A lot goes on behind the scenes of a blog, which is really just a window into someone’s life…or however much of it they wish for you to see.
Sometimes I feel like grabbing a megaphone and shouting from the rooftops about all that’s going on in my life. I want everyone to know what I’m doing, where I’m going and who I’m doing it with. And then there are times when I want to crawl under a rock that is hidden far below the sea with a million pounds pushing down on it and nothing but the silence of the waves to listen to. Those are the times when posting a recipe about what I made last week seems utterly irrelevant. I start to wonder why I’m doing this. Did I start this site to provide recipes to the public? Did I start it as a way for me to get things off my chest? Is anyone really listening anyway?
If I wrote right here that I’m sitting at my computer in nothing but a black thong, would anyone actually read it?
Sometimes life has a way of making itself relevant again. For a long time I don’t think I really opened my eyes to see what the day was bringing to me. I merely pried them open far enough to see what I needed to stay happy. Get up, work out, make breakfast, take kids out, make lunch, write post, make dinner, watch Dexter, read novel, go to bed. But there’s more to life then living every day in a haze. There are things to learn and things to forget, there are new tastes to discover and people to meet, there are paintings to stare at and songs to be listened to over and over again. There are roads to be driven, stones to be tossed into the sea, leaves to be pressed between the pages of heavy books and so much more. No one in this life can say they are the same day in and day out. Have I changed in ten years? I hope so. The static character in any good story is merely that, static. I want to be the star, the dynamic, ever changing hero of my own life.
What is this life if we don’t seize it and make it what we want it to be? Carpe Diem right?
But time ticks heavily on and sometimes it’s hard to get right what you’ve been trying to tell yourself for years. But there is no “try”, there is only doing…you either fail and move on or you succeed. If life is what you make of it, mine will be the most complicated of origami, the kind with so many folds and twists that during it’s construction it is utterly impossible to tell what it is. Then as it nears the end of it’s creation and begins to resemble it’s final result, it is beautiful and compelling.
Life has a way of always surprising us. Greeting every day as if it was our last may be hard to do, but it really does make you appreciate everything this world has to offer us.
What does any of this have to do with pancakes? Absolutely nothing. I am breaking a cardinal sin of blogging by not posting a blurb about the pancakes and how delicious and easy they are. And you know what? I don’t give a flying fuck….
Enjoy!
One year ago: Gluten Free Cinnamon Oat Pancakes
Two years ago: Shrimp Stuffed Sole
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Yield: Baker’s dozen
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
butter for cooking
1. In bowl, mix dry ingredients with a whisk until completely blended.
2. In a second bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir about six or eight times in a figure eight. Just enough to blend the ingredients, but not so much that’s it over mixed. Gently, stir in the chocolate chips.
4. Heat a non stick pan, or even a cast iron pan would work here. Melt a small amount of butter in the pan for every batch of pancakes you cook. Believe me, it makes all the difference for a great pancake.
5. Allow the pan to heat thoroughly on medium, pour in a small ladle full of the batter and allow small bubbles to form on the surface and pop before turning the pancakes over. Cook for another couple of minutes and remove to a cooling rack or plates. Serve with a little bit of syrup or fruit compote.
This is probably the deepest best written post you have done yet Elizabeth. Know that you have a partner that is happy and willing to grow learn and smack you on the butt when you arent doing those pushups all the way.
I can’t wait to see what the future holds. Keep growing changing and being who I fell in love with years ago.
You.
HEE. More often than not, I don’t include descriptions about the recipes I post. I sort of let the pictures speak for themselves and assume everyone will know how awesome a chocolate chip pancake will taste! and p.s. I’m still listening…
Amy recently posted..Chex Lemon Buddies
When we press the publish button our loves are laid out for all to see..or not.
bellini recently posted..Parmesan Chicken Burgers with Balsamic Tomatoes, Garlic Mayonnaise and Lemon and Thyme Sweet Potato Wedges
Dexter rocks. And so do chocolate chip pancakes.
Thank you for making me reflect and then laugh out loud! Fantastic post. Oh-the pancakes look good too 🙂 Keep it coming…people are listening.
I do what I can Melissa!
Hi there! LOVE reading your blog, especially today’s post! Just wanted you to know I linked to your post today. I am going to NEED those pancakes for dinner tonight! Thank you for the recipe!!
I for one always write my blog posts in a black thong. Doesn’t everyone?
Deanna recently posted..Thomas Keller’s Brioche
I hope so!
New to your blog…you’ve pretty much summed up what i’ve been feeling the past several weeks. thank you, thank you, thank you.
My pleasure Amy and welcome, I hope you’ll stick around to see what I can think up next!
Those blogs where people gush all the time about their perfect lives (and perfect cooking)….they’re lying! I hadn’t heard that phrase about ‘there is no try only doing’…Enjoyed reading this post a lot.
Sally – My Custard Pie recently posted..A big appetite for small food
AGREE!!!!
Love your blog and love this post. I think so much of the same thing.
Especially love your last paragraph. Hehe.
Meg @ Sweet Twist recently posted..Bacon Apple Cheese Bread
Thank you to all the new followers who’ve come out of the woodwork to say something. I really appreciate that.
Just discovered your blog.
And what a post. Great recipe, great pics and interesting thoughts.
I just started a (French) blog myself and wonder a lot too, whether one should stick to the food or wander into personal territory.
One thing is for certain, I will follow you from now on…
Fanny recently posted..La soupe du retour (aka soupe carottes, panais, poireau)
Huh. I just found your blog, and the recipes look great. And this will probably sound completely crazy to you – but I swear you look exactly like someone who I used to live in a treehouse next to, on a beach in Tonga. Strange.
ohhhhh, really? Maybe I might remember that far away place and time…
I’m still listening and enjoying every word sis
I’ve been looking for an easy pancake recipe and landed on your blog 🙂 I can’t wait to try this!
Tim Billo recently posted..Number 3
I’ve read this over and over this week, Liz. Just. Love. It.
Winnie recently posted..Jeera Aloo (Indian Spiced Potatoes)
Thanks Winnie, I hope it inspires you…:)
I love pancakes! Specially when it’s raining.. Plus you add a little twist on it because of the chocolate chips. Great recipe! Thanks for sharing this..
If a blogger is being honest with themselves, inevitably what goes on behind the scenes will seep out onto the home page. Love your honesty, can’t say the same about typing in a black thong though…isn’t is time for Spring colours out West 🙂
Paula recently posted..Introducing *CanadianRAISED* Leah-Marlene
I love pan cakes! My daughter and her friends love it too! I make them when they are at home playing.
Maryden25 recently posted..Peet S Coffee Coupon
I was surfing the web and caught my first wave about brussel sprouts. My second wave took me to beets. The third wave landed me on your website. Coincidence? I think not. Yes it matters. It matters a lot. I just wanted you to know that.
Normalcy has a way of sneaking into routines that start to make someone wonder why we do the things we do, and what’s beyond them. But you said it perfectly here: whatever you choose to see and love about each day is what changes us. I’m new to Guilty Kitchen, but I’m familiar with the passion that I can tell you live each day with! Keep up the amazing work. It’s truly inspiring.
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