Truck-Stop Buttermilk Pancakes

Deee-licious! 

My husband requested thick and fluffy pancakes for dinner.

 

That is not what he got.

However, these were still delicious and more my style.

Kind of egg-y and thin.

I found the recipe here. With over 600 reviews and 22,000 saves, with a 4.5/5 stars, I figured we couldn't go wrong. I added some vanilla and about 1/4 cup of sugar and it was tasty.

I used up our homemade buttermilk in the batter, and fried the pancakes in our homemade butter. 

We had some tasty stuff for dinner.

At allrecipes.com, you can change the serving size of the recipe you want to make. I changed it to 8 servings (from 12), and we still came out with this mondo pile of pancakes. 

Our freezer will be well stocked for a while. 

Homemade Butter, like the Pioneers

We made butter today.

Totally easy too! 

I found this on pinterest and felt inspired.

We used the GOOD kind of cream, from Costco.

I read that you should let your cream warm up for a while and it will become butter faster. I did not do that and it took like 40 minutes to whip. Apparently if you wait, it can go as fast as 10 minutes!

 Step 1, whip it up! Set on medium or so.

 See the glorious cream, don't stop though! Keep on going!

 All of a sudden it turned chunky! It totally snuck up on me. See how the middle is still normal whipped cream looking? It was fast!

 Not butter, even better! I love my little Dee. She's a good helper.

 Getting thicker.

 Getting more chunky.

 Curdly. Looks yuck, but keep going until it separates into buttermilk and curds.

 Drain it.

 Whip a little more...

 Drain out the rest of the buttermilk.

 Hoo-yah! Look at all that glorious buttermilk! Some pancakes are on the horizon.

 Butter! Now, a tip I read was to rinse and kneed the butter in ice water, changing the water out once or twice until it is clear. This will let it keep in your fridge for longer and not go rancid.

Now add salt, sugar and cinnamon, herbs, or whatever you like to your fancy butter!

 Slather it on some bread.

And enjoy! 

This kid would eat it by the handful if I'd let her. And she did sneak some later anyway! Sweet little Goose.

Now go make some butter and feel like a pioneer (except for the Kitchen Aid)!




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Best Strawberry Shortcake in the World (234:365)

That may sound presumptuous, but it's true.

Now, I know this isn't new to me, but it's new to you (and the Goose - if we are being technical today) and you NEED to know this recipe. 

I always use the recipe from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.

Strawberry Shortcake

• shortcake
• 3-4 cups sugared sliced strawberries
• 1 cup whipping cream, whipped (add around a tsp vanilla - just eyeball it, and a few shakes of powdered sugar. I prefer mine less sweet, just do it to taste.)

To make the shortcake:

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2/3 cup milk

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles course crumbs. Mix in egg and milk; stir just enough to moisten.

Spread dough in greased 8 inch round or square pan. Bake at 450 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool for 5 minutes. Cut in squares and serve with strawberries and whipped cream.

OR!

This is what I do. Make 8 mounds on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown on the little bumps. Then eat up! These also make amazing biscuits, if you don't mind all the extra (calories) deliciousness inside. Enjoy!

Chicken Noodle Soup, Wheat Bread, Honey Butter and a Lemon Tart (210:365)

I love cooking, but it sure is a lot of work when it's all from scratch! 

For dinner tonight I made Chicken Noodle soup, improvising as I went, throwing in some chopped kale to boost the health factor, and some freshly picked basil out of our AeroGarden. The soup turned out delicious.

Then I made some quick Whole Wheat Bread from The Essential Mormon Celebrations cookbook by Julie Badger Jensen. 

 Image from Everyday Food Storage

It only took 5 minutes to mix and only 40 minutes in the oven, with no rising time. I used molasses instead of honey. Here is a link to someone else who took the time to type it all up.

The bread was nice, with a definite quick bread/ chewy texture. The honey butter made it delicious.

