I call these “back pocket” pancakes because that’s what they are– simple and straightfoward, the kind of recipe you want to have in your back pocket for frequent use. Moreover, this one recipe can be used for so much. Drop in some blueberries while they cook. Add a couple teaspoons of sweet spices. Enjoy them with butter and maple syrup. Maybe even topped a heap of whipped cream.

(It’s easy to make fresh whipped cream in your Vitamix or blender!)

We enjoyed stacks of these pancakes this morning (a school morning!) with homemade blueberry sauce and whipped cream. It was a perfectly delicious way to start our school day.

All-Purpose From-Scratch Pancakes

I occasionally make these with freshly ground flour for a little more nutrition, and I like to use whey (leftover from making yogurt) for a little savings in our grocery budget.

Whip up a batch of these delicious pancakes– or get your kids to do it for you– and then tell me in the comments how your family likes to enjoy pancakes. What are your favorite toppings? 

Back Pocket Pancakes

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review

• Author: Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: About 30 4" pancakes
• Category: Breakfast

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Description

This from-scratch pancake recipe is one you’ll want to have in your back pocket! It’s super easy and so versatile. Serve them with butter and maple syrup, fresh fruit and whipped cream, throw in some blueberries…the options are endless! 

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Ingredients

• 3 C flour
• 1 Tbsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 C maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 C melted butter (or applesauce)
• 2 – 2 1/2 C milk or whey

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Instructions

1. Heat a cast iron griddle or other griddle over medium heat. (If not using cast iron, you can wait until about five minutes before starting before heating the pan). Melt the butter and set aside to cool slightly.
2. Mix together the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. In a large measuring cup, whisk the maple syrup and eggs. Stir in the cooled melted butter, and then 2 cups of the milk/whey. Add additional milk/whey a tablespoon at a time until you reach the desired consistency. (When I use fresh flour, I add an additional half cup because the fresh flour absorbs more liquid).
3. Grease your griddle with a thin layer of butter, then pour quarter cup portions on the griddle, about an inch apart. Cook the pancakes until small bubbles appear on the surface, then flip them over and cook for one to two minutes on the other side until golden brown.
4. Continue cooking the pancakes until you run out of batter, keeping the cooked pancakes in the warm oven until you are ready to eat.
5. Serve with maple syrup, butter, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or other toppings of choice.

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Notes

I use this pancake recipe for almost all our pancake breakfasts. It’s very versatile. Change things up by adding sweet spices, blueberries, chocolate chips, etc.

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The post Back Pocket Pancakes appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

I have lived in the southern part of the United States for nearly all of my life, but it wasn’t until the last several years that we started enjoying a traditional New Year’s dinner together as a family. We love traditions, food history, and cooking from scratch, so this meal seemed natural for us to incorporate into our New Year’s Day routine.

(We also started a short family hike on New Year’s day that I’m really hoping to continue too!)

Whether or not these foods actually bring you luck isn’t exactly the point. It’s just fun to have that tether to the past, and to celebrate the start of something new– especially with foods as delicious as these.

Traditional New Year Dinner Ideas

These are southern lucky foods, but you can also find traditional New Year’s dinner ideas from other cultures too, like grapes (Spain), tamales (Mexico), marzipan pigs (Germany), long noodles (Japan), pomegranates (Greece), herring (Poland), and King Cake (all over the world).

In the U.S. south, traditional New Year’s Day foods represent prosperity and good fortune: 

• greens represent green money
• black eyed peas (and other beans) represent coins and wealth
• pork represents good fortune
• cornbread represents gold 

We make each of these dishes (they pair perfectly!), but of course, you can choose how many with which you want to start the year. I’ve included recipes for cornbread, skillet garlic greens (quick and easy to make with spinach or swiss chard), and collard greens (my FAV, made so much easier and faster in the Instant Pot).

I didn’t include recipes for bacon, because, it’s bacon. You got this.

After the individual recipes, I have also included recipes for dishes which use the various components together. The Potlikker Gumbo is DELICIOUS, and would be a great way to bring everything together for one super-fortuitous New Year’s Day dinner.

(My family recipe for fried chicken is included too in case anyone wants to skip the pork and enjoy an alternative southern main that pairs well with greens and black-eyed peas).

Happy New Year’s Day! I hope 2023 is a great year for you, full of good fortune and prosperity! 

New Year’s Day Recipes

Skillet Cornbread

We enjoy this cornbread year-round. It’s so tender and delicious, gluten-free, and only dirties one bowl. Highly recommend using a cast iron skillet!

Instant Pot Collard Greens

Collard greens are so tasty, not to mention, so good for you too. Making them in the Instant Pot cuts down a lot of the cooking time, without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Sauteed Garlicky Greens

We can never make enough greens because everyone always devours them! These make a great weeknight side dish, just don’t skimp on the garlic.

Collard Green Wontons

If you prefer a tasty appetizer with greens, these wontons are fried to perfection. Stuffed with tender collards and cream cheese, they’re easy to please for everyone.

Southern Black Eyed Peas

This recipe from Grits and Pinecones is the general method we use to make our black eyed peas– dried peas soaked overnight, then simmered on the stove in a flavorful stock complete with ham bones.

