Questions and some Pancakes

 I love getting mail!  And fan mail?  So cool!  Lately, I have gotten a few emails about how I started blogging, and what have I done to be successful. One reader suggested that I write a post dedicated to answering some questions, to the benefit more than just her.  I thought this was a great idea!  So here it goes….

Yes, I really did just start blogging in April 2011. It all started when I was talking to my best friend Beth (via instant messaging because we don’t live near each other), about what I should do with my life.  At the time I was working from home for 12 hours a week or so, and needed something else to do with my time while my son is in school. She said I needed to do something fun, something that would work with  my personality rather than going back into accounting (my career before Mommyhood).  She threw out the idea of a blog and I kind of laughed at her.  Can you really make any money with a blog?  That was part of the criteria, I had to make money.  She proved to me you could, so I thought okay, let’s try this and thus, the blog was born.

The next day, I asked a couple people what I should name my blog.  Back and forth for awhile we came up with Dinners, Dishes and Desserts.  I set up my account with blogspot, wrote an “about me” section, and I was so excited.  I headed straight into the kitchen and whipped up some cookies.  I wrote the post immediately, and I have been hooked since! 

One of the first things I did was find other food blogs, so I could see how they set up their sites, what they posted about etc.  I saw a lot of people had a Foodbuzz logo on their site, so I went there and set up an account.  That opened up a whole new world of bloggers to meet.  The more I read, the more links I saw to other sites like “Tasty Kitchen”, “Foodgawker”, “Yummly”, and Mommy sites.  I just went crazy and joined everything I could.  In order to get maximum exposure, I put my posts everywhere I could and I commented on every blog I visited.  I visited A LOT of them.  I think this was probably the best thing I did.  Eventually I set up a Facebook page for my blog, and that opened up to even more bloggers to meet.  I have found that putting myself out there on facebook and now twitter has gained lots of support.  The food blogging community is so supportive of each other.  I have never met a group of people like this; it is so great to be a part of it. 

While I love blogging, I am finding that balancing my time is proving difficult.  On top of blogging, I am working from home for about 20 hours a week.  I try to work while my son is in school but between, housework, running errands, and real work I don’t have a ton of time for my blog.  I really want to turn this blog into a part time job, but that is hard to do.  I spend lots of nights watching TV with my husband with the computer in my lap reading and commenting on blogs.  I am trying to cut down on this, because I know it bothers my husband. I can’t blame him either, if the situation were reversed I am not sure I would like him focusing on something other than me and our family.  So, I am trying to figure out a schedule for myself where I can still spend time blogging and reading/commenting on other blogs but find a way to spend time with the family as well. 

I am so glad I started this blog.  I have met some amazing people in the process.  I can’t wait to see where this is going to go in the future!  Thank you so much to each of you who read this, I would not be here without you.

Of course, I can’t leave you without food today; it is after all why you come here.  Here is a throwback to one of my earlier posts.  These would make the perfect breakfast this weekend!  Enjoy!

S'mores Pancakes
Serves 2 - 2 pancakes per serving
2/3 cup flour (all-purpose or whole wheat)
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
Optional - splash of vanilla
1 Tbls mini chocolate cips
20 mini marshmallows, halved
Chocolate Syrup
Reddi-Whip
1 sheet graham crackers

To make the batter, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the eggs, milk, and splash of vanilla. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and the marshmallows. Stir in the marshmallows slowly, so they don't stick together. You could use a griddle if you were making a lot of them, but it was just 2 of us, so I used a non-stick skillet that I sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on the first side, and then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Once they are cooked through, put on a plate and get ready for the yummy part! I used an ice cream topping Hot Fudge - so I had to microwave it to get it "dripable" I put a bunch on a spoon, and just drizzled it over the top of my pancakes. Top with a squirt of reddi-whip, and then crush up 1/2 of the graham cracker over the pancakes.

These really did kind of taste like S'mores. Next time though, I think I wouldn't mix the marshmallows into the batter. They kind of melted in there, and didn't stand out. I think I would just sprinkle them over the top. The pancakes are hot, so the whip cream melts quickly. I think the marshmallows would as well. And really, if you have a favorite pancake recipe you could use that, and just stir in the chocolate chips and top this way.