Cranberry Pancakes

Such a beautiful Sunday morning here, in S. Florida. Windy, mostly sunny, and 74 degrees F. which actually feels like in the low 60's...always about ten or more degrees cooler on the beach! A perfect time to make pancakes from scratch, especially when you still have a couple bags of fresh cranberries that you put in your freezer from last December...better use them up, although you can keep them in the freezer for at least 1 year! I always use my 'tried and true' Mark Bittman's Basic Pancake recipe, but this time I followed the Better Homes and Gardens, which has the addition of fresh orange juice as well. A good way to start your morning, on a lazy Sunday!

I have absolutely no clue, how many points these yummy pancakes are for Weight Watchers, but I quit temporarily again...for the third time, not easy to keep up with the points. You have to be really diligent to stay with the program!

Close up, you can see the beautiful ruby red chopped fresh cranberries, nestled in the fluffy light pancakes. This is a rare treat, which is the best way to enjoy at home, and forget about Pancake House, which we only have a couple left over now, in our area. Even if you would go out for breakfast or brunch, you will not find this anywhere...so stay home, and follow this easy recipe. You can also use frozen cranberries, but fresh cranberries are totally out of season for now!

Now, are you convinced how much tastier it is to make your own homemade pancakes from scratch, and adding cranberries, blueberries, chocolate chips that my grandchildren love...but one of my all-time favorite is perfectly ripe, sliced bananas dropped right on the top of the batter, as you're making it...yumm...enjoy!

Cranberry Pancakes

• 1 1/2
  cups cranberries, coarsely chopped

• 1/4
  cup sugar

• 2
  teaspoons finely shredded orange peel

• 1 1/2
  cups all-purpose flour

• 2
  teaspoons baking powder

• 1/2
  teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2
  teaspoon salt

• 1
  egg, slightly beaten

• 1
  cup buttermilk

1. In a small mixing bowl combine cranberries, sugar, and orange peel; set aside. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another mixing bowl combine egg, buttermilk, orange juice, and margarine or butter. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until combined but still slightly lumpy. Fold in cranberry mixture.
2. Heat a lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet over medium heat until a few drops of water dance across the surface. For each pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the hot griddle.
3. Cook over medium heat until pancakes are golden brown, turning to cook second sides when pancake surfaces are bubbly and edges are slightly dry (about 1 to 2 minutes per side). Serve immediately or keep warm in a loosely covered ovenproof dish in a 300 degree F oven. If desired, serve with Maple Syrup. Makes 16
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Kodiak Cakes...Pancakes

I hope all you wonderful Moms had a lovely Mother's Day! These delicious pancakes were not for Mother's Day; I made them previously, last week, to be exact! A Canadian friend suggested this unusual, super moist, totally natural ingredients...no need to add eggs, or milk, so easy, that I splurged a little, adding fresh strawberries to top it off, and a little decoration with Ready Whip whipped cream...the best pancakes I've ever had from a box mix!

I never even knew about these amazing pancakes...or 'Flapjacks' as they call them, until I was introduced to it, and can only find them at Target! It's been around for a long time, but there is a 'success story' behind it. If any of you have watched Shark Tank...which I sometimes have watched, but missed this one...here's the story behind it!

Kodiak Cakes - Pancake and Waffle Mix

Kodiak Cakes on Shark Tank

Pancake and Waffle Mix - Episode 528 - 4/4/2014

 The more I learn about these Kodiak Cake's, the more I'm convinced this business is destined to become a Super Successful Shark Tank Product. First off you need a superior and healthier product to compete in the multi-billion dollar Pancake and Waffle Mix Industry.  Next you'll need a razor-sharp marketing edge that absolutely makes your product stand out above-and-beyond any competition. Also, as with all Successful Shark Tank products, it helps to have a great story how you're business first began, and yes, the Kodiak Cake's also has a very interesting story indeed.



