Bacon Pancakes

This is something that I tried at a restaurant years ago and loved.  Unfortunately that place burned down.  Here is my attempt at their recipe it is quite yummy.

Bacon Pancakes

2 C. Flour
2 Tbsp. Sugar
4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Eggs
2 C. Milk (more for thinner pancakes)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 lb. Bacon cooked and crumbled
Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center and mix your liquid ingredients.  Blend everything together.  Fold in the cooked bacon, add more milk if you like a thinner pancake.  Pour onto a hot griddle and cook.  Enjoy covered in real maple syrup!

The winter yuckies

We aren't quite over the winter illnesses here yet.  Jack has been sick a few times probably because it is his first year in all day school.  Molly hasn't been sick until this weekend.  She got that 24 hour stomach bug Saturday and it just knocked her out.  So a little chicken soup to help get her back on her feet is just the thing!  Make big ol' pot of this and freeze half for next time the yuckies strike your house and you don't feel up to cooking.

Feel Better Chicken Soup

Half a chicken (on the bones) cooked.  The bones are where all the good stuff is, cook it on the bones then pick it apart once it's cooked.
3 large carrots cut into chunks
3 stalks of celery cut into chunks also use the leafy tops that is going to add tons of flavor
1 small onion, cut finely (we don't like big chunks but if you do go for it)
1 C. corn
1/2 C. peas
handful of okra
1/2 a small can of diced tomatoes, drained
salt and pepper to taste
1/8-1/4 tsp chili paste, it adds a nice warmth to the soup without adding a lot of heat.  If you like the heat add more
2 TBSP. parsley, fresh if you have it
chicken broth

Place all your ingredients in a crock pot or large stock pot, cover with chicken broth or stock.  Let simmer for at least four hours to get the best flavor. 
The last thing to do it making noodles or rice to add to the bowls.  My mom never liked adding the noodles to the soup pot because she didn't like when they got mushy and the noodles don't always take to being reheated so we've always just don't our noodles on the side.

I hope that you enjoy this simple soup and it makes your sickies feel better.

National Pancake Week

Hey everyone are you ready for National Pancake Week?!  We love pancakes in our house and have them several times a month, sometimes even for dinner.  We are kicking off the week with a favorite recipe of my dear friend Lori's.  I had this for lunch at her place once and begged her to share with me.  I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.



German Apple Pancake

4 eggs

1/2 c. all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 T sugar

1 pinch of salt

1 c milk

1 tsp vanilla (or more if you like it)

2 T unsalted butter melted

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

I also add 1 T of cinnamon if I'm using the apple pie filling in a can if you don't you will need

1/4 c unsalted butter

1/2 c sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 large tart apple peeled cored and sliced

In a large bowl blend eggs, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add milk slowly add vanilla, butter, and spices. Let stand for at least 30 min to overnight.

Preheat oven to 425

if using fresh apple: Melt butter in 10" oven proof skillet brushing it up the sides. In a small bowl combine 1/4 sugar and the spices and sprinkle mixture over the butter and line the pan with the apple slices. Sprinkle remaining sugar over the slices. Place pan over medium high heat until the mixture bubbles then gently pour the batter over the apples.

if using canned apples just pour batter into pan and spoon the apples through out without mixing them together. (think drop biscuits)

Here the recipe lies!!! Bake in over for 15 minutes (more like 40) till the batter puffs up over the edges of pan. Reduce heat to 375 and bake for 10 min (another lie more like 30) till golden brown and not doughy (finger test the middle without pushing it in just tap and see if the pancake bounces like a cake)

Just a reminder hot apples will burn your mouth so let it cool before eating :)

No Knead Wheat Bread

I decided to try and make sandwich type bread not too long ago and found this recipe on the back of the King Arthur Flour bag.   It was very tasty and pretty easy to make.  The kids loved it for peanut butter and honey sandwiches.  I didn't have any rapid rise yeast like the recipe called for so I just proofed regular yeast and it didn't seem to effect the out come at all.