Making Zucchini Pancakes...Pretend like its the Weekend now!

I have never been much of a pancake girl. Don't get me wrong, breakfast is by far the best meal of the day. But, I tend to go for a smoothie, oatmeal, peanut butter toast, or cereal. However, these pancakes are one of my top five breakfasts. They taste like home. Any recipe taken from Momma Neth's cookbook, Family Favorites, will never lead you astray. If you haven't ever experienced Robin's cooking, trust me when I say that she is a rockstar in the kitchen (and at many other things).

This past Thursday and Friday night Tyler and I had a visitor, my "little" brother Kellyn (I will always call him my little brother, even though he has definitely outgrown me). So to fit the special occasion, Saturday morning we didn't "pretend like it's the weekend" because it was the weekend! I was "making zucchini pancakes, because it is the weekend now." If you don't recognize that it's from Jack Johnson's song Banana Pancakes.

Anyways, I have never seen anyone not like these savory, delicious pancakes. I dare you to try them! :-)

Zucchini Patty's (adapted from Family Favorites)
2 eggs, beaten                             1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt                                  6 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp pepper                            2 cups shredded zucchini
1 tsp baking powder

Beat the eggs and add all of the dry ingredients (add zucchini last). Then cook just like normal pancakes on a skillet (medium high) until cooked through.  

I also took the same recipe but instead of pepper and Parmesan, I added 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, and about 1/2 cup of blueberries (if you want them sweeter added about 1 tbsp of honey or sugar). 

Either way, I recommend topping with Madison's Peanut Butter Spread (http://www.espressoandcream.com/2011/08/peanut-butter-spread.html).  You could also trickle maple syrup or my brother even goes with Ketchup for the Parmesan recipe! 

Don't you all just love garden veggies? I'm always amazed at God's design in it all.

Love: Part 1

Tyler and I at Wicked before leaving for Israel

First day in Bethlehem...We're never silly :-) 

At a family garden in the West Bank, where we learned about the picture in the bible of the vine from John 15
PS Yes, Tyler dressed to match me after I he saw what I was wearing. He enjoys life's small pleasures (teasing me).

At one of our recent weddings. Yay, for Ashton and Cassie Arens! 

At another recent wedding (Jon and Becca Kramer!), I heard the song "Love is Not a Fight" sung by the one and only Michael Bibelheimer. What a good reminder....Although this post is somewhat a shout out to my honey, Tyler Tigges (who is truly a perfect gift from the Lord for me), this song really reveals something so, so much deeper. This is a love with Jesus Christ. So often in this new thing I'm experiencing called marriage, I see parallels to my love relationship with my Lord. Not only this, but when Tyler and I fail each other we are gracefully reminded by God that we always need to put our expectations in Him and not each other. Have any of you ever felt the pain of someone you care about betraying you, not reaching your expectations, or simply not caring? 

"Love is a shelter in a raging storm

Love is peace in the middle of a war

And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door

No, love is not a fight but it's something worth fighting for"

I often fail my own expectations. I often am disappointed with how something turns out. I am hurt by others. All of these are graces from God to point us to our relationship with Him. I don't want to miss this message from Him. I want to know Him. I want to know Him intimately and see Him reflected in others. I want to recognize His voice in life. Love is worth fighting for....

Hebrews 12:1b-2 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."