Original Kodiak Cakes
Flapjack and Waffle Mix

I first started writing this article (I had it half way done) with the assumption Kodiak Cake's first began by then 8 year old Joel Clark, who was selling this now famous flapjack and waffles mixes door-to-door out of his wagon. Although part of the story is true, it was his Mom who first began selling the Kodiak Pancake Mixes under the Baker Mills business name, the last names of both her Mom and Grandmother. The actual "Whole Wheat Hot Cake's" recipe was developed by Wallace Christofferson, the Family's Grandpa who perfected the now famous breakfast product over many years of trial and error. It looks like both Brother's Jon and Tim Clark, have also played vital role's in making the Kodiak Cake's a success.
 

read more....

 Kodiak Cakes...Pancakes, and Waffle Mix

The best pancakes...ever! I highly recommend it!

Make sure to add Real Maple Syrup on top...nothing but, the BEST!

Of course, if you would like to make your pancakes from 'scratch'...I recommend
Mark Bittman's Perfect Pancakes  simple and amazing recipe...(from a previous post of mine)

My choice was the Whole Wheat Oat, and Honey brand...just add;

1 cup of mix...







and add 1 cup of plain water. With a wire whisk, lightly whisk it till lumps disappear, and smooth.

In a preheated large cast iron skillet, heavy skillet, or a large griddle...
for small pancakes which yields about 6;
scoop with a 1/3 measuring spoon, and flip over when it starts to bubble!



For larger pancakes; you can scoop with 1/2 measuring cup which makes about 3 or 4.

You can double or triple the recipe...no eggs or milk required to add!

Apple-Bacon Galette

Gabby, enjoying a slice of the Apple-Bacon Galette...bacon pieces with maple glaze... already eaten!

Glorious Bacon...who doesn't love bacon? In this day-and-age, we're all trying to cut down on fatty foods; but cutting down on bacon, is the hardest thing to do. Do not even go out for 'breakfast', if you're going to skip bacon!


 Breakfast is so complete with a side of couple slices of bacon...crispy, crunchy and beautiful bacon!

 

What is there not to like about American Bacon? ...is it because it's 'pork'...or is it because it's fatty?...actually when you fry or bake it real crispy, you release all the fat grease and that's when you enjoy the best part about the yummy crispy bacon.
Of course, you cansubstitute turkey bacon, which is less calories and fat and you get to enjoy all the benefits of bacon inspired creations.

If you love bacon, I really suggest you check out the March issue of Food Network magazine...it's all about BACON; which is the Bacon Issue!

For the recipe, which the only adaptation I made was...I sprinkled Turbinado sugar on top of the galette, before I baked it! Click here, to get the recipe>>APPLE-BACON GALETTE

 

  

 

 

 

Candied Spiced Walnuts

Just think...when you find the perfect selection that inspires you and knowing that you don't have to google it, or search through your collection of cookbooks...then just relax and simply print out your blogger friend's recipe and go for it!

With the holidays just around the corner, you want to have something quick and easy...yet, exciting and tantalizing for your 'taste buds'...questioning, what kind of spices are used in this addictive, crunchy, sweet, and spicy walnuts. Most of the recipes for this type is usually made with pecans, but as a personal preference...I think walnut work better; for one thing, they are less expensive, and crunchier. Pecans are softer and I would save them for cakes and pies!
Check out this recipe and more...Asian inspired; from my talented friend...
 Ridwan, @Rice and Coconut

I did change the title of this yummy treat, since its sweet, and spicy! (this is how recipes are made, but its always nice to give credit to the actual source, which most bloggers DO NOT follow) In the old days of our mothers and grandmothers, it was 'word of mouth', 'hands on', and of course 'hand me down' recipes, even in the seventies when I was a very young mom with toddlers, we just copied down recipes from friends' handwritten, and/or books and old magazines...never thinking about the source. No excuse these days, unless you create your own recipe just from your own creative basic source.

I did use the same amount...12 oz. shelled walnuts; the only addition of spice, was the cayenne pepper, in addition to the other spices.
Also, I used Spam, to spray the aluminum lined  toaster oven tray.






