I was making my way through the local big grocery store when I stumbled upon the most amazing invention. Pancakes in a spray can. Wow!
I approached with caution. Surely these must be full of trans-fat and other bad stuff. I picked one up and read the label - ORGANIC (really?) Batter Blaster Original Pancake and Waffle Batter. "Just blast batter into a skillet or waffle iron and serve. No mess - no cleanup!"
It comes packaged in a can like the spray whipped cream comes in. So cool! It was sitting on the shelf near the eggs and egg substitute.
So next I read the stuff on the back: Nine servings per container, approximately 28 - 4 inch pancakes. Zero fat or transfat! 10 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium, 23 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 7 g sugars and 3 g protein. Would be nice if the fiber content was higher but this looks pretty good for pancakes. The only chemical that looked suspect was the propellant. And it's on sale - $3.99! I must try this! We usually have a nice big family breakfast on Sunday so I bought a can.
When I returned home I immediately showed husband and the three boys. So exciting! The kids were curious. Husband said he found it disturbing. Hmmm.
Sunday came and as soon as the first boy made his way downstairs we fired up the griddle. I peeled away the cap, gave the can a good shake and sprayed the batter on the heated griddle. It came out like whipped cream at first and then changed to more of a batter-like consistency. Really easy!
The rest was like cooking regular pancakes. How did they taste? The boys all liked the pancakes and ate several. I thought they were good - not quite as good as from scratch but very edible. Husband would not touch them. He still found it all disturbing.
So I would buy them again if they were on sale just to have around for weekday breakfast. On the weekend I would make my old standard from scratch pancakes as husband does like those. This would be great for a school function - a lot healthier than the stuff you add water to and shake. So so easy!
Try them! Let me know what you think!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
"Mason Dixon Knitting" Knitted Rug
I am proud to post that I have completed my knitted "Superfancy Potholder Rug." I got the pattern from the book "Mason-Dixon Knitting" by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne. If you don't have this book in your knitting library, you need to get it! It is so cool - lots of wonderful patterns that you can customize for your taste or stash! And the rug is awesome. I am currently working on a "Log Cabin" blanket from this book for son number three.
For the runner, I used approximately 50 bags of cotton potholder loops from Hearthsong. I tied the potholder loops together bag by bag as I went along. I used size 35 circular needles and cast on 30 stitches then knit in popcorn stitch until it was the length I wanted.
This rug feels so good under your feet! It is thick and cushiony. It does tend to stretch a bit so I washed it on hot and dried it on high and now it is the perfect size for my kitchen along the sink and dishwasher where it can catch all the drips - it turned out to be 30 x 80 inches after washing. It was a little big at first but the hot water really tightened up the fabric. If you choose to make one of these rugs, definitely get one of those non-slip rug things for underneath so that you do not break your neck making coffee in the morning.
It took me quite a few months to complete because I do most of my knitting sitting at my sons' baseball, football, basketball and swim team practices and games. This rug gets really heavy and difficult to turn as you go along so it is not very portable. It is totally worth the time and most of us knitters have several projects going at once anyway, right?
I think I'll make another smaller one for the back door!
For the runner, I used approximately 50 bags of cotton potholder loops from Hearthsong. I tied the potholder loops together bag by bag as I went along. I used size 35 circular needles and cast on 30 stitches then knit in popcorn stitch until it was the length I wanted.
This rug feels so good under your feet! It is thick and cushiony. It does tend to stretch a bit so I washed it on hot and dried it on high and now it is the perfect size for my kitchen along the sink and dishwasher where it can catch all the drips - it turned out to be 30 x 80 inches after washing. It was a little big at first but the hot water really tightened up the fabric. If you choose to make one of these rugs, definitely get one of those non-slip rug things for underneath so that you do not break your neck making coffee in the morning.
It took me quite a few months to complete because I do most of my knitting sitting at my sons' baseball, football, basketball and swim team practices and games. This rug gets really heavy and difficult to turn as you go along so it is not very portable. It is totally worth the time and most of us knitters have several projects going at once anyway, right?
