Saturday morning breakfast delight!

One of my favorite things to do a Saturday morning is go to brunch with my friends. At a close second to going out is taking my time in the kitchen making a big, delicious, homemade breakfast. I have fond family memories involving breakfasts. I can remember many weekends when we would all gather for a late-morning meal, which is still a big part of our annual Beach Week gatherings.

Some of my favorite meals are breakfast burritos-Lucky Boy style, crepes, cinnamon crunch french toast, spinach and tomato omelettes, ham egg and cheese croissant sandwiches, buttermilk pancakes, etc.

It really doesn't happen that often, and it certainly happened more when I was cooking for Ken on a daily basis. But this morning I decided to break out the waffle iron and make myself a delicious treat.

I am posting about it because I have the most fantastic Buttermilk Pancake/Waffle recipe that I must share with you all. I've done extensive research surrounding pancakes. I've tried dozens of recipes, every one I could find, even paying to get access to Village Inn's pancake recipe. The one I am sharing is the result of all this research. The recipe comes from Elaine Frame which means its been refined to perfection. The pancakes come out fluffy and flavorful. I can't say enough good things about it.

So here it is! The same recipe can be used to make pancakes or waffles. Give it a try..

Buttermilk Pancakes & Waffles

2 c. flour
2 T. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
1/4 c. butter, melted

Combine the dry ingredients. Combine the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir together until moist. It'll still be thick and a little lumpy. Let the batter rest for 10 minutes giving the buttermilk and baking soda time to mix and react. It'll be a little bubbly and frothy when the time is up. The recipes makes quite a few pancakes but I find they're still good when you freeze and reheat them.



***The buttermilk I like to use best comes from the BYU Creamery, but it's only sold in 4 cups containers so I have a bit leftover. If you find yourself in the same situation, here's a great way to use it up!!

Texas Sheet Cake

2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 cup margarine
1 cup water
1/4-1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine dry ingredients. Melt margarine in a medium saucepan. Add cocoa and water and bring to a boil. Add melted cocoa mixture to the flour mixture and beat well. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Pour into a greased and floured 11x17 jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Ice with Chocolate Fudge Frosting.

Chocolate Fudge Frosting
1 stick margarine
1/4 cup milk
3 Tablespoon cocoa powder
1 lb. powdered sugar

Combine 1/2 cup margarine, 1/4 cup milk and 3 T. cocoa in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1 pound powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat well. Add additional powdered sugar if necessary to make a creamy frosting.

Park City - A Love-Hate Relationship

This year I decided to get a season pass to Park City ski resort. Last winter I had one at Sundance which was great. It’s very close and convenient and I could pop up there in about 20 minutes. So after proving to myself that I would actually use a season pass, I went all in again this winter.

I have had a love-hate relationship with Park City over the last 5 years. First of all, I don’t like going places that require an hour long car ride. I know it’s weird and hard to understand but I even avoid trips up to SLC. One would think I would love to get out of Provo and into a bigger city with more things to do and see but it usually ends up being more of a hassle than it’s ever worth. If I have to make an excursion up to Salt Lake I usually treat it like a “pack a lunch we’re going to be gone all day” sort of thing. Or I’ll bribe myself to head up there by promising to stop for a Hires Big H veggie burger. (SO DELICIOUS) Anyway..

If SLC is too far, Park City has been way too far. I am quite a fan of the Sundance Film Festival and have attended each year I’ve been in college. In the beginning I used to see the films in PC which, I believe, is where my hate for the city began. During those 10 days of the festival, that city is a mad house. There is no parking anywhere, stupid people cover the streets, it’s freezing cold and dark, 4-wheel drive is always needed, it’s a mess. I’ve had my car towed several times from various PC parking lots, each costing over $200 just because they think they can charge that much. After my first couple terrible experiences with the film festival in PC, I only see movies at the Sundance Screening Room (best kept secret of the festival) or the various SLC theatres.

All that said, I decided to give the city another chance this winter. Saturday I went up skiing with Courtney. It was a great time—perfect weather, great snow, not too many people, etc. We met up with Charlotte who lives at the edge of the resort parking lot (which means we can park so conveniently at her apartment complex and warm up after we’re done).

I ran into Christine while on the mountain too. It was a great day overall. The film festival starts Thursday and I might brave the madness of the city one more time for a film or two. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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Here are some quick photos...

Note the nice Yule Log we have burning on the TV screen. Crackles and all.

Here is where we ate dinner Christmas Eve - The Goring Hotel.

Searching through Harrods for signs of Christmas
Dinner Christmas night at Angus Steak House in Leicester Square - one of the very few places open.

So there's a little preview! I will post pictures of other family Christmas events soon. :-)