It started with an invitation.
I think that all really good stories do.
I asked my husband who was then my boyfriend over for lunch.
We were both home from college for the summer and I wanted to impress him with my culinary skills. Well….actually….I really didn’t have any culinary skills. I just had a complete and utter belief in my ability to do anything I set my mind to.
Including cooking.
I told him I would cook him anything he wanted for lunch and he told me that he wanted pancakes.
Pancakes?
Seriously.
How about filet mignon and summer squash or braised pork chops with fresh garlic and onion or chicken stuffed with ricotta cheese?
Nope.
He wanted pancakes.
So that day I searched my mom’s The Joy of Cooking until I found the best-looking pancake recipe I could.
I didn’t know about Bisquick.
Or generic pancake mixes.
All I knew was The Joy of Cooking gave this recipe the stamp of approval…..and that was good enough for me.
First I added the milk and sugar and eggs and baking powder and salt and butter….and oh….
….the flour.
Now you have to understand…..at this point….my only cooking reference was chocolate chip cookies.
That’s what I made.
That’s what I was known for.
So when I added the ingredients together it just looked….well….it looked so….un-chocolate chip cookie like. As a matter of fact, it just looked runny. I panicked. How was I ever going to form this dough into balls to press into the pan to make pancakes (remember the chocolate chip cookie reference)?
Frantically I read the recipe again.
I must have done something wrong, I thought.
So I added some flour.
And some more flour.
And just a little more for good measure.
Until all of the runniness was gone and my pancake mix was a big ball of dough.
And staring at that big ball of dough…..I was feeling confident. I was feeling like Julia Child had nothing on me. And in that overly-confident moment……inspiration really struck.
Why just have plain pancakes……
……when you could have blueberry ones?
Now…..The Joy of Cooking didn’t really mention blueberry pancakes.
But remember that complete and utter belief I had in myself?
See…..that applied to the executive decision to go to the freezer and take out frozen blueberries (ummm……yes……unfortunately I did say they were frozen) and add them to the dough.
And a funny thing happened.
The frozen blueberries made the dough blue.
Go figure.
And now I was running out of time. I had spent so much time setting a beautiful tablescape with the most amazing fresh flower arrangement and silver and china and candles. Oh….and there was the whole adding extra flour and frozen blueberries thing.
That’s when inspirational idea number two struck.
“Why have a bunch of little pancakes when you could just have one really big pancake?”
Seriously.
Truly inspired.
So I took that big blue ball of pancake dough.
And I pressed it quickly into the frying pan.
And when I was waiting for the top to cook.
The bottom burned.
Well…..actually…..it burned on both sides.
So now my pancake was….big….and blue…..and….ummm…..burned. And that’s when I got inspirational idea number three.
Add powdered sugar to cover the burned part.
I know….brilliant….right?
So I styled the pancake on the plate with powdered sugar and a few remaining blueberries that were now thawed and set it on that beautiful table.
Just in time.
Just in time to see my future husband’s eyes light up.
Oh…..the meal that was waiting for him.
So there we sat.
Just the two of us.
I was the one having the cheese sandwich because (as I told him later) there wasn’t enough pancake for me.
And his fork hovered with delight over the powdered sugared blueberry delicacy. And with great anticipation and gusto he cut into it.
And from the center…..from the center of that very undercooked…..yet oddly overcooked…..blueberry pancake….
….came rivers of blue goo that spilled onto his plate.
He looked at me.
And I looked at him…..about to burst into tears.
And like a man inspired…..he took a deep breath…..grabbed his fork…..and scooped up the blue goo with bits of blueberry and powdered sugar still attached…..
…..and took a big bite.
And chewed.
Chewed with kind of face like a contestant on Survivor when they have to eat a local delicacy to win fresh towels and shampoo.
Yeah.
That kind of face.
And then he finished his bite.
And he smiled.
And told me how delicious it was…..
…..and then asked me for the rest of my cheese sandwich.
And I gave it to him…..along with my heart 🙂
PS I am guest posting today over at Phantastic Phinds! Stop by and say hello! Thank you so much Angela!
