Banana Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup

This week doesn’t look good. I thought that by starting with some delicious banana pancakes it might cheer me up, but it didn’t work. I can only hope that the week will get better but I am growing tired. It’s hard to keep up a good outlook. I can’t help but feel as if too many people want something from me and I am getting tired and turning somewhat bitchy. That is something I am trying to avoid but maybe it’s something that needs to happen for now.

On some lighter news, I found another website about diabetes. I found it in Sunday’s newspaper. It was a small zine called “Spry.” In a small corner of the first page there was a section about stopping diabetes. It was disappointing how little information they had on the subject but it mentions a website stopdiabetes.com. Apparently there is an organization dedicated to stopping diabetes. Also they are trying to raise the awareness and getting people to get tested for Diabetes. Sounds pretty good. I will check it out and let the readers that take the time to read this, know more about it. I will check it out more when I am not being lazy. Also it is a little late.

I do hope that someone other than myself is reading these blogs.

Book: Still on Frankenstein by Shelley. I know, I know. I seem to be taking forever with this book but I am on the second to last chapter and hopefully I will finish it by this week.

iTunes: Nicki Minaj - Dear Old Nicki. This song is about wanting to go back to the old you or missing the person that you used to be. There are times I miss the old me but I think I need to shed who I am and become a little harder on people. I am very tired of being pulled in directions that I don’t want to go. Actually, I am not sure if I miss the old me, I think what I miss is how happy I used to be. When circumstances where different. Now I just feel lost.

Pandora: Brandy – Have You Ever? This song just makes me sad.

Quote: Your life is what your thoughts make it. – Marcus Aurelius. Don’t have any thoughts for this one. I kind of like it. I grimaced as I wrote that last line. It is a good quote but today it doesn’t resonate within me.

Ingredients:

1.      1/3 cup all purpose flour

2.      1 ½  tablespoons splenda

3.      1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

4.      Pinch of salt

5.      1/3 cup of mashed banana

6.      1 egg

7.      1 egg white

8.      2 teaspoons reduced-fat peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)

9.      1/3 cup low-fat milk

10.  Cooking Spray

Peanut Butter Syrup:

1.      1 teaspoon margarine

2.      1 ½ tablespoon reduced fat peanut butter

3.      1 teaspoon splenda

4.      ¼ cup of water

Directions:

1.      Sift flour, Splenda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

a.       Now, when I began this, my mother was hovering in the kitchen; wanting to help. But I became aggravated because I woke up angry and just wanted to be alone to prepare my meal. If I had needed help, I would have asked for it. I think I like to be alone in the kitchen while I prepare my experiments.

b.       Splenda is a weird sugar. I only say this because I bought the box and the sugar was sort of flaky. It dissolved easily in liquid. I wonder if the little packets are the same. I don’t remember them being as flaky but then again, I am not a fan of Splenda but the recipe calls for it and so I will use it. I think, once I learn more about substituting and stuff, that I will change it to brown sugar. But if it’s too harmful for diabetics, I’ll just stick to what the book says.

c.       I really should look up what sift means. I just placed all the ingredients and whisked them until it seems that they were mixed. Not sure if it affects the outcome.

2.      Mash banana, egg and egg white in a separate bowl.

a.       I used a whole banana. I grabbed a spoon and in a bowl smashed the banana and placed it in the measuring cup, to make sure it came out to the amount posted in the ingredients. Then I cracked open an egg and pour some egg white in the same bowl. With the spoon, I whisked it until it seemed mixed.

3.      Add peanut butter to banana mixture. Whisk until mixture is fluffy and the peanut butter is fully incorporated.

a.       Adding the peanut butter was a bit difficult because, it wasn’t mixing well at first. I had to whisk it more than usual for it to mix with the other ingredients. I don’t think it ended fluffy. Maybe it will happen next time.  

4.      Add milk and whisk until smooth.

a.       No problem here.  

5.      Fold the flour mixture into the wet mixture. Do not over mix.

a.       Now it says not to over mix but I did it anyways. Well, I don’t think I over mixed but I made sure that it was properly blended.

6.      Let stand two minutes while you heat a nonstick skillet or griddle pan over medium heat.

a.       It was actually two minutes because I waited for the pan to heat up properly. I almost didn’t but decided to push aside my impatience.

7.      Coat pan very lightly with cooking spray. Pour scant ¼ of batter into heated pan to form each pancake. Cook until bubbles form in the batter and edges of the pancake appear dry. Flip pancake and cook 1 minute longer or until done. Serve with peanut butter syrup.

a.       I put the fire really low so that I would take its time cooking and I would have time to prepare the peanut butter sauce. Once both sides were made, I served it to my mother. She has to be the first one to taste it. She liked it. She didn’t like the peanut butter sauce too much. She said it was because the peanut butter was low fat and doesn’t taste as good as the regular kind. It tasted good. Not something I would eat every day. I preferred the sweet potato pancakes because they were sweeter.

b.      The entire process took 26 minutes. I think it could be doable for breakfast before work. Or just save it for the weekend when you will have time to wash the dishes afterwards. Unless you don’t mind leaving it for after when you come back.  

