The Flying Biscuit - Organic Oatmeal Pancakes

It had been awhile since I last visited the Flying Biscuit.  Then one day I started craving their organic oatmeal pancakes.  I remembered that I have their cookbook and could just make them.  The recipe looks easy enough but I decided I wanted to be served.  I prefer the Candler Park location in Atlanta.  I like the neighborhood location and know where to find parking.  For example, I either park on McClendon Ave or Clifton Rd.  In addition, there is a plaza directly across from the front entrance of the restaurant (on McClendon Ave).  Free parking is available behind the plaza. 

There are several Flying Biscuit restaurants in the ATL.  I think I prefer this one because it is the original.  It opened in 1993.  In 2007, it became a franchise and opened a second restaurant in the ATL.  http://www.bison.com/press_TheFlyingBiscuit_05042007  I, like many, rolled my eyes assuming that the quality and the uniqueness of the restaurant would diminish.  Let's just say that could be true.  I mostly go to the Candler Park location and the food is consistently good.  The only other location that I've been to is the one in midtown.  I remember the food being good.  However, I find parking in this area to be annoying.  If I remember correctly, the restaurant provides parking for customers but I remember their lot being full on a number of occassions and having to park elsewhere.  It is just down the street from Piedmont Park so it would be great to eat at the restaurant and walk down to the park.  For some reason, the Midtown (Piedmont Ave) location seemes more cramped than the Candler Park location.  If you go on a Saturday, my recommendation is to get there before 9 am.  As a general rule of thumb, it seems that by 10 am, most good breakfast restaurants in the ATL are crowded and you will be placed on a waiting list.

The Flying Biscuit also sells a cookbook which I purchased a long time ago.  I was happy to find the recipe for the Organic Oatmeal Pancakes inside.  In the restaurant, it is served with a peach compote.  These pancakes are delicious.  They are also very dense and heavy.  Flying Biscuit serves more than breakfast.  I've been going to this restaurant for many, many years but I've only had breakfast which is served all day.  (http://www.flyingbiscuit.com/)

Hearty Organic Oatmeal Pancakes
2 cups organic rolled oats (regular and not the quick oats)
2 cups nonfat buttermilk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup all-pupose flower
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Canola oil for griddle

Combine oats and butttermilk in a large bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.  Add in eggs and melted butter to oat mixture and stir.  Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Add to oat mixture and mix together.  Preheat griddle over medium-low heat and coat with canola oil.  Ladle batter in 1/4 cup measurements onto griddle.  When bubbles appear, flip pancakes and cook until golden brown - about 5 minutes per side.  Serve hot with maple syrup.  Makes about 20 pancakes.

***I have not made these pancakes before but may try to make them some day***

Stone Mountain Park

Almost a week ago, I visited Stone Mountain Park.  I've been to this park too many times to count. Each time I experience something new, either because of the activity, season of the year, or the person with me.  Even when walking alone, I see something new.  This time I went with my neighbor Cedric.  I've come to know him from our chats from our respective driveways.  He was a great walking companion and I had a hard time keeping up with him. While walking, I saw this beautiful dogwood tree.

I have a variety of photos from my visits to Stone Mountain Park.  I love this Fall photo as it reminds me of the northeast.  The northeast has the most vibrant Fall season in the country.  Atlanta might just have the most beautiful Spring.

Another photo which is more consistent with the muted colors that you tend to see down here in Georgia during the Fall.  Still, beautiful in its own way. 

Stone Mountain is the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. 

I remember this day very clearly.  It was unseasonably cold and rainy and I was there with my primary walking buddy Arlene.  Our walks are great.  We talk about everything while we move around the mountain which is 5 miles.  On this particular day, we kept saying that the weather would clear up but it never did.  Every now and then the sun would break through but then it would start raining.   Ignorance isn't always bliss. I also brought along You Know Who (AKA Brandi), my canine companion.   

A view of the mountain from the dashboard of my car.  That was when I used to have an annual parking pass which is now $35 for the year.  A one day parking pass is $10 so it is beneficial to buy the annual pass if you plan to come often.  Now, I park outside of the mountain at one of the free parking lots as part of the PATH Foundation biking and walking trails.  The trail leads right into the park.
 

