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Two weeks until Christmas. For kids, this may as well be two-hundred years until Christmas. At what point in my life did the Christmas Countdown bring on the stress in me? Isn't Christmas supposed to be that wonderful time of year? Truth be told, it is. I just can't seem to get my act together, by starting on this in October.
Today is the day that I'm turning on the Christmas music and I'm going to decorate the tree. I need to come up with my game plan to bake cookies (who doesn't love cookies as a gift? Raises hand. Then the other.) I have some ambitious ideas for other edible gifts. But, I'm not saying what they are. Just in case I run out of steam. If I don't accomplish my goals, well gift cards are a wonderful…
View Full Recipe at A Feast for the Eyes Food…
%20%20I%20have%20some%20ambitious%20ideas%20for%20other%20edible%20gifts.%20%20But,%20I'm%20not%20saying%20what%20they%20are.%20%20Just%20in%20case%20I%20run%20out%20of%20steam.%20%20If%20I%20don't%20accomplish%20my%20goals,%20well%20gift%20cards%20are%20a%20wonderful%20solution.%20But,%20first,%20I%20need%20a%20hearty%20breakfast%20so%20that%20I%20don't%20eat%20the%20cookies,%20I'm%20about%20to%20bake.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20those%20who%20love%20eggnog,%20and%20those%20who%20don't.%20%20My%20husband%20doesn't.%20My%20son%20said%20he's%20never%20had%20it.%20I'm%20right%20in%20the%20middle--I%20can%20take%20it%20or%20leave%20it.%20Years%20ago,%20I%20made%20it%20from%20scratch.%20It's%20a%20bit%20of%20work,%20takes%20a%20lot%20of%20eggs,%20but%20the%20bourbon%20spiked%20eggnog%20disappeared%20from%20the%20punch%20bowl.%20%20Then%20it%20hit%20me--%20eggnog%20in%20pancake%20batter,%20instead%20of%20buttermilk!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI've%20posted%20numerous%20pancake%20recipes,%20because%20I%20much%20prefer%20to%20make%20them%20from%20scratch.%20%20Pancake%20batter%20takes%20about%20five%20minutes%20to%20put%20together.%20%20This%20easy%20recipe%20uses%20flour,%20baking%20powder,%20a%20pinch%20of%20salt--%20and%20I%20added%20some%20freshly%20grated%20nutmeg.%20Whisk%20it%20together.%20%20In%20a%20large%20measuring%20cup,%20I%20added%201%201/3%20cups%20eggnog%20(you%20could%20use%20buttermilk%20if%20you%20belong%20to%20the%20%22I%20hate%20eggnog%22%20camp).%20%20I%20decided%20to%20add%20one%20teaspoon%20of%20vanilla%20bean%20paste.%20%20If%20you%20don't%20have%20any%20(I%20buy%20Singing%20Dog%20Vanilla%20Bean%20Paste%20at%20Whole%20Foods),%20use%201/2%20teaspoon%20of%20vanilla.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhisk%20two%20eggs,%20and%202%20Tablespoons%20of%20melted%20and%20cooled%20unsalted%20butter.%20%20Add%20the%20eggnog%20and%20whisk,%20then%20add%20to%20the%20dry%20ingredients.%20%20Stir%20until%20just%20combined.%20%20NOTE:%20I%20don't%20overwork%20my%20pancake%20dough,%20because%20I%20don't%20want%20to%20build%20up%20the%20gluten%20in%20the%20flour.%20This%20makes%20pancakes%20lighter%20and%20fluffier.%20%20The%20batter%20will%20be%20fairly%20thick.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20like%20to%20prep%20my%20griddle%20with%20a%20light%20coating%20of%20vegetable%20oil,%20then%20I%20melt%20a%20small%20amount%20of%20butter,%20for%20flavor.%20%20I%20also%20use%20a%201/4%20cup%20measuring%20cup%20so%20that%20my%20pancakes%20are%20evenly%20sized.%20%20The%20bottom%20of%20the%20measuring%20cup%20helps%20to%20spread%20the%20batter%20evenly.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20batter%20is%20thick,%20and%20the%20pancakes%20will%20puff%20up%20pretty%20high.%20%20I%20carefully%20watched%20the%20griddle,%20so%20that%20it%20was%20about%20medium%20hot,%20and%20let%20these%20cook%20until%20I%20see%20bubbles%20forming.%20The%20batter%20is%20thick,%20so%20it%20took%20a%20good%202%20minutes,%20before%20flipping%20them.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIn%20the%20meantime,%20I%20like%20to%20preheat%20my%20plates%20in%20a%20warm%20oven.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E...another%20minute%20should%20do%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOnly%20Pure%20Maple%20Syrup%20can%20do%20justice%20to%20pancakes.%20I%20firmly%20believe%20that.%20And%20butter,%20too.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWhile%20I'm%20being%20honest,%20pancakes%20aren't%20health%20food.%20%20They're%20pure%20carbs.%20%20That's%20why%20the%20men%20in%20my%20life%20love%20them.%20%20That's%20why%20I%20make%20them.%20%20On%20occasion.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFood%20porn.%20Just%20sayin'.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThe%20moment%20of%20truth...%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EVERDICT:%20%20Texture-wise,%20these%20delivered%20as%20%20I%20had%20hoped.%20They%20were%20fluffy,%20light%20and%20these%20babies%20soaked%20up%20the%20syrup%20like%20nobody's%20business.%20%20Flavor-wise--%20you%20can%20clearly%20taste%20all%20the%20notes%20of%20eggnog.%20%20Vanilla-custard,%20slight%20background%20of%20nutmeg%20and%20a%20bit%20sweet.%20%20The%20truth%20is,%20my%20husband%20didn't%20like%20them.%20He%20still%20doesn't%20like%20eggnog.%20My%20son%20ate%20them,%20but%20remains%20undecided%20if%20he%20likes%20eggnog.%20%20Me?%20%20I'm%20the%20one%20who%20doesn't%20love%20pancakes%20as%20much%20as%20they%20do.%20%20I%20loved%20them.%20Every%20single%20bite.%20It%20took%20me%20back%20to%20that%20Christmas%20Eve,%20when%20my%20family%20sipped%20my%20homemade%20eggnog%20and%20went%20back%20for%20more.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI'm%20turning%20off%20the%20laptop,%20because%20I%20have%20some%20Christmas%20chores%20to%20do.%20%20Fa-la-la-la-la%20La-la-la-la!%3C/p%3E){kind=link}