Simplifying life 3

Today I wanted to share one of the things I do weekly to make my life just a little bit easier.

I used to make giant batches of pancakes or waffles and freeze them but the kids always took the giant batches as a right to eat as many as they wanted in one sitting. So I decided that it would be wiser to make an appropriate amount of them instead. So to make my life easier and have my own mix ready to go.

Like I said in my other posts I don't buy prepackaged foods any more. There are to many other ingredients that I don't want in my food.

I have two different mixes because I like spiced pancakes and waffles. I also have one for biscuits that has no spices in it.

I use about 2 cups of mix per batch of pancakes and about 3 cups per batch of waffles. I will include the recipe for each.

Pancake & Waffle Mix
6 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup wheat flour
6 Tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
4 TBSP sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp ginger

Sour Milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp vinegar

Pancake recipe
2 cups mix
4 TBSP melted butter
1 egg
1 1/2 cups sour milk (Or buttermilk can be used here)
combine all ingredients and allow to sit for 5 minutes before pouring onto hot griddle.

Waffle recipe
3 cups mix
1/4 cup oil or butter (melted)
2 eggs
2 cups sour milk
combine all ingredients and allow to sit for 10 minutes. You will see the batter sort of puff up and grow this will be when it is ready to use in your hot waffle iron.

For Biscuit mix (can also be used for dumplings like bisquick)
6 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
6 TSP baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 TBSP sugar

To make biscuits
2 cups mix
1/4 cup butter softened
1/2 - 3/4 milk
Mix butter into dry ingredients and keep it crumbly add in enough milk to pull together and either roll dough out to be cut up with a biscuit cutter or drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet and bake in a 350* oven for 10-12 minutes.

These are my simple mixes I keep in an air tight container on my counter. I usually go through both batches in a week but we also do not buy cereal any longer. I do make granola in the summer and we do eat hot oatmeal or cream of wheat. I make my own packets of  "instant" cereal as well. I will share those soon.

P.S.
You still have a little time to get in on the Give Away The Drawing takes place on February 9th.

Herman Waffles

Today's blog is brought to you by Herman. Our Herman has made the move with us and we continue to create wonderful recipes with Herman. If you have never made Herman before you can find the blog about Herman Here.

I created a recipe for Herman Waffles and I am going to share it here. This recipe is my own creation, it is a large batch and enough to do more then 30 waffles. (remember I have a large family!)

Herman Waffles

6 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
3 tbs baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup oil
6 large eggs
5 1/2 cups milk (I have used regular milk, flax milk or almond milk)
1 cup of herman starter

In a medium sized bowl mix all wet ingredients including herman starter, wisk well. In large bowl mix all dry ingredients, sift or use a wire wisk to blend ingredients together. Slowly beat the wet ingredients into the dry being sure to mix all the flour well but do not over beat the mixture. Let stand 5-10 minutes before use. The longer it stands the fluffier they will become. Be sure your waffle iron is hot and ready to go and under load the iron as these waffles expand a lot!