Friday Foodie

One of the traditions that Les and I have when we go to Hawaii is having Cinnamon's for breakfast on our first morning.  This is before Les heads to work and I make my first trip to the grocery store.  Cinnamon's breakfasts, including their Eggs Benedict, are fabulous, but their pancakes are what we usually order.  Their specialty, Guava Chiffon, was rated #8 in the Best Pancakes in America by the Time Out Magazine.

The Food Network rated them the best pancakes in Hawaii, "Hearty, homemade creations await inside this award-winning coastal joint, from savory, meat-heavy dishes to indulgent plates that toe a very thin line between breakfast and dessert. As for the pancakes, classic buttermilk, banana, pumpkin, red velvet and cinnamon-apple batters are all on offer. But for a truly tropical experience, go for the Guava Chiffon Pancakes, which arrive at the table glazed with a delicate, rosy pink sauce. The chefs have taken care to tame the guava, a fairly sweet fruit, to ensure that the dish doesn't send diners into full-blown sugar shock. Ranked continuously at the top of America's best-of lists, it's safe to say these are a can't-miss item."

We've haven't been to Hawaii since April so we've sorely been missing our pancake fix!  I started making some of my own.  My first few batches were just the basic Bisquick recipe on the box.  By cutting it in half, we get 8 small pancakes, which is just the right about for us.  I upped my game one week by adding shredded coconut to the batter before cooking.  I also put some coconut in my warmed syrup. I took my pancakes a step further this week by starting with a muffin mix.

Lemon-Blueberry Pancakes with Lemon-Blueberry Syrup

Pancakes:
1 package (7 oz.) Martha White Blueberry Muffin Mix
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. lemon zest*

Syrup:
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup Karo syrup
1 tsp. lemon extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar

1.  Heat griddle to high heat.  Spray with cooking spray.
2.  Mix pancake ingredients.  Spoon 1/4 cup of batter on to griddle.  The batter will be a little runny but the pancakes will firm up.
3.  Cook 4-5 minutes, until bubbles form at the top.  Flip and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.  The first time you cook pancakes you'll need to watch closely as they may cook faster.  My griddle is a bit old and doesn't get super hot.  I actually prefer this because the pancakes cook all the way through.  I'm not a fan of under-cooked pancakes.

While the pancakes are cooking, make your syrup:
1.  Heat blueberries in microwave until juicy.  Remove blueberry skins.
2.  Add syrup and lemon extract to blueberries, stir, and heat an additional 30-60 seconds until warm.
3.  Stir in powdered sugar.  Serve warm on pancakes.

These were so good!  I made these on Sunday morning before church, so they do not take a lot of time.

*After I made my Orange Creamsicle Cookies last month I started wondering if there was an easier way to get orange zest.  It took a lot of time and two oranges just to get two tablespoons of orange zest.  A quick look on Amazon had me ordering McCormick Gourmet California Lemon and Valencia Orange peel.  This was easy to use and added just the right amount of tartness to my pancakes.

Do you have a favorite breakfast place?Pancakes or waffles?

Two Easy Fixes

I had two things that needed fixing this week and wanted to share what I did. 

Fix that drain!

First was the drain in our shower.  It had gotten slow and then to the point we had standing water.  Our plumber had told us to never use Drano (or any other harsh chemical.)  His solution:  baking soda and vinegar.  He didn't say how much, so I turned to Google and found this easy method from Crunchy Betty:

Instructions:

• Pour a pot of boiling hot water down your drain.
• Dump in about 1/2 c. baking soda. Let that sit for a few minutes.
• Then, pour a mixture of 1 c. vinegar and 1. c very hot water down on top of the baking soda.
• Cover with a drain plug (to keep the reaction down below the drain surface) if you have one and let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
• Flush one more time with a pot of boiling water.

This worked like a charm!  

Fix that neckline!

I have replaced several of my old casual tops this summer - they were either falling apart or had stains.  I've picked up several cute ones from Amazon for under $20.  I got this one but the neckline on me was lower than what I like. 

I didn't want to wear a t-shirt or tank top underneath.  I found these mock camisoles on Amazon.

I got a pack of 10 for $17.99.  You're not going to find many t-shirts for under $2.00.  They snap to my bra strap and add just enough coverage.  Some of the reviews said they were too small, which I think they would be for someone who is larger.  They are "one size" and a perfect fit for me.   There are other styles available, so if you're in the market and don't think these would be large enough, keep looking!

Pashion Footwear

I stumbled across a new shoe company a couple of weeks ago.  They have the most interesting shoe - it's a two in one, fully convertible heel!   Invented and developed by 23-year-old entrepreneur Haley Pavone, Pashion Footwear uses a patent-pending technology that enables its shoes to convert from heels to flats with a simple twist of the wrist.

Pavone launched the company during her sophomore year of college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo when she was impaled through the foot by a friend's heel after removing her own shoes due to pain. She made it her mission to create a comfortable heel that can transition with a woman throughout her day – from the boardroom to the ballpark. Over the next two years, Pavone raised $1.7 million from investors, created 10 prototypes, obtained patent-pending status in 30 countries and is now ready to share her invention with women everywhere.

I don't know about you, but all I can say is "It's About Time!!!"  I don't know how many times I have worn a cute pair of shoes to church or a convention or a wedding and after a few hours all I wanted to do was take them off!  Now that shoe converts to a comfortable flat! 

Isn't this a great idea for a wedding shoe?

