Eloise and I had the best little morning getting to know each other!

Oh, right. As I rode up and down the street with the wind in my hair last night, Ben decided the name Karen just didn’t fit and suggested naming my new/old 1979 Montgomery Ward, beige road bike Eloise. “That way,” he said “I can get a bike and name it Alonzo and we can be Alonzo & Eloise!”

BAHAHAHA!

I’m all “Who’s Eloise? And more importantly, who’s Alonzo?!“

Apparently Alonozo was a great uncle of his, or something, and he just thought Alonzo & Eloise had a nice ring to it. Omg I can’t even tell you how hard I laughed at this. So cute, so random, so Ben.

So, for my husband, I present to you – Eloise.

There’s a plastic bag covering the seat because it’s mysteriously leaking water from somewhere,

the handle bars have been turned right side up (I didn’t even notice they were upside down when I bought it – how embarrassing)

she’s rocking a sweet kickstand,

and the bike bag I made in 7th grade, just big enough for a water bottle, cell phone and cash, is strapped to the front.

She’s perfect.

Eloise and I set off early this morning and by the time 10am rolled around, we had already been to my parent’s house then home, to the grocery store (strapped on a backpack for that!) and back home, then to the gym and back home again!

It was 80 degrees outside when I hopped on the treadmill at 9am, and I was oh-so-very grateful for the AC blasting inside the gym. Although biking around on a road bike is much easier than on a mountain bike – it was freakin’ hot out there! I zipped through my favorite 3-2-1 treadmill routine in the coolness:

Time	Speed
0-2	4.0
2-5	6.0
5-8	6.5
8-10	6.8
10-11	7.0
11-14	6.5
14-16	6.8
16-17	7.0
17-20	6.5
20-22	6.8
22-23	7.0
23-26	6.5
26-28	6.8
28-29	7.0
29-32	6.0
32-34	4.0
Total	3.65 miles

That’s 3 minutes at a manageable pace, 2 minutes at a harder pace, then 1 minute at a sprint. I didn’t have an incline on the ‘mill so this was easier than I expected, but I didn’t want to exhaust myself and not be able to make it home. I had Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes to make once I got there!!!

I saw these puppies on Dave & Sarah’s blog 1 Cup Awesome a few weeks ago, and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to make ‘em. Today was it.

The recipe is really easy, only has 6 ingredients and tastes exactly like lemon poppy seed bread. It’s cuckoo! All I did was combine “just add water” style pancake mix.

Ricotta cheese – I used low-fat, but you could use part-skim or full fat. Just don’t use fat-free. Fat-free dairy products are not good.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice.

Check out this tiny strainer I picked up at the employee garage sale where I found my bike a couple days ago.

It’s perfect for catching lemon seeds!

Plus water, vanilla extract and poppy seeds.

After a quick whisk,

I poured the batter onto a preheated flat-top skillet.

The batter for these yummy bread-turned-pancakes is rich and luscious from the ricotta cheese, and smelled so good when it hit the heat.

As soon as bubbles started to appear on top, I give ‘em a flip!

Which I still suck at doing.

Seriously, why can I not get any better at this?!

Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes

Print this recipe!

Makes 4 pancakes

From 1 Cup Awesome

Ingredients:
1/2 cup “just add water” pancake mix (I used Krusteaz Fat-Free Buttermilk)
1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons water
3/4 teaspoon poppy seeds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Juice from 1/2 a lemon
1/4 cup ricotta cheese (I used low-fat)

Directions:

1. Whisk together all the ingredients then drop evenly onto a skillet pre-heated to medium heat. Flip when bubbles appear on top, then cook until the second side is golden brown.

It is unreal how much these taste like the real thing. Sweet, with a little lemon kick and a pop-POP-pop from the seeds as you chew. I dusted mine with powdered sugar and dabbed a few bites in real maple syrup. Pancake heaven!

It should come as no surprise that I loved these, given my affinity for pancakes that taste like breads and other baked goods.

Cornbread Pancakes, Pumpkin Pie Pancakes, or Banana Bread Pancakes, anyone?

Thanks for the great recipe 1 Cup Awesome!

In other news, my little brother and his girlfriend are in town from Denver for the weekend, so we’re all gathering for a BBQ at my parent’s house tonight. Right now we’re standing at 92 degrees with a heat index of 96. Here’s hoping it cools down a bit so we can sit outside and enjoy the evening!

TGIF!

~~~~~

Have you ever named a bike or car?