Homemade Pancakes...

I've had this recipe for a few years. Cooking from scratch can save so much money {in most cases}.

The title is "Fluffy Pancakes, but no matter how many times I made them, although good, they were NEVER fluffy! I tinkered and tinkered with the recipe, adding more baking powder, more salt, then less salt. Nothing worked.

Until now! {I'm so excited} Doesn't take much for me, huh?

It was the butter! Too much.

So here it is, Shawna's Famous Fluffy Panckaes

{I can call them mine because I changed the recipe so much, RIGHT?}

2 cups of flour
2 tablespoons of sugar
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup of milk
1/4 cup + 3 tablespoons of butter, melted

In medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In separate small bowl melt butter. Then combine the egg, milk and butter; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. If the batter seems too thick, add a little milk. You want them on the thick side...don't make them runny.

Pour batter by 1/2 cupful onto a greased hot pan. Turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes; cook until the second side is golden brown.


On a similar note...I've decided to start posting some of my favorite recipes. I've collected some knockouts! Watch out "Rachel Ray"!

Here in beautiful Costa Rica...I can't run to the grocery store and get everything I've been used too in the states. So I run to my computer and look up how to make it. I've made homemade marshmallows, enchilada sauce, peanut butter, frosting, cake batter, buttermilk, condensed cream of mushroom soup, butter, noodles; all with the help of the Internet. I try various recipes and then "fix" them to make them just perfect.

So now (after 11 months) you can imagine how many "from" scratch recipes I have. In the states I was spending about $1,300 a month on groceries. Don't freak out, remember I have 7 mouths to feed, 1 bum to diaper and that included my make-up, cleaning supplies, soaps, shampoos and such.

Our first 3 months here we got it down to $950 per month. Now it's at $675 per month and we are eating BETTER than we EVER have. If I could get stores here to take coupons that would be much lower, but that isn't a tradition that has made it here yet. :)

So meet me on here every Tuesday for a new recipe that you can trust is "yummy". I have about 55, so that will last us at least a year.

Horseback Riding...

the saga continues:

While my aunt and my cousin were visiting we decided that horseback riding on the beach was a must! I'm glad we did. Another "to do" on my bucket list crossed off.

My sweetie and I decided that since we couldn't pay for all of the kids to attend every adventure while our "delightful" visitors were here we would take one child on each outing. Paige chose riding the horses. Here she is with Lecosta, the owner of our stallions. {They had just fed the horse some pineapple rind)
Joanna and Paige anxiously awaiting our adventure.
And here we are, pro's! The horse that Paige and I were on was the youngest of the group BUT sure was the slowest. We tried EVERTHING we were told to do to make him speed up.
Nothing.
Paige changed his name to Molasses.

It fit!


Lecosta's help, Jose, cut pineapple for us. Yummy. You haven't had pineapple until you've had white pineapple.

See that machete he's holding? Everyman here has one of those. You will often see them walking around with one casually in their hand like it was a lolly pop.

U.S. Map Game...

Think you remember where the states reside in our beautifully designed U.S. of A.?

Check out this game I found from www.rocksinmydryer.com . The object of the game is to place the state where it belongs on the U.S. map.

Easy enough, right?

The problem is that the borders aren't outlined like our tests from 5th grade. Remember those?

I did really well with the states that were around my home state. I, of course, got Texas and Florida. But finding exactly where Delaware lives....hummm. Or South Dakota.

Enough introduction...enjoy the game !

Women's Conference...

So I've been thinking about attending Women's Conference in a few months.

Really thinking about it.

Can we afford it? I seriously "want" to go.

I really need to go.

Then I realized something. {enter my light bulb moment} I'm searching for something outside of my situation that is already available here.

Just like someone {not that I've ever done this} putting off exercising and getting in shape until they lay down BIG money for the newest gym or home equipment. Then having the home equipment break about the 3rd week! {Eh...hemm.}

Everything you need to get in shape is already within your reach. Some good tennis shoes, water and good food.

So here I am, putting off my spiritual growth, expecting something in Utah to provide that for me; when everything I need is right here within reach.

Those things are
* personal conversations with my Father in Heaven
* scriptures opened and studied more often
* serving others
* watching and/or reading spiritual messages
* and MORE personal conversations with my Father in Heaven

Now, I'm still planning on heading on over to BYU for women's conference, don't get me wrong! There is fantastic advice given.

Besides, have you ever sat in a colossal building and sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" with over 7,000 angelic women's voices testifying that same truth with you?

It's something to do before you pass from this life.

The difference is this year I'm going PREPARED. I'm not arriving on campus gasping for more spiritual oxygen, I'm bringing my tank with me and full.



That is IF I decide we can afford it. :)

Old Navy Deals....

This is a pretty good deal. It's 30% off of their NEW arrivals.

Yeah! This is where I shop for clothes in Costa Rica, good ol' www.oldnavy.com

Costa Ricans can be found wearing ON all the time. I'm not sure how they get them here but I order online and have them shipped to whomever is coming here next.

Then I wait.

But it's better than not having them. :)

And if you add Pipperlime shoes to your order, FREE shipping. {But their shipping is CHEAP anyway so try not to get sucked into that.}

The promo code to enter is NEW30 .

Enjoy!!!