Pumpkin...pancakes?

I feel I need to be honest here.

I don't like pancakes.  Finally. I said it.

It all started with:
A.) My undying love for cereal..how dare ANY other so-called "breakfast" food try to compete!
and
B.) Syrup sogginess.


FLASHBACK: Age 5:

This was probably around the time I began to understand the divine-ness of cereal.  Let's imagine my mother introducing pancakes to me.  The "cool" thing about pancakes is that you get to pour this sugary, maple goodness all over it, after it's been soaked in butter.  Then you dive right in. Sound delectable?  Not to me.  Here is the (possible) conversation that took place that fateful, soggy, day.

Me: Mom do I have to eat these?  It takes like a sponge. (after I've just poured half of Aunt Jemima all over my pancakes)
Mother:  April, you can't have cereal everyday for the rest of your life. It's time for something new. Something adventurous.  How will you ever be able to appreciate other cultures if you don't even like pancakes?
Me: Grossss...I think I hear the Jetson's calling my name.  Where's the dog?

So there you have it.  Pancakes and I have had a history.  And it's not been pretty.  I swore I would loathe pancakes until the day I died.  Until one day...

FLASH FORWARD: Age 28

Yesterday.  I had a leftover can of Pumpkin Puree from when Sarah and I were into a "Mookies" obsession.  "Mookies" are delicious muffins that look like cookies..you should try them. 
So anyway, this can of P.P just kept staring at me until finally I decided I just had to do something with it.  I was flipping through the "Parents" magazine when I came across a recipe for...Pumpkin Pancakes.

I could at least try them.

Maybe pancakes have changed in the last 23 years. Maybe they taste better. Maybe there's no soggy syrup or calorie laden butter involved.  Maybe, just maybe.  Plus, I loved that it was under the "Healthy Eating" section and they added, "Veggies for breakfast? Yes!" Most of you think that sounds anything BUT good..not me. I thought it sounded delicious!  Then again, I feel that pumpkin could make anything taste good.  Even pancakes.

The result was astounding.  A hallelujah chorus sang.  My heart leapt with joy.  Mitt Romney became President.  Seriously I believe these pancakes are miracle-workers. 

Only Mitt Romney did not actually become President. Yet.

You will want to try these.  For Shiz.  They are moist and pumpkin-y (but not too much) and Andrew said this morning that they were so good he didn't even need syrup.  Miracle.

Here they are..adapted from "Parents" magazine:

Pumpkin Pancakes:

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 T. maple syrup ( hint: if you put it IN the batter they don't get soggy!)
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
2 T. unsalted butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 T. cinnamon
1/3 cup canned pumpkin

Add ingredients dry to wet.  Use 1/4 cup to put batter on skillet.  Make sure pan is hot before adding batter.  Allow to cook 3-4 min on each side.  I doubled the batch so Andrew could grab some for breakfast on his way to school.  Store remaining, uneaten, tasty pancakes in airtight container or ziplock bag. Place in fridge.  Will stay good for about 5 days.  But they prob won't last that long :)

So there you have it.  The true story about how I came to like pancakes.  Add some pumpkin, hold the butter and syrup.  Become a believer.

Thinking

I've been thinking a lot lately.  Thinking about life.  Thinking about hope.  Thinking about living in a way so that I can experience the real meaning of happiness. 

Thinking, thinking, thinking.

I love my husband.  The first time we met, we didn't really meet at all.  I don't remember even saying hello to him.  But I still remember it.

The second time I met my husband was over a year and a half later.  This time we were too happy for words.  There was much to say, but we enjoyed the silence of just being together. 

The next time we met, we were in Portland, Oregon.  In a Temple.  In my wedding dress.  My life began that day.  We both spoke simple, powerful words. Words of Eternity forever etched in my mind.

The last time I met my husband was in the Provo hospital.  There he was. Holding our precious baby girl in his arms.  And I was speechless.

My husband.  I love him.  I love his devotion to God and our country.  I love when he calls me on his drive home so I know that I only have to wait a few more minutes to see him.  I love that he loves Ellie just as much as I do.  I love that he wants to fly planes and do tough "man" things.  I love his kind words.  His cheerful countenance.  His testimony.  I love...it all.

I love that he is mine forever.  And ever. And ever.

I got an angel...he doesn't wear any wings.
He wears a heart that could melt my own.
He wears a smile that makes me want to sing.

These are a few of my not favorite things

Alright.  Maybe it's just me, but it seems as though the world has lately become obsessed with a few things that I just don't get.  If any of you can explain this to me, I would love to hear your point of view.  Until then...this is what I think about it:

Exhibit A: Lady Gaga

This is a meat dress.  This is a strange woman wearing a meat dress.  Isn't it sad that people have to go to these extremes to get attention and be famous?  And am I the ONLY one who think she's a wannabe Madonna?  Madonna times a million?  Maybe she was "Born this way", but I just wish she would GO away...

Exhibit B: Cupcakes

Huh? I seem to be one of the few people left that remember that cupcakes are not some new invention.  It's just CAKE.  Only smaller and topped with mile high frosting.  This obsession is out of control.
TV: DC Cupcakes, Cupcake Wars, Cupcake Girls,etc..
Utah: Chic Cupcake, Cupcake Cafe, So Cupcake, Mini's Cupcakes, Diva's Cupcakes, Vintage Cupcakes...get the idea?

