Lots of Pancake and Homemade "Bisquick" Mix Recipes

Several months ago I was searching for a new pancake recipe because I was out of Bisquick and we were not happy with the homemade recipe I had.  It called for buttermilk and since we don't have buttermilk here, I had to make it (see below for buttermilk substitution).  We have just never liked the taste of the buttermilk substitution in pancakes.  So, I asked for some new recipes on facebook and I got tons of great ones sent my way!  I also got a few multipurpose mix (aka Bisquick) recipes, as well as syrup recipes.  I have not officially tested all of these, but I am getting there.  And I always throw some fruits or veggies in my pancakes because it is often Walker's only source of them!  (See below for fruit/veggie ideas and amounts)

Hope you enjoy!


This one was give to me by Lori McElvain Parshall:
Oatmeal Pancakes
3/4 cup regular or quick cooking oats, uncooked
1 1/2 cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup oil (or applesauce - I like the applesauce best - healthier and tastier)
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Combine oats and milk, set aside for 5 minutes. Add eggs and oil to oat mixture, mixing well. Combine dry ingredients and add to oat mixture. Stir just until blended. Pour 1/4 cup batter on hot griddle for each pancake. Yields 4-5 servings.

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This one was given to me by Allison Hill Kizer:
Yogurt Pancakes
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (I usually use salted butter and just a little less salt)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
1 cup plain/natural yogurt (Here people love the "drinkable" yogurt in bottles, so I buy that but I look for brands that are a little thicker-don't buy light)
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Preheat & lightly grease pan or griddle with vegetable oil. Mix all dry ingredients, then add egg, yogurt, and butter. Stir together lightly, but keep batter lumpy. The batter should be spongy and puffy. Drop batter in small batches onto the cooking surface. Cook until lightly browned on each side.
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This one was given to me by Benay Blume:
Homemade Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup wheat flour
2 cups buttermilk (or 2 T. vinegar and enough milk to make 2 cups)
2 T. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. baking powder (I import mine from the US because the Brazilian is not as strong.)
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 c. oil

Mix all ingredients together. Cook on griddle, med-high heat- mine is Teflon so I don't grease it. Add blueberries if you want to.

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This one was given to me by Cara Blackmer:
Pumpkin Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 tbsp canola oil
1 cup nonfat milk
1/3 cup pure pumpkin

Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg together in a medium bowl. Combine egg, oil, milk and pumpkin in a small bowl. Stir pumpkin mixture into dry ingredients. Leave to stand for five minutes. For each pancake, scoop 1/4 cup of batter on to a hot griddle or nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray. Turn pancakes when bubbles appear and edges are cooked, after about 2 minutes. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes on second side. Makes 8-10 pancakes.

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This one was given to me by Mercedes Smith:

Good Old Fashioned Pancakes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth. Heat griddle and cook.

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This one was given to me by Dwina Willis, but is a recipe of Myra Holmans:
Pancake Ready Mix
3 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. sugar

8 1/2 c. unbleached white flour
2 T. salt
4 c. instant non-fat dry mix
3/4 c. baking powder...

MIX all ingredients together well. Store in tightly covered container.

To make pancakes:
1 1/2 c. pancake ready mix
1 - 1 1/2 c. water (until right consistency)
1 egg
2 T oil.

Measure mix, add water, egg & oil. Stir and use as you would any pancake batter. Each batch makes 12 - 15 pancakes
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This one was given to me by Amy McKissick:
MULTI-PURPOSE (PANCAKE) MIX…bisquick

10 cups flour
2 ½ cups powdered milk
½ cup sugar
¼ cup baking powder
2 Tbs salt

Mix together. Store in large airtight container in a cool, dry place.
**You can use this for any recipe that calls for Bisquick.

PANCAKES
1 ½ cups pancake mix
1 egg
1 cup water
3 Tbs vegetable oil
(I add vanilla flavoring or almond flavoring)

Mix together, blend well, and let stand for 5 minutes. Cook on a hot oiled griddle. Makes 10-12 4-inch pancakes.  My kids love when I add chocolate chips, sprinkles or food color the batter.
Fruit such as bananas or strawberries or blueberries baked in tastes wonderful too.