From the same cookbook, I made some Honey Butter. The recipe calls for 1 cup softened butter, 1 cup honey, and 1 tsp vanilla. Beat for 3 minutes on high. I halved the recipe though, since I'm the only one using it and it's only good for 4 weeks in the fridge.

Then I made a heavenly Lemon Tart.

Photo from Diana's Desserts.

Find the recipe here, from another kind soul who typed up this one for you all.

I topped the tart off with homemade whipped cream. Yummmm. It was a delicious meal.

What did you have for dinner?

3 Berry Super Bowl Cobbler (206:365)

I suggested to Scott that we each pick a team to cheer for today.

I don't now anything about the players though, so I asked what their colors were.

Based on that info, I rooted for the Steelers so I could wear my cute yellow shirt.

(Looks like I've been eating too many Super Bowl snacks...)

Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck next year.

I still enjoyed my bangin' good 3 Berry Cobbler.

That took 3x the normal time to cook...not sure why, but it was worth the wait!

Happy Super Bowl to you!

Food is Good (188:365)

It was a snowy, recovery day around these parts, so I had loads of time to hang out and be busy in the kitchen. Lately I've been dying for some french bread with butter - best food in the world!!! - so I made me some. Straight out of my Kitchen Aid cookbook, this recipe was quick, easy and fantastic. (Find the recipe here.) Everyone from my baby up to my honey loved it.

Yes - that is Goose's Birthday Banner STILL up in the background...We like birthdays...

Loved it so much, we decided to snack all day on it then have meatball sandwiches for dinner.

They were better than they look...

Can you hear my lips smackin'?

Delish.

While the bread was rising, I felt a little ambitious and made some homemade graham crackers. What?! Yeah, homemade! They turned out pretty good. What I would do differently - roll them thinner and bake to a crunchier texture. Then they'd be perfect.

Find the recipe here, from The Petit Appetit Cookbook.

Chicken and Dumplings (181:365)

We had the missionaries over for dinner and I experimented on them.

Fortunately it turned out really well!

Check out the recipe here. 

It was easy and soooo good. 

Can't wait to make it again!

Apple Dumpling Gang (176:365)

Oh man, these were soooo good. 
This is a hideous picture though. 
Sorry. 
Tasted way better than this pictures makes them look.

Apple dumplings southern style (all buttery and delicious).

So bad for you, but so good.

Super easy to make, I found the recipe here on allrecipes.com

I'm also working on a "Happy Birthday" bunting for the Goose's party tomorrow. I found great directions here.

Pot Roast (151:365)

This morning before church I actually had a little free time.

A first.

So, I threw a pot roast into the crockpot.

Potatoes

Onions

Carrots

Cream of Mushroom soup

Roast

Packet of Onion Soup Mix

Cooked it up while we were gone and, voilà!, a delicious meal.

I also noticed the missionaries didn't have a meal for tonight, and, knowing I already had a delicious meal ready at home, I was able to have them come right over.

Planning ahead is awesome! 

I need to do this more.

Lesson learned.

Meatless Monday on Sunday (137:365)

When I remember, I try to make meatless dinners on Mondays a la Paul McCartney.

I ended up doing it tonight instead and made a yummy Minestrone soup.

Minestrone Soup

Chop 1 onion, 2 celery stalks and 2 carrots into small cubes.

Great Grandma Carlsen's Raspberry Jello (133:365)

Today I finished our jaunty cranberry sauce hats.

My sister, Scott and I worked on Thanksgiving too. We made a Chocolate Pecan Pie (a family favorite taken from Emeril, which he has now added an extra 1/2 cup pecans to), Pumpkin Pie, Mashed Potatoes, and our Great Grandma Carlsen's Raspberry Jello.

With thanksgiving in my heart, I share my grandma's recipe with you all.

May you hearts and tummy's be filled with gratitude, turkey and raspberry jello.

