pancake breakfast

My family loves pancakes.

When we were in Nova Scotia every Tuesday would be pancake day. My husband did not have classes that day and would be at home and because we had so little time together during the week as a family we would pick the kids up from school for lunch on Tuesday and we would eat pancakes. Everyone looked forward to pancake day...pancakes in the middle of the day and the surprise of what kind of pancakes would be on the table that week; my hubby and the kids loved being home from school for lunch and I loved having everyone together. Pancake day is one of our great memories from Nova Scotia.

This morning the six year old and the three year old both requested pancakes for breakfast. I was happy to accommodate the request. (Did I ever mention how much I LOVE not having to rush off to school in the morning?) So, I threw together some ingredients and ended up with school morning pancakes...

In a medium sized bowl mix together:

1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oat bran
1/2 cup ground walnuts (just whizz some walnuts up in the food processor)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt

In a smaller bowl whisk together:

2 eggs
2 Tbsp canola oil (or any other oil you prefer)
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla (optional; we like vanilla...)

Add the wet ingredients to the dry...

While you are mixing batter...have the griddle (or frying pan if you do not have a griddle) heating on the stove (I preheated mine at medium to medium low but I have a cast iron griddle...experiment with what works best for you and your stove). Lightly grease griddle/pan.

I used a 1/2 cup scoop to scoop batter onto griddle.

When the bubbles have popped and the edges begin to cook, flip pancakes over.

Serve with butter and pure maple syrup (while most of the food I cook is rustic comfort type food, I still am a bit of a food snob and insist on pure maple syrup...there really is no substitute. But, if you choose something else...I won't know about it and I'll just pretend that everybody is using the good stuff...you are right?)

This is my current favourite. The darker the syrup the stronger the maple flavour.

In my house...

a stronger maple flavour is so much better!

Happy pancake day!

Today's Lunch

Chicken, prawn and broccoli capellini

with coconut muffins for dessert...

I wanted to make something yummy for the kids for lunch...I was feeling a little creative; but I didn't have a lot of time. This is what I came up with, I hope you enjoy!

I first pulled out a couple bowls to make up a new muffin recipe...I was all out of milk and yogurt and sour cream but I saw a can of coconut milk on the shelf...coconut muffins...perfect!

First put a large pot of water on stove for capellini...then proceed with muffins.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

In a medium bowl combine:

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar (these are definately dessert muffins)

1 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

In a seperate bowl whisk together:

1 egg (the last one...time to go shopping)

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup coconut milk

1/4 cup melted butter

add wet ingredients to the dry stir until just combined. Place into lined muffin tins (or if you have run out like I have just cut squares of parchment paper...works great!) Sprinkle tops with additional coconut and vanilla sugar about 2 Tbsp of each total (if desired) and place in oven for approximately 20 minutes.

Then I needed to make something to use up the extra coconut milk...

Shrimp, Chicken and Broccoli Capellini -serves 6

Heat wok on stove.

When water is boiling put one package (500g) Capellini in water (I prefer De Cecco brand).

In wok pour in approx. 2 tsp oil.

Make sure wok is very hot and then toss in 2 cubed chicken breasts stir fry for a few seconds

Then add 1 head of broccoli chopped and stir fry for a few seconds

Then add approximately 30 prawns (prepared - peeled, deveined - tails on or off your choice - I left mine on, my kids prefer it that way).

Add three chopped (I actually use kitchen shears) scallions continue to stir

When it is nearly ready add 1/4 cup red or green pepper jelly (I made a bunch last summer during my canning frenzy) along with 1/4 cup tamari (or soy sauce) and approximately 1/2 cup coconut milk (whatever is left after making coconut muffins) and 1 tsp to 1Tbsp toasted sesame oil to taste.

Check seasoning adjust to taste and take off heat.

By this time the pasta should be done (it may be done a bit sooner - if so drain before it gets soggy) and add pasta to wok.

Mix lightly, pour onto serving platter and serve.

Yum...the kids were ALL very happy!

My eldest son declared this his second favourite dish after shrimp scampi

And they all begged for seconds on dessert...

off my bookshelf Jan 2011

In 2011 I decided that I wanted to read more. I already read a lot but over the past few years much of what I have been reading has been decided by university professors rather than by myself. So for 2011 I decided that I wanted to read a minimum of 52 books, at least one per week. In order to help me keep track of what I have been reading I have decided to post a monthly log of my progress. So, here is what has been off my bookshelf this month...

I love Jane Austen. I decided that I would like to read all six of her novels back to back this year. I am just finishing Emma. If I had to choose a place and time where I could have been born this would have been it, late 18th - early 19th century England. As a teen I was very nearly obsessed with all things English. I am definately an Anglophile. While most blogs I look at seem to have a fascination with France and all things vintage French (and I do love these things as well); my heart really is in England...

Continuing with the English theme... Monarchy gives a great general overview of the British monarchy (obviously) from the Tudors to the Windsors. It's a good easy read...as is Bryson's book. Bryson decides to travel through England by public transit and describes some of the changes that have taken place since his first trip in the 70s. While I enjoyed this book I did get a little upset by some of the descriptions of the "americanization" that is happening in some places (such as replacing small quaint high street shops with outside of town malls). When I finished it I had to switch back to Austen to replenish my pastoral, romantic notions.

I usually like to read more than one book at a time, just to satisfy my many moods. So while I love getting my British fix, sometimes I need a change...

I also love food writing or as Anthony Bourdain calls it: food porn. I love reading Anthony Bourdain and I hadn't read this one yet (I have previously read Kitchen Confidential and Medium Raw). I don't know why I love reading Bourdain I guess it is because he is very informal, direct and he doesn't try to be politically correct; I love that. (While I personally love reading his works I would give a warning to anyone sensitive to swearing and/or people saying what they think and I don't really think any subject is taboo with Bourdain).

I got this for Christmas and have been reading it from cover to cover...

My boys recieved some "ologies" for Christmas and we have been reading through them this month.

My eight year old REALLY loves them, especially Monsterology. We have had to have a few discussions about how they are just stories as they are written like old scientific journals...very cool.

I have also been reading these with my eight year old. He is studying the Canadian Provinces in school for Social Studies and was learning about food that is produced in different regions...I thought it would be a good time to introduce him to reading cook books...and he actually enjoyed them. I am determined to have all my children in love with good food and knowing what to do with it before they leave home.

and as I mentioned in the original "off my bookshelf" last April...I have a bit of a magazine fetish. These are a few of my favourites. I have collected a large stack of the British Edition of Country Living magazine and I often encourage my husband to take a look at them so he can visualize what I would like my life to look like...

What have you been reading this month?