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New Facebook Page

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much for following me here on homecookedhandmade.com and now on Facebook.  If you haven't already "liked" my page on Facebook, head on over there and take a look and if you like what you see, "like" the page.

Home-cooked and Handmade

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I just had a contest for a crochet towel holder and our winner was Jane.  We have 98 "likes" so far and once we reach 200, it will be time for another giveaway.

So if you like what you see, "like" the page and share it with your friends.  Hopefully we can create a fun community.

You can also share posts on Facebook directly from this site using the "f" button at the bottom of the post.

The crochet towel holder

Mom's Pancakes

Image by Pippalunacy

Here is a great recipe for pancakes.  My husband who thought he did not like pancakes learned that if he tried the right ones, they were one of his favorite breakfasts.  I often double and sometimes even triple this breakfast treat.  I hope you enjoy this family favorite.  It's easy and delicious!

Mom's Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons oil
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup milk

Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Add the wet ingredients, stirring gently being sure not to over mix.    Place frying pan on medium heat.  Once heated, coat with non-stick spray and pour batter on by 1/4 to 1/3 cupfuls.  Flip when bubbles appear.  If pancakes appear to be burning, turn burner down slightly (I usually keep my burner at 4, one click below medium).  Serve with maple syrup and butter or topping of your choice.

Tip!  If you want to keep these hot while you cook, place an oven-safe dish in your oven at the lowest setting and place pancakes on the dish as you cook them.

Tip!  If you want fluffy pancakes that melt in your mouth, flip only once.  Over-flipping causes the pancakes to become rubbery.

Tip!  If you want to add less fat to your recipe, omit the oil.  The pancakes are still great, they just have a slightly different texture.

Nutrition Information:
Serves 4 (Divide pancakes into four servings for accurate nutrition information)
1 serving =
312 calories
13 grams fat
41 grams carb
1 gram fiber
8 grams protein
Good sources of calcium and iron.

Nutrition information calculated using caloriecount.com.

Weight Watchers Points Plus - 8
Weight Watchers POINTS - 7

Pancakes with no oil
Nutrition Information
Serves 4
1 serving =
222 calories
3 grams fat
41 grams carb
1 gram fiber
8 grams protein

Weight Watchers Points Plus - 6
Weight Watchers POINTS - 4

Whole Grain Crispies

Did you know you can make rice krispie treats with virtually any cereal?  Well, I suppose they wouldn't be called rice krispie treats, but you catch my drift.  All you do is follow the directions on the package and substitute whatever cereal you like.

Here is a super easy recipe for what I call Whole Grain Crispies. My kids like these as much as the original recipe.  Sure they still contain marshmallows, but I think upping the whole food factor with puffed wheat is a bonus.  Besides, in my opinion, healthy living is about increasing the quality of your diet while still enjoying your favorite foods.  

Musings - Blue Hands

I had just been getting over a cold.  Sometimes for me this induces a slight feeling of dizziness.  It's not debilitating or even too disruptive.  It's just an odd sense when I sit still that I feel a bit of a swirl.  I'm sure it has to do with my inner ear or something of that nature.  Anyway, I was experiencing this dizziness and I did not think too much of it.

Just then I looked down at my hands and noticed that they were quite blue.  It was weird.  I began to get nervous and after (wisely or unwisely?) searching the Internet, I thought that maybe my dizziness was somehow related to circulation and I thought I had better call the doctor.

I waited a bit more, not wanting to overreact.  I asked my kids.  Did mommy's hands look blue?  Yes, they agreed that they did.  This sent me into more of a nervous state, thinking that I really had better call the doctor.

My husband arrived home from work and I let him know what was going on.  He looked at my hands and agreed they were indeed blue.  I was very concerned by now and put in a call to the doctor's office.  I let them know of my symptoms and they urged me to come right in.

I got there and sat in the waiting room, wondering what was wrong.  My dizziness was coming and going, but my hands were still blue for sure.  They called me into the room and the kind doctor did a number of tests to see what might be causing the problem.  She, too, acknowledged the blue on my hands but could find nothing wrong by physical examination.  She had me get labs to check blood sugar and various other things, and said she would call me when she had the results.

Once the labs were done and I was home, I sat on the couch waiting and wondering.  I crossed my legs, and as is my habit, rested a hand under my knee.  I sat there for a moment then removed my hand to grab something.  My hand was even bluer.  What was wrong?  The wheels began turning and I put my other hand under my knee and waited a minute.  I removed it and, lo and behold my hand was quite blue.  I walked to the bathroom, turned on the light and promptly began washing my hands.  Blue dye washed into the sink and I began to laugh.

"Derek," I said, "I think I'm going to be fine.  It's just the dumb new jeans.  I got dye on my hands.  I'm such an idiot!"

Not much time passed and I got a call from the doctor.  Labs were normal.  Go figure.  I hesitated but I couldn't leave her hanging.  I had to tell her that yes, my dizziness was legitimate but it was probably just from the cold I was getting over.  My blue hands, however, they were due to a slightly different thing.  I went on to tell her about my jeans and the dye and I laughed and she laughed.  Although it was embarrassing, it was funny.  As I hung up the phone, not only were my hands blue, but my face was red.