Awesome Pancakes and homemade syrup

• Awesome Pancakes
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• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
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• 2 cups buttermilk (You can also sub just short of 2 cups milk and 1 1/2 T. vinegar)
• 1/4 cup and 2 T. milk
• 2 eggs
• 2-3 T. butter, melted
• 
  

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk, eggs and melted butter. Keep the two mixtures separate until you are ready to cook.
2. Heat a lightly buttered griddle or frying pan over medium heat. 
3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Stir until it's just blended together. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Quick syrup

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon maple flavored extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1. In a saucepan, combine the white sugar, brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 4 minutes. Stir in the maple extract and vanilla, and remove form the heat. Let cool, and serve at room temperature. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Stores well for a few weeks.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

I conjured up this recipe while craving baked potatoes....usually I do not like potato soup, but this one blows that out of the water.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Preheat oven to 350.

Scrub and fork 6 large baking potatoes (I used the restaurant size ones). Bake for 45-60 minutes or until fork is easily inserted.

Meanwhile gather the following:

½ lb. bacon

1 medium white onion (chop)

1 T. Chicken or beef bouillon (I use the jarred Better Than Bouillon brand)

5T. flour (more or less to achieve roux)

2 C. milk

1 C half and half or heavy cream

4 oz. cream cheese softened

Water or milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.

Pepper to taste (the bacon grease usually makes it salty enough)

Shredded cheese for topping

Fry the bacon as you normally would and place on a paper towel, set aside and chop up bacon to be used later as a topping.

To the bacon grease on medium heat add the chopped onion and cook until the onion becomes softened and translucent. To that mix add enough flour to absorb the grease and cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes.

Add bouillon, stir and then slowly add 2 C. milk it should look like gravy-ish.  (make sure to scrape the bottom of the pot, I used a 7 qt dutch oven.)

At this time  peel the baked potatoes and add in chunks (you can break down the potatoes to your size liking with cooking utensil as  you continue to stir.

Once all of the potatoes are added add the cream/half and half and the cream cheese….cook on low until the cream cheese melts. If too thick at this time you can add water or more milk. Taste and season.

Serve with Bacon, cheese, sour cream, green onions as toppings. (I just put bacon in microwave to reheat. I served this so it was quite thick, like a chowder, as opposed to a soup/stew.)

Thankful....day 14

Thankful for:

getting to wear a sock on my foot due to stubbed toe pain
spending the evening with Emma and going shopping for some Thanksgiving supplies
all of the people we get to spend Thanksgiving with
KFC/LJS

Thankful....day 13

Thankful for:

going grocery shopping quietly
Ben and Emma picking up the house a bit
getting all of the laundry done
the bleeding stopping on my stubbed toe.

Thankful....day 12

Thankful for:
watching the game at our neighbor's
meeting new neighbors (nice ones)
relaxing afternoon

Thankful for.....day 11

Thankful for:

a restful afternoon including a nap in which my sweet child tucked me in for.
smothered burritos
the day off

Thankful....day 10

Thankful for:
Emma's sick stomach for stopping
Nana and Papa Ray watching her and getting groceries, washing bedding, cooking, and dish
a tasty reveal cake.
being able to call my grandparents to tell them the gender of #2