Banana Cinnamon Pancakes

Fredo and I were up early this morning, we stayed in bed and watched the news, Noah was still in his own bed, amazing...after the weather, Fredo said to me, "lets get up and make pancakes" I laughed because not too long before that, I was thinking how good a banana pancake would be for breakfast!

Most important thing first, I put on the coffee, a must in the morning, especially when I didn't have one the night before! So while the coffee was brewing, oh how I love that sound and smell, I looked in the cupboard for the Aunt Jemima pancake mix, to my surprise there wasn't any! Not to worry, I grabbed my computer and googled "pancake recipe". I would normally use Ina Garten's Sour Cream Pancakes, but I had no sour cream either! Fredo was very impressed with the "no worries, I will just whip some up from scratch" attitude.

I must say I don't really like to make pancakes, they always burn, or ooze all over, or aren't cooked enough, or are cooked too much....my preference are waffles. My husband, likes pancakes..and strangely enough, I REALLY liked these pancakes too!

The recipe is from www.allrecipes.com it was very simple, and not a huge batch. It gave me 6 hand sized pancakes, you could always double the batch if you needed more??

I sliced up some banana, and sprinkled mine with cinnamon. Along with syrup, it was lovely! My favorite was when I lived at home, my mom would warm the maple syrup!! Kind of like when someone warms your milk to add to your coffee so that it doesn't go cold..a simple pleasure :-) Thanks Mom! (I can't say I have ever done that).

Enjoy!

K

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/pancakes-i/Detail.aspx

In case this link doesn't work....

1 cup flour

1 tbsp white sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 egg

2 tbsp oil

Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Combine wet ingredients in smaller bowl. Make a well in dry ingredients, pour in wet, mix until smooth, dollop into a pan. Voila!

My new radio...

I scored at West Elm in Toronto. I saw this in a magazine, then saw that it was on sale on their Facebook page, so my sister and I headed over to get me one....well, there weren't any left! We continued to look around, and look around, we must have been in there for 45 minutes...I felt a tap on my shoulder, it was the sales lady that had looked and told me there were no radios left..in her hands, was a box I was very excited to see, a RADIO!! A customer had thought they wanted it, and then changed their mind..so, it was mine! When I went to pay for it, the cashier was quite surprised that I had one...she muttered that she hoped no one pulled it out the "hold" section, which I think might of happened....oh well, transaction approved, and we were out of there!

Crosley Solo Tabletop Receiver

I wondered how I would get it home, but that was to be worried about when I was packing...and I managed, along with a overly stuffed diaper bag, blankets, stroller and Anabelle on my hip, I carried it on the plane. It sat nicely above me in the overhead compartment. Until the bag ripped while trying to get it down in a hurry as people try to scurry you along while exiting the plane! But all was good, I held the handles on an angle so it wouldn't fall out. Note to self, never bring anything onto the plane in a paper bag.......

As you can see, my little vintage looking radio sits on my kitchen counter, and is playing Christmas tunes to me as we speak....it conveniently matches my decor :-)

K

I gained 5 lbs in one sitting...

While still here in Toronto, my sister took me to a new restaurant called SCHOOL www.sbcto.com for lunch. She was telling me about something my dad had ordered while he was here a while ago, and my mouth salivated as I read it on the menu....Super Cheesy French Toast with Bacon and Wild Greens, I must tell you, this was sinful! (Picture to follow).

It arrived in front of me, smothered in cheddar cheese and crispy strips of bacon on top. I drizzled it with maple syrup and dug in. WOW....you remember my love of sweet and salty, well, this hit the spot!! I normally do not order French Toast, I am an eggs benny, eggs poached medium girl with lots of hollandaise sauce ( I always say hollandaise will be the death of me). But this time, the waitress assured me it was a must try. I had never heard of anything like it!

The mix of buttery salty french toast with gooey cheese and crispy bacon was heaven, all scooped up with maple syrup! She added a few potatoes on the plate at well...I couldn't go for lunch/brunch with no hashbrowns!!!

I felt like I had gained 5 pounds in one sitting, but I would most definitely order it again!! And would recommend it to anyone!!! Probably my favorite thing about Toronto is the food...

Here are some other places I have eaten at during my visit...

Arabesque on College-Most amazingly yummy and cheap falafel!!

Fresh-Yummy rice bowl, with parsley, honey, tahini and tamari (much needed after the french toast)

Island Foods-UNBELIEVABLE stuffed Roti, with potatoes and chicken

I come back in January when my little niece or nephew arrives, and I hope to eat at all these places again!

