Panny Cake, Panny Cake, Not a Baker Girl

I've been making pancakes from scratch since I was about 8 years old. In fact, I had the recipe (from Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book) memorized. It was the first thing I learned how to make on my own, and I was so proud that I made them for everyone who would eat them.

Since then, I've learned that you can add fun things to your pancakes and they can add some nutrition or just another dimension of flavor. I've also started using wheat flour instead of all purpose flour.

Some of the things I add are mashed banana, applesauce, chocolate chips, berries, and corn. Yes, I said CORN! If I make them as "corn fritters", I also add a little cornmeal. You can also use a can of cream style corn; you'll have to decrease the milk and delete the sugar so as not to make corn soup. I also use a little more oil in my electric skillet, so that they fry a little crisper than regular pancakes.

The recipe below is doubled. I have a large electric griddle on which I can make at least four 5" pancakes at a time. I allow leftovers to cool completely, then stagger them (spread them out, not stack one on top of each other) in a gallon freezer bag. Squeeze as much air out as possible, then lay flat in the freezer. If you stagger them, they easily come apart for reheating. A 5" pancake takes about 45 seconds to heat in the microwave.

Whole Wheat Pancakes
2 c. whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 beaten eggs
2+ c. milk
2 Tbsp. canola oil + some for skillet if you want crispy edges

Mix all dry ingredients in large mixing bowl. Make a well in center, then add all wet ingredients and mix them in the well before mixing entire batter. If you are using applesauce or any other "wet" addition (like cream corn), don't add the oil to the batter. You may have to add more milk to make batter the right consistency, which is smooth and slightly pourable, but not soupy.

If you are using an electric skillet or griddle, 325 is about the right temperature. To test if your skillet is the right temperature, sprinkle a few drops of water on the skillet. They should "dance" across the skillet. To test if your pancakes are ready to turn, the bubbles that form on the uncooked side should be starting to pop. To test if the pancake is done on both sides, lightly press on the puffy center. If it falls, it's not done. If it holds its puffiness, it should be done!

There you have it. The ins and outs of pancakes. I seriously never thought I could write an entire long post about pancakes. Of course, you can always just use a whole wheat pancake mix, and add some good stuff, but it's just not the same as homemade!