Pashion Footwear is launching with two introductory shoes and will release a variety of styles, colors and heel types in the coming months. Both designs are currently available in coal black patent leather in sizes 6 through 11 with a four-inch heel kit.   Pashion Footwear is now available for purchase via www.pashionfootwear.com, starting at $165.  Obviously, this is not a cheap shoe, but think of it as buying two pairs!  They had a coupon code for $40 off, unfortunately it expired yesterday, but that is definitely something to keep an eye out for.

I sent an email to the company inquiring about smaller sizes since I wear a size 5.  They responded in under 24 hours and said they do plan to expand to more sizes, colors and styles in the future.  I really hope their company is a great success!

** I'm not getting paid to advertise these shoes - I just think they are a great idea and would love to see more sizes and styles in the future!

Friday Foodie ~ Fourth of July Goodness

I hope you all enjoyed celebrating yesterday.  Les and I certainly did!  We both went on bike rides (mine was significantly shorter) then enjoyed a relaxing day at home.  I was at home when the earthquake jolted Southern California.  We live about 100 miles from the epicenter.  I definitely felt it, water splashed around in our pool, but we didn't have any damage.

I decided earlier in the week that I was going to make some homemade ice cream.  Les requested coffee flavored.  I did a little research and found different ways to make it  Surprisingly, the recipes were split between using brewed coffee and instant.  A website called "I Need Coffee" (by Coffee Fans, for Coffee Fans) suggested using instant and I decided that was good enough for me! 

My recipe started with the Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream recipe that I made a couple years ago.  It was a huge hit.  This recipe came with my ice cream maker and at the bottom of the recipe it listed Coffee Ice Cream.  All I had to do was add instant coffee to the recipe I made before so that's what I did.

Coffee Ice Cream
Makes 4 Quarts
2 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 Tablespoons instant coffee (this was 8 single serve instant coffee packets)
5 cups milk
4 eggs, beaten
4 cups whipping cream
2 tablespoons vanilla extract

1.  Combine sugar, flour, salt and coffee in saucepan.

Gradually stir in milk.  Cook over medium heat approximately 15 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.

The coffee completely dissolved.  Side note: you can use decaf coffee if you don't want too much caffeine (or half of each.)  I asked Les about it and he said he wanted the full experience!

2.  Gradually stir about 1 cup of hot mixture into the beaten eggs.  This step is important to get right.  You want your eggs to be cooked but not scrambled!

Add egg mixture to remaining hot mixture, stirring constantly. Cook 1 minute; remove from heat.  Refrigerate 2 hours.

3.  Combine whipping cream and vanilla in large bowl; add chilled mixture, stirring with wire whisk to combine.  Pour into ice cream maker.

4.  Freeze as directed.  Mine churned for about 40 minutes.  Then it went into the freezer for a few hours to finish hardening.

As is typical with homemade ice cream it was a little soft, but OH MY!!!  it was so delicious!!!  We topped brownies with it but it is so good it really doesn't need anything with it.  The flavor is spot on for coffee ice cream.  If you love coffee and you love ice cream you really need to try this!

Dream Small

I've been hearing another great song on the radio lately.  "Dream Small" by Josh Wilson has a message that I think we really need to hear.  I especially like the line, "Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all."  So often we think if we aren't doing something great (i.e. for all the world to see) we aren't doing anything worthwhile. 

I did a quick Google search on "dream small" and then looked at images hoping for something inspirational I could put with this post.  There were many "inspirational" quotes about how to dream, but not how to dream small.  A few examples:

"People who dream small dreams continue to live as small people."
"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."
"They say I dream too big.  I say they think too small."
"Don't tell your big dreams to small minded people."
"You're too big to dream small."

It seems that dreams must be big or they aren't worthwhile.  I believe it is this type of thinking that stops a lot of good from being accomplished.  Josh Wilson had this to say about his song:

"'Dream Small' is an anthem for the unsung heroes in this world. It's for moms and dads, students and teachers, secretaries, caregivers, social workers, church staff members and anyone else who is living out God's love and kindness daily.  No matter who we are or where we come from, we all have a part to play. And if we're faithful in those little things, as the song says, we can 'add up the small things and watch them grow bigger, the God who does all things makes oceans from rivers.'"

The Bible has many examples of people doing the small things.  Zechariah 4:10 says, "For who hath despised the day of small things?"  Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible said this: "The day of small things - is especially God’s day, whose strength is made perfect in weakness; who raised Joseph from the prison, David from the sheepfold, Daniel from slavery, and converted the world by the fishermen and the tentmaker, having Himself first become the Carpenter."

Don't be afraid to dream big, but don't put your dreams away because you think they're too small!

Dream Small

It’s a mama singing songs about the Lord
It’s a daddy spending family time the world says he cannot afford
These simple moments change the world
It’s a pastor at a tiny little church
40 years of loving on the broken and the hurt
These simple moments change the world

Dream small
Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Dream small

It’s visiting the widow down the street
Or dancing on a Friday with your friend with special needs
These simple moments change the world
Of course there’s nothing wrong with bigger dreams
Just don’t miss the minutes on your way to bigger things
Cause these simple moments change the world

Keep loving, keep serving, keep listening, keep learning
Keep praying, keep hoping, keep seeking, keep searching
Add up the small things and watch them grow bigger
The God who does all things makes oceans from rivers

Dream small
Don’t buy the lie you’ve got to do it all
Just let Jesus use you where you are
One day at a time
Live well
Loving God and others as yourself
Find little ways where only you can help
With His great love
A tiny rock can make a giant fall
Yeah five loaves and two fish can feed them all
So dream small