Mom's Fluffy Pancakes

I have a confession to make .... for years I have been using a mix to make "homemade" pancakes.  Sad isn't it?  Well on New Year's day I had a break through .... I was out of mix and the boys wanted pancakes so I pulled out my recipe book and whipped up a batch of the biggest and fluffiest pancakes I've had since I was a kid.  The stick to your ribs kind, none of this thin, crepe like business, just like Mom used to make!  I have made them a few more times only because we were so surprised and pleased with the taste and consistency of fresh, unboxed ingredients.  Once I realized I usually have all the ingredients I vowed to boycott the mix forever.

A pancake isn't a "Winkie Pancake" unless it is dressed properly .... it all starts with butter while the pancake is hot and can melt in, sprinkle brown sugar on top right away so it can stick to the melted butter and finally douse the whole thing with Maple Syrup!  Makes your teeth hurt doesn't it?  My dad has an additional variation that includes a layer of raspberry jam, right after the butter and before the brown sugar.  It's not my preference but I guess it isn't any better or worse then my favourite!

Don't scrimp on size .... these flap jacks should fill your plate!

Ingredients
1 1/3 cups of all purpose flour
3 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp of salt
3 tbsp of sugar
1 egg
1 1/4 cup of milk
3 tbsp of melted butter or vegetable oil
1/4 tsp of vanilla

Stir all dry ingredients together into a bowl 
In a separate bowl, beat egg and add milk
Make a well in the dry mixture and slowly add the egg/milk mixture
Add melted butter and vanilla
Stir quickly until ingredients are just mixed and the batter is still lumpy ... over mixing leaves you flat, mix just enough and you will have lovely, fluffy pancakes!

Don't forget the bacon and brown sugar .... enjoy!!!

Aunt Sharon's Wife Saver Breakfast

What woman doesn't need a little saving on the busiest morning of the year?  The big day is just around the corner and there is no better way to start the day then popping this "make ahead/all-in-one" dish into the oven to cook while the gifts are being opened on Christmas morning.  Prepare the ingredients the night before and set it the fridge overnight, an hour in the oven is all this dish needs to be ready and cooled long before the wrapping paper is even cleaned up off the floor!  One portion is more than enough to tide you over until turkey time!!!

There are many slight variations of this recipe but this is the original one that was shared with our family from my Aunt Sharon.  Cheers to all the woman who plan ahead!!!

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups of milk
6 eggs beaten
1/4 cup of green pepper
1/4 cup of onion
1-2 tsp of Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 -1 tsp of mustard powder
Dash of Tabasco Sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
16 slices of bread, crusts removed
8 slices of cooked/sliced ham
8 slices of cheddar cheese

Grease a 9x13 pan, place half of the bread slices in the pan.  Cover with ham and cheese and then cover with remaining bread slices.
Combine remaining ingredients and pour over the bread
Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight

In the morning, combine 1/4 cup of melted butter and 1 cup of crushed corn flakes and spread over bread.  Bake at 350 for about 1 hour.

Put on your cape and get ready to save the day with this crowd pleaser!