I think I'll make another smaller one for the back door!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Fall is in the Air
My asthmatic son is home with a cold and an ear infection since Monday. Between giving him breathing treaments every few hours around the clock for his constant wheezing (poor guy!), I head out into the yard to check on things and clear my bleary head. Signs of fall are everywhere. The maples are just starting to turn, the air has a nice crispness and my pumpkins are ripening on the vines. I love fall!
Every year since relocating to Oregon I have tended a small vegetable garden in whiskey barrels and and along the hill on the side of the house. Last year it was tomatos, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, herbs and pumpkins. This year we left out the zucchini and added a second cucumber. Last year we had more zucchini than we knew what to do with. I found myself leaving bags of them on neighbors' porches. The tomatos grew like crazy too. We had some nice pumpkins and a pepper every week.
This year was a disappointment. We have had maybe two peppers, three cucumbers and enough tomatos for our family but not enough to give away. The pumpkins are beautiful but I have maybe six growing on the eight vines I grew from seed - not a great return!
My friend's mother is a master organic farmer in Carlton and I am told that she also had a lighter crop this year so I feel a little better. Since I am lacking for sleep I have decided to show you some pictures of my veggie garden. I hope you enjoy it.
Do you grow a garden? If so, how were your "crops" this year?
Every year since relocating to Oregon I have tended a small vegetable garden in whiskey barrels and and along the hill on the side of the house. Last year it was tomatos, zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, herbs and pumpkins. This year we left out the zucchini and added a second cucumber. Last year we had more zucchini than we knew what to do with. I found myself leaving bags of them on neighbors' porches. The tomatos grew like crazy too. We had some nice pumpkins and a pepper every week.
This year was a disappointment. We have had maybe two peppers, three cucumbers and enough tomatos for our family but not enough to give away. The pumpkins are beautiful but I have maybe six growing on the eight vines I grew from seed - not a great return!
My friend's mother is a master organic farmer in Carlton and I am told that she also had a lighter crop this year so I feel a little better. Since I am lacking for sleep I have decided to show you some pictures of my veggie garden. I hope you enjoy it.
Do you grow a garden? If so, how were your "crops" this year?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Nice Cleavage
Last Thursday was curriculum night at the primary school where all three of my boys attend. It is a night for the parents to meet their childrens' teachers and find out the expectations for the school year.
We have a new principal this year so I elected to go to the assembly that kicks off this night of excitement. I wanted to hear what the new principal had to say. But before I get to hear him speak I have to sit through the the school superintendent, someone who wants to talk about a school bond, the PTA president and one other person I don't remember.
My eyes are rolling back in my head when my friend next to me whispers "crack alert." I scan the row in front of us and there it is. Peeking out of very expensive size 4 jeans - a tight little moon a-rising.
Now, I like men and only men, but my eyes kept going back to that little valley in front of me. The rest of the assembly flew by. I can only wonder about what the poor dads were thinking. To that mom - thanks for the entertainment!
We have a new principal this year so I elected to go to the assembly that kicks off this night of excitement. I wanted to hear what the new principal had to say. But before I get to hear him speak I have to sit through the the school superintendent, someone who wants to talk about a school bond, the PTA president and one other person I don't remember.
My eyes are rolling back in my head when my friend next to me whispers "crack alert." I scan the row in front of us and there it is. Peeking out of very expensive size 4 jeans - a tight little moon a-rising.
Now, I like men and only men, but my eyes kept going back to that little valley in front of me. The rest of the assembly flew by. I can only wonder about what the poor dads were thinking. To that mom - thanks for the entertainment!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Maisy Beagle
Our dog is named Maisy. If you live with a beagle you know that a better name for her would have been Electrolux or Hoover. Anything remotely edible that is not iceberg lettuce is fair game. And the girl can jump and use her paws like no other dog I have ever seen.
