The Joys of Pancakes

I remember when I was a kid how much I loved pancakes. Well more like how much I loved syrup (you know you had an ocean of syrup on your pancakes too). What could be better then a stack of hot pancakes and a big glass of milk? Nothing. Well maybe a stack of waffles.

I know I said this would be recipes, but pancakes now days come from boxes, bottles, and cans. However it seems most of the time we just except what we are given and go on. How many non parents take the time to put chocolate chips in the pancakes? We need to let our inner child out and have some fun with our food.
My favorite way to make pancakes is semi lazy. I like to start with the small shake 'n pour (It's just my husband and me so we don't need to make a lot). I add 6-8 tablespoon of cinnamon sugar, (I make my own. It cheaper and you get more. Plus then I get to adjust the amounts to my taste.), and then 1 tablespoon of vanilla. The package calls for 2/3 a cup of water, which I like to add slowly so that I can have the batter the thickness I like.
So now I ask you my (hopefully real) reader, what is you favorite way to make pancakes?

Taco Pie

I find my love hate relationship with tacos amusing. I love to make tacos and eat Taco Bell here and there; however, I hate to eat tacos from a Mexican restaurant. I am baffled by this. To the point, Tacos are wonderful. They are inexpensive to make, great for when friends come over, and very versatile. I stumbled upon the humble taco pie when I was scavenging through my kitchen. I had taken to ordering Chinese take-out, so there wasn't much. I had:

• 9" deep pie shell 
• 1lb of lean ground beef 
• 1 of the steamer bags of southwestern rice 
• 1 random pouch of taco seasoning 
• 1 small can of salsa con queso 

I was hesitant, but my stomach was threatening to eat my kidneys if I didn't feed it soon. I took a fork and scored my pie shell and par baked it for 15 minutes at 400 (it was the temperature the packaging said to use, so I did). I cooked the meat as if I was making tacos, and I had the rice cooking in the microwave. [I like to mix 1 tablespoon of corn into the water for my taco seasoning. It just makes it thicker, and is not needed if you don't have it. I went to school to be a pastry chef so I have corn starch handy.] Once the meat and rice were done I mixed them together and placed them in the pie shell. I then completely covered my rice meat mixture with the cheese dip and put it back in the oven for 15 minutes (or when the cheese had browned to my liking). After letting it cool for 5 minutes, it cut myself a piece. I cut just like a piece of pie. Another good thing about it is when you reheat it the next day it tastes just as good. [I have never seen the point in food that tastes horrible when heated the next day.] I hope try it, and if you love it or hate it let me know.