I was pretty excited when I wrapped our manuscript last week because it meant more time for doing the things that I love.
They are, in no particular order:
having smooth, clean shaven legs (that’s yet to happen)
giving my full attention to my favorite reality shows (that’s completely unnecessary. Hot tub. Champagne. Making out. Rose ceremony. Limo meltdown. Got it.)
engaging in conversations with Pea Daddy that don’t involve, “Don’t eat that! Let me take pictures of it first!!”
and
getting back into the kitchen.
Ironic, huh?
Don’t get me wrong, I love to write and write recipes. But I also love to cook and cook without any other purpose than to just to enjoy delicious food. And there’s a lot of delicious food out there that I’d like to help share.
Like the great recipes by Maria and Josh at Two Peas & Their Pod.
I’m a fan. And not just because we have Peas in common, though clearly they are brilliant.
Need proof?
How do you like them apples?
More specifically, how do you like them Apple Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes?
I asked Maria if I could share my version of their recipe and she said yes.
Like I said, brilliant.
Apple Cinnamon Streusel Pancakes
adapted from this recipe from Two Peas & Their Pod
Makes 8-10 pancakes
Cinnamon Streusel:
- 1/4 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/4 c. old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 t. ground cinnamon
- 2 T. vegan margarine (i.e. Earth Balance) or organic butter
- 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
Pancakes:
- 2 c. non-dairy or organic milk
- 2 t. lemon juice
- 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
- 1 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 T. organic sugar
- 2 t. baking powder
- 1 t. baking soda
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 2 T. olive oil
- 1 t. vanilla extract
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored, peeled and chopped
For the cinnamon streusel, in a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, margarine or butter and applesauce. Mix together with your hands or a fork, until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, combine milk and lemon juice and allow to “curdle” for several minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
To the bowl of “curdled” milk, add applesauce, oil and vanilla and whisk together. Add wet ingredients to the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Do not over mix, batter will be slightly lumpy. Fold in chopped apple.
Heat a griddle or pan to medium low. Coat with cooking spray or a light misting of oil.
Drop 1/4-1/3 cup of batter onto heated griddle or pan.
Cook on the first side until bubbles begin to form, about 2-3 minutes.
Eat any mini baby pancakes that just so happen to pop up.
You know you will.
Continue this process to make the rest of the pancakes.
Top pancakes with a heaping spoonful of cinnamon streusel and syrup, if desired.
Fluffy, decadent and delicious.
I knew this was a good idea.
And one I plan to repeat.
So every so often, expect to see other people recipes up in here.
Because I want to taste what I’ve been missing.
And so does Pea Daddy.
But let me take pictures of it first.
I hardly consider myself an expert on running a household smoothly. I have, however, picked up some tricks for multitasking parenting, writing, practicing basic hygiene, cooking and maintaining relationships.
As a result, I’ve become an expert on half-assing almost everything.
And you can become one, too!
Here is the first set of many questionably helpful hints I’d like to share with you:
1. If you are having a spat with your spouse, say over something as silly as how he returned his Kindle you bought him and thus his stockpile of hardcover books that is haphazardly perched on top of various pieces of furniture keeps falling off and nearly decapitating your youngest child every time she goes into your bedroom, go see The Descendants together. Suddenly those silly things won’t matter any more. The fact that you look like you just got blasted in the face with a fire hose and now have to go out to dinner will.
2. The next time you think you need a massage, go to the toy box and find a hard rubber ball or a tennis ball.
Place the ball on the floor and place your aching body part on top of the ball and roll around on it. Instant massage. You will look ridiculous, but you won’t have to get naked and greasy with a stranger.
3. Don’t play Sorry! with anyone under the age of 12. Ever. You will be the only one who is sorry. Primarily about your choice to procreate.
4. Keep a jar of coconut oil on your bathroom sink.
My favorite uses:
- eye makeup remover
- under-eye cream
- facial moisturizer, hand cream, after shave, heel cream
- hair gel/leave-in conditioner/curl definer
- chapstick
- deodorant
- midnight snack
Speaking of hair care…
5. Stop using shampoo. But don’t take it from me. Take it from Ryan Gosling.
6. Make your own vanilla extract by splitting a vanilla bean, placing it in a glass bottle and filling that bottle with vodka or rum. Allow to sit for six months.
7. The best dessert creations come after making homemade vanilla. Not using homemade vanilla. Making homemade vanilla. Recipe coming this week. (You’ll need almond butter, almonds, sea salt, nutritional yeast, chocolate, coconut oil and freeze-dried raspberries or other dried fruit of your choice. Oh, and the ingredients for homemade vanilla.)
8. Make mornings go more smoothly by laying out your kiddos’ clothes the night before and insisting they get dressed before coming to the breakfast table. They when they drip maple syrup down their clothes, they’ve got a built-in mid-morning snack as well.
9. If you (or your kids) like sweetened, flavored yogurt but you want to cut the sugar and save money, mix half of the flavored yogurt with plain.
Just don’t get caught.
10. Want to get a new item of clothing and have your spouse not only support the purchase, but insist on it? Wear the same hoodie every day for three months straight. It helps if the hoodie is a really annoying color, like bright pink. Then when you say, “Maybe I should get a new hoodie…” all he or she can say is, “Thank God.”
For extra insurance, bring it up after seeing The Descendants.
