It's all about me.

A lot has happened in my life in the past 5 years.  Two children have been born in my family.  There has been the juggling of work and being the 'at home parent'.  There has been the usual strains that having a young family can bring; worries about money, sex, 'raising the kids right', maintaining friendships and somewhere in there finding a minute for yourselves - both as a couple and individually. 

The birth of our second child did not go as smoothly as anticipated, if one thing in life is unpredictable it is childbirth, and how a new mother may feel afterward.  As as result things were tough, I mean really tough, around our place for the better part of a year.  I doubt that things will ever really be the same as they were before, now there is a new version of normal.  I am okay with the 'new normal'.  I find myself quite changed.  I am more content to stay in, to live simply and more quietly.  Before the birth of our son I was big on socialising, being a constant host, enjoying good wine.  I still enjoy these things, but on a much smaller scale.

One thing that having children has changed is 'me time'.  I haven't always needed lots of time to myself, I am happy to be surrounded by people.  My partner is the exact opposite.  She needs time to herself, and having two small children around, and me at home to greet her each day as she comes home from work, is not her ideal way of living.  I know that there isn't too mch that can be done about this until the kids are a bit older and more independent.  I wish she would take more time for herself; go for a coffee, take a book out to the studio and shut the door for an hour or two. I know that she finds the 'new normal' more difficult than I do.  I'm sure we will find the balance.

In the meantime I have a list of 'me time' things that I would like to sink my teeth into.  No, they are not meditation and taking up yoga.  They don't really even mean I need to leave the house.  I suppose they are more like little projects that I would like to commit to.

So, here they are, and I am going to try really hard to achieve them:

1.  This blog.  I am going to try really hard to produce a blog entry once a week, or at least once a fortnight.  I think it can be done!  They might be short, but I am sure I can manage it.

2.  Learn some songs on my ukelele.  Yes, I have recently bought a uke and can strum out a few chords.  I would really like to be better at it.  Practice makes perfect!

3.  Write!  I have written a trashy romance novel (that was rejected by Mills and Boon), and I have started another one.  My aim is to have the second one finished by June next year, and to have resubmitted my original novel to some other publishing houses.  

So, me time.  Best get to it

The Perfect Pancakes

Almost everyday when I ask my four year old what she would like for breakfast, I am greeted with a resounding cry for 'PANCAKES!'.

Before I met my partner I had never really made pancakes.  Very occassionally as a child my mum would make a batch to be served with lemon juice and sugar.  I recall them being rather rubbery, and altogether too lemony for my young tastebuds. 

Early in our relationship my partner made pancakes, and they were delicious!  Thin crepe style pancakes with a variety of toppings.  I couldn't believe how easy they were to make; 1 cup milk, one cup plain flour, 1 egg.  Mix.  Butter in hot pan, pour, flip, eat!

I have since taken over as chief pancake maker at our place.  This is probably due to the fact that I am the 'stay at home mum', (even though I run my own business from home, and work most days on that).  I also wrangle the children and think about food!

Early on, I would stick religiously to the recipe.  I am not flash at cakes (I am too much of a 'chuck it all in' kind of cook), and really didn't want to be transported back to those rubbery pancake days...  But, as my skill improved, I began experimenting a bit.  We had French friends who swore that a good slug of soda water (or beer), made the best pancakes.  Some recipes call for a pinch of salt.  The variations are endless.

Well, I have come up with a variation of my own that my kids (and my partner and I) think is pretty delicious.  My daughter calls them 'Pluffy Pancakes' and would eat them for every meal if permitted.

Pluffy Pancakes:

1 free range egg

1 cup of milk

1 1/2 cups self raising flour (wholemeal or white - white will produce a fluffier result)

3/4 cup of ricotta cheese

50 mls of soda water

Butter for cooking

I really cheat at put all the ingredients in my blender.  Some cooks swear that you shouldn't over mix the ingredients, but I have found it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Once it is all mixed up check the consistency of the batter.  It should be thickish, but easy to pour.  I will add more milk or flour until I have the right consistency.  *Note:  this batter will thicken over time, so you may need to continue to adjust the consistency as you cook.

 Heat a pan on the stove and add a small amount of butter.  

 
When butter is melted pour in some batter.  You can do one large pancake, or three or four small ones in a batch.  I suggest that you wait until small air bubbles form in the top of the mixture before flipping.  You will find that the pancakes do not stick and are ready to turn if you do this.

Serve warm with fresh fruit, maple syprup, lemon and sugar, or any topping that you like!