things in our world that we take for granted.

And big things, too--like the SUN!

Cool evenings with crickets chirping in the back yard.

Ice cream on the deck after the kids go to bed.

Warm mornings. Going for a walk while the sun comes up.

mmmmm....summer.  I can't wait to see you again, my friend!

Have a happy day!!

Slow Sunday Afternoon

Lots of sick people at my house.  Saturday night, all through Sunday, more on Monday night, and all through Tuesday.  Five out of six people in my household got the same stomach bug--and it was violent.

I don't get it, either--we're clean people, our house is clean, we're hand-washing freaks, and we preach the "don't pick your nose or eyes" rule like nobody else.  Oh, well.  Germs don't care--they work their way in somehow.

So...I stayed home from church on Sunday with the little barfer and sanitized the place.  She slept--I cooked--it was heaven--and I disinfected every surface.  And I waited for my little family to come home.  And enjoyed the rare sunshine streaming through my windows, filling my soul with joy.

Sunday dinner is a sacred tradition at my house.  Even if 'someone' doesn't iron the table cloths like they used to do in the olden days, (those women were go-getters, weren't they?)  we still use nice dishes, real glasses, and sit together.  Sometimes I don't even have to beg them to eat their food, which is nice.

Little do any of these boys know that in a few hours, they'll all be hit with the same stomach bug that the little one had - only it will be more violent and horrible.  So much for my disinfecting job.  It was NOT food poisoning, either--I cooked our dinner for, like, 4 hours!  My older daugher and I didn't get it with the boys, but she did get it a day later.  I dodged a bullet---how?!  Maybe I have a weird immunity since I clean up all of the barf all of the time.  hmmmm..