I've always heard love is blind. And, now you're telling us love overrides tastebuds, too. Ah, love is indeed blissful and enduring. I'll be happy to make the pancakes when we get together. Love you, KariAnne.
So...he didn't marry you for your cooking? ;) And yes, we can still be friends, even though you are tchotchke-less.
That's too funny...love it!
awwhhhhhh! I hate pancakes (LOVE crepes but HATE pancakes) but I sure to love this story!
Oh what a great story!
I can just see you now....after you making those gorgeous pancakes with the strawberries.....waving your arms saying..."oh!...this reminds me of a great story....!"...you snap a gorgeous picture of those pancakes you so superbly made and begin to blog....all the time, your hubby is smiling... eating those gorgeous pancakes you have so lovingly perfected...all knowing the secret all along was, do not use frozen blueberries...just fresh strawberries for garnish!....Love the story!!....Keep them coming!
A perfect story! I made pancakes yesterday and now will probably think of you whenever I do - or at least the next time :)
.....and they lived happily ever after. You've got a real treasure, Kari. He must be related to my hubby.
SO SWEET!!! I love this story. For our third date, my husband made me dinner at his house and made Chicken Parmesan. i was so impressed. I didn't know that it was the only thing that he'd ever cooked and ever would cook. To this day, if he makes dinner, he makes Chicken Parmesan.
I love your pancake love story and I can see why you gave him your heart. He is so sweet! Thank you for sharing; I was laughing as I read...
Hi Karianne, Very cute and funny story. It reminded me of my first cherry pie. I used can cherries which wouldn't have been so bad if the cherries didn't have pits. To this day I cannot understand why anyone would want canned cherries with pits. LOL Thanks for the laugh. Hugs, Linda
What a cute story! You are an EXCELLENT story teller. I remember thinking the same thing when I first made pancakes, about how runny it looked.
You kill me!! :) I once made my mom a gray birthday cake, but I was pretty little!
Hahaha! Great story. I hate pancakes, so my husband never gets them...poor man.
Made me smile! way to start a new day! but it looks like you have come a LONG way!
Oh KariAnne!!! What an amazing man you have there. How incredibly funny! Thank you for sharing this, I laughed until I had tears running down my face. You funny, darling girl! xox
I am sitting here laughing! I LOVE your stories! Have you started that book yet???
What a smart and sweet man! ;D
Ours was a fish dish. I followed the recipe how could it go so wrong, surprised he still married me! ~Bliss~
So glad he lived so you could have him take you out to dinner 5 nights a week! Forget Joy of Cooking, buy a box of Bisquick and call it a day! I knew my hubs (who was my boyfriend at the time) was the one when I jokingly gave him one of my dad's 1970's polyester shirts with little houses all over it (this was the 90's) and wide striped tie (my dad never throws anything away!). I wrapped it up beautifully and presented it to him one Christmas. He opened it ... he was speechless ... he said he loved it! When I could control my laughter no longer, I finally told him it was a joke! Whew, he said with relief. And we are living happily ever after (minus all traces of polyester)! (he put the shirt and tie on and we took a picture of the two of us too)! Kelly
OMG - I totally remember that! The big blue ball of goo...sweet Denny. When Chris wants pancakes, I tell him that what IHOP is for....:-)
What a cute story! What a guy! He's a Keeper!...and you're a doll! Love, Linda
You crack me up! That unshakeable faith in your abilities is what got you where you are today, so it must be a good thing! And your husband must have seen it way back in the days of giant burned pancakes and Lee press on nails, and thought how lucky he was to have found you!
Aw!!! I have a pancake story too - except it involves chicken, rice and peas. My guy ate it as well (the ball I'd formed it all into) and we've been married for 15 happy years. Hilarious story - the way your mind instantly knows a solution to each problem - so familiar. Just how my brain works too.
