and pancakes to follow up on the breakfast theme..

Use the same recipe to make the batter - then all you need to do is butter a griddle or large saucepan, Use a small ladle to dollop out small circles, about 3" in diameter on the pan or griddle. When you see air bubbles covering the top, then's it time to flip the pancakes. When they're golden brown, then it's time to pop 'em off the grill into your mouth (whoops, I meant your kid's mouth). Delicious with peanut butter, jelly, plain butter, maple syrup, or any combination thereof.

For additional variations, add blueberries, chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips into the batter. Another variation - one I remember my sister and I doing with our grandmother - is slicing up an apple, then laying one slice of an apple onto the pancakes as they were cooking on the first side. Once the air bubbles form, flip them over and cook until the pancakes turn golden brown.

I do the same with leftovers here - put 2 to a freezer bag, then store in the freezer. When your kids need a snack, just take a bag out and pop into the toaster. Also great for those days that you just don't feel like cooking.

Yer basic waffle recipe...with some additions

For your basic waffes:

2 cups milk
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 eggs separated

Preheat the waffle iron.

Mix together the dry ingredients. Add milk and egg yolks. Beat the egg whites until frothy, then add (this makes the waffles much fluffier). Stir together until completely combines - and don't forget to scrape the bottom and side of the bowl!

Pour a little canola or vegetable oil or butter on a paper towel and grease the waffle iron.

If you have a waffle iron, use 1/2 cup of batter. If you have a smaller side by side waffle iron, use 1/3 cup on each side. Close the iron - when the steaming stops - check the waffles. When they're golden brown, they're done. Serve immediately.

Make them all - once the uneaten ones have cooled, put 2 apiece in freezer bags and freeze - they make great snacks - just pop those bad boys in the toaster. If you don't have leftovers, just double the recipe - this is a super easy way of getting your kids to eat some healthier snacks.

For variations, add chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, diced frozen strawberries, or blueberries. Yummy!

Why I started this blog

One of my favorite memories growing up was running down the street to my grandmother's house every Saturday and Sunday to get her homecooked breakfast (and let my mom sleep in! - but I didn't realize that until later) I remember homemade pancakes - sometimes she'd slice up an apple and let us put the slices in! - waffles, and most of all, homemade cinnamon rolls. She'd let my sister and I spread the cinnamon sugar out over the dough and then help her roll it up.

I'm sharing the same memories with my son every Sunday and thought I'd spread the word. I've worked in restaurants since I was 14 and owned one for 14 years, but I will try to keep things simples.

An interest in cooking from scratch health food is all you need to get started. I'll give you tips on what kinds of utensils to buy, recipes, storing food, and much more.

We'll get started tomorrow.