Sunday, January 29, 2006

Praiseworthy Pancakes

Can it be true? Could the words whole wheat actually go with praiseworthy? Well of course I think so but my husband wasn't so sure. Then I heard about a whole wheat flour that was called White Whole Wheat. The company is Wheat Montana and the flour is terrific. I use their Prairie Gold White Spring Wheat. In my local Hy Vee Store there is even an in-store grinder where you can grind your flour fresh. Apparently the nutritional value of freshly ground grains is superior to that which has been sitting on a shelf for who knows how long. So I paired this fantastic flour with my pancake recipe and Praiseworthy Pancakes were born. I have decided that this must be shared so here you go!

Praiseworthy Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg well beaten
1 ¼ cup of milk
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl
Combine egg, milk, and oil in a separate bowl
Add to flour mixture all at once and stir just until blended. Lumps are okay. Heat griddle over moderately high heat. Grease griddle lightly. Cook until center is full of unbroken bubbles and then flip to cook the other side. Makes about twelve 5 inch pancakes.

For waffles: separate egg whites from the yolk. Add the yolks to the milk and oil. Whip the whites until stiff but not dry. Fold the whites into the mixture after mixing wet and dry ingredients.

My family loves to eat these spread thickly with peanut butter and real maple syrup. I follow it with a strong cup of tea. Saturdays could not possibly start out better than this!

Animusic

My husband asked the kids and I to join him at his favorite local computer store. This is the type of family outing that I usually find a way to sit in the coffeeshop of the mega bookstore next door! But on this particular day my husband wanted our company so we joined him. While there my children became enthralled with Animusic. After coming home they begged us to get it for them so we did and they have watched it with delight several times this weekend.

First released in 2001, Animusic bills itself as a computer animation video album. There are seven "unique visual concerts" according to the plot synopsis on Amazon.com. The music is complex which my daughter loves and my son who is very into robots, loves the robotic instruments featured in each concert. The animated instruments actually play themselves and it is a visual treat for the eyes and ears. The music is not really the hard edged techno you might expect. It reminds me of Mannheim Steamroller more than anything else. The musical numbers are all instrumental and run the gamut from classical to a melodic pop style. My children find it mesmerizing and I hope you'll try it with yours! The link below will take you to more information and a place to purchase the dvd. All purchases are through my affiliate link.