Scratch isn't a ingredient, you pancake!

When I was growing up there were some things that we ate that I was completely resigned to the fact that you only bought it and it wasn't made. Mac and cheese was one and making pancakes is another. I completely thought that you buy a box and add water, butter, etc was it. later on in life I have come to find that is not the fact at all. Also when you do make these from scratch it is a completely different experience altogether. Most people have the majority of the ingredients to make pancakes from scratch. (Excluding the house of A.E.M.M., you know who you are!)

This kids loved them and they are fun to make! All the ingredients your kids can dive their hands into with no issues. This time the girls didn't join because everyone was sleeping in!
Anyway, there are a few chefs that I follow loyally and this recipe is not an exception... Try Alton Brown's recipe this weekend you will not be disappointed!

"Instant" Pancake Mix
Recipe courtesy: Alton Brown Show: Good Eats
Episode: Flap Jack Do It Again
Ingredients * 6 cups all-purpose flour * 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda (check expiration date first) * 3 teaspoons baking powder * 1 tablespoon kosher salt * 2 tablespoons sugar
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix.Use the mix within 3 months."INSTANT" PANCAKES:
* 2 eggs, separated * 2 cups buttermilk * 4 tablespoons melted butter * 2 cups "Instant" Pancake Mix, recipe above * 1 stick butter, for greasing the pan * 2 cups fresh fruit such as blueberries, if desired. Heat an electric griddle or frying pan to 350 degrees F. Heat oven to 200 degrees F.Whisk together the egg whites and the buttermilk in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the melted butter.Combine the buttermilk mixture with the egg yolk mixture in a large mixing bowl and whisk together until thoroughly combined. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the pancake mix. Using a whisk, mix the batter just enough to bring it together. Don't try to work all the lumps out.Check to see that the griddle is hot by placing a few drops of water onto to the griddle. The griddle is ready if the water dances across the surface.Lightly butter the griddle. Wipe off thoroughly with a paper towel. (No butter should be visible.)Gently ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and sprinkle on fruit if desired. When bubbles begin to set around the edges of the pancake and the griddle-side of the cake is golden, gently flip the pancakes. Continue to cook 2 to 3 minutes or until the pancake is set.Serve immediately or remove to a towel-lined baking sheet and cover with a towel. Hold in a warm place for 20 to 30 minutes.Yield: 12 pancakes

Spring Buddies

I have been trying to make sure that I take the girls outside and have them notice the newly budding flowers and leaves.

Here is a picture of Charlotte reaching for one of our budlings!

Update Isabella

What goes through the mind of a little girl. Here is a picture of some her most prized possessions.

Contents: Princess candy, baby doll brush, "Special Lotion" (hand sanitizer)

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew his apples well!

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy; he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes now? (Hamlet, V.i)

Pretty much every time Isabella holds an apple she reminds me of Hamlet.

Charlotte Update

Charlotte has really changed a lot lately. She is a chatter box and will not stop moving. Charlotte has mastered the art of crawling and has become very fast. She is learning how to walk, she is cruising well. And she has also gained some sign language words!

Paparazzi catches Isabella feeding ducks with her friends

Last weekend these pictures were taken in Gahanna, Ohio a suburb of Columbus. You can clearly see that Isabella Felter was trying to hide from all of the fame that normally follows her. From the photos it seems like she was having a leisurely day feeding the ducks with her sister Charlotte and her friend Laynie. Isabella was very nice to the photographer that found her in this small town she even sat down for a photograph with her friends.

Charlotte's Birthday: Round 2 cont.

Charlotte's Birthday: Round 2

O brave new world!

In 1931 Aldous Huxley wrote a novel named Brave New World, this book was set in London 2540 AD the novel anticipates developments in reproductive technology and sleep studies that combine to change society.

This weekend Isabella had a sleep study to see if we could find out more information about her large adenoids and sometimes she stomach becomes distended after she eats.
Her sleep technician that helped Isabella out keep calling her a robot, which made me think of the Huxley book. Which had nothing to do with robots but it did had sleep studies and was set in the future.

She was an absolute trooper. She never cried until the morning when we had to take off the "stickers".

Over all she had 5 leads attached to her scalp, 5 on her face, 2 on her chest, 4 on her legs, 2 elastic belts around her chest, a rope around her face to hold the tube around her nose.and finally a oxygen monitor attached to her finger. 21 wires, and 2 tubes!

Until Sunday she would not let us take off the "stickers" that were on her chest and legs. If we talked about them she broke down crying. So even though she put on a strong facade I believe it was gilded.

If you ever have to do this with one of you children my suggestion would be to call everything stickers, and to make sure you discuss what is going to happen in an exciting way long before you get there. All week we talked about, "Daddy and Isabella are going to sleep at the doctors house for a sleep over this weekend, isn't that fun?", "The doctors is going to put special stickers all over your body, you love stickers right?"

Charlotte - A year of pictures

Must Read Article... remember next bath time!

I recently came across this article that is geared toward children although it should be a red flag for adults as well. This is an article about the different harmful chemicals that are in our cosmetic products. I will be the first person to admit that I am not the most well versed person about this but I do like reading up about it. As I always say we are not poster "green" family, but we do like being aware.

New Report: No More Toxic Tub

or

Download the report, "No More Toxic Tub"

Here is one thing that should make you go read this article, and remember this is China the country putting out toxic toys... "A major supermarket in China has pulled Johnson & Johnson products from the shelves amid concerns that the products are contaminated with carcinogens, driven by our testing."

Intrigued? Click here to find out what is in your bathroom.
You are never too late to start! Heck I was introduced to this website years ago by "Uncle Tom" and I didn't start really digging deep until recently. I am not saying bin all of your current products, just rethink it when you are shopping next. If you make a change please tell me I would love to know!

Happy Birthday Charlotte

Charlotte's Birthday Rainbow

Many people asked about the recipe for our rainbow cake/cup cake. All you need to remember is that white cake and gel food coloring do mix well! As for the frosting... now that is a secret!

Taking a page out of the book.

Last week I mentioned on this blog a book by Gordon Ramsay. Some of the words really hit me and I wanted to get Isabella in the kitchen and learning about where food comes from and how to cook it. While she was out I mixed up some fresh pizza dough so it could rise. I also cooked up some fresh pizza sauce so it could cool down as well. (Yes one weekend I would like to have her a part of the entire process. Note about the book, we have cooked 4 recipes so far and every single one is good and easy to make. Highly recommended! I may have to go out and buy it.)


I put everything out so she could assemble the pizza with Nicki.





She had a great time and we had some great pizza from scratch. Fresh always tastes better than take away.

Now That's Amore!
A major hit, signature song for Dean Martin in 1953.

Plant Update: A Few New Friends

We have been continuing to try to teach Isabella how plants grow and at the same time gain some valuable herbs for our kitchen. Isabella has been able to take some of the leaves off of our basil plant and put them directly into our pasta sauce. It has been helping a little with her picking things out of her food. (Cilantro Pictured)

We did add a few new plants to our crop. One is for some people somewhat scary, a Venus Fly Trap! I guess the first question is why would we ever get one? Well they eat the little gnats that start showing up when you over water your plants. (No... not me! *wink wink) Isabella has been very hesitant about this plant. She likes looking at it but does not like it being too close.

Another fan favourite is our new Shamrock.