K

DATE NIGHT...

So, I got in trouble from a friend about a recent post. He said I tore my husband a new a-hole. I didn't think so, I thought it was funny...I made a comment about my husband not being able to get it together to take me on a date, well, not to long ago, it happened, and this friend thought it should make the blog..so here we are!

The night started with our whole family going out for dinner. Yes, me, my husband, my almost 3 year old son, and my 7.5 month old daughter... we had a nice dinner, at Cactus Club at 5pm. The regulars hadn't clicked in with there heels and LV yet. It was a nice family time. It was a nice dinner. Noah ate all his supper, Anabelle ate all her supper and of course, Mommy ate all her supper plus some of Fredo's supper, and a bite of Noah's supper...

We made good time, as the movie we were going to started at 7:05pm. The waitress was very prompt, as one should be when you have kids, and we were paid and out of there by 6:15pm. All I had to do now was go home, nurse Anabelle, no wait, I did that at the restaurant to save time...put Anabelle is jammies, and put her to bed, leave Noah with Nonna, and zoom out to the movie.

It was nice to be in the car just Fredo and I, like old times, before little kiddies. What did we do before we had kids by the way? We made it to the movie in time, got a coffee, and went into the theatre.

He joked that we would sit in the back and make out...well, we didn't make out, but we did hold hands, something everyone should do more often. It feels so good, to have your fingers intertwined with someone you love, madly.

The movie we watched was sad, "Life as we know it" I cried, of course, maybe Fredo did too, I didn't look. If you have seen it, you know why, no need to explain. I will tell you I was glad when Anabelle woke up when we got home, as I needed to give her a huge snuggle after watching that movie, and Noah, well he was awake, as usual, so he ran to me when we walked in the door, and that hug was magic. We were home, to our kids, my favorite place.

We had a nice night, we talked on the way home, that was really nice. I hope to do it again, sometime soon. So many of my friends post their status on Facebook as "Date night tonight" I think every couple should designate a night to be with their partner, whether you have kids or not, a night out for a walk, a movie, a dinner, a coffee... I think we all get too wrapped up in the hustle of life sometimes, and forget that it is so important for us to give those we love undivided attention (at least once a week!). We all want a little TLC......

Until the next date night :-)

K

West Elm

Today we are going to West Elm www.westelm.com It is here where I found Noah's bedding on our trip last year! I am so excited to search through all their holiday goodies and ornaments! I know I will be doing some Christmas shopping for sure! This store is so nice looking , and the displays are lovely too! I am a fan of theirs on Facebook, so I get all the updates on new arrivals!

I hope to also visit Anthropologie, to which my girlfriend said Vancouver is getting in the Fall of 2011! Maybe if I hunt in the sale section, I can find a button to buy!?

Also on the list are The Shops at Don Mills www.shopsatdonmills.ca my sister has told me they have added so many new shops since our last visit! Thank goodness its Christmas, an excuse to go shopping! Wouldn't you like to know all the goodies I will find!

Happy shopping, to me!

K

Replaced

I was excited to come back to Toronto to have a latte at my favorite place, The Common. While on the way back from the airport, my sisters boyfriend told me about a new place, just like The Common, but closer (just as cool) to where their place is. While out venturing today with my sister along College Street, we stopped in for a coffee at this new place,Slow Room. It was yummy! Just as yummy as The Common, and closer! Easily a quick stop in the morning!

As we were walking I was telling her about how good it felt to just hold a cup of coffee...am I addicted to coffee? Hmm..I couldn't give it up while I was pregnant, and if I don't have one in the morning, one in the late afternoon, and one after dinner, I wake up with a raging headache!? They always say to drink lots of water, I would take a coffee over a water any time! Tsk Tsk..

Must I say I will be returning tomorrow for a coffee at Slow Room, yes, and I will tell my husband that The Common has been replaced, yes..for this trip anyway :-)

I guess this place is so new that I couldn't find any link to them anywhere on the web......

K

PS......my sister and I accidentally stole a bath sling from Babies r Us.....OOPS! Damn strollers!! We have never laughed so hard!

Goosebumps...

I LOVE seeing my kids on film, it is magical! Today, Devon posted the pics from our family session a few weeks ago..I have been dying to see them, and have waited patiently! Tonight (well, tonight Toronto time) afternoon your time, they were posted on her blog!

I hope you all take the chance to get professional photographs of your family, they are truly amazing keepsakes!

I know this post is much like a few days ago...sorry, I was just so excited!!

K

www.devonhall.photoarts.blogpsot.com