Good Old Fashioned Pancakes

I also found this pancake recipe on allrecipes.com and really liked it as well.  My kids and I tried to tell which one we liked better between this and the Fluffy Pancakes and it was hard to say. They're both very similar except this doesn't have quite as many ingredients to bother with and seems to make just a tiny bit less batter than the other recipe.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour - sifted
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp white sugar
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 Tbsp butter - melted

1- In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.

2- Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg, and melted butter; mix until smooth. (I made this recipe exactly as stated and it was great. However, next time I think I'll whip the egg slightly before adding it.)

3- Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium heat.  Scoop the batter onto the griddle, using about 1/4 cup for each pancake.  Brown on both sides and serve hot.

(Servings: 8 = 16 small pancakes ...if everyone only eats two)
*I made this again and had to make 12 servings instead of 8 (for two adults and four young kids) in order to fill everyone's tummies.  I might even make a double batch next time so we can have some extras to snack on later.

Fluffy Pancakes

This is our family’s FAVORITE pancake recipe.  I found it on allrecipes.com and that’s all we’ve made ever since. I’ve made my own “combining instructions” though because I noticed that they turned out differently when I added (or mixed) the ingredients in different ways. This is the best way I’ve found.

1 ½ cups milk

¼ cup white vinegar

2 cups all-purpose flour (preferably sifted)

¼ cup white sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

¼ cup melted butter

1.      Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".

2.      Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.  Pour soured milk into flour mixture and set aside (without mixing).  Whisk eggs in separate bowl, then pour into flour mixture and set aside (without mixing).  Melt butter in separate container, then pour into flour mixture.  Now, gently stir/fold the flour and milk mixture together until combined.  (Mixing/whisking it too roughly will deplete the fluffiness of the pancakes.) 

3.      Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

8 servings = 16 pancakes - This is usually enough for a family of 5. We fry eggs to eat with our pancake meal, and that makes it enough food for 6. The baby's a big eater, too. ;)

Pretzel Berry Jell-O Salad

This is my own version of the Pretzel Jell-O Salad.  It can be served as a side-dish or dessert; it's THAT good! ;)

2 1/2 - 3 cups crushed pretzels (I like to lean closer to 3)

3 tsp sugar (no more, Kalli!)

3/4 cup melted butter

Mix those in a bowl and then pour it into a 9x13 dish (I spray mine with a little Pam so it doesn't stick.) Spread it around and pack it in the bottom. Then let it cool.

1 - 8oz. pkg Cream Cheese

1 cup sugar

1 - 12oz. container Cool Whip

Whip cream cheese and sugar together, then fold in the Cool Whip. If the pretzels are cool, then pour this on the top of the pretzels and spread out evenly to the edge of the pretzel crust making sure the pretzels are completely covered. Then cover and set aside in refrigerator.

1 - 6oz. box or 2 - 3oz. boxes Cherry (or black cherry) Jell-O

2 cups boiling hot water (I think I added twice that amount last time and that's why it was soupy...)

1/2 - 1 Lg. can crushed pineapple, drained  

1 - 2 cups Costco's frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, & blackberries)

(sorry, I don't usually measure the pineapple and berries)

Stir and dissolve Jell-O in boiling water, then add pineapple and mixed berries. Mix again and then cover and let sit in the fridge for about 30 min or until it just starts to set up .

Pour thickened (mostly set-up) Jell-O on top of cream cheese mixture and spread evenly.  Then cover and return to fridge until fully set-up.  Mmmm!!!! SO GOOD!!!