Pancakes and Pasta in Mayberry

Mayberry was always a cool little town, or at least that was my thought on the whole thing. Everybody knew each other and I am sure that they had church bake sales, car washes, and the ever popular pancake breakfast.

 I don't know if I can truly explain how much I love Pancake Breakfasts. The smell of syrup and sausage when you walk in the door; the friendly people in the paper hats; the crazy, giant rotating griddles that cook the pancakes perfectly; and the goofy guy dressed like a pancake with butter and sausage, who says that he is just here to make a few bucks. This is true America
 na and in Racine it is one event that I look forward to every year. Max has been there every year since before he was born, the first one he was in utero but it still counts. This year was a good one. We had a whole pancake gang there and we listened to the local school band play various 60's, 70's and 80's muzak, which they did very well. I have a great fondness for the little half pints of milk that they serve along side the mini butter and prepackaged syrup like substance. Whatever the magic is that makes those pancakes taste sooo good, I will suspend my disbelief of all things fairy like to embrace the spell of a good Kiwanis Community Pancake Breakfast.

After the chow down of hardcore carbs we went to check out the art fair being held outside and, of course, the playground. Max has officially entered the realm of the "child addict". Yup, he is addicted to playgrounds in any form, as long as he can go and play, run, climb, jump, and swim in the sand (he likes to pretend that he is a spy swimming through shark infested waters). Alas, there is always a time to leave and even though this is not the time that he looks forward to, he gave one last look at the apparatus as we walked slowly away. When we finally got home, bloated with yummy goodness, the planning began for the night of pasta making. We needed some lead time to get all of our stuff ready and there were important decisions to be made. We decided what kind of pasta we were going to make. "Green is the best!" I said and Max agreed because green is his favorite color. I mixed up the dough while he was outside playing, as this would not divulge to the picky mind of my 5 year old, the actual reason the pasta was green. While the dough rested I broke out the pasta machine!! What a beauty. Gotta love the Italians for these simple innovations to make homemade pasta easy. After a little more playing outside, it was time to roll out the dough. Max took the lead at the crank handle and that dough got so long that we had to cut it in half, then half again. What a beautiful green color and it smelled good too. Max thought that it looked "really yummy" and that made me very happy. We cut some spagetti and some fettucchini, looks soooo good! Since fresh pasta only takes a minute to cook, we had fresh pasta in almost no time. We dressed it for a portrait and "Get the Forks!" The moment of truth arrived. Would the 5 yr old eat it? Would he like it when he tried it or would he notice the spinach and call it quits? He came, he ate, and it got a 2 thumbs and 2 feet up!! That is some yummy pasta!! Needless to say, he cleaned out that bowl all by himself and was happy as a clam. I think that the pasta maker is going to get put to good use. Please always remember and don't ever forget: "On the subject of spinach, divide into little piles. Rearrange again into new little piles. After 5 or 6 manuvers, sit back and say your full." Delia Ephron, How to Eat Like a Child and Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up