Fabulous GF (Blender) Waffle/Pancake Batter Recipe

A very good friend turned us on to this recipe, or one similar to it.  Of course, you know I have fiddled with it some in the last few months … so it isn’t quite like we originally received it.  Try it this weekend and let me know how yours turn out.  :-)

Place in a blender, at highest speed, for 3 minutes:

  • 1 Cup of Brown Rice
  • 3/4 Cup of Oat Groats (or steel cut oats)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups of buttermilk (or some non-dairy alternative)
  • 2 Tbsp of Olive Oil

(You can use other grain combinations, but the proportions should remain about the same.)  The batter should flow freely in the blender and it should swirl around the “vortex”.  If, for some reason it doesn’t, add a bit more liquid.  The batter for pancakes can be a bit thicker.  Truly thick batter can be used, when complete, to make muffins.

Put the lid on the blender and let it stand at room temerpature overnight (or at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours)

As you prepare to cook the pancakes, heat the griddle or waffle iron to the highest possible heat that won’t damage the equipment (generally med-high).

Before cooking the pancakes, add:

  • one egg
  • additional liquid if needed

… and blend again on high speed for 1 minute.  Blend thoroughly.  Then add:

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 – 2 tsp baking powder

You can sift these ingredents into the mix, but I have not found that to always be necessary.

Prepare your cooking surface with a spray on non-stick cooking spray, i.e. spray on olive oil.  Pancakes are ready to flip when the bubbles pop and stay open.  For waffles, definitely spray the cooking surfaces and following the cooking instructions for your equipment.

Serving:  We have added chocolate chips (minis) to the pancakes, and that turned out just fine.  We have also served with organic maple syrup, blueberry syrup and raspberry syrup.  Last week, Pip ate some with honey on them; William Bradford will even eat them plain.  :-)

I have some in the blender now to serve in the morning.  :-)  Enjoy!

National History Day

This has been a great week thus far, though it has held it’s fair share of difficulty. We have chosen to look above and beyond that, and to enjoy our time together cramped into this on-the-small-side hotel suite…. and our adventures in College Park and the nation’s capitol.

Today was certainly full. We began with a ride into Washington D.C. via the Metro (no, I didn’t know you couldn’t take your Starbuck’s with you … but I would have if I’d had enough time to consider it). We arrived early to our destination at Capitol South and went to our local congressional representative’s office. One of Mick Mulvaney’s summer interns, Katherine Hunter from Clemson, gave us a guided tour of the Capitol Building. We followed that with lunch at a local mexican restaurant amongst all the political “movers and shakers”. We then hopped back onto the train and got off in Woodley Park to visit the Smithsonian National Zoo. A few hours walking the hills in the zoo, and we were toasted …. despite the pleasant temperatures today. Back onto the train, and back out to College Park and Laurel Maryland.

#4 is passed out now and the rest are soon to follow. Tomorrow promises to be interesting. We’ll wrap it up with a private evening reception at the National Museum of American History as a precursor to Thursday’s Awards Ceremony.

Pictures soon to be forthcoming. =)

The T-Day Menu

Today’s Menu

Oven Roasted Apple Stuffed Turkey

Cream-Cheese Mashed Potatoes

Mashed Sweet Potato Apple Casserole

Glazed Green Beans

Crustless Spinach Pie

Petite Green Peas

Gluten-Free Cranberry Sage Stuffing

Apple Cranberry Bake (GF)

Orange Jello – Kid Friendly

Cousin Requested “Kraft” Mac and Cheese

Flourless Chocolate Cake ‘a la Nichole

Chloe’s Southern Pecan Pie

Chocolate Chunk Cookies (GF & G)

Pictures to follow when they come out of the ovens … Planning ahead proved fruitful this year. No last minute rush!!

Alway Looking Ahead …

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said, “If you bungle raising your children, I don’t think whatever else you do well matters very much.” Can’t say it any better myself. We may dress a little differently, and have lived many years apart, but that pretty much captures my thoughts on the matter.

As I approach the big ’40’ next week. it is a pleasant reminder not to lose focus and keep my “eyes on the prize”. They’ll be no bungling here. There may not be much sleep either. :-)

Favorite lines from Toy Story films …..

The new movie was a great family film and we all enjoyed it. The best part was when Claire turned to me and said, “Go help Woody, Mommy.” If only I could …. This is a hard one for mothers of older boys to watch (tears, tears, and more tears). And it your son is already in that 16 – 20 year old age bracket, take a box of tissues. You will laugh as much, or more, than you’ll cry… but you will need the tissues.

Some of my favorite quotes …

Toy Story Buzz to Woody “You are a sad and strange little man, and you have my pity. Farewell.”

Toy Story 2 Jessie “Sweet Mother of Abraham Lincoln.”

Toy Story 3 Mr. Potato Head “You would not believe what I have been through … tonight.”

Sam’s favorite line from Toy Story 3 (Buzz …upon reawakening from “Demo” mode) ….

“(sniff, sniff, sniff …. That wasn’t me was it?”

Claire reading to Buzz and Woody back in January

Claire reading to Buzz and Woody back in January

The bin of Toy Story Happiness

The bin of Toy Story Happiness

Before …

This is the garden before the 80 degree weather and all the loving attention from Wilson and me.

Before the dirt arrived.

Before the dirt arrived.

This is the garden in process….

Moving the dirt into the garden.

Moving the dirt into the garden.

The kids worked very hard with me to move the “composted topsoil” from the pile in the driveway into the garden.  Due to the low powerlines, the dump truck was only to get within about 8 feet of the garden.

Sam waits for another delivery of dirt.

Sam waits for another delivery of dirt.

Everyone worked really hard to get the garden in early this year.  This pictures were taken on Saturday morning, the first day of Spring Break.  The kids were actually anxious to get out of bed and start working. That never happens!!

As soon as I can get back out with the camera… I’ll post some after pictures.  Good News… after the birds ate the first round of bean and pea seeds we planted in egg cartons a few weeks ago, the second round … hidden in a box by the hose … has sprouted.  :-)