Never Use Pancake Mix Again!

So this post is sort of self serving. A few years ago I took some clients to a fishing lodge north of Baldwin. One of the people that went with us was Bob Beaumont. I learned a lot form Bob both professionally and in the kitchen. It is his BBQ class syllabus that is now my BBQ bible. Bob took some time off to go to culinary school, which lead to may non-work conversations. Bob has since retired and moved to Sugar Island in the UP. If somehow you find my blog Bob - Thank You for the great culinary direction.

So on this fishing trip he told me that he had a recipe for Buttermilk Pancakes that would make me never want a box mix again. I was skeptical. So now to the self serving part. I copied the recipe onto a small sheet of paper and then on to the box flaps of both of my electric griddles. I thought that it would be easier to be able to go to the computer and look it up. So here is the pancake recipe. As the story goes, Aunt Mamie used to make these pancakes for lumberjacks in the UP back in the day. They are the greatest pancakes and Bob was right, I have not purchaed a box of pancake mix since. Here is the recipe, Enjoy.

1 Egg
4 Tablespoons Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 Cups of Buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 2/3 Cups of Flour

Combine the first three ingredients (egg, sugar, salt) in a bowl and whisk well. To that add the last three ingredients (buttermilk, baking soda, flour) and combine. Do not over-mix, it should still be a just mixed.

I use an electric griddle on high heat. Pour the pancakes on the griddle. When you flip the pancakes, poke the top with the spatula to let the steam out.

Enjoy.

festival 2008

This weekend was the annual festival of the arts in downtown Grand Rapids. This is an event that is close to our family as we have been involved in the event for 10 years as volunteers. I also Co-Chaired the even in 2004.

This year was the first year that Elliot was able to get involved in a real way. He was the "man about festival". He worked selling merchandise in the festival store, he emceed on stage, he even signed up the volunteer's massage list. He made me very proud. In addition to volunteering this year, he was also an award winner. He won second place in the Philatelic awards. That is a contest to design a stamp cancellation that is actually used by the USPS at the event.

This is such a fun event. We need to get more of our friends to come and volunteer with us to make it even more fun. In order to close some friends on the idea - there is festival red pop - that is for you Megz.

I look forward to the volunteer party that is coming up as there is going to be a big announcement about another Bergsma and festival.

Stay tuned for that one. (it is a festival tradition to keep this secret until that party)

Next Exit - New Career

Well it is time to change roads on this journey. I have accepted a position with HP. This means that my travel will be statewide rather than countrywide. The position is one that seems to be made for me. It is selling products that I spent 8 years selling. The company is one that I have wanted to work for for a long time.

So as I approach the next stretch of road in the journey of life, I reflect on all the great people that I have met along the way so far, and look forward to all that I am going to meet in the future.

To all of the people that have helped me get where I am today, I thank you. Without the support of all of you through the years, this move would not have been possible.

In some respects, I am living a dream with this move. I look forward to making this dream come true.