"Puff" Pancakes

These bring back so many memories for me. I used to love it when Mom would make these for us when we were little. I made them one night for my kids. They were a hit!! My girls loved them and I loved them because they were so easy!!!

Puff Pancakes aka German Pancakes

1/4 c butter
6 eggs
1 1/2 c milk
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp salt

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. While oven is heating up melt your butter in the pan (careful it will burn easily.) Mix the remaining ingredients together until smooth. (I use my hand blender.) Pour egg mixture into the pan over the melted butter. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes. Sift powder sugar over the top. Serve with maple syrup, fresh fruit, or I really like jam on mine.

Creamy tomato basil soup

I got this recipe from Lexi and I have made it once a week since then. I love it. I cut down the sugar by about half and add more basil and less cream, but it is great as is.

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

1 medium onion finely chopped

1/2 cup butter

3-14.5 ounce cans stewed tomatoes (or fresh)

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. basil, or to taste

1 Tbsp. Chicken bullion

2-14.5 ounce cans chicken broth

1 cup whipping cream

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Add onion, bullion, sugar, salt and pepper. Simmer on a low heat until onion is tender. Add tomatoes with juice and heat until warm. Place these ingredients into a blender, blending thoroughly. You’ll probably have to repeat this step 2 or 3 times as it’s not possible to fit it all in the blender. Return mixture to saucepan adding chicken broth and cream or milk. Heat and serve with garnish of freshly grated parmesan cheese. Serves 6-8.

Apricot-Glazed Pork

This is the recipe I made at Mom and Dad's. It is super easy and delicious. I use soy sauce instead of tamari sauce and dried ginger instead of pickled. I use more like a teaspoon. I also tried this without the sesame oil and it is not as good. This recipe is supposed to feed 4, so for Andrea's family, I would double or triple this.

• 1 pound pork tenderloin, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 1/4 cups apricot preserves
• 1/4 cup tamari sauce
• 1 tablespoon chopped pickled ginger

Season both sides of pork with salt and black pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork and sear 2 minutes per side. Add apricot preserves, tamari sauce and ginger and bring to a simmer. Simmer 5 minutes, until pork is cooked through and sauce reduces.