Recipe: Pancakes

Everyone is so used to using pancake mixes or heading out to the local breakfast joints to get some really good pancakes. Me, I grew up with a mother who cooked every single one of our meals from scratch. She was really good at it too.

We grew up on a small, small farm. Goats, chickens, a cow, a pig, dogs, cats, gardens, orchards, greenhouse . . . my mother raised us on home cooked, home grown meals which sustained me until they figured out what was wrong with my heart. Which is an entirely different story I will get into on another day. I promise.

But back to the point. Pancakes. This recipe has been in my family for I don't know how long, but I know it goes back to pioneer days. So I invite you to step up to your kitchen counter and join me in a breakfast enjoyed by my family for decades, if not centuries.

Pancakes

1 1/4 c. Flour
3 t. Baking Powder
1 t. Salt
3 T. Oil
1 Egg
About 1 c. Milk

Mix the ingredients, in order, in a mixing bowl. Blend on medium speed with a mixer.

Heat a griddle, be it cast iron or teflon, until the water you flick from your fingers dances on the griddle.

Pour the desired amount on the pan.

Wait until the batter bubbles before turning pancake.

Pancake is completely done when the center bounces back from a light touch.

Serve with:

Butter and syrup,
Strawberries and fresh whipped cream,
Summer Berry Sauce and fresh whipped cream, or

Top with fried eggs and bacon, as my husband is fond of doing.

Any way you serve it, it is delicious!

*Note: If your pancakes are too dark by the time the bubbles begin to appear your pan is on too high, lower the temperature. For my griddle, it works best between the Low and Medium temperature settings.

Happy Eating.

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Ch-ch-changes at the Neighborhood

Some of the folks over at yourLDSNeighborhood's new social network, Neighborhood and Friends!

Find more photos like this on Neighborhood and Friends

Social Networks have invaded the Neighborhood.

Remember the Neighborhood of your childhood. Streets perfect for playing kick the can or freeze tag. Leafy trees shielding homes filled with happy families, sad families, perfect families and broken families, people from all walks of life and social strata. Backyard BBQs, driveway basketball games, hanging upside from the limbs of sturdy trees while eating M&Ms (yes, that didn't end well for me.) Anyway, the point is neighborhood's have a unique social effect. You can be clear across the world and if you run into another American the sense of connection is huge, you run into someone from the neighborhood and the sense of family is instant and solid.

Researchers at the University of Indiana stated the following in their study findings:

"We define social network sites as web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. The nature and nomenclature of these connections may vary from site to site."

MySpace, Facebook, Bebo, and Cyworld are quoted in the study. But what it boils down to, is people are spending more and more time online, for work, for research, for play and in so doing, often have no idea who the neighbor is right next door. That's not a good thing, by the way, in case anyone actually cares.

Connections are being made on the internet that are every bit as lasting and real and personal, as face-to-face connections. In Arizona, when a popular blogger, with readers from all over the world, was in a private plane crash with her husband, the blogging community united and began praying and fundraising. NieNie was in trouble and now they wanted to help. This is the type of virtual relationship which spilled over into real life.

Social Networks were created to give people a place to gather, communicate and share with friends and family online. These networks have exploded across the worldwide web and so there is little surprise that yourLDSNeighborhood has launched its own social network.

So here are the links to "hook up" with the Neighborhood in cyberspace.

First off, you simply must join the Neighborhood and Friends! Created by the Neighborhood, this is a fun place to associate with the customers and friends of the Neighborhood. But oh, we're not restricted to just that! Come and associate online with the authors, artists and musicians as well. Small business owners, established businesses and new businesses, we're all there. And don't stop there. Invite all your family, friends and peers to join you at Neighborhood and friends too All in all, it's a blast. I'm loving every single second of it! So welcome home to the Neighborhood.

You can also find the Nieghborhood on MySpace! And on Facebook! And on Bebo! See you around the Neighborhood!

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And while you're there subscribe to our fantastic Newsletter. Welcome to the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the newsletter brings you articles, products, services, resources and interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.

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A Money Saving Idea or Two

A Money Saving Idea or Two
September 12, 2008
from Three P's in a Pod
by Barbara Salsbury

Many of us are truly noticing that budget tightening is not a rumor anymore. That makes me think that a money stretching idea would prove to be helpful.

As you work toward stretching your buying power in non-foods, consider evaluating your closets as well as your pantry. One money-stretching trend that is gaining momentum is houses brands in clothing. A recent purchase of house brand support hose proved to be a $2.00 per pair savings compared to the same brand name item, and almost a $4.00 per pair savings to what would be considered the same designer label item.

Take time to check out basic clothing items such as socks, underwear, etc. … in house brands. However, shirts, tops, blouses, pants and more are also appearing in house brand labels. What if personal preference dictates that for you … or a teenager in your household … a label that shows has to cost more? Maybe you can begin saving a significant amount on those items that won’t show. (And of course we won’t mention those individuals who purposely allow underwear to show. Ah yes, we are talking budget here, not fashion. Fashion? No you didn’t read that here:)

You might consider house brands for your preparedness program when it comes to blankets, sleeping bags, and other such items. Such savings gives you more buying power … more for the same amount of money.