Complete Dishes :: 

Pan Fried Pork Chops with Onion Bacon Gravy

Pork chops pan fried to perfection, served with a savory gravy. This is another perfect pairing with greens, cornbread, and beans.

Potlikker Gumbo

All the fortune in one easy bowl! Just add some beans to keep the odds in your favor.

Pan Fried Chicken Tenders

Not a fan of pork? Keep the cornbread, greens, and beans, and make a batch of pan fried chicken tenders. This is my family recipe, made simpler and easier in a shallow pan.

Do you have a traditional dish or meal you eat on New Year’s Day? I’d love to hear about it!

If you use these recipes to celebrate, tag me @thispilgrimlife so I can see and celebrate with you.

Happy New Year’s!

The post Traditional New Year Dinner Ideas appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.

The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

Blackened chicken used to be my husband’s domain– which meant we only had it every so often when he was able to take over the cooking and the rest of us were able to take shelter elsewhere.

Because, OH MY, blackened chicken can smoke and the cooking peppers can make it hard to breathe!

Recently, though, I’ve started making blackened chicken to go with our fettuccine Alfredo, or simply to serve alongside a few complimentary sides.

I took a few of my husband’s tips and made one small change– the chicken does not only cook on the stovetop. After searing the chicken in a very hot pan, it’s transferred to the oven to finish cooking. This saves the house from too much spicy smoke, and also expedites the cooking process on the chicken without drying it out.

The result is perfect blackened chicken with a crust that is bursting with flavor, and tender white meat inside. 

Amazing Blackened Chicken

We start with a homemade spice rub made of several spices. Y’all. This chicken is going to be popping with flavors! Plus, since you are making the spice rub yourself, you can easily adjust the heat. I wouldn’t recommend reducing the peppers, but if you want a spicier finished product, you can double the cayenne.

The key to a perfectly crispy exterior on this chicken is two-fold:

1. Rub the chicken with melted butter, add the spices, then brown in an otherwise dry pan.
2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until it is nice and hot! (Typically, I don’t heat cast iron skillets over medium. It isn’t necessary and can cause sticking. But this is an occasion when I break that rule).

The chicken breasts brown for 5 minutes on each side, before being moved to the oven. If you’re using a cast iron pan, or another oven-safe pan, you can simply transfer the pan straight into the oven for 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

If you don’t already have an instant read thermometer, they are a must-have tool in the kitchen. Use a thermometer to measure the thickest part of the chicken. It should read 160. The temperature will rise slightly more as the chicken rests.

In the meal pictured above, we enjoyed our blackened chicken with Skillet Cornbread, Herb Rice Pilaf (from my cookbook), sautéed squash and zucchini, and white corn from the freezer.

IT WAS AN AMAZING MEAL.

I also highly recommend trying this blackened chicken with fettuccine Alfredo and roasted broccoli. The creamy Alfredo sauce (here’s an easy recipe with just 5 ingredients) pairs so well with the spicy chicken and crispy broccoli. It is always a crowd pleaser.

Lastly, we are huge fans of Lodge cast iron skillets in our home. If you don’t already own a cast iron skillet, I highly recommend checking out Lodge. We own several and have been so happy with them. If you are hesitant about cooking with cast iron, or taking care of the pans, I have an excellent resource for you here.

And, as always, I’d love to know if you try this recipe! Come back and leave a comment and rating, and be sure to tag me @thispilgrimlife when you share on social media!

Recommended Resources :: 

• Lodge Cast Iron Skillet
• ThermoPro Instant Read Thermometer

More Like This :: 

• One Small Change That Will Totally Improve Your Cooking
• Basic Spice List & Tips for Keeping Spices Fresh
• 15 Things You Need to Know About Cast Iron
• Easy 5-Ingredient Alfredo Sauce
• Best Ever Ranch Dressing

1

Amazing Blackened Chicken

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 6 reviews

• Author: Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 3 breasts
• Category: meat
• Method: sauteeing/baking

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Description

Easy, FLAVORFUL blackened chicken with a spicy, crisp exterior and a juicy interior. This blackened chicken is coated with a homemade spice rub, starts in a hot skillet, and finishes cooking in the oven.

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Ingredients

• 2 tbsp high quality butter
• 3 chicken breasts

Spice Rub

• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 tsp granulated onion
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp cayenne powder*

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Instructions

1. Mix together the spice rub in a small dish. Preheat a cast iron pan over medium high heat. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Rub 2 teaspoons of the melted butter on each side of the chicken breasts. Rub 1 teaspoon of the spice mixture on each side of the chicken breasts.
3. Use tongs to place the chicken breasts in the hot preheated pan. (You should be able to feel the heat radiating off the pan before you add the chicken. Do not add extra oil). Cook the chicken for 5 minutes on each side.
4. Place the chicken in the skillet into the preheated oven. Cook for 15 more minutes, until the chicken registers 160 when measured with a meat thermometer. (The temperature will continue to rise slightly after you take it out of the oven).
5. Slice and serve**.

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Notes

* this amount of cayenne gives the chicken great flavor with a small kick. If you want spicier blackened chicken, double the cayenne.

** This chicken is delicious served on its own, but it is also great in fettuccine and on salads!

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The post Amazing Blackened Chicken appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.