I yam what I yam: a corny pancake recipe

I have previously claimed that I am not into cheesy recipe names, but I was lying in bed last night dreaming of these pancakes (what, not everyone dreams of breakfast as they are trying to fall asleep?) and Cheaper by the Dozen Part II kept popping into my head, causing me to laugh out loud in bed:


image from this website after I google-imaged it


Such a perfect nerdy dad T-shirt. I love it.

Anyway, I was thinking about that shirt because I had baked and peeled a yam, and I wanted to use it for breakfast. What better use for it than to put it into one of my top ten favorite foods: pancakes.

...and why else is it corny beside the play on words with "yam"? Oh, because I put corn meal in the pancakes. I know, so clever.

Also clever is that you have given your family a serving of vegetables, a hit of protein, and a some good, healthy carbs to start their day.

I yam what I yam: a corny pancake recipe
1 yam, baked and peeled
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream (or plain yogurt)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
butter for cooking
real maple syrup for drizzling

Place first five ingredients (through vanilla) in a blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Place dry ingredients (ww flour through allspice) in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add wet ingredients and stir just to combine. Let sit while the griddle heats.
Melt a little butter on a griddle over medium heat. Scoop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle and flip when bubbles form on the top. Allow to cook through. (note that pancakes will be moist inside, even when cooked well) Enjoy.

No-Bake Cookies, Lightened

....okay, maybe not lightened. They are still dense, chewy, and chocolaty. But I did remove over half the sugar, halved the butter, and added some extra cocoa for a rich chocolate taste, and some peanut butter for gooey-chewy denseness. Doesn't sound like much compromise, huh?

To lighten the cookies even more you could simply melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together, then stir in some oats. I will have to do some further investigation.

No- Bake Cookies, Lightened 
by request of Jane, from her comment on this post
recipe adapted from several that I found on allrecipes.com
makes one dozen

3/4 cup brown sugar (or white, but I feel that brown sugar is richer tasting)
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup butter or trans-fat free tub margarine
1/2 cup non-fat or low-fat milk
pinch of salt
3 cups oats (quick oats work best)
heaping 1/2 cup all natural peanut butter
2 tsp vanilla
cooking spray

Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or fill with liners.

Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, butter (or margarine), milk, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring ingredients to a boil and cook about a minute, stirring. Remove from heat and add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla, stirring well to combine. Pour evenly into the prepared muffin tin. Place in refrigerator to cool for about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the cookies from the muffin tin and wrap individually in plastic wrap before you eat them all. Enjoy.

Thankful

For the past week we have been in Corvallis with Lane's entire extended family who came from all over the country for a reunion. It was a typical family vacation for us all, complete with flight delays, toothaches, and the stomach flu. The latter of which afflicted both James and I while we were there. (I caught it the night before the big family photo shoot. I can hardly wait to see those pics.)

It was miserable. I was achy, feverish, and, worst of all, had no appetite. For several days following the flu, I continued to get stomach aches every time I ate, which was really awful because I normally enjoy eating so much.

We came home exhausted and had a couple of crazy busy days, and then Lane also came down with the flu.

Now, I am not saying any of these things are excuses for neglecting my little blog, but only my humble explanation of the circumstances. I had really great intentions for a bunch of post ideas I have had, but currently I am just trying to keep my head above water while taking care of one sick big person and one very energetic little person all by myself. (Oh, and the little person is also keeping both the big people and the dog up all night.)

I know what you must be thinking right now: "she hasn't posted in eons, and then when she finally does, all she does is whine?" But, in fact, what I am really getting at in all my blabbering is that lately I have realized how grateful I am for so many things in my life that I usually take completely for granted.

Let me explain:

• my car- since it is currently not working and has not been for about three weeks 
• Lane's car- without which we would have gone no where over the last three weeks
• power- we had a random power outage for about an hour one evening a couple weeks ago and I kept tripping over things and losing James
• my health- since the flu
• my husband- since he has the flu
• our house- I love visiting family, but it is oh so nice to be home

...the list could go on and on. 

I once heard someone ask the question "What would your life look like if all the things that you haven't thanked God for suddenly disappeared?" It really made me think. How many people, how many daily experiences, how many body parts even, or senses, would all vanish because I have never taken the time to thank God for every amazing blessing I have. 

Sometimes it takes the absence of things or people to make us truly grateful for their presence. I am trying to be more aware and to thank God for all the present things and people in my life as I encounter them. 

Current example at this moment: thank you, God, for Seinfeld reruns, peppermint tea, and Hershey kisses.

And thank you all for reading my rambling. Happy New Year.