Rockstar Pancakes

I have a weekend routine.  I always cook breakfast for my family...maybe not every Saturday but definitely EVERY Sunday.  It makes me feel like a rockstar because my whole family loves these pancakes and they are low effort.  It is a recipe that revs up prepared pancake mix.

And really, I've never met anyone who doesn't like pancakes. Frankly, I'm not opposed to having pancakes for any meal. In fact, at my house, we even have them for dinner on National Pancake day which by the way fell on February 28th this year (I apologize for the late notice). Really, it's a day. National Pancake Day. Google it. Its real! I wouldn't joke about National food holidays.

Ingredients:
2 cups pancake mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup of milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons of lemon juice

This is how it goes...so easy...

• combine the dry ingredients
• combine all the wet ingredients except the lemon juice
• mix the two until almost integrated
• add in the lemon juice and stir
• walk away for about 5 minutes
• let the magic happen

The batter rises and starts to form bubbles. Can you see the difference even just a few minutes?

Little known fact: lumps in pancake batter are ok, actually they are good. DO NOT mix until all lumps are gone. Yup. It's true. If you are like me, you have the urge to continue mixing until a smooth batter is achieved...but no, no my friends, resist!  When it comes to pancake batter, lumps are perfectly acceptable, in fact they are necessary.

So at this stage of the game, I take the time to clean up the small clutter I have created in the kitchen & break out my griddle.

LOVE my griddle.

This recipe will of course work with whatever pan you typically use to cook your pancakes but I can not say enough about using a griddle like this one. It has changed my pancake life forever.  In other words, I highly recommend cooking them on a griddle.


GET.

THE GRIDDLE!


Next tip~ Some people coat the griddle with oil, some with butter. I use both. (I'm wild like that!) It has to do with the varying cooking temps of the 2 and the combo creates a beautiful golden brown color on the cake. This is also helpful because we eat with our eyes first! Specifically, I pour some oil onto the center of the preheated griddle & spread it around with a pastry brush.  Next, I literally hold the stick of butter & rub a quick layer onto the griddle...now your ready for the action! (How many times have I written the word griddle?)

You are now allowed to walk back over to the risen batter and give it a gentle stir.  I use a 1/3 measuring cup to scoop up the batter.  Wait for those beautiful tiny bubbles to form before you flip them. I am always so eager to flip them but you must be patient and wait for lots of tiny bubbles. Then flip and cook on the other side.

For some reason, I have noticed that the 2nd batch always cooks up better than the 1st. Don't know why, but it happens every time.

Each person in my household has a different pancake preference. Hubby likes chocolate chips in his, I prefer blueberries (frozen work just fine), my son likes the chocolate chips on the side & my daughter will eat anything in her path.


Exhibit A:

Hubby prefers maple syrup, my son likes the sugary stuff, I can do either but can you guess which my daughter likes? mmmhmmm, BOTH. She has her pancakes with syrup, then asks for the maple syrup and then some syrup for dipping with a side of chicken. Ugh, long story about the chicken. She likes to eat. She is one going on 20. She requests her sunglasses at 6 am, but I digress.

The leftovers, if there are any, will freeze well by the way.  I usually freeze 2 at a time & defrost them in the toaster oven for a quick weekday breakfast for the kiddos.



You will feel like a rockstar when this simple recipe pleases all palates. Host a brunch and cook these up with a variety of mix-ins, maybe some a side of bacon and some fresh fruit.  Serve up coffee, tea and mimosas if you really want to show off.  It will be an effortless menu and when you get told, "These pancakes are so good, mine are never this good."... you can simply shrug and reply..."I don't know. It's just box mix."

Enjoy!

Red Velvet Cookies

So, I have set several goals for myself this year. Goals. NOT resolutions. One of these goals is to put less pressure on myself.

In the past, using "boxed cake mix" was TOTALLY unacceptable.  In fact, I've engaged in intense discussion with a specific friend who insists that she prefers box mix to a scratch baked cake. It's true. She does. I tried to convince her that she doesn't but she continues to disagree. (I'll keep trying.)

Putting less pressure on myself means not insisting on perfection.  I am learning that if you put too much time and effort into making things perfect, you won't give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the process. 

Anyway, my uber talented friend was coming over for a crafting girls night in (the craft never got done by the way...story for another day)...anyway, I thought... how could we have a girls night without sweets?? Naturally I would have to bake... but what could I bake that would be low labor / high impact....hmm

I had red velvet cookies at a cafe  & had been obsessing about them ever since. (I tend to obsess about a variety of things.) I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try them out.  After conducting a thorough Pinterest search I decided on the following recipe:

• 1 box of red velvet cake mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of butter
• 8 oz cream cheese
• splash of vanilla
• splash of red food coloring
• 1 cup of white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. blend together butter, cream cheese and egg
2. add vanilla & food coloring
3. add cake mix & mix until almost blended
4. stir in chips
5. drop by tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet & bake at 350 for about 12 min or so until they look like they are forming a soft crust.
6. Try not to eat the entire batch in one sitting

Why did I choose this version? Very scientific rationale of course:

1 stick of butter = yum

1 stick of butter + 1bar of cream cheese = well that has to be better, right?

Super easy.

Super tasty.

Ultra addicting!

Even my food snob husband liked them!

Do you know the best part? I got teary eyed...my friend text the next day to let me know that her son (who is picky eater) liked them! Now, if that isn't enough to convince you to try this recipe, I don't know what is!

Happy Baking!

What are your resolutions goals?