Life-Saving Pancakes

I've been reading Martha Stewart Living since I was 16 years old. Compulsively reading and saving these little bits of information for the future. Some things have saved my life (yes, I'm being extremely dramatic...well maybe only a little) and others have, well, become more of a nice thought than a reality. Martha Stewart is forever a huge inspiration in my life. One of these "life saving" things is a basic pancake recipe! Yes, pancakes saved my life. This is really the best pancake recipe I've made! Super easy make-you-look-awesome type of recipe. Amazing. Seriously, make these and you will see.

Basic Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour, (spooned and leveled)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, or vegetable oil
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Assorted toppings, such as butter, maple syrup, confectioners' sugar, honey, jams, preserves, sweetened whipped cream, or chocolate syrup

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees; have a baking sheet or heatproof platter ready to keep cooked pancakes warm in the oven. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, butter (or oil), and egg. Add dry ingredients to milk mixture; whisk until just moistened (do not overmix; a few small lumps are fine).

3. Heat a large skillet (nonstick or cast-iron) or griddle over medium. Fold a sheet of paper towel in half, and moisten with oil; carefully rub skillet with oiled paper towel.

4. For each pancake, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter onto skillet, using the back of the spoon to spread batter into a round (you should be able to fit 2 to 3 in a large skillet).

5. Cook until surface of pancakes have some bubbles and a few have burst, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter; cover loosely with aluminum foil, and keep warm in oven. Continue with more oil and remaining batter. (You'll have 12 to 15 pancakes.) Serve warm, with desired toppings.

People Watching

I love watching people. How they stand/ walk/ place their hands on their lap/ cross their legs. It's really intriguing to see people do what comes natural and is unique to only themselves. When I'm in public I stare... a lot. To the point that my husband will say "Brooke, we talked about this.". I don't want to be totally creepy but I just really love watching people. Most of the time I don't realize I'm doing it. So, if you ever see me staring at you in public just know that you are amazing to me! Or, maybe I'm just weird.

Go

Life is one big road with lots of signs. So when you riding through the ruts, don't complicate your mind. Flee from hate, mischief and jealousy. Don't bury your thoughts, put your vision to reality. Wake Up and Live!

-Bob Marley

Simple

Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.
-Albert Einstein

Here are some of my ABSOLUTE favorite 'simple' things.

Chocolate chip cookie smiley faces. One of these will cure even your worst day!

My favorite pair of jeans. One thing I can not live without. Literally.

My family. Even though, at times they can be anything but simple.

Coffee and dessert. Need I say more?

Playing with my son. He is silly.

My $5 Wal-mart watch. You would have never guessed. Right....?

When good magazines come in the mail all at once. Best feeling EVER!

An occasional tater-tot and corn dog dinner. Hey, not every night can be a homemade creation.

Sweet little pictures notes. This is when the thought is the only thing that counts.
Green tea and edamame with my green tea and edamame loving almost-three-year-old.

These are the things that make my life bliss...

After

It's been a week since shooting my first wedding and I'm still SUPER excited about it! I know, I might be a little ridiculous... but, that's okay with me. Here are a couple of pictures I took on my iPhone which, you know I love to take pictures with. This is me in the kitchen enjoying my very own cupcake and my coffee the next morning surrounded by their super-cute favors! (I was just being silly!)

Create

As some of you already know- I love to cook! I mean LOVE LOVE! It just satisfies my soul. And not because I love to eat (which I most certainly DO!). I just simply love to create. I equally love just about anything homemade! So, for dinner tonight, we went all out! Homemade EVERYTHING! Bread, sauce, pasta, ravioli. We don't do this as often as I would like but when we do- OH! It sure is worth it! Here are a few pictures that I took and edited on my iPhone (except the words were added in PS).

We'll call these two 'rustic'. Yes, 'rustic' bread. That's what this is!

I LOVE the little floured hands!

Variety

Very true.

Balanced

One of those days...

I love it.

This picture was taken on my iPhone and then put together in Photoshop. I love these.

iPhone

I, like most of us these days, am completely addicted to my phone. Not because it's a 'phone', but because it's my Internet, email, books, camera-on-the-go, Face book, music, notebook of ideas, solution for boredom, calendar, and the list goes on and on (I even have apps to pay my bills and order food!). Yeah, it's pretty scary. OK, I'm just going to say it. I LOVE my iPhone! I'm OBSESSED! That being said,I always love to prove that photography is everywhere and available to everyone no matter what "equipment" you have. This series of pictures below was taken on my phone when I just didn't have time to get my camera out and figure out settings.
Thus, proving that you can make photography with just your camera phone and also proving that my obsession is not in vain!