Blueberry Pancake Tip
When using blueberries in pancakes or waffles, add frozen blueberries to the pancakes before they thaw to keep them from turning to mush in the batter.
-Jill
photo by: geishabot
Living On A Dime
How To Save Money And Get Out Of Debt
When making cake batter, dust blueberries in cornmeal to prevent them from rising to the top of the cake.
Jill-what a fantastic idea!! I made blueberry pancakes a few years ago,not only did the blueberries get mushy, they turned my yellow pancake batter GREEN! They still tasted great, but I’ve been afraid to make them again. Thanks for the tip.
But remember blueberry pancakes are one of the things mom makes to show how much she loves you. Greenness or mushyness don’t really matter. XXOO!
Add the blueberries to the batter after you have placed it on the griddle…This ensures proper berry to pancake ratio and no mushy berries just pockets of jelly-like goodness. I have some children that don’t like add ins so this is a peacekeeping technique…also, you can make a few with chocolate chips, bananas instead all with the same batter using this same technique. Enjoy!
It would be fun maybe sometime to have a “pancake” bar for a special occasion or brunch. Have pancake batter made up then have a bunch of different add ins with griddles set up and let each person pick and choose what they want in their pancakes. This might be fun for Christmas morning or New Year’s breakfast. Have the breakfast fixins (bacon, sausage, different syrups, whipped cream) to go with it.
Jill I was reading your idea and the first thing that came to mind was the mess in the kitchen and all the people crowding around while you are planning what goes into which pan for christmas dinner.
Maybe boxing day breakfast.
I would be more inclined to have about 4 types of waffles and pancakes already made up with a table spread with all sorts of toppings to put on them. blueberries, raspberries, strawberries bananas and syrups and whipped cream eggs and bacon sausages. Everything could be in a warmer and you pick and choose what you want when you want it.
My thinking is not everyone is a morning person so trying to be nice and smile while everyone is doing something just makes me cringe. Need lots of coffee if you plan this.
I used to tell my boys no presents got opened until I had my cup of hot iced tea in my hand. One of the rare mornings it was made for me when I got up.
But yes a brunch on boxing day sounds like a nice idea.
I love the idea of a big holiday breakfast, but it is hard to get everyone on the same page. My hubby thinks that a hot breakfast can only be fried eggs and grits. my 17 yr. old son only wants cereal. And if you try to include the extended family, you run into more trouble. My sister only wants cane syrup, some want waffles, some want pancake, some say I’m not hungry. Where are those Walton family holiday meals? And don’t even get me started on a holiday dinner! It’s a nightmare. I just want to throw up my hands and say “no more”! But every year, I do it again!
Rachel,
I know what you are saying. My opinions usually aren’t popular, but I think people just need to be more tolerant.
I am having issues like this with my in-laws. Everyone wants something different and no one can be tolerant of not having everything exactly their way. I had a birthday party for my son a couple of months ago. I wanted to order pizza and one was on a no carb diet and could not have pizza. We were trying to cut costs anyway and my hubby came up with the idea of just grilling hot dogs and having chips. Well, the no carb dieter could not eat a bun, another one only eats kosher hot dogs (just preference, not religious reasons), another only eats the hot dog that ‘plumps when you cook it’. Then, don’t even get me started on the soft drinks. Sugar is evil to some people, so I must have diet but some want the Nutrasweet sweetened and some think it will kill them and must have a certain brand that only uses Splenda. My son wanted an ice cream cake and we splurged on that one item for the party and several complained that they didn’t like ice cream cake. We ended up buying three different brands of hot dogs and probably 10 different 2 liters of pop for that one party.
My family is SO easy. Just fix a meal, they will come, they will find something they like to eat. If there are things they don’t like, they will not say a word about it…they just will avoid eating that item and eat more of something else.
Of course I want to be a good hostess and I try to please when I can. However, it is impossible to please everyone!!! I tend to be more tolerant, I guess I was raised that way by my parents and it stuck. Or maybe it’s just good manners… I go for a meal and I don’t complain, I eat what I like and tactfully leave what I don’t like on my plate. I always compliment the hostess on something…I always find something I like. I don’t complain that something isn’t the brand or kind of product I normally eat. I don’t draw attention to what I don’t eat. I’m really not that picky anyway though, I like almost everything. LOL!
I was thinking about your sister only wanting cane syrup. Could she not eat something different the one time? Or bring her own cane syrup to the gathering? Oh, I pray I never become so inflexible…
Maybe it’s just a sign that we as a society are too spoiled? I’m not trying to be rude or mean. Surely there are others out there that are exasperated by things like this. I’ll get off my soapbox now…
Move over Angie and let me get on that soapbox with you. Even though there are things I don’t like I was raised that under no circumstances do I make a face or not eat something at someone else’s home. I am like you if there is something I don’t like if I can with no one noticing I eat other things I will but if that isn’t possible I eat it anyway. For years I don’t think any of my in laws ever knew I didn’t eat onions because I tried to eat what I was served.
I taught my kids this too. I remember once at one meal the people had a casserole full of the several things I had trouble gagging down. My son didn’t care for them either. He was about 8 at the time and when I was passed the casserole I took a big helping and started eating. My son and I made eye contact and I grinned at him because I could see the horror on his face but he did me proud and when he was passed it he took a serving and ate too. No one knew any difference.
Like you said yes there are sometimes medical reasons but I would say more times then not it is just because of the way someone feels about something. Even with medical reasons there is a way to do these things without being rude.
What it boils down to is like you said too people are selfish and rude. What makes them feel good and makes them comfortable is more important then the fact they might make someone else embarrassed or uncomfortable. Also I always compliment the cook because even if I don’t like the dish I can still sincerely thank her from the bottom of my heart for taking the trouble for thinking of me and bothering to cook something for me.
We did with this type of thing all the time on the web site. Just this week we had a woman who was beyond mean and nasty being hateful about how we had a lot of nerve not to have recipes and ideas for all of her eating disorders which she listed about 15 and that we need to change the web site to fit her needs. So I know exactly how you feel and how frustrating it is.
I just wanted to add to my above post…I meant no disrespect to anyone who must eliminate something from their diet for medical reasons. This, I understand. Diabetics must limit or eliminate sugar, some people can’t have gluten or are allergic to nuts, dairy, etc. I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I’m strictly speaking of picky, picky people that seemingly thrive on complaining.
Angie, maybe you should start pot luck parties with your inlaws. If they want something bad enough they can bring it themselves. You can have certain things, but not a complete menu for everyone. Tell them it cost you over $100 for food last time (exaggerate if you want :) Then just find a way to say it nicely.
On the subject of pancakes……..whenever I attempt to make pancakes from scratch we occasionally bite into little bits of baking powder. Yuck. Is there away to mix the ingredients so that all the baking powder is dissolved?
You can either sift the flour and baking powder together or I would try first to put all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and giving it a good whisk. I am even lazier at times and when I go to put baking powder in anything I dump it in my hand and “moosh” (smash around) it around with my finger and that grinds it a little and gets rid of the lumps before I put it in.
I think the idea of a “potluck” is a great idea–then they can at least have one dish to eat. You could also list your menu and ask those with special diets, likes, etc. to bring what they need to accompany your mean. Someone will always complain so try to let it “roll off of you”.
My husband can’t eat peppers, onions, or garlic but he can usually eat a little or find something he can eat. I also try to bring an item he likes. People are just more rude, especially family members and friends, than they used to be.
That should be “accompany your menu”