Savory Wheat Pancake

I like to be resourceful and use what I have. I am also lazy and don't like to go out and buy things. This leads me to make substitutions are attempt to create new things. A recent experiment has been to try to create a pancake using wheat flour. Oddly enough, the inspiration for this was the Bible. I had been reading through the various laws regarding offerings in the Old Testament, and a few times saw something that described making cakes from flour mixed with oil. Here are a few verses (NIV) that describe this:

Exodus 29:2 And from fine wheat flour, without yeast, make bread, and cakes mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.

Leviticus 2:4-7 If you bring a grain offering baked in an oven, it is to consist of fine flour: cakes made without yeast and mixed with oil, or wafers made without yeast and spread with oil. If your grain offering is prepared on a griddle, it is to be made of fine flour mixed with oil, and without yeast. Crumble it and pour oil on it; it is a grain offering. If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it is to be made of fine flour and oil.

I tried a few times to make some cakes using what I had on hand, which in particular happened to be an abundance of wheat flour. Ultimately, this is the recipe I came up with:

• 3 Tbsp. wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 4 Tbsp. soy milk

1. Mix dry ingredients in measuring cup, add wet ingredients and stir until just mixed.
2. Pour batter onto greased, medium heat (4/10) skillet. Batter may need to be spread out a bit if it is thick. Flip and cook other side.

I have some flavored dipping olive oil I like to use to grease the skillet. It might be interesting to do a version using cinnamon, or other spices. I did make one version replacing 1 Tbsp. of flour with cocoa powder - it resulted in a very chocolaty cake. It was good, but rich. It might make for a good breakfast. For the record, I used light vanilla soy milk. I imagine other liquids will work, too. You can eat these by themselves, putting toppings on them, or use as a wrap. Now for some photos!

The batter, just lightly mixed

Batter on skillet - was spread out with a spatula since it was a bit thick.

I flip it when the top looks kind of dry.

The cooked side.

I used some of my CSA lettuce and a some BBQ ranch dressing to make a little wrap.

There was a lot of lettuce, but the pancake is there :)

Yum! It tastes a bit like a chalupa - would probably be delicious with taco stuff.

A bit much lettuce, but tasty.

One last look!

Rat Hammock!

I've seen rat hammocks for sale, and I had a feeling my girls would love one. However, I thought I'd try making one myself. Originally I had cut the bottoms off some old tall socks I had for little blankets for them (they love nesting with these, or even sleeping inside if they are still tube shaped, like a sleeping bag), and I thought I might make hammocks out of the tops. I probably still will, but upon finding my yarn stash and a crochet hook, I thought I'd try crocheting one.
I honestly don't know a lot about crocheting, but I just made a square (25x25 rows) and then crocheting several rows of edges, including loops to attach the hammock. In a crafty mood, I then went and made another one. The first seemed kind of small, so I made this one 30x30, but it's a little saggy once they all get on it. Which is fine, but it makes the space beneath the hammock a little small. Would be good in a taller cage.

25 x 25 square - pretty pink :)



Binder rings to attach

30 x 30 square - sunny yellow :)

It's pretty taut, but when they lie on it, it sags down.

Full cage view - they just have a small cage now, but hopefully will upgrade soon.

They all checked it out, but were hesistant to stay on it until I moved it up to the top shelf, where they like to be. Besides being a new comfy spot, it also helps me because they used to carry bedding up to the top shelf to bed on, and then kick it out all over the floor. Now that they have this little haven, they've only carried up a couple pieces :) I change the hammock once every 3-4 days.

Front to back: Shale, Chalcedony, and Lilac

Super comfy!



It's hard to get good pictures because Shale always has to see what's going on

...like this :)