Last December, Arlene and I walked around the park looking at all of the holiday decorations.  She took this picture and thought I should send it to someone I was dating.  She said it was a cute hint for a date idea but I was getting tired of his shenanigans. 

Another photo of the dogwood tree.  You can see walkers to the left of the tree. 

A view from behind as I leave the park.  Visit http://pathfoundation.org/ to learn about the 160 miles of trails that the Path Foundation has successfully developed throughout Georgia in the last twenty years.   

The view in front of me.  Visit  http://www.stonemountainpark.com/ to learn more about the park. 

World Salt Awareness Week

By day, I'm a public health professional.  By day, I  receive a wealth of health information.  And on this day, I received an email about World Salt Awareness Week.  My first thought - now I know there is an awareness day, week or month for everything.   However, I think that this one is definitely worthy of some attention.  Here are a few things about salt that everyone should know:

• A high salt intake is a major cause of elevated blood pressure.  Elevated blood pressure is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease that leads to heart disease and strokes. 
• Worldwide, on average, people consume 10-15 grams of salt each day.  The maximum amount that we need is about 5-6 grams each day which is about a teaspoon.  Young children need even less.
• A lot of the salt we consume comes from processed foods (packaged food, canned goods, frozen entrees, deli meats, etc) as well as from restaurants.  As a result, most people are passively consuming a lot of salt without being aware of it.
• The best way to control your salt intake is to cook your own food and pay attention to food labels.
• It is estimated that 1 in 3 Americans have elevated or high blood pressure (hypertension).  Most people don't know that they have it.  Hypertension is known as the silent killer because it has no symptoms or warning signs.  It is easily treated through lifestyle changes and/or medication.

During this week-long salt awareness week, think of ways to reduce your salt intake  - even if you don't have high blood pressure.  If you would like to know more about World Salt Awareness Week, visit http://www.worldactiononsalt.com/awareness/intro.htm.  

Happy World Salt Awareness Week 2011!!! 

A B-lated St. Patty's Day....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKnqlw3AeY0&playnext=1&list=PL5B7563BA53E601B5

I had all of these fabulous ideas of what I wanted to do for St. Patrick's Day.  I wanted to cook a traditional Irish breakfast.  I wanted to try something new and I thought the research would be interesting.  That didn't happen because that requires planning and time got away from me this week.  I wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet so yesterday I stopped by the Super Walmart for a few items and then bought some corned beef hash in a can and thought I could do an interesting spin on it.  But that was last night and that still requires some creativity, time and a whole lot of other stuff.   It just wasn't happening for me and some weeks are like that and I've learned not to force things.  But now, I have an opportunity largely due to my insomnia which has been actin up this week. :)  That alone, is worthy of a blog or two.   I realized I could still post something although St. Patty's day has ended for me but not yet for everyone in the world!  I found a You Tube video of Anthony Bourdain having breakfast in Ireland.  It was a very fatty, fried and funny breakfast served with Guinness.  Only Tony...

While I gathered my thoughts for this post, I chatted on facebook with my young friend Moriah.  Friend doesn't really describe my relationship with her and her family.  I've known her and her sibblings since they were babies and now they are all in college except for the youngest who is 15.   I lived with them for about a year when I was twenty something.  I'm probably more like a relative.  During this particular IM chat she called me Momma Karen.  We chatted about a variety of things, mostly things of concern to a college freshmen.  It is wonderful to see her grow into a brilliant beautiful young woman. 

One time, when Moriah was very young, I told her to stop doing something she ought not to be doing.  She silently walked away from me, looked over her shoulder and then swung at the air and said Humph!  She reminded me of a little old lady.   All she needed was a purse in her hand to swing at somebody...me.   I just said to her in a very low tone, staring her down and shaking my head back and forth, Moriah, that's not nice... don't do that.  She leaned against the sofa (with a gangsta lean) and stared me down.  I met her gaze with the same intensity until she decided to move on to something else or just got tired of looking at me.  Did I mention that she had only been on this earth for about two years?   That just told me that she would be who she is today...intelligent, vibrant and determined. 

On Moriah's facebook page today she wrote "I wonder if black people can be Irish..lol"  There were a string of comments that followed, mostly from black people, and they were harmlessly amusing saying I'm Irish today or accusing some of being Irish because of the hue of their light brown skin and having red hair.  Of course, others proudly claimed their Irish heritage. 

