Once Again Wowed

For the second time today, I was wowed by a recipe from The Pioneer Woman‘s cookbook.

Since my sister dogsat Sadie while we went camping on Friday night, I wanted to make her a sweet treat as a thank you for being such a good aunt to Sadie!

I had all the ingredients for the angel sugar cookies featured in the book and got to work making the cookie dough while Sadie (and Ryan!) anxiously awaited licking the beaters clean. 🙂

Recipe

Sugar Cookie Dough

The dough had to sit in the fridge for an hour before baking the cookies, so we wasted time by hanging out in the backyard, reading our books and soaking up the sun.

Once the dough was adequately chilled, I placed the cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet and flattened out the dough balls with a glass coated in sugar, per the recipe instructions.

Flattened Out Cookies

Within 8 minutes, we had light, buttery cookies.

Ready for Eatin'

I cannot praise these cookies enough!

Not only did they smell like heaven as they were baking, but the crisp sweetness of each sugar cookie made them a nice alternative to the thick sugar cookies I usually make.

Angel Sugar Cookies

Light, Sweet, Buttery

This recipe will definitely be my new go-to sugar cookie recipe.

I hope my sister likes them! She’ll be arriving soon and we’ll be hittin’ up the gym for BodyPump.

Gotta work off those cookies. 😉

Sunday Morning Greek Yogurt Pancakes

A couple of weeks ago I went to a book signing at Barnes and Noble for The Pioneer Woman‘s cookbook.

The signing was to begin at 6 p.m., and I wasn’t able to arrive until 5:45 p.m. By the time I got to the signing, a line of several hundred people had formed.

I stayed to listen to her talk, but I didn’t buy her book or wait in the 4+ hour line to have it signed.

Things have a way of working out though because a couple of days later I won a signed copy of her cookbook through a giveaway on the blog A Recipe for Living.

The book arrived in the mail this weekend and I spent a good hour or so reading the entire thing and paging through the recipes last night.

When I saw a recipe for sour cream pancakes around 11 p.m. last night, I knew what I’d be making for breakfast in the morning.

Edna Mae's Sour Cream Pancakes

Since I didn’t have sour cream on hand this morning, I substituted Greek yogurt for the key ingredient, turning the sour cream pancakes into a slightly healthier version of Greek yogurt pancakes.

Greek Yogurt, Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Salt

With Eggs & Vanilla

I cooked the ‘cakes on a hot griddle until they were slightly browned.

Cookin' 'Cakes

Once the pancakes were ready for eatin’, I piled them high and coated them in syrup.

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

The Sweetness of Syrup

Sunday Morning Breakfast

The pancakes were light, slightly eggy and unbelievably delicious.

When I decided to substitute Greek yogurt for the sour cream, I used a combination of plain Greek yogurt and strawberry Greek yogurt. The slightly sweet and fruity flavor from the strawberry Greek yogurt made the pancakes taste different and special. Ryan and I both thought they were the perfect lazy Sunday morning breakfast.

Today’s Plans

Ryan and I are about to leash up the pup for a walk to the farmer’s market. I also hope to get some sun before my sister arrives for the evening.

My sister watched Sadie on Friday night while we were camping and headed off to spend the night with friends and celebrate a friend’s birthday at Universal Studios last night. She’s heading back our way this afternoon and we have plans to workout, go to church, make a yummy dinner and spend some quality time together. I’m excited to see her!

See ya later for lunch!

Greek Yogurt Pancakes

(adapted from The Pioneer Woman’s Cookbook recipe for Edna Mae’s sour cream pancakes)

Makes 12 4-inch pancakes

Indgredients:

  • 8 oz. Greek yogurt (I used 6 oz. plain,  2 oz. strawberry)
  • 7 tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

Place Greek yogurt in a medium bowl. Add flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir together very gently. Stop short of the mixture being totally combined. You want the pancakes to have some interesting texture.

Whisk eggs in a separate bowl. Add vanilla to eggs and stir to combine. Pour egg mixture into the Greek yogurt-flour mixture. Stir together gently. Don’t worry about the mixture being totally combined; a little white and yellow swirling is fine.

Pour the batter onto a griddle sprayed with cooking spray, ¼ cup at a time. Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, then flip the pancakes. Cook for another 45 seconds and remove to plate. Repeat with the remaining batter. Top pancakes with syrup, fruit, or desired toppings.

Yeehaw

Guess whose book signing I attended after work today?

If you guessed The Pioneer Woman judging by my post title, you are correct!

The Pioneer Woman Book Signing

In case you’re in the dark about the fabulousness of The Pioneer Woman, she is the author of an amazing blog and a fantastic cookbook.

I drove to the Barnes and Noble near my apartment after work, and arrived just before 6 p.m. when the book signing was supposed to start.

When I realized the entire second floor of the store was closed off for the signing and the long line continued on the first floor my heart sank a little. So many people turned up to see Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman herself.

Long Liiiiine

Since I didn’t want to be there for hours, I stayed to listen to her speak and didn’t wait what would have easily been 2+ hours to get my book signed. Ree answered a lot of questions from the audience and was funny, personable and fun to listen to. I wish I could have met her face-to-face! Stupid long lines…

Dinner

After my little field trip, I headed home to get started on dinner while Ryan was out walking Sadie.

Ever since I received the huge box of pasta to sample from Monterey Pasta Company last week, the spinach & cheese ravioli has been callin’ my name from the fridge.

Ravioli Makes Me Smile

Monterey Pasta Company Ravioli

Since I love colorful pasta, I knew from the start I’d probably be a fan of these green ravioli poofs.

Each little poof was stuffed to the brim with spinach and cheese. The flavor was savory and cheesy.

I included steamed broccoli in my ravioli bowl to add a little more color and nutrition to the dish.

Dinner Time

My Bowl

Of course I topped everything with marinara sauce.

Stirred Up

Dinner = Delish!

Questions of the Night

Have you ever been to a book signing? Whose book signing would you like to attend?