I put all the walnuts, spices, and maple syrup which I added more than just drizzle on...mixed it up and got it ready to toast in the oven.

Now, you just spread evenly, and bake at 350 degrees F. for no more than 12-15 minutes...any longer than that, they will start to burn, so be careful!










I did not equally measure things...just 'eyeballed'
all the ingredients, and being careful not to 'over spice'...probably used about 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup. You can store in tin can the  leftovers
but I doubt you will have any leftover, its so
addictive, and oh, so heavenly with goat cheese
on pear slices!  Do try out this recipe, from
RIDWAN
...and tell him I sent you! xo

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

What was I thinking? This is the "butt" of my turkey from last year, which I actually posted on my blog last year! Now, I feel like I must have been the "butt" of the turkey jokes...yet, everyone was nice with their comments to me. No "butt" jokes! I still don't understand what was the reason behind this "turkey pose!" with yet, a scar on it's backside...what a turkey...turkey! The turkey was moist, and delicious...perfectly stuffed, and roasted to a golden bronze color! I will share with you our friends' turkey, after Thanksgiving, where we are invited for a feast!

Actually, I decided to upload the other photo of my beautiful stuffed turkey from last year...not to be rude, and just show the backside! I kind of miss, not baking a turkey for the first time, in over 30 years!

At any rate, I do have my lovely cranberry sauce with
vanilla, from last year...the more I look at those weird twigs (vanilla pods) the more I'm trying to figure out why I used it for decoration...the one pod looks like the letter U...for "unknown" perhaps, and the other pod is just uselessly leaning behind it! Just an observation from last year, but the cranberry sauce was so delicious, and just the right texture!

Cranberry Sauce with Vanilla, Maple Syrup, and Cassis


6 cups (about 1-1/2 lb.) fresh or frozen cranberries, picked over and rinsed
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup fresh orange juice (from 1 orange)
1/3 cup crème de cassis (black-currant liqueur)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 Tbs. finely grated orange zest (from 1 orange)

Half a vanilla bean, split and scraped
Put 3 cups of the cranberries and all the remaining ingredients in a 3- or 4-qt. saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped and broken down and the juices look slightly syrupy, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the remaining 3 cups cranberries and cook until these have popped, 3 to 5 minutes more. Remove from the heat, discard the vanilla bean, and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate if not serving right away.

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I have so much to be thankful for, this year... and you, my food blogger friends and my other blogger friends, facebook, and Twitter friends, are on top of my list this year!

I have spent way too much time on my blog this year, but the rewards were worth every minute of it getting to know more people, and actually making friends on a personal level that will be remembered for a lifetime I learned a lot from other cultures, and feel that I have traveled around the world, just by reading their amazing stories, and to learn about the foods of their region. You get to learn so much just by sharing your ideas, opening your homes, and kitchens, talking about families, friends, trips, but mostly food...good food, and that is what food blog is about, making friends, laughing, crying, but mostly sharing!
I have a beautiful family; children, grandchildren... which I am blessed with and I am thankful for, every day of my life!

As for social networks... Twitter, and have just recently joined facebook...but haven't delved into it yet as much as I would love to!
Every day, I check comments, and comment back as much as I can, and/or find new blogs to comment to, and make friends...hopefully! It is so important in our foodie community to support one-another, and through Foodbuzz, I have experienced just that, by joining the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival, for the first time this year, which was the 3rd annual event.

I have not joined hardly any...actually "none" of...social networks, other than Foodbuzz! All the other ones, which I did join, I forgot my password, or even the name of the site! For instance, just recently, I signed up for YELP...which is about restaurant, and business reviews. I did upload some restaurant photos, but have not posted a review yet. Also, Taste Spotting...I forgot my password there, as well!...and there is another site...Foodieview.com! Well, I signed up for that too, but have abandoned it, and forgot all about it. There's Etsy shop, and on that one I'm still trying to figure out how to copy and paste a logo!

