Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Homemade Buttermilk

Brunch and breakfast are the things I live for on the weekends, so a few years ago I searched high and low for a recipe to see if I could recreate IHOP's buttermilk pancakes. I didn't find the exact recipe, of course (it’s their little secret), but I did find an extremely close match which I've been making ever since; the pancakes are so yummy and fluffy that I cannot, will not revert back to boxed pancake mix.

The problem with making buttermilk pancakes from scratch is that buttermilk is not sold in small quantities and I always end up wasting about ½ of the container because I didn't make enough pancakes before the buttermilk expired. I could have used it for baking so that it didn't go to waste, but I didn't think that far ahead.

I also searched around to see if buttermilk was sold in pint size quantities, but it wasn't, so I did the next best thing, which was to see if I could make it on my own.

I found a few different ways to make it but the recipe I went with consisted of:

¾ cup plain yogurt (I used Fage plain Greek yogurt and it worked fine)
¼ cup milk
½ tsp white vinegar

I really wasn't sure how these yogurt based pancakes were going to turn out, but DAMN! They were delicious! And I enjoyed hearing the satisfied grunting noise that came from Edward after he took his first bite. No words needed... I feel you, Boo!

Strange things get me excited so the fact that I was able to make my own buttermilk was the highlight of my weekend. As I skipped through my kitchen, I probably repeated the ingredients to Edward about it three times, even though he heard me the first time and he really could care less about ingredients.

Here’s to never buying buttermilk again!

~Louise

Follow me on Twitter @ LouiseCazley

Friday, April 4, 2014

Racing Old-Dude, Guillermo

I run into this old dude in the elevator of my apartment building some mornings when I’m leaving for work. I don’t know his name, but I’ve given him the name Guillermo (emphasis on the ‘errrrmo’) because it seems fitting. He is a grumpy old man but his wife is social enough to make up for his grouchy demeanor. When we see each other in the mornings, he is always alone; frown on his face, wearing a black hat & long black trench coat. I may or may not say good morning and he may or may not grunt back a response.

We walk in the same direction for a short while after we leave the building and I’ve suspected that he doesn’t like it when I pass him if I’m walking at a faster pace. I feel like he always speeds up so that I can’t pass him. I thought I was imagining things, but this morning I was feeling mischievous so I decided to put my theory to the test. I made this decision while we were in the elevator so once we exited the building I let him get a few seconds of a head start and observed his normal walking speed, then I picked up the pace, closing in on him.

The second I came close to passing him, Guillermo began huffing and puffing, his left arm swinging out at an awkward angle as he used it to gain the momentum to keep me in the dust. Guillermo is tall, like 6 1/2 feet. I’m only 5 feet tall, so I had to take two steps to match one of his, but I kept up and walked faster. And he walked faster.

By the time Guillermo crossed the street away from me, I was out of breath and I know he was too, because of all the heavy mouth breathing coming from him during our unofficial race.

Now I know I wasn’t bugging out: Old dude, Guillermo, does not like it when I beat him at his walking game. I know I shouldn't mess with old people, but next time, and there will be a next time, I’m breaking into a run.

~Louise

Follow me on Twitter @ LouiseCazley