Pancakes & Waffles

A favorite food ritual in my family used to be weekend pancakes.  My favorite mix is Arrowhead Mills Multigrain Pancake & Waffle  Sooo seriously yummy!  But since Oscar was diagnosed with celiac disease, we purged our house of gluten containing products and flours.  While unloading the cupboards of items to give to friends and neighbors, I was saddest to see the Arrowhead Mills pancakes go.

I have never owned a waffle maker, so I never tried to make them with the Arrowhead Mills mix.  But we ALL loved the pancakes.  Following recipes, tips, and inspiration from Missy Chase Lapine (The Sneaky Chef) and Jessica Seinfeld (Deceptively Delicious), I would sneak in everything from bananas to sweet potatoes to beets to ricotta cheese.  The one with beets turned rather purply pink and I simply called them "Dora Pancakes."  Toss a couple chocolate chips in while they are cooking, drown them in REAL maple syrup, and add a dollop of yogurt on top, and we were all happy as clams! 

Sigh!  I miss those pancakes!

I tried several GF pancake mixes, and have been disappointed with them all.  I still snuck healthy things into them and the kids were still happy, but DH and I were meh.  Of the mixes I tried (and I am not going to recall them all) I was happiest with Pamela's, but still not thrilled.  If you like white flour pancakes, then perhaps you will be happier with them than I.  But I really grew fond of the heartiness of the multigrain pancakes.

BUT.  One day we went out to breakfast and Oscar was disappointed that he could not have a waffle.  Eureka!  Another at-home food alternative!  So I googled and amazonned Waffle Makers and ordered a Proctor Silex Waffle Maker.  It is very reasonably priced and has great reviews.  I used the Pamela's Baking & Pancake Mix and voila!  We ALL love it!  Instead of water, I have been using milk in the mix.  I have also been thawing and squishing up frozen berries and adding a little sugar for a yummy topping.  And of course, the REAL maple syrup!

Yum!  A new weekend ritual!

Summer Bucket List

Yup.  A Summer Bucket List. 

I have been saying for years now that I'm not a good full-on mom.  I've always felt that I've needed part-time work (or part-time child care) just to keep my wits about me.  This fact sometimes elicits guilt about not being a super-mom.  A couple of times it has elicited backhanded comments from my own mom.

But guilt and guilt-trips aside, I have known myself and what I need for myself and for my children.  And I have never judged another mom for her choices about work and child care.  There are just too many factors.  As long as mom and children are happy and healthy, that's what matters most in my book.

Another thing I have learned about myself is that I get really antsy when tied to diapers and naptimes. I have never really known how to explain this well, but I don't think I'm that great of a mom of infants and toddlers.  When I say this to friends I get arguments like, "What are you talking about?  You're a great mom!"  What I really mean to say is that I love my babies/toddlers, but I really don't "enjoy" them that much.  No.  That's not exactly correct either.  Like I said, I don't know how to explain it.  I just know that now that my little family does not contain diapers or nappers, I am much more excited about my job of mom.

So this summer, for the first time in four years, I am full-on mom for an extended period of time.  I am choosing to not work and to not sign up for any child care or full day camps.  Oscar will take Karate classes for an hour on Mondays and a baseball techniques class for an hour or so on Mondays and Wednesdays.  Matilda will take dance lessons for 45 mintues for a week in July.  And the rest of the summer is ours!!!

Oscar's last day of school was half day and rainy. After lunch, the kids and I sat down at the easel and created the above list. Then we went straight to work on ticking off our goals! We went to the library to sign up for the summer reading program. The next day we went to TWO playgrounds. I'd say we are off to a great start, and ready for more hair-raising good times :)




 

King Arthur Four: Glutenfree Pizza Crust Mix

I tried this product last night on four kiddos and two adults.  One box makes two pizzas.  Requiring yeast, it is a much more labor intensive process than tossing items on a frozen crust or... say... ordering out if you are lucky enough to have access to a restaurant that will indulge.  In addition to the package, it requires 4TB or vegetable or olive oil and 3 large eggs.  After combining the ingredients, it rises once on a bowl and then once on the pizza pan.

When you put the "dough" on the pan, you are quickly reminded of the miracle of gluten.  This recipe is more like a batter, and became a little problematic on the pan that I used that has holes.  The other pan I used was a pizza stone.  The dough needs to be baked before the toppings can be added.  After cooking, it again resembled more of a cakey-product than pizza.  If you prefer a thin crust, this is not you pizza.

So the doughs came out of the oven ready for toppings.  One was a cheese pizza, the other a hawaiian.  When cooking with the toppings, the miracle of gluten was again on my mind.  The edges of the crust did not rise more, therefore allowing the cheese to melt onto the pan. 

My 8yo GF son loved the pizza, and devoured three slices.  His friend ate one, said it was good, and claimed he was not hungry for more (Unsure if he was being honest or just polite).  The 3 and 4yo girls, typically voracious, were entirely unimpressed, as were my husband and I.

If you prefer a doughy pizza, and a lot of work, this may be your pizza crust mix.  Just be forewarned to sculpt a thicker edge so the cheese does not ooze off.  I haven't done a cost comparison, but the King Arthur may win in that department.

Personally, I will stick with the pre-cooked, frozen Against The Grain Pizza Crust.  Or.... the local pizza shop that ships in GF individually wrapped pizzas that are cooked on the pan they came in and are cut with a clean, pizza knife.  No cross contamination.