Great Grandma Carlsen's Raspberry Jello

1 large box of raspberry Jello

2 cups boiling water

1 cup cold pineapple juice (from the can of pineapple)

One 2/3 size can (not the regular size) of pineapple chunks or tidbits, drained.  --be sure to save one cup of the juice as per above. 

(I usually just buy the large sized can because you don't get enough juice even with that. You can also buy pineapple juice to make sure you have enough.)

1 cup of frozen raspberries

1 cup of whipping cream (prior to whipping)

1 Tbs powdered sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

Add Jello to boiling water and stir until dissolved.  Add pineapple juice.  Stir and chill until almost set.  In the meantime, whip the cream and combine with powdered sugar and vanilla.  Once the Jello is close to being set, fold the whipped cream into the Jello and then fold in the drained pineapple and the frozen raspberries.  Add chopped pecans to taste.  Continue chilling until firm. 

Serve and enjoy!

Missing you today grandma Carlsen.

Buttons and Stew (115:365)

I have a problem with fabric stores.

They steal all my money.

I go in with an idea and come out with enough stuff for 10 ideas, and then only get 1/2 of an idea completed sometime the next month.

It's bad.

I am currently in Step 1 of the correction of this problem:

Admittance.

Now, on to the spoils!

Today I had some "Mommy Alone and Shopping Time" and while out I found some super cute fabric that will become fabric covered button bookmarks for my up and coming first craft bazaar (which I will keep promoting until it's over because it is helping me to remember to DO something to get ready).

So, I worked on those today and we tried a new recipe from the trusty BGH cookbook called Chicken Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings which was liked by Scott and sort of liked by Dee. I liked it too. It was creamy and the texture of the dumplings was nice (and they had cheese in them, so that was a bonus). 

Since it is Daylight Savings, do you think my kids are going to wake up an hour early tomorrow? I used to LOVE to Fall Back, but now I think I'm not going to like it anymore.

Sleep and me are buddies.

If I had any advice for teens that want babies it is this, YOU WILL NEVER GET A FULL NIGHTS SLEEP AGAIN UNTIL YOU ARE 50! 

Unless you are stern and make your kids sleep 12 hours a night like we do. 

They love it though...

Sneaky Chicken Nuggests (114:365)

I mostly (because some of the recipes are too healthy/"sneaky" for the likes of me) like the cookbook Deceptively Delicious that was written by Jerry Seinfeld's wife. Also, her all-knowing tone is kind of irritating too, but that issue is for another day.
I use the Banana Bread recipe from her book all the time and we love it.

Today I made a Chicken Nuggets recipe from that cookbook for the first time and everyone loved it! On her own, without any questioning, Dee said that they nuggets were "really good", and Scott also declared the same. I read reviews online where everyone that used the broccoli puree said it was a nightmare and didn't work well at all. I like the sweet potato in baby food jars because it is easy and fast!

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (or panko) 
• 1/2 cup flax seed meal
• 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup broccoli or 1 cup spinach or 1 cup sweet potatoes or 1 cup beet, puree
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or 1 lb chicken tenders, rinsed, dried and cut into small chunks
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• nonstick cooking spray
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

1. In a bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, flaxseed meal, Parmesan, paprika, garlic and onion powder on the paper or foil and mix well with your fingers.
2. In a shallow bowl, mix the vegetable puree and egg with a fork and set the bowl next to the breadcrumb mixture.
3. Sprinkle the chicken chunks with the salt. Dip the chunks into the egg mixture and then toss them in the breadcrumbs until completely coated.
4. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil.
5.  Place the chicken nuggets in the skillet in a single layer, being careful not to crowd the pan, and cook until crisp and golden on one side, 3 to 4 minutes.
6.  Turn and cook until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and crisp all over, 4 to 5 minutes longer. (Cut through a piece to check that it's cooked through.) Serve warm.

 

What I did:

I used panko breadcrumbs, not whole wheat.