~swoon~
Now I know. Now I know that way before the press on nails, you knew he was a keeper. You knew that any guy that would sit there looking at that mound of "pancake" that was most likely a lovely shade of Smurf, that he was a keeper. What a lovely chapter in your love story. I am so glad that you are sharing life stories along with your wonderful "house" stories. It makes me feel as though we could perhaps be sitting out in your sunroom having some ice tea and maybe a plate of your chocolate chip cookies, and sharing one of our "how did you know your husband was the one" stories. Yes, that is what we would be doing, and all the time laughing and remembering back whens. Thanks for sharing. P.S. I am surprised that you didn't decide to add chocolate chips to the ...ummm, mound of pancake. You know, to further show off your culinary skills. Maybe that would have been too over the top. Most likely you were saving that for the next time. t
What a great story..so sweet..I'd be willing to bet, you've come a long way since then..The picture of the pancakes makes my mouth water...
Sounds like something I would have done! Wish Mom would have spent more time with me in the kitchen before leaving for college! Such a sweet story! I think blogs are a great way for us to keep these memories alive for our children! Keep sharing! Blessings, Doreen
Oh Kari! You are too much! Your culinary skills unequaled. And your husband should be Sainted ... because only a Saint would eat burnt blue goo ... ... and you did the story justice! :) Linda
Love it! My husband and I have a very similar story.... only with potato soup! It's a good thing our husbands have stomachs of steel! :)
The absolute BEST story I've read in a loooong time!
yep. best. story. ever....and as funny as this is in print, it's even funnier over a few margaritas! ;) By the way, I think foodgawker and tastespotting are calling your pancake pictures. Heather
I just wanted to let you know that I LOVE reading your blog! I love how you write and this story is very funny, but, very sweet! Keep inspired!
First Lee Press-On Nails and now this? Karianne, you write the *best* love stories! ~Elena
That certainly gives new meaning to the saying, "A way to a man's heart is through his stomach." haha. Great story Karianne! Your then boyfriend must have really loved you! Angie xo
Oh how I love happy endings!!! What a beautiful, lovely ending!!!
I have so been there! Thanks for sharing!
This was an awesome story! I wanted to cry with you and then he asked for your sandwich...I would have died laughing at that point. So, so funny and sweet! Thanks for making my day!
What a sweet story. I love stories about how couples met and courted and your story just shot to the top of the list. My husband would have done something similarly. Thanks for bringing a smile to my heart. Traci
That's such a sweet story!
I think you should write a cute little book of "love stories", from life with your husband! So cute and inspiring!! You could sell it as a little ebook, and have it come out just in time for Christmas. It would make such a cute stocking stuffer for anyone to give to the special someone in their own life who has endured similar things for love! Super sweet! <3 xo-Lisa
Oh, wait,...I guess to stuff it in a stocking, you'd need to have it in print. (Blonde moment) Either way, it would be a cute collection of stories to be sure! xo-Lisa
You make my heart smile. It appears, from the photos, that you've figured out the whole pancake thing...not that it would have mattered. I'm pretty sure that you had him at "press on nails". xo
Haha! What a sweetheart! :) Jesse did all of the cooking until about 2 years into our relationship, now we split it, but since it's summer he usually is grilling every night ;)
Cutest. Story. Ever. p.s. Next time you make chocolate chip cookies, will you send some to me?
What a romantic story! It has a happy ending as all good ones do. Hugs, Patti
I am SO GLAD you decided to share this story on your blog! I love it and I think it's amazing/adorable. Miss you friend! Anna :)
krusteaz or eggo "manufactures" some decent frozen pancakes.......lol....they look very uniform and "pretty".... i have a wonderful husband as well....whatever i give him for dinner, whether it is really delicious or something that resembles a manure pile. he always says...."what a wonderful dinner/lunch/breakfast" i believe i have a winner.....so do you.....
Oh that made me laugh until I had tears running down my cheek. What an adorable man you have :-)
What a beautiful love story! Thanks for sharing Mandy
What a great story. I'm still laughing. It's right up there with the story of you running onto the field and knocking him down in front of all of his Military buddies. Your husband sounds a lot like mine. A keeper for sure. The first meal I made as newlyweds was hamburgers. You think that would be easy peasy. Well mine turned out more like meatloaf size and hard as a hockey puck. My honey put one on a bun with all the fixens and bit right into it like it was some gourmet burger. I remember him chewing and chewing and making yum yum noises. Needless to say I didn't make burgers for a long time. Thanks for sharing. I perfect way to end my day.
