Pancake of the Month: The Single Lady Pancake

I was waiting for Pancake Tuesday to do my February PotM post. Pancake Tuesday is always in February^*. It's one of the things that makes February worth-while^**. This year? To add to the joy brought by the seemingly never-ending cold and snow^***, Pancake Tuesday is in March. I mean, I ask you.

When I realized this, I had to scramble to find a quick pancake recipe before the end of the month because I ran out of weekends. Fortunately I came across this recipe from Joy the Baker, who loves pancakes nearly as much as I do. In fact, I may be baking my way through her recipes for the next little while...

Oh, and before you read too much into the name: the DC is still very much in the picture. I just... erm, didn't make him a pancake. Hey, it's a weekday; every person for themselves at breakfast. He gets to sleep in. I call it fair. Anyway, I'm sure the recipe would be suitable for all the single gentlemen as well.

Also, I might be making this for us again tomorrow. So there's that.



I like the idea behind a recipe that makes just enough for one person, and I'm always intrigued when recipes don't include eggs. Plus: bananas, chocolate chips, and pecans? Always a good idea. Although that is an oddly specific number of banana slices.

The result?

Quite tasty and nice and fluffy. The recipe says it makes one large pancake. I got one large, messy pancake -- when she says "it's okay if it doesn't flip perfectly," pay heed to the warning. It isn't stable -- although that might be because I misread the recipe (what else is new?) and put all the banana slices in the batter instead of only half. But it's still too big to cook through evenly without turning the heat right down. I think the next time I make this I will split it into two easy-to-handle pancakes. And put the proper number of banana slices in the batter. And maybe less sugar -- I don't think it needs a whole two tablespoons with all the chocolate-banana-roasted pecan-maple syrup action going on.

And since the song is in your head anyway...


^*Except when it's not.

^**That, and birthday sushi.

^***I'm all for letting the seasons do their thing, but can we be done being winter and start being spring already? I'd even settle for still-winter-but-hovering-around-0 C.

Gravity well

Plan:


Execution:

I mostly finished my second version of V1351 at the beginning of January and wore it (and a bunch of other things -- it was cold!) to see Musical of Musicals: the Musical! which I kept not getting to see at the Fringe last summer, so I was pleased to give tickets to the DC and me for Christmas. I hemmed the shell in time to wear for my birthday jam at Dovercourt last week. As is usual with my projects, there is still work to be done, but I've been waiting over a month to post this so whatever.

Giveitaway giveitaway giveitaway now

The chorus is the only part of this song I can understand. Also: motion sickness warning.

So, I thought I had posted the winner of the pattern giveaway on my birthday, but clearly getting older is affecting my memory. That or the procrastination thing. Anyway, using a virtual 10-sided die (because mine are at school), the winner is...

9 ≡ 4(mod 5), and so the winner is Andi Unseamly! Huzzah! I've sent you a message on Google+.

Speaking of giving stuff away, I've been doing quite well with the Sew For a Change decluttering challenge. In fact, if I count the items that my downstairs neighbour graciously took away for her work donation thingy 2 days before the challenge started, I've already reached the required 28 items. I'm going to see if I can do it without counting them, though. Given away so far (or definite plans to do so)? Tap shoes, a historical atlas, my Aerogarden, rollerblades and wrist guards, 2 immersion blenders, a Porta-bar that we foolishly pick up off the street, the camera I took to Europe 4 years ago, the Palm Zire 71 I thought I could upgrade to after said trip, some metal puzzles, my green Mahalo ukulele and penny whistle, 2 boxes of CDs, some clothes, a bunch more books (including the giant tome Audubon's Quadrupeds of North America), these patterns and trim (which I'm counting as three items even though there are 13 of them), and two bags of magazines which are going to Arts Junktion, which provides art materials for TDSB schools. I'm currently trying to sell my 3M MPro 150 projector and some Folio books. I'm even thinking of selling my hard guitar case.

This could get serious.

Comment to win patterns!

I have been having epic birthday shenanigans, which I'll get around to blogging Real Soon Now. This is just a post to remind you that there is still time left to win a bunch of free patterns + some trim. My birthday gift to you.

Leave a comment on the original post! Help me declutter! Karma and all that jazz. I'll choose a winner through some fabulous mathematical device tomorrow morning.

In the meantime, here is a taste of what I got up to this weekend:

In which PhysicsGirl gives patterns away for her birthday!

In 10 days it will be my birthday. It's a geekily important one, so I'm trying to think of ways to top the birthday nonad from two years ago. Here's one of them: I'm giving away a bunch of patterns and some trims.

I was going to do this anyway, but I'm pleased to be able to count it as part of the February decluttering challenge from Sew For a Change: get rid of, i.e. donate, sell, repurpose 28 items, one for each day of the month.

All of the patterns are uncut. I was given a bunch and they're gorgeous, but they're not my size and realistically I'll never size them down. Others are my size, but I think it's time to let them go on to someone who will make them into the lovely garments they deserve to be.

They are V8353, Butterick 4781, and Style 3853 (sizes 12-16), and V814, V8473, V8181, and V7521 (sizes 14-20).

The next bunch are the same vintage child's pattern (McCall's 7358) in sizes 2, 4, and 6. I think Aged P bought these for me, or at least for the girl she thought she was going to have when she was first pregnant.^*

The size 4 has a stained envelope and the instructions are missing, but the pattern seems fine and anyway the (uite yellowed) instructions are intact in the other two envelopes.

Lastly, I'm throwing in some trim that came in a FabricMart mystery bundle.

Aren't they fun? I'm sorry the pictures have turned out horribly; that pale one has light pink curlicue embroidery down the middle.

If you would like to receive a birthday present from me, leave a comment below by midnight EST February 9, saying either which pattern you love to make up, what you would do with that trim, or what item you own you could donate, sell, or repurpose this month. If there is enough interest, I might split the pattern into three bundles by size. Check back February 10 for the winner(s). And enjoy this adorable picture of Lucy.



^*I showed up eight years later. I was always a procrastinator. And tardy.