Pancakes and Bacon

We love pancakes, but sometimes the hassle of getting out the griddle, spending an hour (no joke…the boys eat a lot!) flipping pancakes, cleaning the griddle, and then wedging it back in the cabinet is more than I’m willing to commit to.  A year or so ago, I found Big Red Kitchen‘s recipe for pancake squares and it’s been a family favorite ever since.  We like it with just a little bit of cinnamon and vanilla added to the batter.

With the kids off of school on President’s Day, I heard the chorus of “What’s for lunch?” and “When will it be lunch time?” starting about 9:30 am.  I told the kids the previous night that I’d make pancakes on their day off .  Unfortunately, a big work project kept me chained to my computer all morning which mad the whole pancake making escapade seem more and more unlikely by the minute.  But pancakes sounded really goooood…so I whipped up a quick double batch of pancake squares, cut up a few apples, an called it lunch.

While we were eating, someone mentioned bacon and everyone’s eyes lit up.  Bacon, pancakes, syrup…yum!  However, by this time, the pancake squares were gone and it would have taken another 15-20 minutes to bake some bacon so the idea was scrapped…kind of.  I need crumbled bacon for dinner anyway, so I decided to make it early and make a little extra.  I used the extra to make bacon and pancake muffins for the kids’ snack.  I realize that pancakes twice in one day is a little excessive.  But seriously…bacon, pancakes, syrup…I just couldn’t resist and the kids certainly didn’t complain.

Pancake and Bacon Muffins

1 1/2 cups milk (warmed slightly in microwave)
4 T. melted butter
2 large eggs
2 1/2 T. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
2 cups flour
4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/4 to 1/2 lb. bacon crumbles* (more or less to your taste)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine melted butter and sugar.  Add in eggs, vanilla, and warmed milk and mix until combined.  (I use a stand mixer for this.)

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Add to the liquid mixture and stir until well combined.  Stir in bacon.

Lightly spray or grease muffin cups…or use silicone muffin pans and skip this step altogether.  Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.  Serve with your favorite syrup.

Makes 18 muffins.

You can also bake this in a 9×13 pan for 20ish minutes.

*For a meatless version, omit the bacon and add 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cinnamon to the dry ingredients.

You are my fafrit bruther…

Parenting isn’t easy.  It is especially not easy in the middle of winter when we’ve all been cooped up in the house together for way too long.  The bickering and general grouchiness seems to increase tenfold and makes me wonder if the myth of a happy family really is just a myth after all.

And then I find something like this…

And it warms my heart.

There is love in this house.

Even if there may be a noticeable lack of spelling and handwriting skills…  But for my dyslexic, dysgraphic child to take the time and energy to write something like this makes it more precious than anything I could imagine.  Good spelling is sometimes overrated.

Lots of Love

The “I Love You Because…” board has been a success!  I decided to use 3M Command Strips instead of magnets to hang the frame from the refrigerator and it hasn’t fallen off once.  We’ve also only had one AWOL marker…which was later found on my desk…oops!  One kid actually said “This is really neat, mom.  I really like it.” while another asked if it was just for February or if we could keep it up longer.  It may be a little too early for a celebratory dance as we’re not even through week two, but score one for mom!

Here’s a little sneak peek of some of the shared love:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It’s not you, it’s me.

Dear Mr. UPS Man,

We haven’t seen much of each other lately.  In fact, I’m not sure that your shiny brown van has graced my driveway even once this week…or last week.  I do appreciate your speedy delivery and the fact that you both knock and ring my doorbell when you visit.  I like that you don’t judge me for my inappropriate relationship with Amazon…and Zulily…and Zappos.   But…eyebrows are being raised and I’m running out of room to hide the evidence.

After a particularly prolific December, I promised my husband that it would end.  But after all, it was Christmas…I was allowed…it was easier on all of us.  But when the December shenanigans spilled over into January…and the pile of empty boxes became more that I could reasonably dispose of or conceal without escalating suspicion from my friends and family members…I knew it was time to deal with the addiction.

So, while I’ve gone cold turkey in ending my relationship with Amazon, Zulily, Zappos…and the others.  I felt I owed you an explanation and an apology of sorts.  Our relationship has been nothing but good but I’ve come to realize that you’re an enabler.  I’ll still wave out my window as I watch you drive by and I’ll remember our time together with fondness.   But our time together must end before the stockpile of boxes in my basement becomes a fire hazard and the crew of Hoarders stages and intervention.

You’ve been good to me.  I’ll always remember you…and your shiny brown truck…and your seemingly endless boxes full of happiness.   If you need to commiserate with someone over our severed relationship, feel free to talk to my credit card vendor.  We’re having the same difficult break up.

Really, it’s not you…it’s me.