  

I didn't add any Parmesan Cheese because I wanted to be able to dip the nuggets into a Tikka Masala dip and a Thai Sweet Chili dip. Both went really well with the nuggets and made them seem a little more grown up.

 

For the egg and veggie wash mixture I used Sweet Potato (baby food puree in a jar!) since we have TONS of those right now.
Honestly I sneak baby food veggies into all kinds of recipes and no one (usually) notices. I've used the Sweet Potatoes in pancakes (with added brown sugar), Carrots in a Quinoa Chile, and would put Carrots into a Spaghetti Sauce too. It's all about hiding the healthy stuff in a way that no one notices the extra veggies they are getting. I've also seen pureed veggies in the freezer section at Costco and Target, stuff like beets and spinach, that would be a good thing to have on hand as well.

Oh, anyone else excited for Trader Joe's? I seriously think about it a few times a day! I know that I am super obsessed right now, but I can't help it! I'm totally going next weekend to one that is opening over an hour away. Boo-ya! 

Giant Felt Bow, French Onion Soup, and My First Free Purchase (103:365)

I have been sort of fighting the giant bow trend.
I don't understand how all of these weird 80's trends keep coming back!

I gave in today and made a giant red felt bow for a headband for Jane.
It was so big it was threatening to blow off in the wind.
It was cute though. I just might borrow it sometimes.
Next one I make will be smaller.
I used this super easy tutorial.

For dinner I made French Onion Soup from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. It was pretty good. A little too sweet though, because I tried to caramelize the onions a bit and added a little bit of sugar for that. Scott enjoyed it though, and that is all that matters around here, since he is Mr. Picky Palate.

And finally, today was the first time I have ever bought anything for free!
All you amazing couponers, you know who you are (Heather J...) have probably already had this experience, but today was my first.
We bought some stuff at the grocery store, and then I got a $6 cash coupon (a catalina) and $1.50 off 6 cans of Campbell's Chunky soup. So I went back in the store, got 6 cans that were on sale and that totaled $7.50. The cashier rang it up, scanned the coupons, and then said, "That will be...free!"
Boo-yah!
It feels great.
I need to get me a newspaper again so I can get that kind of a deal more often.
Anyone know how to just subscribe to the Sunday coupons without getting the paper?
And how to subscribe to multiples of the coupons?

Ode to Adrianne and Cream Sauce (102:365)

Do you ever daydream about a meal once had and never forgotten?

I often reminisce about one such meal my friend Adrianne made me shortly after she returned from her church mission to Italy.

Peas...

Noodles...

Salty Ham...

Cream Sauce...

Parmesan Cheese...

If your mouth isn't watering right now than your taste buds must be broken.

The recipe for the cream sauce is from my trusty Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.





Then I just cut up some lunch meat ham and cooked some peas, them fried them up with some cooked spaghetti noodles, then put some cream sauce and a little parmesan cheese in the pot and mixed it up until palatable perfection was achieved.

Oh baby.


It was delightful.

Pumpkin Pie Cake - Oh Baby! (97:365)

Oh yeah. 

It's delicious.

The recipe is right here.

Fish in a Pouch (64:365)

I got this new recipe from Emeril on the Food Network, and some frozen cod (not as good as fresh, I'm a Northwest girl!) and whipped it up for dinner (I forgot to take a picture before we ate it). Scott said he liked it, and Jane wouldn't try it. She did try it the other day when I made Panko crusted fish. 

Jane is learning to like more things, seeming to eat more, and is moving up in her weight class. Today she measured at 50% for her weight! From the time she was a baby she's been as low as 3% and as high as 25%, so today was a big step!

Lucy is currently about 16 lbs. She is getting so big! She follows us around the house all day doing an army crawl. It is so darling.

I'm still working on that little sweater dress for Lucy. It fits her, but is pretty tight. Oh well, I think it will still be cute-ish. Hopefully I can post some pictures of a completed dress tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!