ONION RINGS
Make pancake batter with ice water. Dip thin onion slices and fry about 2 minutes until golden.
Great with ranch dressing or salsa. Easy for snack or a light meal.

FRENCH TOAST
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup pancake mix
(I add vanilla and cinnamon)
10 slices of bread

Mix in shallow bowl, blend well. Dip bread into batter and cook on hot buttered griddle about 3 minutes each side.


PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
¾ cup peanut butter
2 cups pancake mix
1 tsp vanilla
Sugar
Chocolate squares

Beat milk and peanut butter until smooth, add pancake mix and vanilla, and mix well. Shape into balls, roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes at 375.
Place chocolate square in the center of the cookie immediately after removing from oven.

I always make a double batch – half I cook for instant enjoyment and the other half I prepare as above except I do not cook them. Instead I put them on a cookie sheet and place it in the freezer. When the balls are frozen I transfer to zip-lock bags, label and store. It makes a quick and easy dessert later on – just remover from freezer and bake. I also freeze the chocolate squares with the cookies so I know that I have all the ingredients.  I do this with any of my cookie recipes (chocolate chip, snicker doodles, chocolate oatmeal, sugar cookies, etc) – cook half and freeze the other half.


KFC BUTTERMILK BISCUITS
1/2 Cup Butter
2 1/2 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Egg, beaten
3/4 Cup Buttermilk
1/4 Cup Club soda
1 Teaspoon Salt
5 Cup pancake mix

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Combine all of the ingredients. Knead the dough by hand until smooth. Flour your hands. Pat the dough flat to 3/4−inch thick on waxed paper. Cut out biscuits. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes about 18 biscuits.

Variations:

PIZZA CRUST - flatten half the dough on a cookie sheet and bake it 15 minutes at 350, then add ingredients on top and bake until bubbly.

CINNAMON ROLLS - Roll out dough, spread evenly with melted butter, sprinkle generously with sugar and cinnamon. Roll up, slice and bake for 18 minutes at 350. As soon as they come out of the over top with a powered sugar, vanilla, and milk mixture.

Make double the recipe – half for dessert that night and the second half prepared as above but stored in refrigerator overnight to cook in the morning for breakfast.

DUMPLINGS – prepare like above. Put them by spoon-fulls into your simmering chicken soup mixture. Cook 10 minutes with the lid on and then 10 minutes with the lid off.

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My recipe
Homemade Pancake Syrup
1 3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cups brown sugar (or a total of 2 cups regular sugar if you can't get brown)
1 cup water

Boil for 1- 1.5 minutes.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon mapelline.  Stir and let it cool with lid.

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Sent to me by Benay Blume
Maple Syrup
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
pinch of salt

Heat on stove until boiling. Turn off heat and stir in 1/2-1 t. maple flavoring.
Ladle warm syrup onto pancakes, or store in refrigerator

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Buttermilk Substitute: 
•Milk (just under one cup)
•1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Preparation:
1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.
2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.
3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

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Fruit and Veggie Additions:
I always add a fruit or vegetable to my pancakes.  For my family, it has to be pureed or my kids won't eat it.   Usually around a cup of fruits or veggies can be added without completely changing the texture.  You can also give them a little protein boost with adding some wheat germ.  Here are a few of my favorites: 
 
Bananas- I just use a fork to mash them up and mix them into the batter with some cinnamon. 
Strawberries- I puree them in a food processor/chopper and then add them to the batter.
Pumpkin- If I have canned- I just open them and put them in the batter with some cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg and/or allspice.  If not, I cut up a pumpkin, steam it in a steamer basket, cut the rind off and then add some of the water from the pan into a food processor with the pumpkin to make a puree.  Then add spices. 
Sweet Potato- I either boil or steam them, remove the skin, add some of the water from the pan into the food processor and make a puree.  I also add cinnamon and/or some of the above spices to it.
Beet- I either steam or boil this as well.  If I put this in the pancakes, I only use about 1/4 cup of it and then add 3/4 cup of either pumpkin or sweet potato.  And then add the same above spices.  It make the pancakes pink, which can be fun if you have little girls! 
 
**And the easiest thing to do if you don't live in the US (where you can buy cans easily) is to make all of your veggies/fruits purees ahead of time, freeze them in ice cube trays and then when you are ready to make pancakes, you just thaw how many ever cubes you want to throw in and add them to your mixture. 

