Perfect, fluffy pancakes
Trust me, I used to be a boxed mix pancake person. I would grab a box of Kodiak at Costco and go about my day. Then one day…
Trust me, I used to be a boxed mix pancake person. I would grab a Kodiak at Costco and go about my day. Then one day I made Pinch of Yum’s fluffy blueberry pancakes. They were yummy and shockingly easy to make.
I’ve made several tweaks to her recipe, and this is where we’ve landed for our family favorite perfect pancakes! Yummy, buttery, and with just a hint of lemon. Chef’s kiss!
Perfect Pancakes
Makes enough for one adult and two feral children. Double this recipe for enough to freeze for the week. Reheat in a toaster.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
Juice from half a lemon
Zest from a lemon
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons melted butter
More butter for pan (don't scrimp!)
Directions:
Heat a griddle to medium.
Mix together milk and lemon juice and let sit for a few minutes.
Whisk the dry ingredients together.
Whisk the egg, milk, and cooled melted butter together until combined.
Smear the griddle with butter. Be generous!
I like to use a mashed potato scoop to pour batter on hot griddle.
Cook until pancakes start bubbling then flip. Cook for about two minutes then flip again. Keep on griddle until cooked through.
Serve with butter and maple syrup.
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Who are the characters in your neighborhood?
One of the funny things about living in a neighborhood is getting to know the comings and goings of the people who live around you. We’re fortunate enough to have great neighbors. It’s one of the things that makes me love…
One of the funny things about living in a neighborhood is getting to know the comings and goings of the people who live around you. We’re fortunate enough to have great neighbors. It’s one of the things that makes me love our home so much.
Ms. P, who lives catty-corner to us, is an absolute delight. Well north of 90 years old, she is full of wisdom and spice. She brings my children small presents for Christmas and Easter. She never calls us by our right names, but I’m not going to correct her when I know that if she’s talking about Rick… well, that’s my husband’s name now.
Our next-door neighbor, a kind retiree, pulls our trash cans in from the curb for us on garbage days and sends us hand-me-down toys from his grandkids. This summer, he gave us bags and bags of the juiciest tomatoes and delicious zucchini. His grandkids live around the corner and they took care of our pets when we were in the hospital to have our youngest.
I always chat with the couple who live the next street over while we’re out for walks. The husband volunteers at a food pantry and the wife always has a sea of beautiful purple flowers in bloom in front of their home. One day during a stroll, she asked if it was ok to give the kids cookies. When I said yes, she excitedly ran in and grabbed three homemade cookies from their freezer. My son asks me if we can have more every time we walk past their home.
We live in a very simple suburban neighborhood. Perhaps, it’s like your own. And it’s filled to the brim with the most delightful characters. How about yours?
The yummiest no recipe summer salad recipe
We’re in the middle of a heatwave here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s too darn hot to do much, let alone cook up a fancy family meal…
We’re in the middle of a heatwave here in the Pacific Northwest. It’s too darn hot to do much, let alone cook up a fancy family meal.
In comes my favorite fallbacks: a quesadilla made on my beloved Grillda Garten (just cheese and a tortilla is fine! I used leftover fajita meat and veggies) that miraculously doesn’t heat up the house much if used as a panini maker and this favorite salad. Tomatoes are really at their peak now, so dice up some homegrown ones if ya got ‘em.
The Yummiest No Recipe Summer Salad Recipe
Follow your heart and your family’s preferences to adapt this salad using what you have on hand
Ingredients:
A couple of diced ripe tomatoes or a bowl full of sliced cherry tomatoes (sun gold are especially good!)
1 - 2 small avocados diced or 1 large
A diced cucumber
1/4 small diced or thinly sliced (easier to pick out) red onion
Juice of 1 small lime (to taste)
A couple healthy glugs of olive oil
Pepper and a healthy sprinkling of kosher salt (I like Diamond Crystal)
Directions:
Mix ingredients in a bowl and taste salt and lime and adjust if necessary
Serve immediately.
Note: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I recommend only products I genuinely like. Thank you so much.