Exhibit C: The Royal Wedding

"The wedding of the Century".  Um. I'm happy for them. I really am.  That's awesome they want to get married. Please just remind me why I should care?  I don't care about Kate's ring or her weight or her dress.  I don't care that P.W waited 8 years to propose and he likes to play Cricket and Rugby.  That's nice you want me to buy a pin for $129.99 so I can always remember they got married and you can pay for their ridiculously expensive wedding, but no thanks.  And if you ask me, I think that my OWN wedding was the wedding of the Century thank you very much.  

Exhibit D: FROYO

Don't get me wrong here. I love a little frozen yogurt every now and then too.  But I feel with something like this less is more.  Just in Provo alone we have: Spoon Me, Spoon it up, Yogurtland, Earthfruits Yogurt, Red Mango, Fusion Yogurt..and on and on we go.  The population in Provo in 2010 was 113,159.  Do we really need 6 different yogurt places to feed the craze? I don't even know how people decide which one to go to.  Before Utah I never knew there was such desperation for FROYO.

Okay. I'm done. 

Oh wait, I almost forgot.

Exhibit E: Glee

I really don't get this one. And I don't want to.  It's trashy and is marketed to teenagers, but Producers for the show have actually admitted it's really made for adults or more specifically Men.  That's disgusting.  And although it deals with important topics such as homosexuality, teen pregnancy, and underage drinking, the problem is the fact that it's promoted not discouraged.  Thanks Glee for ruining the future generation.  Say what you will. This is what I think.

Okay now I'm really done.  Did I miss anything?

Get well soonish..

Today is a sick day.

I am sick with a bad cold.  And so is my baby girl.

So we are taking the day off.  Off from life.  And dishes.  And anything that doesn't involve a couch and a remote.  

Today is going to be awesome!

I'm not even going to get dressed today.  Except that is not because I'm sick.  It's just that I don't care much to get all fancy. Unless people come over..but even then it's hit and miss.  I did manage to get Ellie dressed today.  Amazing how she looks so adorable even when she has snot everywhere.  I'm working to keep it under control.

I decided I would probably start feeling better if I had some muffins.  Homemade muffins are always preferred.  So I whipped up a batch of sugar free Marionberry and Raspberry muffins adapted from Smitten Kitchen. And I learned that baking while sneezing and coughing is not ideal.
Don't worry, I will not be offering my muffins to you.  I wouldn't dream of giving you my germs or my precious sick day goodies.  I promise I am usually really good at sharing.

This is kind of what my muffins looked like:

Again, I said "kind of".   As in not really.  But sort of.  We're not aiming for looks today.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/08/perfect-blueberry-muffins/

Of course the only thing on daytime television that is mildly bearable is Full House.  It was the episode where they go to Disney World and we have to wait until the very end of the 2nd episode (since the 1st leaves us on edge with that mystery "to be continued..")to learn that Michelle does in fact get chosen to be princess for a day (surprise) and Uncle Jessie sings "A dream is a wish your heart makes".  Eh.  It was a little too American Idol-esque for me.  This kind of tv makes me glad that sick days only happen every once in awhile.

I told you it said that.  Just thought you'd like to see for yourself.

I think I will be spending the rest of today dreaming.  Of somewhere fabulous.  Hmm..this sounds good.

Did I mention we're going to Hawaii in 2 weeks?  Good thing I got my sick day over with now.

Okay.  All this blogging is making me tired.  And my baby finally passed out in her Jumper.  She can't breathe out of her nose. We haven't been sleeping much.
And my cute husband just called to see if I want him to bring me some soup from Kneaders.  The answer is always YES.

Ode to Breakfast Goodness.

 Cereal.  I can't live without it.

No seriously. I can't.

Just ask Andrew. Or any of my mission companions. Or Oprah.

Well, maybe Oprah doesn't know about my undying love for deliciousness in a box, but I'm sure she would if she wasn't so busy being the richest woman ever. So if you can't go to Oprah, ask Ellen. I KNOW that she's aware of my cereal addiction. Because we've spent a lot of time together.

We talk. We laugh. We even dance. If I had to name my bff on tv she would definitely win.  Bill Cosby is a close second. I like humor with my cereal.

Above is an actual picture of the cereal collection between myself and Sister J.  Cereal for breakfast. Cereal for lunch. What's for dinner? Probably real food. Who needs ice cream before bed?  I'd rather end my day with a bowl of Life or maybe Banana Nut Cheerios.

I'd like to thank my parents, because I can only assume that this all started with them.  In fact, the only Christmas tradition I can remember from growing up was that after we opened presents we'd all have a bowl of this:

or if we were feeling adventurous...

The first Christmas Eve we were married, we were flying to Portland from Mexico when Andrew remembered to ask me if there was anything I wanted for Christmas morning to make me feel more at home at his parents house.  So while we enjoyed homemade cinnamon rolls and other delicious things the next morning I was also eating my PBC...

I have no idea why we were wearing these crowns.  Maybe because cereal is the food of royalty.



These days I feel that breakfast in a box has kind of gone downhill.  I recently tried some new cereals...

 Not good.  But it sounds like it could be good. So I suggest eating this instead:

 This IS delicious. 

 Grossssssss.  Too sweet.  In the 80's they had a cereal similar to this, but with no frosting on top.  I wish that would make a comeback because it was really good stuff.

 Awesome! Seriously soo delicious.  Tastes like Honey Bunches of Oats only it doesn't get soggy. A+

 Okay this is obviously from the 80's but it was my MOST favorite growing up so I had to do a tribute to my most fav long lost cereal. 

And finally...just because it's hilarious I had to include this.  Nope I didn't try it..but personally I think I've already had enough Obama to last a lifetime.  Please stay out of my cereal cupboard. :)