Peanut Butter Syrup Directions:

1.      Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

2.      Place everything in a cooking pan and stir until everything is perfectly mixed. Keep mixing until it is smooth and then serve.

a.       I don’t like using the microwave to prepare any meal. It just doesn’t seem to cook properly in my opinion. I could be wrong and it probably saves on time but I prefer to use a cooking pan.

EXERCISE

This isn't a new post about food, just one concerning exercise. Every now and then I will post something pertaining to Diabetes that I know or heard from what I believe to be a credible source. I'm thinking of subscribing to "Diabetes Forecast," it may contain some useful information on the fight to control Diabetes. I found the magazine while checking out the website http://www.diabetes.org/. I haven't checked out all aspects of the website but it seemed interesting. Also if you have questions about diabetes, don’t hesitate to go to your doctor and ask. There might be classes or seminars, you can attend.

Pandora: Delerium - Just a dream (feat. Margaret Far.) Had never heard this song before, it’s very soft and melodic. I think those could be terms used to describe the song. "I still hear your voice from across the horizon." I love that line.

iTunes: Final Fantasy X - Suteki da ne. Such a beautiful song. I find it amazing that when I put my music on shuffle, I sometimes get a song that mirrors what is on my mind so perfectly. Look it up and you'll know the state of my mind when you find the translation.

Quote: Draaga, the real test of honor isn't how you die. It's how you live. - Superman on Justice League. I think I'll do away with the quote of the day and of the week. When I post an update, I'll just include a quote of something I heard or read that day I am posting. It's a great quote but I think that I have heard something like this somewhere else.

Book: Still on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, near the end, I had stopped reading but will finish it this week.


Diabetes, the main point of this blog is to prepare meals that will help you keep your diabetes under control or at least not to aggravate it. You must understand that you have to keep taking your medication and to keep the portions of your meal at an agreeable serving. If you can help it, don't go back for a second serving. This may sound cruel or mean but eating small portions will help. I am not suggesting that you starve yourself but eat with moderation. Also, and I consider this to be very important, you must exercise. If you have the time, walk for 30 minutes a day, or go to the gym and get on the treadmill. I have a bicycle at home and 3 or 4 times a week, I do 30 mins, while watching my favorite shows. It helps. Exercise helps keep my mother's sugar levels low.

I cannot stress how important I consider exercise to be. I feel better after having walked or done my 30 minutes. More relaxed, happy and loose. Not stiff, I mean. Also, by walking, one gets to see interesting things. It could be a new store you hadn't noticed before. Slight changes made in the environment or you may see something funny. But you'll feel better after having stretched your legs. Don't we spend enough time sitting down at home or work? Explore a new neighborhood, find cute little stores that may sell knickknacks that amuse you. Learn the town, city or place where you live. Don't walk at night because that's when crazy things happen. Though they could happen during the day as well but I think during the day, it will be better.

Now I know many of you will be busy with work, children and stuff. But you HAVE to find a way to sneak in some form of exercise. Say that you have the equipment at home, watch your children's favorite cartoon with them, except you will be on the machine or try to get the entire family to work out if you have purchased a DVD. I am not sure how effective those things are but it might be fun. How about you spend the afternoon taking a stroll with everyone in the family? It doesn’t have to be every day, but at least on the weekend some form or exercise should be present. Don't give in to the laziness, which I battle almost every day. Don't say I'm tired, I'm tired. Everyone is tired but a bit of exercise will go a long way. And if you are always tired maybe you should go to the doctor. Maybe something they can do or give you.

Hope you enjoyed reading this. Next post will include the banana pancakes and any crazy thought that crosses my mind.

- Annie

ps. Before you do any form or exercise you should go to the doctor's and have a physical so you can time yourself and set a healthy pace.

Sweet Potato Pancakes lacking Orange Honey Syrup

Small changes are going to be made to this blog, which I hope improves it in the long run.

Book: Still reading Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

iTunes: Queens of the Stone Age - Ode to Clarissa. Without fail this song reminds me of this old show I used to watch called "Clarissa Explains it all." Only because there is a line that says, "to your window I creep," and she had that neighbor who would always climb up her window.

Pandora: Aventura - Obsecion. Just makes me think of someone.

Quote of the week: When I looked around, I saw and heard of none like me. Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled, and whom all men disowned? - Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. From now on quotes will come from whatever I am reading at the moment. Sometimes I feel as if I can't find someone like me or that I am a strange thing, that was thrown onto this earth.

