Pumpkin Pancakes

Since somebody chastised me on Twitter (Hi Sara) for mentioning these without giving the recipe, and I been stalling on posting because I really wanted to move away from political posting, I figured I would share what is our typical Sunday Morning breakfast in the Autumn, Pumpkin Pancakes.  

Ingredients.

• 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 butter (melted)
• 1 cup nonfat milk
• 1/3 cup pure pumpkin

Friday Focaccia

Do you have an adorable pet? Do you think others would think so to? Enter a photo of you pet in the Bissel MVP (Most Valuable Pet) Pet Photo Contest. The winning pet’s picture will be put on the new Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum , and donation of $10,000 will be made to the charity of the winner’s (well winner’s owner) choice. Plus the top vote getter each week will win one of the Pet Hair Eraser vacuums, and the top 5 vote getters (getters?) will move into the finalist group. Grab your camera, snap a picture of your pet and send it in.  (Contest ends 04/30/08)

Why I hate people from Alaska – You remember Sen. Stevens (R-Alaska), of “The Internet is a series of tubes” fame?  Well, he is at it again, along with apparently equally dimwitted Senator Bill Nelson (D-Florida) and Senator Olympia Snow (R-Washington), who have introduced a bill to outlaw the already illegal practice of phishing.  Sounds a bit like yet another Bridge to Nowhere.  Of course I can’t but wonder, if it doesn’t pass if Stevens will throw another one of his hissy fits and threaten to quit the Senate.  Of course, I can always dream.

Your rights trampled in the name of profits – It seems Monsanto is on a tear again, pushing for lawmakers to get rid of your right to select milk not tainted with synthetic growth hormones.  Whether or not you believe or care about the rBST/rBGH controvery or not, you should care about your rights, as this is not the only product that is being targeted by large companies to get labeling stripped to keep the consumer in the dark.  Contact your representatives, and tell them, you have a right to know.

Emeril going green – Emeril is coming to the Discovery Channel with a new eco-friendly food show.  The show reportedly will be set in Whole Foods Markets and will feature organic, free range and natural foods.

And how about now? – Yes, I know I can understand if you are tired of me mentioning TheMeatrix, and Sustainable Table, and other food “activist” type things, because how could farms possibly be as bad as it is show in that little animated movie… right?  Well what about this video?  That is not fiction!  That is not “a demonstration” or even a theoretical re-enactment.   No cute little animation here.  This is the actual goings on that lead to the single largest recall of beef (to date) in the United States. [Via Sustainable Table Blog]

Zucchini stuffed with Crab Meat

Summertime often means two things to me (well more than two, but two food things), fresh vegetables and seafood.  Sure you can have seafood pretty much anytime of year, but unless you live by (or relatively close) to the ocean, you may not quite “get” the binding of summertime and seafood, as those of us that spend (way too much) time at “the shore.”

Anyway, I found this recipe for Zucchini stuffed with Crab Meat, and since I was on a roll after making Ratatouille last week, I decided to give it a whirl.  Plus it really is quite simple to make, and you can cook it indoor or out, so if you don’t feel like firing up the oven, just throw it on the grill (on the top grate or away from direct heat) and enjoy.

You will need 2 thick Zucchini’s, sliced lengthwise, with the center scooped out (leaving about 1/4 in shell), and chop the insides.  1/4 cup chopped Onion, 1/4 cup chopped Green Bell Pepper, 2 cloves of Garlic chopped fine and 1/4 cup chopped celery.

Take your chopped vegetables and toss in the frying pan with a tablespoon of Olive oil and cook until the vegetables are soft (about 10 minutes).

While the vegetables are cooking, in a large bowl combine, 1/4 cup of seasoned bread crumbs, 1/2 teaspoon basil, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of Thyme.  When the vegetables are done add them to the bowl along with 8 oz of Crab meat.  Mix together.  You can add a little lemon juice or clam juice if the mixture is “too dry” according to the recipe, but I found I really didn’t need it.

Take Stuffing and fill shells of Zucchini, sprinkle a touch of Parmasean Cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes (or until Zucchini starts to get soft).

The book says to serve immediately, but I found that it is just as tasty even cooled down (leftovers).

See nothing to it.  You’ll have to believe me when I say, I am better with the cooking than I am with the “presentation” or with the camera, so they will look (and taste) better than the picture I took above.

So what does summertime dining mean to you?

Sunday Family Breakfast

I have been meaning to do this for a while, but have been putting it off for reasons, that at this time escape me.  Now, many things you read, emphasize the need to try and schedule a family dinner together.  To get the family in one place at one time in an effort to open communications.  And I am not going to knock that concept as I think it is a good one.  But I have been working on one that has been more easily incorporated into our family schedule.  Sunday Breakfast.

Fortunately, Sunday mornings are a break from our usual hectic schedule.  Nobody needs to be at work, at practice, at a game, or other activity under usually after noon.  (I can only assume it is to make sure that everybody has been to church first).  So Sunday mornings are as close to a lazy time as we usually get.  But that still didn’t always mean we sat around the table for breakfast together.  LatteGirl usually wanted to have breakfast while watching the Disney Channel, the wife usually opted for corn muffins and the Sunday paper.

But that all changed when I picked up a Mickey Mouse Waffle Iron.  With only a bit more effort than I was already doing, I turned Sunday morning breakfast into an “event.” I serve the Orange Juice in a Carafe, I will sometimes cut up some strawberris as a garnish to color the plate, make our special “Minnie Mouse Pancakes” (* LatteGirl, being the girly girl she is, always insisted in calling them Minnie Mouse insted of Mickey, and I use pancake batter, instead of Waffle Batter, so the come out softer like pancakes, rather than hard crusted like a waffle).  A little whip cream around the edges of the plate and we have something that looks more like you would get at Disney World.

For my girls, it is like having breakfast “out” at a restaurant, or like at the places we eat when we are on vacation.  So now everybody looks forward to having breakfast, and I get a “family meal” out of it, where we can sit and talk.

As an additional bonus, since LatteGirl is not a very good morning person, and tough to get to eat on schooldays in the morning. I started making a larger batch of pancakes than we need on Sunday.  The extras get put in freezer bags, and can be pulled out and microwaved indivudually for a quick breakfast.  It is cheaper (and healthier) than buying store bought pancakes or waffles, and she gets a “special” pancake for breakfast anytime.

Bright Spots in a gloomy day

Needless to say after my last post, the last place I want to be is in my office.

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