A Mom's Gotta Do What A Mom's Gotta Do.

This little comic strip was cut out by my beloved several years ago and has remained posted either on the refrigerator or a bulletin board ever since. Never in the history of comic strips has one nailed a real person more accurately than this. They even got my name right.

Though I just have to say, is there anyone out there that actually likes brussell sprouts? I mean really?

I'm really more anti-peas to tell you the truth. Why some people eat these grotesque little balls of green goo is beyond me. Yet, for some reason I have yet to fully examine, I insist upon forcing my daugther to eat them. Why would I do that?

Because they're good for you is the refrain often sung by parents around the globe. But, really, they aren't that good. Two-thirds of a cup of peas only nets a body 10% of their daily Vitamin C, 8% of their Vitamin A and 6% of their necessary daily iron. I'm just not impressed. And though while I admit, the little buggers pack a mighty 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, I must say, I can get that from a Zone bar and actually enjoy the experience of eating.

But as a committed and dedicated parent, I will willingly continue to follow the rules set down in the Official Guide to Parenting The Way Everyone Else Does It But We're Not Sure Why handbook and periodically threaten my child with the loss of her bedtime snack if she doesn't choke down at least two spoonfuls of peas every now & then. The only problem is, I'm supposed to be setting an example. Yep, says so right there in Chapter 7, They See Hypocritical People of the official handbook.

So that means I'm choking down at least two spoonfuls of peas every now & then. Yuck. The good news is, I know how to disquise the taste and I'm here to share my secrets with you.

Secret #1: Alfredo sauce. The next time you make pasta with alfredo sauce, dump a small can of peas in with the sauce. I'm not kidding - you can't even taste them!

Secret #2: Cream of chicken soup. Add a can of mixed vegetables to a can of cream of chicken soup and heat through. Not only am I not kidding about this but, truth be told, this is actually pretty yummy!

Secret #3: Get a dog and hope that he likes peas. Kidding!

Any other tips on choking down peas or any other vegetable for that matter would be greatly appreciated. I'd hate to lose my bedtime snack.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Photo courtesy of flickr.com

Awhile back, I was in the grocery store having a conniption fit about the cost of a very small box of Bisquick when it suddenly dawned on me that the pioneers crossed this rugged land in covered wagons and making flapjacks for breakfast all along the way.

They didn't need Bisquick back then I decided and I don't need it now!

So home I went, and much like a modern-day pioneer, I crossed the internet looking for a scratch pancake recipe. There are TONS, by the way!

I picked one out and I'm happy to say that me and the kid-folk are mighty happy with it.

Then, a few days ago, I remembered that my husband has a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that calls for a packet of Jell-O Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding mix. If you could add it to chocolate chip cookies, I pondered, why not pancakes?

And, for the record, my husband is indeed the chocolate chip cookie baker in the house.

So, I gave it a shot and the result was a yummy one. Here's the recipe I used:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3 1/2 Tsp baking powder
1 Tsp salt (I actually don't use this much)
1 Tblsp white sugar
1 1/4 C. milk
1 egg
3 Tblsp butter, melted

I then added one box Jell-O Instant Pumpkin Spice Pudding mix and an additional egg. I also added more milk until I liked the consistancy.

I was very happy with the result and will continue to make these through the fall. I hope you enjoy them as well!