Another money-saving idea is to make your calculator a power tool when stocking up or shopping sales. Use your calculator when you are reading the ads and planning to stock up on an item or two. This is especially true when you are trying to stretch a limited budget among several tweens for clothing purchases. The extra ten or fifteen minutes could mean added buying power. It could make the difference in saving money that you might spend “thinking” an item is sale priced, but not knowing if it really is or is not a bargain. For example, a recent ad extolled a “Bargain” on toilet tissue. A six-roll pack for .99 cents. At first glance it looked good. Further reading showed that it was 1-ply sheets, and would equate out to a 4-roll costing .66cents. A better value bargain would be to wait for a 2-ply sheet, 4-roll pack on sale at .69 cents or .79 cents. And of course these prices were factored a month or so ago, because the prices have already gone up. But unless you take the time to figure it out, you don’t know! I even carry a small calculator with me when I do major shopping, so that if I find a promoted bargain or better yet an unadvertised bargain, I will take the time to punch in numbers.

If it’s cool to carry a cell phone, we can make it cool to carry a calculator and use it! How cool is it to stretch your budget!

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Monday, September 8, 2008

What Will Your Stash Be?

In today’s blog I want to present a practical part of preparedness. Having been through many different kinds of disasters, including being without employment or a paycheck for over eighteen months,I have a different perspective than many on what is needed to really be prepared. But prepared for what?

For hard times and down times it is extremely important that you are able to have comforting things, and that includes comforting things to eat. (This is above and beyond – or perhaps before - the requisite “preparedness supplies.”)

With that in mind will you ask yourself a question? What will be your stash? Before any emergency arrives at your door, consider having a “stash” of goodies. (Not to be confused with supplies on the pantry shelf. “Stash” meaning kept in reserve, or as in kept from view or common knowledge.) Know what your comfort foods are whether they are chocolate covered raisins, hard peppermint candies or granola bars. Then after the onslaught of the crisis, when the worst of the panic calms down, and the dust begins to settle, you can sit for a moment and take stock of the situation with a comforting treat to help get you through. A rule while you munch is to be sure to count your blessings!

A storage tip is to remember that chocolate or anything with chocolate as a main ingredient will melt, mush and warp if exposed to heat. Even an especially warm cupboard will be considered “being exposed to heat.” A stash in a box, large gallon bottle or large plastic bucket, labeled and kept in the coolest closet corner will keep your “comfort foods” much longer. Another keeping quality key is to make sure the items you are relying on are edible. Stash only items that are without nuts for longer storageablitiy. Nuts have a high rancidity factor as well as a high “bug factor”. If you are counting on a treat to help lift your spirits, bugs and bad taste are not what you want to find.

Of course the hard part of this is keeping your family members and yourself out of the stash until it is needed. Perhaps you will need to specifically qualify need. (In my house need many times equals chocolate. Plan carefully.)

That’s what you need to do, as you try to be practical in preparation. Have something “stashed” or prepared to lighten your tough times, something that is a comfort food for you. Believe me, it will be needed.

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Recipe: Sweet Cornbread

From our Health & Food Block Newsstand:
yourLDSNeighborhood
Candace E. Salima

A long time favorite, both from my childhood and that of my family now, is sweet cornbread. There is just nothing like sliding cornbread fresh from the oven, slicing a piece open and slathering it with butter and honey. Oh my word, my mouth is just watering and you can guess that dinner tonight will center around cornbread. That's a given!

This recipe is tailor made for butter and honey, drizzled over a steaming hot piece of cornbread like syrup.

So I invite you to throw some chicken in the oven, toss a green salad, boil some ears of corn (bring water to a boil and throw corn in for only 3 minutes. Gets the corn hot but keeps it fresh, crisp and nutritious.) And top the whole thing off with some delicious cornbread.

Sweet Cornbread
Preheat oven to 400°
Lightly grease an 8" skillet.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together until creamy:

b C. Sugar
1 t. Salt
a C. Butter
1 t. Vanilla
Stir in:
2 Eggs, one at a time

In a separate bowl, mix:

2 C. Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
¾ C. Cornmeal.

Stir into wet mixture alternating with 1a C. Milk . . .
be certain to alternate, dumping neither in all at once.
Beat until well blended.
Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Happy Eating!

Return to the Neighborhood.

And while you're there, subscribe to our fantastic newsletter. Welcome to the yourLDSneighborhood newsletter. In addition to being able to shop in the new virtual neighborhood, the LDS newsletter brings you LDS articles, LDS products, LDS services, LDS resources and LDS interviews from around the world—all with an LDS focus. Look for issues delivered to your email inbox every week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
LDS Newsletter Subscriptions are FREE, and joining is easy.