This'll all be funny ten years from now

That was one of my maternal grandmother's favorite sayings. Heck, at times it was almost a mantra with her.

I tried making brunch today. I was desparately craving whole wheat apple pancakes. I had all the ingredients on hand. I even had a way to peel and chop the apples with minimal knife-holding using a device similar to this, but I didn't see it on TV and only paid $5.00 for mine. This was when I was quickly reminded how dogs serve a purpose: to eat garbage. Lady likes apple peels. Let me rephrase this: Lady adores apple peels.

Remember, though, I was making this with an inner ear infection. Short description: Julia Child tries to cook on an airplane going through heavy turbulence. I managed to splatter batter on the stove when I missed the pan. More batter went on the counter as I mistakenly grabbed the bowl briefly for support. Even my cup of tea splattered when I tried to drink a sip, only to lose my balance as I swallowed and have it go down the wrong pipe, spraying tea all over the counter on the opposite side of the stove (thankfully) from the pancake batter and all the other spills. I also nearly dumped wasabi powder into the batter when I was reaching for the cinnamon and missed.

The end result, surprisingly enough, came out very tasty. The kitchen, however, came out a war zone.

The recipe:

2 small-to-medium-sized apples
1c Bisquick baking mix
1c whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c nonfat milk
about 1/2 c or so of water to think the dough
generous shakes of cinnamon and fresh nutmeg

Use gadget to peel and core apples. With a paring knife, slip down the slices to "chop" the cored apples. Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix.

Dump by 1/2 cupfuls onto a heated pancake pan or griddle. Flip when dry. Remove. Eat.

Box meme

"So, say you were meeting a new person--blind date, new friend, who knows. And you wanted them to have some idea of what kind of person you are, and who you are. But you can't actually tell them in so many words. Instead, you have to give them a box, with a dozen things in it for them to look at/read/listen to/taste/whatever. "What would you put in the box? And a copy of your journal or a link to your LJ would be the same thing as just telling them directly, yourself, so that's not allowed."

My list:

1. A short movie of my dog playing with her food, bumming pear slices off Warren, going into "Tasmanian Devil" mode, and doing her "Muppet Dance."
2. A book of my music.
3. At least one computer manual I've written -- preferably one with an "Easter Egg" stuck in it.
4. A book with my recipes.
5. A CD containing recordings of me performing some of my material.
6. An aircheck of at least one of my newscasts.
7. A photo album containing pics of me wearing some of the garments and costumes I've made over the years.
8. A copy of my Jewish liturgical songbook.
9. A bowl I've turned on a lathe.
10. A cup, bowl, or vase I made on a potter's wheel.
11. My Roland PMA-5.
12. A photo containing all my closest friends (yeah, like such a thing exists).

Also in the meme...

"What one thing would you add to the box to represent me or my tastes?