Cooking Corner: Pikelets

My usual breakfast consists of a bowl of cereal and milk before running out the door. I don't mind cereal at all but every so often (when I have the time) I like to make something a bit more "special." Here are my general breakfast go-tos: soft boiled eggs and soldiers, fried egg and toast, scrambled eggs (hmm there seems to be a pattern here), soup noodles, and pikelets. Today was a pikelet kind of day.

Have you heard of pikelets before? They are basically the Australian/New Zealand equivalent to pancakes and they are hands down so much better than pancakes. Usually they are eaten with butter or jam and whipped cream, and I've also eaten them with maple syrup (I'm a Canadian, yo), but I usually just eat them plain (fork optional, heehee). Here's the recipe I use:

Pikelets
1 C AP flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 C sugar
3/4 milk
1 egg

1. In a bowl, sift* together AP flour, baking powder, and salt.

2. In a separate bowl mix together egg and sugar

3. Add 1/2 of dry ingredients to wet ingredients.

4. Gradually add milk and rest of dry ingredients until everything is mix together.

5. Cook batter in skillet just like you'd cook a pancake (pour into little circle/disc and wait until it starts to bubble and the bubbles start to pop, then turn over onto the other side until pikelet is cooked through)

*I couldn't be bothered to sift anything so I just mix things together and it still turns out just fine.

Sorry, no pictures because I couldn't wait to eat them and now they are all gone. :)

Putting my nose back into books

I've been really wanting to get back into reading for a while now and I recently watched a crazy amount of Gilmore Girls episodes when I had some days off this month (looooove Jess) which gave me the kick I needed to get started.

I recently finished this one and I must say it's full of good advice and other stuff. It's written by Christian psychologists so they definitely write with a Christian faith-based approach which may deter some readers but if anything it just appealed to me all that much more. I surprised myself for starting my reading spree with a non-fiction book, but life happened and I found this book during a time when I needed to read it.

Anyway, I have four other (fiction) books on tap so I am ready to go. In no particular order, here they are: Oliver Twist, Catch-22 (this will be second attempt to get through this one), and the last two books in the Flavia De Luce mysteries series (I'm too lazy to look up their titles). Oh, I'm also still reading through "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," but I've been so on and off with that (my own fault, the stories themselves are so on - love that Sir Artie Doyle) so I didn't include it in my list.

I'm excited for this. Alright books, do your thing.

Spring it up

Spring is finally here! Our first real taste came yesterday when it was sunny and warm with a side of blue skies. Not wanting to miss out we took little K for a walk around our neighbourhood. A great way to spend a beautiful afternoon. :)

Happy New Year!

I feel like our new years 'celebrations' become mellower and mellower as each year passes. This year we watched the countdown in the comfort of our home underneath our comforter. (I couldn't help feeling extra cozy as everyone on TV looked absolutely freezing.) I somehow managed to stay awake until 12:45am watching X-Men: First Class before I eventually passed out for the night. Sadly, considering the fact that I was ready to sleep at 10pm, I'd say it was a success.

Returning to work

I return to work this Friday after my year off with K and I have been feeling all sorts of emotions about it. The beginning of yet another new normal.

One year

Exactly one year ago today I started feeling cramps while watching Survivor. Turns out the "cramps" were actually contractions and about twenty-six hours later K was born!

As I type this and reminisce on the events of last year, a part of me still cannot believe my baby girl turns one tomorrow. Time certainly flies when you're with the ones you love. 

You don't need souvenirs to remember

J, K, and I are finally home again after spending three weeks in Asia! En route home we realized that we really didn't do much shopping nor did we pick up any souvenirs for ourselves along the way. Instead our money (other than food, flights, and accommodations) was spent on experiences (read: tourist attractions in Beijing, parasailing in Boracay, etc), and at the end of the day I wouldn't have had it any other way. Building memories with my family? Yah, I'd say that's money well spent. :)

Great Are You Lord

It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise 
Pour out our praise
It's Your breath in our lungs
So we pour out our praise to You only.

"Your breath in our lungs." Now that's something worth thinking on.

Getting older

Between my recent going-to-bed-ridiculously-early stints and the white hairs I've been finding on my head lately, I think my body wanted to make sure I didn't forget that I turned 31 this week. 31! How did this happen?

No Longer A Night Owl

I did something crazy last night: I went to bed at 9pm (and was asleep by 9:30pm). Yes I feel slightly pathetic about it, but it was great. In fact, I'm thinking I might do it again sooner rather than later.