Last Hodge Podge of March Madness

Hello Hodgepodgers!  You know the drill...hop back here tomorrow and add your link to the party by clicking here and going to Joyce's blog.

1. This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Do you celebrate Easter in your home? What was your favorite Easter tradition as a child?  I am a pastor, married to a pastor....we have Spring Break next week....Frank and I are both preaching at other churches for Holy Week.  We have always celebrated Holy Week.  When I was a child...and even now...the Maundy Thursday service and Sunrise service were my favorite events.  
2. George Weinberg is quoted as saying, 'Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.' Agree or disagree? Share your own thoughts on the word hope.   I agree. 

3. Weigh in with a yay or nay on the traditional Easter candies. A solid milk chocolate bunny? Cadbury Creme Eggs? Peeps? Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs? Jellybeans? Coconut Cream Eggs? Of the candies listed, which one would you most like to find in your Easter basket? Yes to all of the above except for the Coconut Cream eggs.  Yuck!  As a child I was allergic to chocolate so I never found any of those wonderful chocolate things in my basket....but there were always peeps and jelly beans.  Love them still today.
4. When did you last feel 'like a kid in a candy store'? The last time we visited Frank's sister, Ann in Greenville and went to Mast's General Store.  They have barrels and barrels of old-fashioned candies.  I thought I had died and gone to candy heaven.
5. What's something you know you do differently than most people? Does that bother you? Does it bother other people?  I hold a crochet hook unlike anyone else.  The lady that taught me to crochet goes nuts and is constantly correcting my hold.  I also hold a pencil weird.
6. Palm Springs CA, Palm Beach FL, or the PALMetto State...of the three mentioned, which sunny spot would you most like to visit right now? Which have you visited at one time or another?  I have been to all three.....I grew up in West Palm Beach, FL so I have been to Palm Beach many times.  I would love to go to Palm Beach today......and stay at the Breakers.
7. If you could change the length of a day would you lengthen it or shorten it? Tell us why.  I would do neither.  I think 24 hours in a day is just enough to either get something done....or not do anything at all.
8.  Insert your own random thought here. Today is National Pecan and Waffle Day....who is up for some pecan waffles for supper tonight?  I love waffles for supper.  Here is my favorite recipe:
Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup pecans
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I use Mexican vanilla)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for brushing and topping
• 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, melted and cooled
• Maple syrup, for topping ( I like to heat mine a little bit)

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet; bake until toasted, 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool, then chop. Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F.
Whisk the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Whisk the egg, milk, buttermilk and vanilla in a separate bowl until combined. Stir the egg mixture, melted butter and shortening into the dry ingredients until just combined. (The batter will be lumpy.)
Preheat a waffle iron and brush with melted butter. Ladle some batter into the iron (about 1/2 cup, depending on your waffle iron); sprinkle with 2 tablespoons toasted pecans. Cook until golden brown, then transfer the waffle to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining batter. Top the waffles with butter and maple syrup.  Bon Appetit!