Conference Brunch Idea

In case anyone is having a difficult time deciding if they should prepare something for breakfast or brunch tomorrow that is extra special and delicious, you should, and Puffed French Toast is what you should make! We absolutely LOVE this them.

You basically make a pancake batter, dip your bread in it and fry it like a scone. Pancakes, french toast and scones all in one! And the best thing to have with it is the buttermilk syrup. You basically make caramel to go on top of them.

I know I have blogged about these recipes before, but last time I just linked to them and I have had a few requests again for the recipe, so I'll post the actual recipes this time. They are both from ourbestbites.com (still one of my favorite websites!). I am also posting the links. If you go to the links, they have pictures of each step so you know what it is supposed to look like--especially helpful for the first time you make these. Also, we haven't ever dipped them in the cinnamon and sugar. I'm sure it is good, but the first time I made them I forgot, and love the way it tastes without, but try it if you want! Hope you love this and let me know if you try it!

Puffed French Toast-ourbestbites.com
2 eggs
2 ½ Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. milk
1 c. flour
2 ½ tsp. baking powder
12 slices Texas style toast, cut in half diagonally

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat about 1/4" of vegetable oil (not olive oil) over medium heat. In a shallow bowl or pie plate, whisk together eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, milk, flour, and baking powder. Test oil heat by flicking some water into the frying pan. If it pops, reduce the heat. If hardly anything happens, turn up the heat. If it sizzles, it's just right.

Working quickly, take each 1/2 slice of bread and soak it both sides in the milk/egg/flour mixture. If you leave it in too long, it will get soggy, but you want to make sure enough of the egg mixture has soaked into the bread. Gently shake to remove excess batter and place in hot oil. Cook until puffed, golden brown, and a nice, crispy crust has formed on each side (probably 3-5 minutes per side; you really need to babysit them and make sure they're cooking correctly) and then remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. While cooking remaining French toast, keep cooked pieces warm in an oven set to the lowest temperature it will go.

When ready to serve, roll each piece in cinnamon sugar.

If you're feeling extra naughty, go ahead and drizzle a little maple syrup, buttermilk syrup, strawberry syrup or scoop some honey butter on there.

Slice the bread into strips for great french toast dippers. Kiddos love these- or talk about killer party food! You could pile them high on a platter and then serve next to ramekins filled with different dipping sauces. Ie: Maple syrup, Buttermilk Syrup, Strawberry Sauce, etc.

Buttermilk Syrup-ourbestbites.com
3/4 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 stick real butter
2 Tbsp. corn syrup
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine buttermilk, sugar, butter, corn syrup, and baking soda in a LARGE pot. Like one you'd make soup in. Yes, you'll have way more pot than ingredients (and I'm not referring to the green leafy stuff), but this will boil all over your newly-cleaned stove if you put it in a smaller saucepan.

Bring ingredients to a boil and reduce heat to low (as long as it's still bubbling, you're okay). Cook, stirring very frequently, for 8-9 minutes. You're basically making candy here and candy-making requires constant vigilance.

When it's done, it should take on this luscious golden-brown color. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

There will be foam on top. It tastes just as good, but it's not super pretty. If you're into aesthetics, you can skim it off; otherwise, just give it a good stir.

My Lofty Goal

I have been recruited to run in a half marathon in St. George at the end of January. I did not volunteer or ask for more information about this race. I didn't even join in on a conversation about this race. Rather, I was at our neighborhood 'Fabulous Friday' get together and a lady came up to me, asked if I liked to run, to which I responded with a vehement, "No." Really, I like running about as much as I like scrapbooking. Not. At. All. :) Anyway, she then continued to tell me that was okay, because there were a lot of people just starting out, and that I had more than four months to train for it, and it was going to be such a fun weekend down in St. George because they were renting a house, so it wouldn't be very expensive, and that they did long runs every Saturday and she would see me then. (I know that was a long, run on on sentence, but it was like the one-sided conversation, I couldn't get a word in edgewise!) Then later that evening, she was trying to convince another lady to join in the fun when she announced to the entire table that I was going to do it too, so this person could do it as well. The table congratulated me for making such a goal.

