pancakes for breakfast...pancake books and recipe

For most, a stack of pancakes is never just a stack of pancakes. Syrup is added (see how we make our own syrup here), butter is spread. A dollop of whipped cream. Sometimes the fluffy golden rounds are adorned with juicy blueberry confetti. On this morning, we made an addition to the top of our pancake stack as well. A special one. A quick swish with a brown marker, and our six-year-old transformed a striped party bag into a jolly breakfast flag. We majestically raised it atop our warm pancake stack. A simple celebration of the beginning of this winter morning.

 

Our 2-year-old saw his big sister's pancake flag and wanted to make his own.

What was just an everyday, run-of-the-mill breakfast meal, became a special moment when the flag was raised. Silly spontaneity like this brings fun to the ordinary. The children and I have eaten picnics on the kitchen floor. We've not-so-fancily dined by the flickering glow of our emergency candles. I once made silly impromptu menus that listed what I'd cooked. The accompanying menu choices were absurdly un-choose-able, like fried bugs or sauteed worms, in hopeful expectation that what I'd already prepared would be ordered off this fun menu. All of these simple silly changes in our routine grabbed some giggles. 

 

 

pancake books to read while you eat our fluffy, whole grain pancakes below!

The following includes Amazon Affiliate links: Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola (visit the author's website) has no words. Drawings alone tell this delightful story. Even before I could decipher words, I could "read" this book myself as a very young child. The reader is the storyteller, so the story is unique to their telling. Read Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle (<-- click to see how he makes his pancakes!), Curious George Makes Pancakes and The Pancake That Ran Away for more pancake fun. Now make your own pancakes for breakfast, or anytime!

 

 

 

 

 

fluffy whole wheat buttermilk pancakes from whiteleycreek.com

We always double this recipe for our family!

Beat 1 egg, 2 tbsp oil, and 1 cup buttermilk.

Whisk together 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour*, 1/4 cup wheat germ, 1tbsp sugar (or beat 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup with the wet ingredients), 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp baking powder.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients just until combined. Don't over mix. Heat griddle. Using a 1/4 cup measuring cup for each pancake, pour batter onto griddle. *Whole wheat pastry flour has a lighter texture than regular whole wheat flour. It is still 100% whole grain, but is made from a different type of wheat. I prefer it's tender texture for baking muffins and pancakes. 

Top these pancakes with our easy-to-make maple whipped cream or simple cinnamon maple butter.

 

When you are finished stacking your warm fluffy pancakes, add your own flag. Or have a picnic on the floor. Or light some candles on the table. Make your own pancake breakfast special— 

—Or serve olives. Those are the grandest silly time makers of all.

 

For more silly food fun see our giggly, jiggly, gelatin-y jello mischief.  ©heather cahoon • wordplayhouse®