Sadly, some things can only be learned the hard way. Don’t try to hang a picture when you have something in your eye. Don’t kayak with a dog you just met. And never make protein pancakes according to the directions on the box.
People complain about the thick, doughy consistency of protein pancake mix, but if you add more milk (and ignore the water option, because that is diabolical) and throw an egg in, they are the most delicious, thin consistency, easily flipped, puffing up wonderfully at the right temperature. The box will call for 1 cup mix to 3/4 cup water/milk, but go for 1:1 and rejoice.
Another thing I’ve learned (which takes a little time but is worth it) is anytime you’re using a frying pan, heat it up on low heat for 5-10 minutes before increasing the temperature. It allows the pan to heat evenly, avoiding hot spots that sear and ruin your pancakes (or steak).
I’m writing this from a delightfully hospitable cabin that is larger than three of my previous homes. Red squirrels, a flicker, and an eagle have all made their last conversations of the day, and a crew of paddlers with LEDs on their kayaks just drifted by the peninsula. Montana is so much like Michigan, it feels familiar, yet the mountains ringing the valley show off their adventure potential. I wonder, if I used the lakes in Michigan to the extent I’ve run around the mountains out here, would I feel more excited about living there?
I think, more than likely, I will spend most of my time in Michigan, because I truly do love it, and most of my people are there. But 3 months of the year I’d love to be in Arizona or anywhere westerly. There’s just so much to see and do, and you meet so many interesting people. It keeps me feeling alive to know the west is always here for the exploring.