This week at Parenting.com I’m taking my kids on a virtual tour of our house, introducing them to all the excellent features it has to offer.
Dresser – Kids. Meet your dresser. Your clothes live inside. I know you’re aware that the drawers open but did you know that they can also close?
The school year started and my two oldest are both gone all day. I wasn’t happy to see them go. I felt sort of mad, like the school was kidnapping them or something. And then suddenly we had the house to ourselves, me and Wanda.
I had a church meeting. I put Wanda down for an early meltdown-induced nap. I made corn bread and thawed meat for our chili tonight. I baked bread and picked a few pounds of blueberries at a farm a few miles down the road and then I took Wanda for a walk. I played the songs I wanted on the stereo and nobody used the toilet and forgot to flush.
If the school’s going to kidnap my kids and educate them, at least I was able to distract myself with a surge of domestical energy. It was one of those days you just want to repeat over and over again.
My favorite part of the day was picking berries. Wanda and I wandered up and down the rows of fruit, each with our own bucket. She’d venture off and circle around to find me again, plopping berries into her mouth from the trees, the ground and my bucket. Unlike Little Sal, she never accidentally started following a mama bear around the field and she was not wearing overalls.
I was going to say that this is not becoming a food blog but I can’t really commit to that because I love making and photographing food and lately I’ve been drawn more to blogs that offer me useful information so I may be posting more recipes or links to recipes I love. Today, I’m giving you my recipe for easy delicious whole wheat pancakes. Enjoy!
2 eggs
2 cups whole wheat flour (fresh ground is best of course)
1 ½ cups milk
2 tablespoons honey
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
Heat a griddle, cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan. I use a cool-touch griddle heated to 375F. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until they’re pretty well mixed and mostly smooth. I give the eggs a stir before adding the other ingredients but it’s not necessary.
Grease the pan as needed. I use cooking spray but butter will be just fine if you like the taste of deliciousness. Use your ¼ measure from the vegetable oil to spoon batter onto your pans. Cook until golden brown on the bottom. Then flip and cook the other side. Top with fruit, peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce or syrup but probably not all at once.
If your family likes to mow food like mine does, you can double this. A single batch makes about 12 pancakes and you can reheat the leftovers the next morning or as a snack.
Laylee just said, “Mom, you’re amazing! You can copy any voice and sound exactly like the person you’re imitating.”
“Yes,” I said, “If that person is a member of the Lollipop Guild.” I am known for my munchkin impressions.
“Also French people,” she added.
Ah yes. French people. Ziss I cannot deny. Ahn-han-han.
I’ve been enjoying The Prudent Homemaker, a website dedicated to feeding your family well on a tight budget, among other things. Today I tried out her French bread recipe which worked beautifully the first time around. I was so proud of myself that I started speaking like the chef from The Little Mermaid… badly. Apparently, it was extremely impressive. I now have a reputation as a master of vocal disguise.
I am also a master of short cuts so if you decide to make this simple bread, I found that you can make it even simpler by kneading the dough in your Kitchen Aid rather than by hand. It still rose quite nicely after 8-10 minutes in the machine. It wasn’t as blissfully domestic, but I was able to check email while the bread was kneading so I’m totally okay with that. Maybe next time I’ll wear a frilly apron while checking email and that will even the domestical score.
This weekend Dan and I watched Justin Bieber: Never Say Never for our hot date night. I pitched it to him as “a chance to let the magic of documentary film transport us into the world of a strange and interesting new culture.”
Also, he would get to sit really close to me for two hours. Also, he would get to see Jaden Smith perform his first live rap solo at Madison Square Garden. Most people don’t get to perform their first live rap solo at Madison Square Garden but. He’s. That. Good. So there’s that.
I was mostly watching it because a friend dropped it off and told me I had to, because it was directed by Jon M. Chu of Step Up 2: “The Streets” and Step Up 3: “The D” fame, and because of purple.
I won’t bore you with all the details and doubtless you’ve all seen it already.
*cough* American Classic *cough*
I will say that tears were shed as we watched it. To protect the privacy of those involved, I will not tell you by whom the tears were shed or what type of emotions were behind them. I will tell you that the movie makes me question my fashion choices. There’s just something about those bedazzled hoodies… like baby, baby, baby, ooooooh.
This is by far the best road sign between our house and Billings. It’s possibly the best road sign anywhere ever. Who wouldn’t pull over at an exit that promises an Anaconda Opportunity? No one. That’s who.
Today I’m offering some travel tips for road-tripping with kids over at Parenting.com. Come over and share some of yours.
