Sunny Sunday morning pancakes

The sun is pouring through my quiet kitchen.  Frost sparkles on the grass, and our rooster A2 (as in, Abraham the 2nd) crows his wakeup call.  I love sunday mornings.  One of the rare times I actually can sit, in the quiet.  Our lives are busy, to say the least, but sundays are my gem.

My son , Tom, soon to be 12 and full of pre-adolescent attitude, shuffles down the stairs and starts his nonstop banter.  My quiet morning has now shifted to a hustling, bustling kitchen.  Whole wheat flour, olive oil and fresh eggs strewn about the counter.  He is making pancakes.

“I’m really lucky that I am a good cook.” he says.  “Can I use almond milk instead of milk, milk?”   “I might need help pouring the oil, I’m not so good at oil.”  ” Is this a cup?”  “Now, stir it!”

He proceeds to thrash the batter with a whisk, jerkily back and forth with a look of determination on his face.  I watch him unnoticed, as he stirs.  A huge glob of batter comes flying out of the bowl and hits him in the face.  He pauses, looks up, and around and notices me watching.  We both erupt into laughter.

This is a good morning.

Today I will work in the chicken coop.  I love to let my chickens and ducks free range, however, a neighboring fox has been raiding my birds and I can only, safely, let them loose when I am home and out in the yard.  Due to recent rain and their confinement, the pen has become a muddy mess.  The plan: to shovel out as much as I can and add a layer of sand in hopes it will help to drain the area when it rains.  I also need to install a heat lamp, for warmth and light as the days are getting short and egg laying is will decrease without several hours of light.  Time to bring out the water heaters, too.

Our chicken coop is about 100 feet from the house and lugging water has become such a burden.  Ducks drink lots of water, and spill lots of water, so lugging 10 gallons a day became “the norm”.  Tendonitis in my elbows and forearms also became a constant ailment.  We remedied the water carrying by using a 55 gallon drum to store water in.  Once a week we fill it with the hose and use a 5 gallon bucket to dip and fill the waterers.  Works great! in the warmer months.  Now, the cold weather is approaching and the water in the barrel will surely freeze.  I am thinking a floating heater will keep it from freezing.  That is the next experiment.

Thomas’ Sunny Sunday Morning Pancakes

1 large fresh chicken egg

1 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup unsweet almond milk

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp olive oil

3 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

     1. Take a large egg and beat it in a medium bowl.  Add all the other ingredients and stir until smooth, adding more milk if needed.  Be careful not to splash it on your face.

     2. Take a frying pan, and heat over medium heat.  Add a slice of butter, like if you were going to put it on toast. Wait for it to melt completely, and then pour some batter to the size pancake you want.

     3. Add chocolate chips, if you want.  Chocoalte chip pancakes are my favorite.  Wait for little bubbles to form and then carefully flip.  Sometimes they break when you flip, that’s ok, they still taste good.  Check it constantly.  Once it is your standard of cooked, remove from pan and put on plate.  Enjoy! by Thomas