Summer Cleaning

Wow, what a productive day! Even though I slept in more than I wanted to, I still managed to accomplish more than I expected today.

 For some reason, I was having sharp stomach pain last night. So, of course, I jump on the computer to self-diagnose myself. Well, apparently, there were a gazillion ailments I could be having! So, off to bed, lying there, in panic mode wondering if I ever going to wake again (I watch too much Dr. G). Beep, beep, beep, yep, that is the sound of Roberto's alarm at 2:30am and I am still awake with my arms crossed across my chest. I listen to him get ready for work, make his coffee and toast, wouldn't you have died, if I said I got up and made breakfast for him at 3am, hahaha. Somewhere, in there I fell asleep.

I slept through the alarms (2) that went off at 8am and woke up to little man talking to his stuffed animals, around 9:30. Ah! So, I promised him I would make a big homemade breakfast and we chose Chunky Monkey Pancakes.

Made from pig pancake pan from Urban Outfitters! Thanks JJJ!

Cheeky Monkey Pancakes

I am calling these pancakes Cheeky Monkey Pancakes in honor of Jake's aunt, whose nick name is strangely "Cheeky Monkey". The original recipe was called Chunky Monkey had nuts. I was out of nuts! And since Cheeky Monkey has no nuts, this was appropriately changed to Cheeky Monkey!

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
•  1 cup whole milk
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 large banana, diced
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• cooking spray

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Set bowl aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together the skim milk, melted butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the wet ingredients, being careful not to over mix the batter. Gently fold in the banana and chocolate chips.               
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side

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So, I cleaned the house. For some of you reading, thinking to yourself, "Yeah, I do that everyday". I do not! I am too busy with "work", cooking dinner, Jake time, and working again, in that order! Roberto is the cleaner and he is awesome. Does a better job than some of the ones I paid to clean the house. I pay him other ways ;), like I took him out for frozen yogurt tonight, lol! Anyways, with the renovations going on in the Lakeland house, he has been over there working and meeting with the contractors. Leaving a lot of housework to pile up. I really just want call someone to come in but I had to do it. Plus, I tend to clean the house before the housekeeper comes, so why bother.

Roberto came home and had bought some mega-sized laundry detergent. While he was putting it away, he knocked over a mega-sized Downy bottle. And somebody did not close it after they used it last (oops!). There was Downy everywhere, even on Roberto. He just sighed and said "Great, now I have to clean this mess!". But delirious clean freak I was today took over and said "No, I will get it." On the bright side, my house smells April Fresh!

The Delirious Clean Freak

 After cleaning all day, I was not about to cook. So, we went to Lakeside Village and had dinner at B.D. Mongolian Grill. Followed by dessert at Yogurt Mountain inside Book-A-Million. Jake and I both picked out books. He picked Dora (of course) and I chose The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond which is from one of my favorite blogs, The Pioneer Woman. There is just something about her that is just so down to earth. She has a new show on Food Network. Good for her!

Time to sign off but not without little man pics!

 Nite Nite!
Lisa