What a bloody funny story, I love pancakes but I am not one to make them from scratch I use a packet that you just add milk to or even sometimes the stuff you just add water and shake........................lol Yes I am not much of a cook but I will not kill you either.................I hope............
This is the cutest story, Karianne...how sweet. My mother made bread as a young bride- the loaf was so hard as to be inedible- and she had to throw it away. Unbeknownst to her, my dad fished it out of the trash...hollowed it out, painted it, and used it for years as an ashtray...lol. It has become family folklore...
Such a sweet story! That recipe should be shared with all brides to be. If he passes the blueberry pancake test you've got yourself a winner...
Great story I <3'd it......what a sweet man..........and so smart to ask for the cheese sandwich....:) Thanks for sharing..... Kathy :) ps have your pancakes EVOLVED ?????
Well this certainly sounds like you! And I mean that in a good way. Actually I made banana bread Sunday and got a wild hair to add blueberries and dumped in a bunch. Took the bread out of the oven, turned it out of the pan, let it cool, cut it to serve it and the uncooked (but warm) batter poured out! I wasn't sure how much extra time was needed to cook w/ fruit in it. Guess I didn't add enough. We ate the bread with a spoon. It was delicious.
Laughed till I cried. And then cried at how sweet of a story this is. And then laughed again. You don't need a catchy headline when you are a master at story-telling, my friend.
I could picture all this as I was reading... then, I actually teared up. So stop it!! Yep, I guess at that point, you knew he was one of the good ones, and a real keeper :)))
Karianne!! You are really rocking your camera these days!! Wow - awesome pics that look like I could just reach out and touch these delish pancakes and berries! Ok, so now I know you are the best writer, the best photographer, the best decorator and designer......it would be so easy to be jealous of you girl, but I just luv everything about your style, your blog and your soul!! Keep on, keepin' on girl!! Hugs, Heather (PS...who do you think the Bachelorette is going to pick??? I think the race car driver!)
loved this--i could picture the entire thing...and what a man! you snagged a real keeper with that pancake! what great men who knowingly sacrifice their taste buds because of their sensitive hearts :)
Such a charming story! I almost believe that old saying... The way to a mans heart is through his stomach... It does not say anything about good food! Really enjoyed my stop!
I just had my root canal today.Why did I read your blog knowing you would have me in stitches laughing!!! Oh my that is hilarious! I can see why you married him!What a sweet heart <3 xx Anne
This post makes my heart smile!
Somehow I ended up here after clicking around for hemp shower curtains and I have lingered here waaay past my bedtime! So, thank you for your witty, warm way of writing (loved the 4th of july post!), but pardon me for finally breaking away to get a little shut eye :)
That is a good man! Loved this story, it made me smile :)
KariAnne, this is one of the sweetest stories I have ever heard! What a GREAT guy you married. This reminds me of our FIRST night in our apt. and me getting ready to cook our first dinner. I preheated the oven and in a few minutes very calmly called to my NEW HUSBAND, "hon, the oven is on fire". It was a new apt. and a new stove and the papers were still in the ove and caught fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But, unlike your hubby, mine as stuck with me:):):) But he is still here, and like you my culinary skills ahve GREATLY improved;:): xO, Piny
Great story, but now I want the pancakes in your pictures. Will you post that recipe. I'm assuming they are good now!
I missed this one last summer--a nice treat on this blustery fall morning. I'm thinking your story is sweeter than those pancakes. Who needs pancakes when you've got true love, huh? :-)
Oh Karianne, I have tears in my eyes reading this story, it was so funny and sweet! So, so, so glad you blog and share your stories with the world. Visiting you here always brightens my day!
I'm just reading this for the first time and I'm in tears from laughing so much! He definitely demonstrated what a keeper he was that day! He was already in love! Too cute and too funny! Lee Press on Nails and Blueberry Pancakes will always remind me of you! You have a wonderful sense of humor and you are a fabulous writer!
This story made me smile from ear to ear. Simply love it.
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Once again on a Saturday morning, my husband is looking at me..wondering why I'm laughing so hard. He should know by now....btw, tell the girls hi from Lexi.
Awe! Pronounced aaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwweeeeee!!!!!