There's Stumbleupon where I would get all those blogs to my e-mail, to stumble it...when I'm still stumbling here on my own, trying to figure out all these social networks. I actually joined FoodieBlogroll at the same time I joined Foodbuzz, but there, I felt lost...did not know how to connect with other food bloggers. I guess Food Gawker, is the biggy of them all where you have to have impecable photos, or else it gets rejected...I heard. (did not try out for that one either.) One very good networking I did sign up for is the Very Good Recipes, where you just register, and they do all the work for you to upload your posts!

A little preview of  my Hungarian Kifli that I made today for Thanksgiving to take to our hosts' house

So, I wish you all, here in the United States, and in other parts of the world where you reside,
A Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving, and may you have a safe one as well, if you are traveling!
Hugs, to all!
Elisabeth

Cranberry Sauce, and a Stylish Blogger Award

It  is Hanukkah, and it officially started at sundown on Tuesday, and will last for 8 days. We just left Thanksgiving behind, and here comes all the holidays one, and before you know it, it's the New Year.
Well, for Hanukkah, all we do is just keep frying the nice and aromatic shredded potato latkes=pancakes. The best way to do them is to just pass it through the shute of your food processor with the shredding disk, and you'll have a big bowlful to work with, a super messy kitchen, and the aroma of fried potatoes, and onions...and before you know it, your batch of latkes are gonna be eaten up in less than 10 minutes.

Will post some photos about the latkes, my granddaughter took the photos with her camera, mine just totally went blank...no screen. Will be getting my new camera this weekend. A present to myself!

Quick and Easy Waffles

This is how they looked this summer...slimmer now!

It's been a long weekend!
Waking up Saturday morning to the sound of the little voices of my two grandchildren, and the  Chihuahuas,Luigi and Stella... the smell of fresh home made waffles. How can anyone not want to be a part of that. Did I mention the glorious Caffe Latte too? I feel compelled to brag about the waffle iron that the wonderful waffles were made in, because while my family was vacationing in Italy this summer I was house and dog sitting, so every chance I got I stopped at Goodwill nearby to see what treasures I can find. I did find this waffle iron, still brand new with the warranty book in the box, at $5.99, retail price starting at $17.99 and up.

Also, found this cookbook that I've always been wanting to buy...this paperback was also like brand new, just tucked away with all the other books, that I happen to spot. Paperback books of any kind, any size cost...are you ready for this? $.79...seventy nine cents...holy, moly! The hardback, which is the same exact size, costs. $29.99...no kidding! The recipe for the waffles is in this book, and I'm so grateful that my daughter found it useful enough to constantly want to make homemade waffles, and homemade pancakes, also any kind of good and basic recipes that are found in the wonderful "bible" of a cookbook....and mom could not be happier than to find a gift that keeps on giving, for way under $10.00. Now, that's what I call THRIFTING!

Recipe for the waffles from How to Cook Everything

Quick and Easy Waffles

 

Canola or other neutral oil for brushing waffle iron

(we use cooking spray)

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 Tbsp. sugar

3 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs

4 Tbsp.  (1/2 stick) butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract Brush the waffle iron lightly with oil and plug in to heat it. Combine the dry ingredients. Mix together the milk and eggs. (If you have time, separate the eggs and beat the whites.)

Stir in the cooled melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. If the mixture seems too thick, add a little more milk. Spread a ladleful or so of batter unto the waffle iron and bake until the waffle is done, usually 3 to 5 minutes, depending on your waffle iron. Serve immediately, or keep warm for a few minutes in a low temperature oven. Serves 4 to 6.

note, from Elisabeth:

You should use up the whole batch, even if you don't need it, because you can freeze waffles real nice, in a freezable baggie, and take it out to heat up in the microwave or in a toaster, or toaster oven. This is what I do, and never have to buy the frozen kind from the store. It tastes even better, when frozen, and toasted.