So you can see now, I don't really have much of a choice in the matter. I guess I am going to run the half marathon, and I figured if I had a lot of people asking me how training was going and were expecting me to do it, it would help me be more accountable, and not back down.

It has been a week since I started training with my first run being 3 miles. That was a big mistake because that was the furthest I have EVER gone at one time, and I hadn't done anything for a very long time. I was very sore, but after running 4 times last week, I feel a lot better. We ran 3 miles again on Saturday and I can't believe how far I was able to go without stopping for a small walk break.

I still don't love running, but it is fun to see how much progress I've made in only a week. There is also one lady who stays with me and we talk for most of the time, and that is what makes it bearable! I also went and bought new running shoes on Saturday so I'm excited to try them out.

So, that is what my focus will be for the next 4 months. Sorry if you get bored as I update my progress, but this is my obsession right now! Thanks for reading!

Lia Sophia Party

I just wanted to let everyone who reads our blog (that I know!), that you are invited to a Lia Sophia party at my home Wednesday, Septemer 16, at 7:00 p.m. I am very excited to have this party because I love jewelry and they are having a great sale this month. If you purchase at least two items at regular price, you will get the equal number at half price. The best part is, your least expensive items are the ones you pay regular price for!

You can check out their online catalog at: http://www.liasophia.com/jennschmerer

If you won't be able to make it, you can still order. The party will close and all the orders sent in on the 23rd.

If you have any questions, please call me. For obvious reasons I am not putting my address or phone number on this blog, but I think you all know how to get in touch with me if you would like!

I would love to see you there, and feel free to bring a friend!

P.S. I have some yummy treats for you to eat if you come too!!

In Memory of...

This week we suffered a tragic loss in our home. We are in deep mourning of Brody's favorite item. Lightning McQueen.
The reason we lost Lightning is actually quite fantastic. I am happy to announce that Brody is fully potty-trained: day and night! He has only had one accident and that was the second night of potty training. Since it has been about a month now I am pretty confident that we are done with diapers with him!

Continuing with our loss: Brody would carry his little car with him wherever he went. He slept with him, ate with him, and with the newest development; went to the bathroom with him. I tried to tell him NUMEROUS times to leave Lightning on the floor or the counter until he was done going to the bathroom, but he wouldn't listen. A couple of days ago, Brody was finishing up in the bathroom while I was changing Seth's diaper. I heard a simultaneous crash and flush. I immediately knew what had happened, and then the wailing began!

I do admit, I was already chuckling when Brody ran into the family room. "Oh no mom, I dropped lightning when I flushed, and he went down, down. I won't ever get him back. Now he is at the moon. I won't ever get him back." (I am also laughing while I type this because it was so funny!)

So yes, Lightning McQueen is now in the sewer system. I hope he had a nice ride. :)

T-Ball

If you spend any time with Brody, you will soon find out he is obsessed with sports. He loves every kind. He will pick to watch baseball, golf or basketball on tv over kid shows--not every time, but a lot of the time. What is amazing to me is that when he watches, it is like he is examining what the professionals do, so that he can imitate them. When he putts the golf ball, he will line his club up, back up and do a practice swing, go back to the ball, move his head like he is lining the ball to a hole and then hit the ball. I know he definitely got that from watching tv. When he is pitching, he will nod his head yes, or shake his head no, then do a full wind up and pitch the ball. When he bats, he has to have batting gloves and hits the plate with the bat before each pitch. Needless to say, he LOVED playing t-ball and we enjoyed watching. :) For some reason, I can't find any pictures of Brody up to bat. Either I didn't take any, or I lost them. But I do have some of him out in the field.

This was the day of the clinic and when he found out he was a Texas Ranger. He wants to play t-ball again, and be a Ranger!

Do you love his 'ready position?'

He is only 3 though, so even playing in games he got a little distracted and had to have mom or dad out there to keep him from wrestling with the rest of the kids. :)

Seth got a little bored sometimes, but when Brody was sick of wearing his hat it was Seth's turn! Also, notice the batting gloves on his hands. When Brody was out in the field Seth got to wear the batting gloves.We had a lot of fun supporting Brody while he played this year. We're signing him up for soccer soon, I think he'll enjoy that as well!