A Foreigner in Both Countries

"If you came back, you wanted to leave again. If you went away, you longed to come back. Wherever you were, you could hear the call of the herdsman's horn far away in the hills. You had one home out there and one over here and yet you were an alien in both places. Your true abiding place was the vision of something very far off, and your soul, like the waves, always restless and forever in motion"

Johan Bojer from The Immigrants.

It is often difficult to describe what it is like being a missionary, or even living in a foreign country.  This quote is a fabulous glimpse. 

The Dog, The Kids and a Window

I love watching my kids grow!  And I love that Toby loves growing with them.  These are all pictures taken of the kids with our cocker spaniel, Toby.  They are taken at our front window, where obviously there are good things to see outside of it.  Every time I catch any of them by the window, I run for the camera.  These pictures are what I have been able to capture so far.  The first four are just of Emma when she was smaller.  Then some mixed ones of Walker by himself and of Walker and Emma together with Toby.  And the last one is of Olivia with Toby.  I was so happy when I first saw her get in the window with Toby by her side! 

The Best Diaper Cream

I am sure most moms have had to change screaming babies' diapers when their little bottoms are red.  A nurse shared a fabulous recipe with me a few years ago when I was in the states and Walker had a really bad diaper rash.  It is wonderful!  I have recently been using it again with Olivia and thought I would share.

You mix equal parts of :
Maalox (the liquid antacid)
Desitin (or your favorite diaper cream)
Lotrimin (for foot fungus) or Monistat (for yeast infection)

Make them into a paste and use a cotton ball or q-tip to rub it on gently.  The Maalox is supposed to take the acid or sting out, the Desitin protects it from further irritation and the Lotrimin or Monistat kills any fungus that could be growing.  Happy diapering!

"Email Subscription" on your blog

It took me forever to figure out how to put an email subscription link onto my blog!  I really wanted my family and friends to be able to enter their email address and get notices when I update my blog so they didn't have to remember to check it all the time.  Plus, most of them don't blog and wouldn't have any other way to be notified or follow me.  Through this process, I have decided that I should be reading "Blogging for Dummies".  Is there such a book?  I really should take a short course or something.  Anyway, just thought that I would spare someone the trouble of doing all the searching that I did to figure it out.  This blog has it written out step-by-step and even with pictures! 

http://en.support.wordpress.com/email-subscriptions/

Flag Confusion and the Tooth Rat

Well, the big Paraguay game was Saturday.  Paraguay lost.  It was a sad day for everyone here.  But, I have been very impressed that flags are still flying high, jerseys are still being worn proudly and everyone is moving on to decide which country to cheer for next.  Although it was disappointing, we had a great time together at the church building watching the game.

Since Saturday was such a big day here and Sunday was Independence Day for the U.S., I decided to do a little lesson at home on the Paraguayan flag and the American flag.  I printed both of them out from online, along with some fun worksheets.  We talked about the differences between the flags and I explained why the US was celebrating Independence Day on the 4th, and what the U.S. flag symbolized.  I didn't think too much more about it until Sunday morning at church.  She very proudly brought me the picture that she had colored in Bible class and as I glanced at it, I was really impressed at what a great job she had done coloring it.  However, I didn't pay that much attention, until her Bible teacher, Nora, came up laughing and asked if I had checked out Jesus' and the apostles' clothing.  I will let you look below at the picture. 

Interesting.  And not only did Jesus and his apostles have the Paraguayan flag on their shirts, they had a fancy wall clock as well!  At first, I was a little worried.  I was afraid that someone might see it and be very offended.  And then I remembered what Jesus said in Matthew about us becoming like little children.  When she drew Jesus with the albirroja, her mind was pure and innocent.  I think that she has seen so many Paraguayan flags, albirroja jerseys and red,white and blue signs over the last few weeks that it just seemed natural to her.  I guess that she was personalizing him, putting him into the world in which she lives.  If he were here among us in human form, of course he would want to wear a Paraguayan albirroja jersey because everyone in Paraguay wears one! 

And then Sunday afternoon during naptime, she decided to make some of her own flags.  I was very impressed with what she came up with. 