Ingredients:

1. One cup mashed sweet potato.
2. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
4. 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
5. 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
6. pinch of salt
7. 1/2 cup low-fat milk
8. 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
9. 1 egg
10. 1 egg white
11. Cooking Spray
12. 2 tablespoons Orange Syrup

Orange Honey Syrup

1. 1 tablespoon honey
2. 1 tablespoon orange juice (any will do)
3. 2 tablespoons water
4. 2 teaspoons margarine

Directions:

1. Thaw frozen sweet potato and measure out one cup. Or pierce a fresh sweet potato several times with a fork and microwave for 5 minutes until soft. Split the sweet potato and scoop out the flesh to measure one cup.
• The sweet potato my mother bought was this giant, misshapen thing. As soon as she learned that I was going to attempt this recipe she comes in, grabs the sweet potato and starts washing it. Then She cuts it in half. I became upset because this is my project and she shouldn't be doing any of the work. Besides, how am I supposed to learn. Certain things I won't learn by watching. She became upset at me and called me an ungrateful child. Anyways, I cut the half into four pieces, placed it in a pan filled with water. I don't use the microwave as the book instructs because I don't think it will cook as well. I once had a friend cook rice using the microwave and it didn't taste pleasant to me. Certain things, you just shouldn't use a shortcut for. It did take some time to soften but it tasted delicious. While it was cooking, every now and then I would poke it with a fork.

2. Mix flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
• I did not have nutmeg. I didn't know if I could have used another substitute. I wouldn't even know what to substitute in its place. It was hard to tell if it was mixed in properly. It just looked white.

3. Mash the sweet potato with milk, oil, egg, and egg white in a separate bowl and whisk until smooth.
• Once the sweet potato was cooked, I picked it up with a spoon only to have it slip and fall back into the boiling water. Luckily, I wasn't burned but I came close to it. The skin, of the sweet potato, came off easily. and then i just smashed it with a fork. Then gathered all the ingredients and mixed them until it was smooth.

4. Fold the flour mixture into the sweet potato mixture and let sit for two minutes.
• I didn't wait the two minutes. Once it was mixed in well, I went and started to cook it.

5. Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle and coat lightly with cooking spray. Drop 1/4 cup of batter to form pancake and cook until bubbles form and the edges of the pancake look dry. Flip the pancake and cook one minute longer. Keep the pancakes warm in a low-temp oven and then serve with orange honey syrup.
• I had never eaten sweet potato pancakes and they were delicious. I can't wait to make them again for brunch. I had not eaten breakfast, so this turned into my brunch meal.

Orange Honey Syrup

1. Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave 10 to 15 Min's
3. Mix and serve well.
• This took too long. It was the margarine and was not mixing too well. I think that next time I will have to just cook it instead of trying to microwave it. I just used light syrup that we have at home.

Hope you all enjoyed this week's goodies. The next recipe will be Banana Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup.

Raisin Oat Scones

A new color and font. I also changed the name slightly. I think it sounds better. Those are the changes I made for this month. I think that every month, I'll do some slight changes. I also realized that I haven't posted how many it should serve or the prep time or cooking time. Something I'll have to remedy when I post the next recipe I make.

This week wasn't as trying as I feared. But that's because a good portion of the craziness has been postponed to next week. Lord give me strength.

Book: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Still with it. Great novel.

iTunes: Janet Jackson - Go Deep. Fun song to get dressed to. Could it be that the universe is telling me to have fun? I will try to have fun but I will be on guard as well.

Pandora: Rent (Original Broadway Cast) - Light My Candle. A flirty song but for who.

Since it is still the same week, no new quote.

Ingredients:

1. Cooking Spray
2. 1 cup all-purpose flour
3. 3 tablespoons splenda
4. 2 tablespoons of baking powder
5. pinch of salt
6. 1/2 cup of oats
7. 3 tablespoons cold butter or margarine, chopped into small pieces
8. 3/4 cup raisins, chopped into small pieces
9. 1 egg
10. 1/4 cup very cold buttermilk
11. 1/4 cup plain fat-free yoturt
12. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Serves: 8
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time 15-18 mins.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F and lightly coat a cookie sheet with cooking spray.
2. Sift into a large bowl the flour, splenda, baking powder, and salt. Add oats and mix well.
3. Work the butter into the flour mixture with your ahnds, rubbing the butter and flour between your fingers until it looks like coarse bread crumbs. Add the chopped raisins. Mix to combine.
4. In a separate bowl, thoroughly whisk the egg, buttermilk, yogurt, and vanilla until slightly frothy.
5. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture. Stir just until the ingredients come together in a soft, wet dough. Let the dough sit for one minute, then turn the dough out onto a floured work surface.
6. Knead the dough gently with your fingertips to form a ball. With a floured rolling pin, gently flatten teh dough into a sheet 3/4 inch thick. Fold the dough in half and gently roll again into a 3/4 inch sheet. Repeat the gentle fold and roll procedure two more times.
7. With a sharp knife, trim the edges of the dough to make a square. Cut the dough in half vertically then horizontally to make four quarters. Cut the dough diagonally both ways to make 8 triangles. Cut each triangle in half to make a total of 16 small triangular scones.
8. With a spatual, gently lift the scones, still attached to each other, onto the cookie sheet. Bake 15 to 18 mins. until golden. Cool and serve.

I hate raisins. But I posted the recipe, just in case one of you guys wanted to try it. I think this might be the last recipe I post, that I don't make. I'll let you know the name of the recipe I am skipping but I think from now on I'll just post on the ones I try.