Homemade Pancake Mix

Bisquick costs $3-$6 per 40 ounce box.

Think about that.

Bisquick is mostly flour, correct?

"I have flour in my pantry," I thought to myself. And it didn't cost me that much.


So, I made my own "Bisquick."

Ingredients: 

3 cups unbleached, all purpose flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 c dry milk powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup butter

1. Combine all of the dry ingredients. Cut butter into the mixture with a pastry cutter or two knives (or your fingers) until crumbly. Store in a well-sealed container in the freezer.

2. To make pancakes: combine 1 1/2 cups of the mixture with 1 egg and 1/2-1 cup of water. (Start with a 1/2 cup of water and add more as needed until desired consistency.)

I adapted this recipe from Cooking During Stolen Moments.

Another benefit of making my own "Bisquick" is this: I know exactly what is inside! I get a little nervous when I read the ingredients on almost any packaged item in the grocery store. I mean- if I can't pronounce it, should I be eating it? Simple is better. So, whenever I have the chance to make my own food from scratch, I jump at it!

And for those of you who are saying "I don't have time for that," You do. I promise.
It took me five minutes. Literally. And it was worth it!

David's Vegetable & Beef Soup

Fletcher's mom gave me this recipe.
It is SO easy to make, has a lot of flavor, and is not unhealthy.

1 lb. Lean Ground Beef (Or try ground chicken or turkey!)
1 clove Garlic
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
1 (16 oz.) can Diced Tomatoes
1 (16 oz.) can Corn
1 (16 oz.) can Vegall (found on the same isle as canned vegetables)
1 (10 oz.) can Rotel
1 (10 oz.) can Tomato Soup
2 C Beef Broth (I used Bouion cubes)

Brown meat, drain.
Add onion, pepper, and garlic. Saute onion is tender.
Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
Simmer on Low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Wedding, check.

Duvall Wedding

A small country wedding in Laconia, Indiana.

It is a wonderful thing.

"You can't make proper use of a thing unless you know what it was made for, whether it is a safety pin or a sailboat. To me, it is a wonderful thing to be a woman under God-- to know, first of all, that we were made ('So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.') and then that were were made for something ('The rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.') This was the original idea. This is what woman was made for. The New Testament refers back clearly and strongly to this purpose: 'For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.' Some texts are susceptible of differing interpretations, but for the life of me I can't see any ambiguities in this one." -Elisabeth Elliot


This is from one of my favorite books, Let Me Be a Woman.

Mark & Ashley

Williams