She had cut them out, colored them like the Paraguayan flag and found crayons to glue them onto so that they would look like real flags!  She said that she wanted to take them with us over to our teammates house to celebrate the 4th of July.  When I explained that she had drawn the Paraguayan flag and that we were celebrating the independence of the Unites States, not Paraguay, she said "I know mom, I just wanted to make this kind for us!"  And there you have it! 

Moving on to other fun stuff- she lost her first baby tooth this week!  A new one has been pushing in behind it and the new one was getting pretty high.  So, I told her that if she didn't let me move it around, I was going to take her to the doctor and let them pull it.  After just a few minutes of moving it around, I was able to pull it right out!  At first she was a little overwhelmed by the whole process, but then she started getting excited.  A few weeks earlier we had told her about what happens in Paraguay when children lose teeth.  There is a rat called "Raton Perez" that comes and takes your tooth away and leaves gifts.  She had decided that when she lost her tooth, she wanted to receive fingernail polish.  So, I told her that maybe if she wrote Mr. Rat a note, he would leave her some.  She immediately became very concerned.  Raton Perez certainly wouldn't be able to read a note that she wrote, seeing that she only knew how to spell things in english!  So, I told her that if she wrote it out (with a little help, of course) that I would translate it into spanish.  She got straight to work.  She actually drew out the bottles of fingernail polish that she wanted and painted them the colors that she prefered.  She then wrote the colors in english and had one of our spanish friends to translated it for her.  So, it didn't take her long to remember last night that she just might have some new finger nail polish under her pillow in the morning. 

The problem was that when I pulled her tooth last night, I did not consider that fact that I had not bought her any nail polish!  So, Raton Perez ended up leaving her money and she got to go pick out her own finger nail polish.  In beautiful shades of bright green and pretty pink, nonetheless!  She showed everyone in the store that would look at her where she had lost her tooth.  And she was so proud to take her money up to the counter and pay for her very own nail polish.   

As for Walker, he has been busy repairing his bicycle. 

The Digital Cookbook I Almost Invented

The other day I was cooking and I really needed a recipe that I had downloaded onto my computer.  However, my computer was in the living room and was turned off.  In order to view the recipe, I was going to have to go to the living room, turn my computer on and find the recipe, then either write it down or take my computer upstairs to print it off.  Either way I would have been with yet another piece of paper with a recipe on it that would have to find a "home" in my stash of recipes.  I love to cook. And even more, I love to try new recipes.  My problem is that I am running out of space to keep all of my recipes.  And certainly running out of time to keep them all organized like.  For years, organizing all of my recipes has been on my "to do" list.  I just keep putting it off because it seems like such a huge task and I just could not decide on a way to organize them that sounded good to me!  

So as I was in my kitchen, needing that recipe, and I started thinking about the perfect invention.  What I needed was something digital that was small enough to leave in the kitchen, something that would hold all of my recipes in an organized way, something spill-proof, something that I could sink with my computer and that would hold all the recipes that I download, something fabulous.....and I was going to invent it!  And then, of course, I laughed at myself.  I went to my computer, brought it into the kitchen and turned it on, looked at the recipe I needed (after all, I did still need that recipe!) and then googled "digital recipes".  I sorted through a few recipe software links and then...I saw it.  Just as I had expected- someone else had already invented it!  The Demy by Key Ingredient. 

http://www.mydemy.com/

Here is what the website says about it: "The Demy is the world's first kitchen-safe digital recipe reader that will revolutionize the way you cook. The Demy holds your personal recipe collection in one sleek, compact device. Featuring a high-resolution color touchscreen, an uncluttered interface and many special tools to make any cook’s job easier."






It looks great! It is still rather pricey and seems to still have a few bugs to be worked out, but I am sooo excited!  I haven't been able to stop talking about it and reading about it.    It even has a website that works in conjunction with it.  I was thinking, wow- I would love to have one of these!  And then my wonderful husband said "So would you like that for your birthday?"  My birthday is coming up in a few weeks!  Of course I would like that for my birthday!  Why didn't I think of that?  I can't wait!  Now I just have to find the time to get all of my other paper recipes typed into my computer.  But, it is a start! I can't wait to get rid of tons of printed recipes!!!  I am getting a Demy!