fulfilling a craving from when I was sickest

Last Wednesday, when I did not move more then ten feet from my bed and rocking chair, I was craving the strawberry cheesecake pancakes from IHOP.  It is about the only thing I order there when we are traveling which is about the only time I go there.  I do not know why I was craving them so hard but I was. 

Now, did I leave the house to go out and eat pancakes?  No.  I started some sourdough.  I waited twelve hours and started pancakes.  I went to the store for cream cheese and strawberries.  I had homemade sourdough strawberry cheesecake pancakes! 

I now have to figure out what to eat at IHOP.

strawberry cheesecake pancakes

Note:  I am told if you have the time, a cast iron skillet, and coconut oil, putting the pan on an electric stove at temperature three and letting it sit while the batter is being mixed makes the skillet at the correct temperature with very even heat.

sourdough starter

3/4 cup of water

1 cup flour

1 cup milk

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 egg

8 ounces cream cheese

1/2 to 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

oil for frying

a quart of strawberries, hulled and sliced

1/2 cup sugar

A couple days out, in a large bowl, mix the sourdough, 3/4 cup water, and 1 cup flour.  Mix well.  Cover and let sit at least over night until bubbly.  My house is cold so I think it was closer to a day or two.

Let us hope your home is warmer then mine, so the next morning, take a bit of starter out for next time.  Mix in 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 2 cups flour.  Mix well, cover, and let sit out overnight or until bubbly.  Read above to see what happened at my house.  Put the cream cheese in the freezer, cut into four pieces makes it easier.

Before the cooking starts, slice up the strawberries into a medium bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar.

Heat a griddle over medium low heat.

Take the cream cheese out of the freezer.  Cut it up into bite size pieces.  Mix in one egg and the graham cracker crumbs.  Mix the cream cheese into the pancake batter.

Put oil on the pan.  Oil makes crispier pancakes.  Let the oil heat.  Pour about 1/2 cup of pancake batter on the griddle.  Spread the batter out.  Cook until brown and bubbles start to burst on the side you can see.  Flip.  Let that side brown. 

Put on a plate and cover with strawberries.

This one has already been requested again.  I have to go buy cream cheese tonight and the pancake batter is at the stage for it.

no surf

It was a busy weekend even though I would have to pause for whole body coughing.  It still is wearing me out.  And I so wanted there to be surf.  But there was none.  I took a few minutes for myself.  I put on my frumpy boy jeans, where the waist is just a bit too high because of the size I have to by and the bottom really does not fit right.  But there are full size zippers, my bottom is completely covered, every pocket is actually useable and I have agreed to go look for girl jeans.  I took my longest skateboard out of the quiver and road up and down our street.

It got me in the sun and moving a bit.  It made me smile!  Yes, I still coughed and hacked.  Yes, I had to take  lot of breaks.  But I actually did something for myself.  It was not surf, but on a day where there is none, it is a lovely alternative.

chocolate chip bread pudding

I think over did yesterday.  I came home from work and slept for a couple hours.  Then I had time with my sewing machine which was really nice.  We watched a snowboarding video and the comment was we could move to Nepal and live there well for the rest of our lives.  The thought went through my head "I do not mind being a dirt bag at all but how would I get my sewing machine there?"  I am really not odd.  I actually have a trailer I want to build for hanging out places in the winter.  I already have a space for my sewing machine and a wood stove in my head.  Dirt bag.  Odd.  Yes.  All these thoughts come with tired, sick, and worrying about my best friend as her Dad waits for more information about his brain tumor.  There will be more news Monday but it is hard to wait. 

I think I may skateboard to the library tomorrow.

There is a bit of comfort food going on around here.  My family has a hard time waiting for bread to cool before cutting it out of the oven.  That means there is always a ragged piece that is a bit dry at the end of the loaf.  I usually cut it off and save it.  It makes the best french toast or bread pudding.  Comfort includes chocolate so I made a chocolate bread pudding .  Rich.  Lovely.  We had it for two nights even though it only started with four slices of bread.  This will be something I will remember to make more often.  I already have bread started again so it is in process.

chocolate chip bread pudding

4 slices of bread, cubed.  Stale is best

1 egg

1 cup milk

1/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips.  I used the mini ones because they are gluten free but they worked well.

granulated sugar, about 2 tablespoons

Whisk the egg and milk together in a medium bowl.  Add the sugar and vanilla and mix well.  Toss in the bread cubes and cover.  If you have the time, let the bread soak up the egg mixture for a couple hours.  Mix occasionally.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Mix the chocolate chips into the egg mixture.  Pour the mixture into a medium pryrex or an 8 inch by 8 inch pan.  The square pan will give more crispy edges and that is my preference.  Sprinkle with the two remaining tablespoons of sugar.

Bake for about 45 minutes or until you have golden edges.

Enjoy!  We ate it warm but it is good cold too.  Warm means there is gooey chocolate.  I

thought it was a bit rich and would probably only use 1/2 cup chocolate chips next time instead of a scant cup of chocolate chips.  I think that bit may really depend on mood and what comfort is needed.

gooey fishes

I have been absent from this space due to tree pollen.  The digging in the yard this weekend stirred up enough pollen that I had bad allergic reaction.  Which then turned into an infection.  Tuesday just went down hill until I coughed all night.  Wednesday was just trying to get a lot of rest.  I am still under the weather but feeling much better in comparison.

Which means I am craving more Mexican food.  Cooking more Mexican food.  The suggestion was made to me that I just make the middles of the enchiladas, not put them into tortillas.  I really like fish enchiladas so I decided to give it at try. 

Yumminess!  I may just to try this with the sour cream enchiladas middles.

fish enchiladas middle or gooey fishes

1 pound fish bits, no skin

2 cups Greek yogurt  (okay, so I used a goat milk yogurt that is a Greek style)

1 package ranch dressing mix

3 or 4 jalapenos, stemmed and cored.  I keep the seeds. Heat is the plan

4 ounces quesidilla cheese

4 ounces another type white cheese, such as jack

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Mix the yogurt and dressing mix together.  Use the blender and blend in the jalapenos.  You do not want chunks.  Pour into a large pan.  Mix in the fish.  Mix in the cheese.  Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

I served it with homemade chips since my store bought ones are so flimsy.  Such yumminess!

getting more Christmas presents done

It is February and I am done with Christmas presents except for the boyos.  They do not seem to mind at all.  I finished the last pinnie today.  I had two requested.  I made both out of black linen because the comment was made by both parties that white just gets dirty too fast!  I do so agree.  My white aprons are very stained even with the liberal application of bleach.  But then I have also stained dresses through aprons which tells you that I am extremely talented when it comes to getting dirty.

I did not get a good picture of the pinnies before I sent them off.  What I thought looked good really did not.  But I did spend a lot of time with this view. 

I have another pinnie to make for a house warming gift.  There is another request for a silk pillowcase.  And then there are pajama pants for the boyos.  Especially since Koda bear seeems to be growing!  This next three weeks my sewing machine is in the "guest" room.  It is where the spare bed is.  So there may be more spinning and crocheting going on.  A different type of sanity.

I have been researching round trip airline tickets for my best friend.  Last week she thought she might have to go to Istanbul because her Grandmother was very ill.  Grandmother got better and started proposing she needed to rent out her apartment and move into the hospital because it was so nice.  This week, my best friend found out her Father has a brian tumor.  It is all she knows right now and will find out more this week after more testing.  She may be flying to Florida to be with her Father and I am making sure she gets there.  Prayers for her Father would be lovely.