The boys know this. They hold their cookies high above their heads and guard breakfast plates for each other. Maisy has eaten an entire stick of butter - wrapper and all. She has stolen peanut butter sandwiches off the kitchen counter. Her internal clock is set to 7 am (breakfast) and 6 pm (dinner). If one of her boys forgets to feed her, she will let them know by loudly pushing her food bowl around the kitchen.
She is always hungry. Maisy once consumed an entire banana bread that was thawing on the counter. When her belly swelled up like a small basketball the veterinarian said we should bring her in so that they could make her throw up. No need. She threw up all over my car on the way to the clinic, then pawed her food bowl across the floor the minute we got home.
An eternally hungry dog is also very useful, however. Don't think for a minute that I don't know where those unwanted turkey meatballs went, boys!
The boys know this. They hold their cookies high above their heads and guard breakfast plates for each other. Maisy has eaten an entire stick of butter - wrapper and all. She has stolen peanut butter sandwiches off the kitchen counter. Her internal clock is set to 7 am (breakfast) and 6 pm (dinner). If one of her boys forgets to feed her, she will let them know by loudly pushing her food bowl around the kitchen.
She is always hungry. Maisy once consumed an entire banana bread that was thawing on the counter. When her belly swelled up like a small basketball the veterinarian said we should bring her in so that they could make her throw up. No need. She threw up all over my car on the way to the clinic, then pawed her food bowl across the floor the minute we got home.
An eternally hungry dog is also very useful, however. Don't think for a minute that I don't know where those unwanted turkey meatballs went, boys!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Hello there!
In December 2005 we sold our tiny California beach house and the five of us headed north for a better life. We were able to buy a newer house twice as big for the price of a two-bedroom “tear-down” in our old neighborhood. We traded a breathtaking ocean view for a vista of the green hills, a river and trees instead. We swapped schools struggling to increase test scores for a district known for excellence. We left family and many dear friends behind but were lucky to find some wonderful people up here in Oregon to add to our circle.
The exciting news of the day is that the boys’ favorite uncle, we’ll call him Uncle JD, moved up from San Francisco two days ago for his new Job at the new “The Nines” hotel in Portland(sorry Uncle D and Uncle JB, but Uncle JD can play electric guitar making him a rock star). His wife, Auntie C is a wedding planner and will follow him up in mid-October after her last wedding in California.
Speaking of music, son number one came home from school today telling me he might want to learn to play the upright bass. Huh? The informational meeting for fourth grade students who might want to learn to play a strings instrument was YESTERDAY. When I asked him and his twin yesterday morning "are you SURE you don't want to learn to play a strings instrument?" they each said "yes, I'm sure I don't." Part of me wants to say "too bad, we missed the meeting - maybe next year" but a louder part of me wants to say "okay, we'll see what we can do." You see, the louder part of me wishes that I learned to play an instrument or read music. Tonight is curriculum night at school so I guess it wouldn't hurt to check into it.
The exciting news of the day is that the boys’ favorite uncle, we’ll call him Uncle JD, moved up from San Francisco two days ago for his new Job at the new “The Nines” hotel in Portland(sorry Uncle D and Uncle JB, but Uncle JD can play electric guitar making him a rock star). His wife, Auntie C is a wedding planner and will follow him up in mid-October after her last wedding in California.
Speaking of music, son number one came home from school today telling me he might want to learn to play the upright bass. Huh? The informational meeting for fourth grade students who might want to learn to play a strings instrument was YESTERDAY. When I asked him and his twin yesterday morning "are you SURE you don't want to learn to play a strings instrument?" they each said "yes, I'm sure I don't." Part of me wants to say "too bad, we missed the meeting - maybe next year" but a louder part of me wants to say "okay, we'll see what we can do." You see, the louder part of me wishes that I learned to play an instrument or read music. Tonight is curriculum night at school so I guess it wouldn't hurt to check into it.
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