Homemade Pancakes and Syrup

Well as promised I am going to give you my recipes for pancakes and syrup. The thing I love about Pancakes is that they are so versatile. You can change and manipulate them to whatever you may be craving at the time.  My personal favorite is chocolate pancakes with chocolate chunks in them mmmmmm makes my mouth water just thinking of it and then add some homemade syrup to the top. . . . Yeah its pretty much incredible.
    Pancakes are great because you can make lots and lots of extra then just throw them in the freezer so the kids have something quick and easy in the morning. If you haven't put chocolate chips or blueberries in them they can be thrown straight into the toaster; And if you did put goodies in them the microwave comes in very handy. Ok so lets get started here is what you will need to make some pancakes.

1) 2 cups of flour
2) 4 teaspoons of baking powder
3) 1 teaspoon of salt
4) 2 eggs
5) 2 cups of milk
6) 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

First you want to mix all of your dry ingredients very well.  If you want chocolate pancakes also add 1 cup of Hershey's Cocoa natural and unsweetened, 1/2 cup of sugar, and a teaspoon of nutmeg.

   Next you want to beat the eggs well and add all the rest of the ingredients to your dry ingredients mixing until you have a thick syrup consistency. If it is to thick add more milk a little at a time until you like it, then cook. I always use my griddle cuz I can fit more on it but a frying pan on the stove works just as well.   

     Now the Syrup recipe was passed to my mom and then to me. It is amazing and very easy to make, a definite crowd pleaser!!!! :)

The ingredients you are going to need for this are quite simple and I always keep plenty on hand just for this.

1) 1 stick of margarine or 1/2 cup butter works just as well.
2) 1 can of evaporated milk 12oz
3) 2 cups of sugar
                                                                                    4) 1 teaspoon vanilla
                                                                                    5) 1 teaspoon baking soda
Ok you are going to need a large pot.  Get it heating on a medium heat. you want to melt your butter or margarine but you do not want to burn it.
   When the butter is melted add 1 can of evaporated milk 2 cups of sugar and the Vanilla now you want your the stove top on high to bring the mixture to a rolling boil which is a boil that you cant stir down. stir continuously for 2 minutes then shut off heat and stir in your 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

    Your syrup will foam way up at this point dont worry its suppose to :) that is why you need the large pot. It is now ready to eat, ladle into a dish for serving and you're ready to go.

Now remember you can add just about anything to your pancake mix to change things up. Chocolate chips are great , blueberries, chopped strawberries.  Playing with new ideas in the kitchen is half the fun of cooking. Have fun with it. Enjoy

When the milk you look behind is powdered

Hello again everyone :). So I don't have a picture for this one, but the end result was amazing. Now I have no intention of telling what I made without a little story.  I dont know about you guys but when it gets a day or 2 from payday things can get a little . . . slim around here meaning the refrigerator starts to get extremely bare, this definitely being the case the other day.  Here is what I had to work with:

1) Onions
2) Cream cheese
3) 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup (the small cans)
4) powdered milk
5) 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6)1 pack of spaghetti
7) 4 tablespoons butter or margarine

At this point I needed to start dreaming something up, but what?
Sometimes for me the best way to make something is to just start. And it comes to me as I get going this definitely being the case here.
First I sliced the onions and through them in a large skillet adding the butter this way I would saute the onions till they are soft but not brown.
Second I cut the chicken into cubes that were about 1 inch by 1 inch and putting them directly into the skillet with the onions cooking them until they are cooked all the way through.
At this point you will want to get some water boiling to cook your pasta.
When your chicken is done add 1 pack of cream cheese cook on medium heat stirring occasionally making sure the cheese melts completely.
Add your 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup.
Then add about 4 cups of mixed powdered milk heat until it starts to boil then turn down to a simmer. At this point you want to start seasoning. I used garlic powder, salt and pepper.
If the sauce is to thick add a little more mixed powdered milk.

    When the pasta is done and your sauce is flavored to perfection, put some pasta on your plate top with some of your homemade chicken sauce and enjoy the heck out of it. This one surprised me It was really good my family absolutely loved it. let me know what you think. :)

    Enjoy this! Next I will give you a great pancake and homemade syrup recipe.