So Happy B-lated St. Patrick's Day to the Irish, those who are not and the undecided. 

This post is also a tribute to Moriah and her sibblings (David, Melanie and Joseph) because I love them and thought of them today.

Iron Chef America...My New Addiction

http://eater.com/archives/2011/03/07/emma-hearst-vs-michael-symon-iron-chef-battle-mozzarella.php

I just discovered Iron Chef America.  It has been on for at least four years.  I was aware of it but didn't feel compelled to watch.  I think the intro or previews to the show always seemed a little cheesy to me.  Then, on one fateful day, I must have left the tv on after a show I had been watching.  I had left the room and when I came back, it was in full swing.  I was immediately hooked. 

I think the first episode that I watched was about tuna.  Each chef had a huge tuna fish which required two grown men to carry over to their station.  It must have been almost as long and as heavy as either one of them.  I was fascinated watching them carve the tuna and the discussion about what can be rendered from the various parts of the fish.  And this is exactly why this show is my new addiction and why it works:

• The secret ingredient.   In the link I've attached, the secret ingredient was mozzarella and everybody probably thinks that they know a lot about mozzarella because of the cheese that is often used in pizza or lasagna.  However, it was interesting learning how the cheese was made which Chef Michael Symon demonstrated so well.  There are many uses of mozzarella and its bi-products.  The show is like taking a course in Food 101. 
• I love watching celebrity chefs sweat.  Let's face it, most of the cooking shows on tv are organized productions where the kitchens in which they work are spotless and the chefs are equally spotless.  You know that they are supported by a googob of sous chefs, make up artists, stylists and someone asking for more lighting on the eggplants because they look a little too dark.  These chefs are really sweating and I like it when they get flustered.  They really care about the food and the finished product.  In other words, passion towards anything is always compelling to watch. 
• Creativity.  It is amazing to see what the chefs come up with starting with basic ingredients.  I appreciate the process of watching each course come together.  I often wonder about the texture and aroma of each dish so I enjoy the judges and their feedback.  On one episode, Mo Rocca was one of the judges and he was funny and had his own spin on the food. 

I realize that I'm late to the party on this one since it has been on for awhile.  But if you haven't checked it out yet, you should.  And yes, I still find some parts of it cheesy.

The Single Life

From my mother's Faculty Favorites Cookbook (Magothy River Middle School, Arnold, MD).  Sprinkle a teaspoon of brown sugar on half a grapefruit.  Put a sliver of butter in the center of the grapefruit.  Microwave on high for a minute.  I really enjoyed this weird twist on grapefruit.

                      

Society has made me do this. I am forced to address something that I really had no intention of blogging about… the single life. It isn’t my goal to try to convince anyone of anything. This is my life and obviously my views. However, I would like to share them because there needs to be a broader perspective about the single life in 2011.

You would be surprised at how much my singleness comes up in conversation without me bringing it up. There is the motherly, gentle prodding that mostly comes from married girlfriends. Now Karen…tell me…how’s the dating coming along? There are people who haven’t seen me for awhile. You still single? Why you ain’t married! There are people who feel compelled to just let me know their thoughts. You know….me and Sue were just talking about you and we feel that you are perfectly deserving of a good man. Huh?

It isn’t as if I have a chronic illness which could kill me. I’m just not married.

We are socialized to believe that marriage is something that everyone should do and should want. If a person, especially a 42 year old woman that has never been married and has no children - does not actively demonstrate that she is striving toward that ideal…then there is a problem. A big problem. Minimally, she must be vocal about what is wrong with her or what is wrong with men. What if she doesn’t feel that way?  Isn't marriage, singleness and everything in between a choice?

I have learned not to talk about my dating life with the exception to the 2.5 people who really get me in this area of my life. Actually, I have learned to come up with one liners just to get people up off of me. For the last few months, when someone inquires about my singleness I just say, I’m blogging…not dating…OK? I’m surprised at how amused people are with that response.  I chuckle along with them as I’m surprised at how often I hear myself saying it. But, it works for everyone, it redirects the conversation and sometimes it’s true.