This is an old blurry picture, but it is sooo dark today I don’t think I could do any better. The only difference is in the necklace I am wearing.

 Outfit:

Black tee (J.Crew)

Green cardigan (Lands End)

Levis

Black boots (consignment)

Vintage Mexican silver necklace

Menu:

breakfast: one slice toast with butter; cafe au lait

snack: 6 grapes, 1/2 banana

lunch: salami and cheese with submarine vinaigrette; green grapes; biscotti

dinner: apple pannekoeken*; wine

Finances:

$22 thrift store*

$27 at market (I realized I had missed some items the other day, plus had to spend $11 on diet coke because although I don’t drink it, it is part of my contribution to a baby shower all the aunts are throwing for my neice in a few weeks. I already bought bottled water and door prizes last week.

$5 at Target (foil and plastic wrap)

*Yes, it is cold. It was 43 degrees out while I was running errands this morning. I had gone through my children’s winter and fall clothing last weekend and my youngest daughter had one long sleeve shirt. So today I went to the thrift store and found 5 shirts (some Gymboree and nice brands) for $22. It was necessary.

Pannekoeken

First some background:  When I first moved to the Midwest everyone thought it would be fun to take the California girl to a Pannekoeken restaurant — it’s like IHOPS for Scandinavians. But when they bring you your pancake, they are dressed in little Dutch girl outfits and scream running through the restaurant “PANNEKOEKEN!!!!” until they get to your table. Yes, it’s a little different. I don’t think any of these restaurants exist anymore, but I can make them at home.

My SIL who has 5 kids gave me this recipe years ago, saying when they were on a tight  budget and didn’t have much food in the house she would make pannekoekens.  It’s like breakfast for dinner and the kids never complain.

I’ll give two measurements.

For a pie pan size serving you will want these ingredients:

1/2 stick butter

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup milk

3 eggs

cinnamon and sugar mixture

For a larger serving in a 9 x 13 baking dish:

1 stick butter

1 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 cup milk

6 eggs

cinnamon and sugar mixture

THEN: to each of these you can also put in a filling. You can make the basic Apple Pannekoeken, which would require sliced apples, you can eat it plain without the apple, or you can subsitute other fruit, such as strawberries and bananas or blueberries or even skip the fruit and put in ham and cheese or bacon and mushroom, etc. Although then you would obviously skip the sugar and cinnamon.

Directions:

Melt your butter in your baking dish, tilting the dish to coat the sides.

Mix flour, milk and eggs and pour into pan.

Arrange filling (apple slices or whatever) ontop of mixture and then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

Bake 30 minutes.

Top with syrup, powdered sugar, etc.