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Hi, I’m Beccah
Hi, I’m Beccah. A mom of two young kids living in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and our wacky pup named Barkley. I blog here and connect with other moms on my Instagram page.
Hi, I’m Beccah! A mom of young kids living in the Pacific Northwest with my husband and our wacky pup named Barkley. I blog here and connect with other moms on my Instagram page.
What is an ordinary moment in your life that you never take for granted?
My kids are young right now, 1 and nearly 3, and they love each other so hard but they also really adore fighting. It makes my day when we’re driving in the car and they just start giggling together. At what, I’ll never know. They both have great senses of humor, and can make each other laugh harder than anyone else.
Also, my son calls roosters cockadoos right now and I hope he never stops.
What is the kindest thing that someone has done for you?
I took my kids to my niece’s dance recital for one of my first solo outings after my daughter was born. I was supposed to have help getting on the shuttle bus there, but wires got crossed with my parents who were in town. I found myself alone and overwhelmed in the parking lot. I needed to get my oldest into his nicer outfit and my newborn in the carrier. And then it started pouring down rain. That’s when the shuttle volunteer walked over with a huge umbrella and kept my kids dry while I got them out of the car and to the pickup point. All the while, she told me about how she also had older kids who were really close in age and she remembered how hard it was when they were little. It was exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. When I arrived at the arts center, a volunteer was there waiting with a dry shirt for me because she had radioed ahead. It still makes me quite emotional, really, just thinking about the amount of kindness this stranger showed me during a very vulnerable time.
What is the best part of the stage of life that you’re in?
Oh gosh. My son is really coming into his own right now. He loves “reading” us books by telling us what’s happening in the pictures and it makes me feel so proud. My daughter started walking about 6 weeks ago and it’s been amazing watching her just sprint everywhere. I could see her working so hard and the step-by-step process of learning to walk was even more exciting to see the second time around. It’s inspirational, really, to see the determination and hard work that they put in to reach these milestones.
I’m also in the slow slide to 40, and I have to say that I’m actually really excited about it. I feel like I’m learning so much about myself and what I want from life. I am thankful to grow older.
The hardest?
I think it’s partly not getting enough rest. Sometimes of my children’s doing and sometimes mine of staying up too late, probably watching The Great British Bakeoff or Mindy Project (again).
And then also just trying to be patient. Toddlers are no joke. They have so many big feelings.
What is the best thing under $100 that you’ve purchased that has made a positive impact on your life?
I’ve been stealing the travel coffee mug I bought for my husband. When I saw that they were on sale at the store, I went ahead and bought my own. But in a different color so that my husband won’t steal mine. Marriage, right? It’s the perfect size mug. I can put a cup of hot coffee in there or ice some down and take it with me. It’s also dishwasher safe, which is nice because most coffee mugs are hand wash only and I try to put everything into the dishwasher that I possibly can. I’ve found that I can make a really good cup of coffee at home and I almost always prefer it to something that I can get out.
Who is a woman that you admire and why?
My Aunt Nina is really just the best. She loves nothing more than to help others in our family. She would do anything for anyone. But make no mistake: she’s not a doormat. I love how when you go to her home, it’s your home.
What is a small thing that you could do today to improve your life?
I really need to just put on my darn shoes and go for a walk. It’s really that simple. I can always tell the difference in my mood when I get some fresh air and exercise.
What is something that you can’t shut up about?
I just really can’t overstate the importance of good mom friends. I am so fortunate to have a really good group of people in my life, both locally and friends from earlier stages in my life who happened to become moms. One of my college best friends gave me some really helpful potty training tips today. My local mom friends have rallied for me so hard in so many ways since I met them at an online Zoom parenting class in 2020.
I think that meeting friends as an adult can be kind of hard, but everyone wants to meet a good MILF (mom I’d like to friend). Make some small talk at the playground. Introduce yourself. Ask for a phone number. It really just takes like 30 seconds of bravery to make a friend if there’s a connection there.
Note: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I recommend only products I genuinely like. Thank you so much.