Surprises....

This is a "surprise" I found while organizing the pantry.  Are you able to see that it is heart-shaped pasta?

As a surprise, I added it to the chicken soup!

This was called Sweetheart Pasta, a Harry & David product.  It isn't easy to find the red-colored pasta in the soup once it has cooked.:-(

This wasn't any special soup recipe.  I just added some diced onion, sliced carrots and celery,  and some chopped parsley along with poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper.  The broth was from when I cooked chicken breasts with the plan to eventually have a pot of soup!

Do you try to think of surprises for Valentine's Day?  Here is one that I plan to use for breakfast on Tuesday morning.  Shh!  Don't say anything about it!  I want the Man of the House to be surprised!:-)  In case you are interested in something like this, I am including the recipe today.  I'll try to be able to take a picture of the finished product on Tuesday morning.

The recipe comes from the February 2011 issue of an insert in our newspaper - Dash.  Do any of you have that addition to your newspapers?  I find good ideas in most of them.

CHOCOLATE GRIDDLE CAKES

1/2 cup Dutch process unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 whole large eggs

1 large egg yolk

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable (or canola) oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

Unsalted butter

- Sift together cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl, then whisk in eggs, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla until combined well.

- Heat a griddle or nonstick skillet over a moderately low heat and lightly coat with butter.

- Working in batches of 2 or 3, pour 1/4 cup batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles appear on surface, 1 to 2 minutes.  Flip cakes with a large spatula, cook until tops spring back when pressed gently, about 1 minute more.

- Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.  Add 1/2 teaspoon butter to griddle between batches.  Servings:  4

I'm sure you will be able to determine other uses for these delicious griddle cakes besides with cut-up fruit for breakfast.  What about topped with ice cream?  Or with your favorite chocolate sauce?  Enjoy!

We have had a day with "abundant sunshine."  That's what the forecast said as it appeared on the TV screen this morning.  It was rather cold, though, with last night's low temperature registered at 16 degrees F!  It IS winter, after all; however, a warming trend begins tomorrow and will extend through the week.

I have noticed new followers, and I really do appreciate that!  I love reading your comments!

Next post - More Valentine treats.