Anytime I eat pancakes I am reminded of how I used to make them (a.k.a. pat-a-cakes) as a child. I spent my childhood mimicking my mom and her dishes that I adored. Pancakes was one of them. So, on any given weekend you could find me outside, shortly after breakfast playing in the mud...making pancakes. Yes, you all know what I am talking about, you get dirt wet and create little cakes out of the mud. Even then I cared about garnishing my dishes, only instead of using blueberries or mint leaves, I used clovers and rocks. Sure I have come along way since then, but there are few things in life that I do that make me feel the excitement I felt as a little girl, cooking is one of them. Pancakes take me back to a more carefree time so I am always up for making them. This morning I tried a recipe by the Naked Chef, Jaime Oliver. I love his British take on American dishes. This pancake recipe was so good. I think that whipping the egg whites is a great way to make the pancakes fluffy. Like Jaime said, "Instead of being think and silky like French crepes they are wonderfully fluffy and thick and can be made to perfection straight away." I added a little vanilla to the recipe.
I spent most of the day shopping with my best friend and her daughter. I love to shop but after walking nearly 3 miles I just want to go home and crash on the couch. Today, however, I came home and hit the kitchen. Now, sometimes I know exactly what I want to make and other times I just stare into my fridge and pantry until I come up with something. Sometimes, I just need to get away and do what I love...cook. My kitchen is my sanctuary. It's where I go when I'm stressed about life or work, excited about an upcoming occasion or just simply want to watch the magic of cooking. It makes me happy to see the end result of watching separate ingredients come together to make a delicious and beautiful dish. I think that is one of the things that gives all foodies their passion and keeps us in the kitchen. Today I went into the kitchen with a mission, a mission to fry. I spent my Saturday morning like I always do, drinking my cup of coffee and watching Food Network. Down Home With The Neely's was on this morning. I love them! Not only do they teach me even more about Southern cooking, Gina gives me some great lines to use on my hubby! Well, today the Nelly's were fryin' up some deviled eggs. I could only think, why the heck didn't I think of that? I love those little suckers, and of course, I love all things fried! So I hit my kitchen with a mission to make fried deviled eggs. Needless to say, my kitchen is full of sin right now, sinfully good food that is. The eggs were amazing. Even though I changed up the recipe (I added paprika and relish because that is how I normally make them and dipped them in bread crumbs) but the Neely's totally found their way to my Southern heart with these babies.
