Pizza burger pancakes

I think this food is just as fun to say as it is to eat. And my kids love pizza-burger pancake nights. I do too, because they're quick and easy.

First, you make the pizza-burger part, which really is just ground beef cooked and drained, and then seasoned with a taco or other spicy kind of flavor. Personally, I use chili powder, cumin and sea salt. That's it. (Note: I make about two pounds of this at a time and freeze them in 1/2 pound portions for later use. This comes in handy when you need a quick meal.)

While the meat's cooking, make the pancake batter. In a mixing bowl, combine 1/3 cup chickpea flour, 1/3 cup potato starch and 1/3 cup tapioca starch. That's the flour base. Now add 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp sea salt. Mix flour well. Add 2 tbsp canola oil and 1/3 cup water. You'll need to continue adding 1 tbsp water at a time until you reach the right "pancake" consistency. And no, you don't need xanthan gum.

I heat a small nonstick pan and toss in some of the ground beef. Heat for 30 seconds. Then pour some of the pancake batter over top, coating the beef. Turn when the bottom side is starting to brown, just like you would with a pancake. Cook other side until starting to brown.

That's it. I serve a half pancake to each girl with some ketchup to dip in. My youngest likes this cut up into pieces. My oldest likes to eat it whole. I haven't tried, but I'll bet these would freeze nicely.

Back -- with ketchup fish

Happy New Year!

And let me introduce you to "Ketchup Fish."

Yep, just like it sounds. Ketchup. And fish.

So, here's what you need:

1 lb. cod or other firm fish
1 tsp sea salt
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2-1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon Heinz ketchup
1-2 potatoes cut into thin "fry" strips

Heat a nonstick pan. Cut fish into bite sized pieces. Toss in a bowl with other ingredients to coat. Toss into pan and cook until fish is flaky and potatoes are cooked. That's it.

Enjoy.

Sweet & sour sauce

Here's a good sauce to use with beef or poultry. It's very easy and made with stuff you probably already have on hand. Feel free to tinker with it too.

1/2 cup Heinz ketchup
1/2 cup Heinz vinegar (gf)
1/2 cup sugar or sweetener
1/2 cup water (more or less to adjust how thick or thin you want the sauce)

Mix in a bowl. That's it.