I don’t know how she does it.
No, seriously. I really don’t know how she does it.
I just spent the last 5 minutes sprinting down my street with my hair in a scraggly ponytail (from last night) my husbands too big basketball shorts on, and a holey t-shirt, trying to catch a school bus because my kids left their snacks and the PTA sign up form for the Spaghetti Dinner THAT WAS DUE TODAY on the kitchen counter.
The bus came. The bus went.
Approximately 2 minutes before I ever got there. So there I stood, out of shape, out of breath, on the corner of my busy neighborhood street, with an Oatmeal Raisin Chewy Granola Bar, A Spaghetti Dinner Form, and a $20 check, and approximately 5 onlookers wondering why I was hunched over, breathing strangely, and holding my side.
My list
Use my treadmill.
Become more organized.
Buy Granola Bars.
Tell the neighbors I have a twin sister.
So again I repeat the phrase. . . . .
I don’t know how she does it?
You know the “she”. Who runs the PTA. Makes homemade bread at the drop of a hat. Has biceps like guns. Is beautiful, smart, clean, nice, has on make-up, wears high heels, never is a ‘mess’, has dinner on the table by 6, the kids in bed by 8, and does you know what with her husband. . . . .6 times a week.
Oh dear. Somebody please, tell. me. how. she. does. it.
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This, my friends is precisely the topic of the new Sarah Jessica Parker comedy flick, I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT.
Parker plays, Kate Reddy a devoted mother and wife who has a daytime job working in a Boston based financial firm. Kate is slightly disheveled with the responsibilities of trying to juggle marriage, her two young children, and a HIGH stress job.
Kate, like many moms, is over scheduled, exhausted and conflicted. As a result, she resorts to cutting corners in her family life so that she can meet the demands of her job, where she just landed a major new account that requires her to work and travel frequently with her charming new business associated Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan), who begins to turn into a bit of a ‘temptation’.
The movie is tender in moments, and hilarious in others. I loved that Kate was deeply devoted to her husband (Greg Kinnear), and he to her. They had a busy life, but both took their parts in it, working together as a team. He was gentle and understanding to her, and she was considerate and doting to him.
I don’t think the movie will win any Oscars, but the one’s I fall in love with never do.
I loved that when she was speaking about being a mom to a 2 year old, she said it was like being A POP STAR, without Paparazzi.
I loved that when the family went on Thanksgiving Holiday they played the song, Lovely Day by Bill Withers and all sang along.
I loved that she talked to her husband about real issues and he reciprocated.
And I really loved at the end of the movie where Kate says something along the lines of “Why should I try and be more like a man, when that is a waste of a woman.” Brava, I say. Brava.
The one unsettling point of the movie was that the stay at home moms were depicted as crazed, mean, self absorbed work out freaks that looked down on the working moms. Why must we always pit mom against mom. Trying to make us feel as if we choose one path, the other path must be tainted. Both paths are worthy, wonderful, and HARD. We would all do well to remember that. I’m just sayin’.
So, if you find yourself with extra time this weekend, you should really go see I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT. It’s very good. And funny. It’ll make your heart smile. Plus, it never hurts to stare at Pierce Brosnan for a couple of hours. I’m just sayin.
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Now you’re hungry right?
No worries. I’ve got you covered.
So, in the movie, Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) cooks a few times.
Once, some brown patties in a skillet with brown sauce, not really sure what that was. . .maybe Salisbury Steak. . . .yeah. . .i dunno. And the other time she made PANCAKES. But they were for breakfast, and they looked really good.
But, I’m thinking we should have pancakes for dinner. Because well, nobody ever has Breakfast and a Movie, only Dinner and a Movie, and plus its really fun to have breakfast for dinner and a movie. Right?
Soooo. . . .I’m posting my super easy pancake recipe (made from a mix that you can whip up in 2 minutes and keep in your pantry on busy days when you want to have a warm quick breakfast or dinner. And ohhhhh. . . . .try it with the Berry Syrup. Super fast and super easy.
Eat up!
2 Minute Whole Wheat Dry Pancake Mix
Inspired by Nigella Lawson
Nigella’s weren’t Whole Wheat. And she used regular milk. And I think she called them Homemade Instant Pancake Mix. And too be truthful, I believe she said they only took 1 1/2 minutes to prepare. But I timed it, and it took me two : )
Make up a batch of these, and then store the remaining mix in an airtight container. Then anytime you want Pancakes, you can serve them up in no time flat.
Dry Mix Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 cups unbleached flour
3 TB baking powder
2 ts baking soda
1 ts salt
2 TB plus 2 ts sugar
Whisk together the above ingredients. Store in an airtight container.
TO MAKE THE BATTER AND THE PANCAKES:
One cup of pancake mix makes 13-15 three inch pancakes.
Batter Ingredients:
1 cup of pre-made Pancake Mix
1 egg
1 cup sour milk (milk with 1 TB lemon juice added)
1 TB butter, melted
Directions:
1. Heat your skillet or griddle to medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray.
2. Spoon batter onto the skillet and when bubbles start to form, and then edges turn dry, flip each pancake. This will take about 1 1/2 minutes.
3. Allow pancakes to cook on the other side for a minute longer, or until golden brown. Serve warm with Strawberry Syrup.
