Pancakes

I found a good kid-approved pancake recipe today.  Nothing too fancy or special, but they liked it.  I doubled the recipe to feed my herd of boys.

• 3/4 Cup milk
• 2 TBS white vinegar
• 1 Cup flour
• 2 TBS white sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 2 TBS butter, melted

1. Combine milk and vinegar in a small bowl, set aside 5 minutes to allow milk to sour.
2. Combine dry ingredients in separate, medium sized mixing bowl.  
3. Whisk egg and melted butter into the soured milk.
4. Pour the flour into wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.
5. Heat large skillet over medium heat, and lightly grease.  Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto hot skillet.  When bubbles appear on the surface, flip with spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.  

I don't like using straight maple syrup because of the utter lack of protein in the meal.  The kids, even after eating 5 or 6 pancakes each, will be hungry by 9am unless I give them a little extra something.  So, in a microwave safe bowl I pour about 1 cup maple syrup (Just a fake maple syrup girl myself), then I add about 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter.  Cook on hi for about 30 seconds, stir together, and use that for syrup.  The kids will fill up faster, and it'll last longer in their little growing bodies.  

Biscuits and Gravy

I got this recipe from a friend of mine, Laura Richins.  (Thanks, Laura!)  I have made this time and time again.  Easy.  Delicious.  I use the Pillsbury refrigerator biscuits, and top them with this gravy:

• 2 TBS butter
• 16 oz ground pork sausage (I prefer Jimmy Dean, regular or mild flavor)
• 3 TBS flour
• 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 Cups milk

1. In large skillet, melt butter over medium-hi heat for 1-1 1/2 minutes, or until browned.  Add sausage and cook until browned, stirring to crumble.
2. Add flour to coat, mix well.  
3. Add Worcestershire sauce and milk, mix well.  Cook 2-4 minutes, or until sauce thickens, stirring constantly.  
4. Pour over biscuits, serve warm.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

My sister-in-law showed me this recipe and it has become an instant favorite.  It has become our go-to breakfast for birthdays and special occasions.  All the taste of a cinnamon roll, with a quarter of the work!  :)

I used a Bisquick pancake mix, then added the cinnamon swirl.  

Cinnamon Filling

1 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

2 TBS ground cinnamon

Mix ingredients until smooth, then spoon into disposable piping bag.  If you don't have one, you can just use a zip lock bag, then cut the tip off.  

Pour pancake batter on preheated (325 degrees), lightly greased skillet.  Add filling, starting from the center and swirling out.  

When the pancake has lots of bubbles, flip the pancake.  This will melt the cinnamon filling, leaving a cinnamon swirl crater.  (If the griddle is too hot, it will burn the cinnamon).  

Once slightly cooled, you can add a glaze, frosting, or even just plain maple syrup.  

Glaze

1/2 cup butter, melted

4 oz cream cheese

1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

In microwave safe bowl, melt the butter and cream cheese, then stir together.  Whisk in the powdered sugar and vanilla.  Add milk to make desired glaze consistency.