Stuck in a Delicious Food Rut

I love all kinds of breakfast. It can set the tone of a relaxing weekend, or you can enjoy it as a comforting evening meal. That being said, there is something just plain disappointing about a flat, tasteless pancake. Most mixes just don't cut it, so I went in search of the Perfect Pancake recipe. I definitely found it! These pancakes are so fluffy, so delicious that even my brother- who doesn't give out compliments on anything easily- said they were the best pancakes he'd ever eaten. You can also add 1/2 to a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract for a flavored pancake (both are delicious)!


The Perfect Pancake


Ingredients
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour (I use King Arthur flour)
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted (I use Kerrygold butter- it's so wonderful)
Cooking spray or butter for the pan
1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (optional)


Directions
Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into "soured" milk (along with flavored extract, if you're using any). Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.


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Enjoy!

~VP~

A Friendly Reminder

Image via FitSugar

Wear your sunscreen and take care of your skin! I had a suspicious-looking freckle removed last week that, as it turns out, was skin cancer but thankfully is all taken care of now. I'm not even an outdoorsy type of girl (if you ask me what my idea of camping is, it probably involves running water and preferably WiFi), but I'm just thankful to have gotten it taken care of.

That PSA aside, life is good. I'm somewhat at a crossroads in regards to what I want to do work and education-wise, and I'm thankful to know people who are helping me figure it out. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my days with my guys. Parker and I have been working out regularly and I'm enjoying it a lot! Actually, despite the pain there does come a point where my muscles actually feel warm and tingly and that is what I look forward to now. That, and I have fun laughing (and getting laughed at) for looking ridiculous doing P90X. I've been practicing yoga as well and loving it...I suppose I'm just trying to take better care of myself and I'm enjoying the challenge and reward of it.

I have a confession to make. Sometimes being a mama is lonely. I drove through Starbucks last and was incredibly envious to see three women I know chatting and laughing together inside the store. It made my heart ache, actually. It seems like everyone's got their "people". Obviously I have Parker, and I have friends, but it's not the same as that core group of girlfriends, you know? I'm not saying this to have anyone take pity on me, but if there are any other women who go through this sometimes, you're not the only one. I was emailing someone this morning about this, and it seems like maybe it is more common than I'd thought. For those of you ladies who have that have those friends, treasure them! Ugh. I'm so not a girl's girl.

So- wear your sunscreen, take time to enjoy your exercise, and treasure your friends. Off to make dinner and watch Private Practice!

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~VP~

Our Week (In a Nutshell): That Moment...

...When my sweet baby boy is cuddled in my arms, his little dimpled fingers grasping my shirt and his soft head resting against me while I watch his eyes blink more and more slowly as he drifts towards sleep.

...When my husband twirls me around to dance like we're two footloose and fancy-free lovebirds as we both laugh and share a kiss (we're actually in the kitchen doing dishes).

...When I'm in the midst of a workout and I can't imagine doing one more anything, but I push through anyway and feel the reward of energy, refreshment, and strength.

I want to make sure and have these moments jotted down- they are so wonderful to me!

~VP~

Good Intent

Since Miles was born, I've watched all the seasons of Grey's Anatomy- up until the current season, that is- and one of the weird things I enjoyed about the show was that each episode was named after a song. Since I'm on a huge Kimbra kick right now, the title "Good Intent" fits perfectly.

Good intent is also fitting as I look back on my previous post. This post has no doubt received the most feedback of any blog entry I've written to date; I received many Facebook messages and a few comments on the blog itself. I was disappointed to find that many have been put down by others for their birthing choices, and what some misunderstood to be a slam on natural birth is not at all! It's not about epidurals, med-free, or Cesareans- I just love birth. It is so beautiful and crazy how our bodies work to grow new life, bring it into the world, and then proceed to give us the innate desire to fiercely protect and nurture it. What I care about is the freedom a woman should have to give birth how and where she feels comfortable and most safe. If that's at home in her own environment, she should receive no judgement. If that's in a hospital with an epidural, the same should apply. It's her choice. Certainly it doesn't help to pass criticism on a woman who's already given birth. One quote from The Business of Being Born has stuck with me since I first heard it: "A woman, as long as she lives, will remember how she was made to feel during her birth." All I mean to say is, support is what women need. I hope we can all lift each other up instead of the alternative.

In other news, Miles is three months old now! He is smiling more and more, laughing, and starting to roll over. I adore him. He holds onto me, and he has started to cry when someone else is holding him and he realizes they're not me. He's such a mama's boy. Gosh, I love him.

That's all for now. Goodnight!
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~VP~