IHOP Pancakes

1 1/4 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

pinch of salt

1 egg, beaten

1 1/4 c. buttermilk

2 T. butter, melted
1/4 c. sugar

1. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together.

2. In a separate bowl, combine the egg and buttermilk. Add to the flour mixture, stirring only until smooth.

3. Blend in the melted butter and sugar.

4. Cook on medium on a lightly greased pan.

I double this recipe when I make it for my four boys. My sister gave me this recipe, it is our new favorite! If the batter seems too thick, I add a little bit of regular (1%) milk to thin in out! And don't forget the buttermilk syrup!

Buttermilk Syrup

1 cube butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup sugar

1/4 tsp soda

1 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan (on medium/medium high heat) add butter, buttermilk, sugar, soda, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

*Keep in the refrigerator.

Sweet Pork Burritos

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb. pork or 4-5 chicken breasts
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 small cans green enchilada sauce, or 1 large can
garlic salt
1 can black beans
cilantro
flour tortillas
cheddar cheese

Put in crockpot all day on low:
1 1/2 lb. pork (or use 4-5 chicken breasts)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 small can green enchilada sauce
little water
garlic salt

Procedure:
1. When the meat is done, put in a bowl and shred. Add a can of black beans and some cilantro, mix.
2. Roll above mixture into flour tortillas (like burritos) and place in a 13 X 9 pan.
3. When all burritos are in the pan, top with a small can of green enchilada sauce and cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Yummy!!! I made this tonight for a forum at the law school. It was a big hit. I am a sucker for pumkin and therefore love the fall season. Maybe some of you have this one already, as I know you all love pumkin too.

http://twopeasandtheirpod.com/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-bread/

Indian Spiced Pork Skewers

Matt found this recipe on the blog "Our Best Bites." We had them for dinner last night. Easy and delicious! For the recipe, just go to this link:

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/08/indian-spiced-pork-skewers.html

Strawberry Scones

Ingredients:

1 cup finely diced fresh strawberries (set on paper towels to absorb juice)

2 cups of flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

A lemon, for zest

6 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into small pieces

1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp. light cream

1 tsp. vanilla

Procedure:

1. Heat oven to 425 degress. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a bowl. Zest the lemon and add.

3. Cut in the butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender until the flour coated pieces are the size of peas. Add the strawberries, tossing gently.

4. Mix the cream with the vanilla and gently add them, gently using as few strokes as possible until it forms a ball. Let the dough set 1 minute.

5. Transfer ball to baking sheet and pat into an 8 inch circle. Cut into 8 wedges (like a pizza) with a pizza cutter or knife. Use a spatula to separate the pieces, leaving an inch between them.

6. Brush the tops of the scones with the remaining 1 Tbsp of cream. Bake for 18 minutes, until the tops start to brown. Let them cool 2 minutes then slide the parchment paper to a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.

7. I like to drizzle the tops with a little vanilla frosting. I do not have an exact recipe for it (mix together powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, and a little milk). If you don't want to put frosting on them, sprinkle them with a little sugar after you brush them with the cream, just before baking them.

Toasted Almond-Topped Fish

photo via bhg.com

Matt made this for dinner last night, and it is sooo good. Tilapia was on sale, so that's the kind of fish we had, but it would be good with any kind.

1 pound fresh or frozen fish fillets or steaks

1/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs

2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley or 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup sliced almonds, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted

Lemon wedges (optional)

Directions

1. Thaw fish, if frozen. If using fillets, separate fillets, or cut fillets or steaks into 4 serving-size portions. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Measure thickness of fish. (To measure thickness of fish fillets or steaks, place a ruler against the thickness part of the fish.

Use this measurement to calculate the cooking time for fish. Generally allow 4 to 6 minutes for each 1/2 inch thickness of fish.)

2. Pour buttermilk into a shallow dish. In another shallow dish combine bread crumbs, parsley, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Dip fish into buttermilk. Then roll fish in crumb mixture. Place coated fish in a greased shallow baking pan.

3. Sprinkle fish with coarsely chopped almonds. Drizzle melted butter or margarine over fish. Bake in a 500 degree F oven until golden and fish flakes easily with a fork. Allow 4 to 6 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness.

4. To serve, transfer fish to a warm serving platter. Serve with lemon wedges, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

Country Style Chocolate Chip Cake

photo via Design Sponge

This one's for Amy. I tried this recipe for Satchel's birthday cake, and it's good! Matt declared it a keeper. For a cake mix, it's really dense and moist (with a cup of sour cream, it should be). So, it's an easy alternative to the Decadent Chocolate Cake we all love so well.

1 yellow cake mix

1 small box instant chocolate pudding

1 cup sour cream (8 oz.)

4 eggs

3/4 cup oil

3/4 cup water

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

Mix everything together except chocolate chips. Near the end of mixing, fold chocolate chips into batter. Pour batter into greased Bundt pan. Bake at 300 degrees for one hour. Let cake cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Sour Cream Cookies

This one's for Lindy. I made these at Christmas and she and Aki liked them. (Though Mom told me Brig likes these cookies too, so take note Shayla.) The cookies are more cake-like than most, and have frosting, so it's almost like eating a mini-cupcake. They are tasty!

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup sour cream

Frosting:

6 Tbsp butter

2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

Mix shortening, sugar, and vanilla together until creamy. Beat in eggs. Mix remaining dry ingredients together. Add alternately with sour cream to creamed mixture and mix only until smooth. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Remove from cookie sheet and cool.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. Heat the 6 Tbsp butter on low heat in a saucepan until golden brown. Remove from heat and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla. Add enough hot water (not very much!) until it is spreading consistency. Frost the cookies and enjoy.