pancakes

On Saturday mornings, I feel like some what of a traitor to my Cajun roots.  Growing up in South Louisiana, Saturday breakfast was made by Dad (Hi, Dad-o!) and filled with things like pop-overs (beignets), pain perdu (french toast), and the likes.  Around here, it's pancakes.

And it all started here.

In a little border town between Guatemala and Belize, Benque Viejo del Carmen.  (I still remember how exotic that sounded the first time I said it!)  It would begin early, with the ringing of the church bells from Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  (That was before I knew what early really meant... 3 kiddos later, I almost wish I had slept right through the ringing of those bells!)

But I didn't sleep.  I woke up, threw on some mismatched version of a skirt and shirt that was deemed 'fashionable' mission attire, gathered with the locals and some of the most fabulous women I have ever known for Saturday morning Mass.  

Then Mass ended, and the endless pots of coffee began brewing.  Pancakes from scratch piled high, cinnasug (or cingabut, depends on who you ask) was mixed and pronounced perfect, silly and frustrating stories from the teaching week were shared, and plans were made for the rest of our lazy Saturday.  It was heaven.  Nearly 10 years ago (ah!), in a rectory kitchen that has since been torn down and rebuilt... are some of my favorite memories of all time.

Despite the Cajun breakfast yumminess that I thought I would pass on to my children, it is somehow (perhaps subconsciously?) pancakes that rule our Saturday mornings.  There's no cingabut (I was part of the camp that championed the slang version), instead it's honey and sprinkles galore.  There's no one to make them for me (miss you, Canadian girls!), but I do have 2 of the best helpers on the planet.

Thanks to the jolly red-suit man, we have this super groovy little 'buggy pancake maker'.  Every little bit of added fun counts!  And after trying everything from boxed pancake mixes to separating and beating the egg whites, sifting vs not sifting, and butter vs oil spray - pancake making is serious business around here! - I've finally found the perfect recipe.  Then I doubled it.  Because it was heartily approved.

As I lay in bed dreaming of pancakes and reminiscing... I could do that this a.m. because a miracle occurred and our littles (both big and small) slept until 0630/0800 respectively .  Then another miracle occurred and the big littles played happily (and quietly) behind their closed door until 0715.  It was beyond heavenly.

Anyway, as I lay in bed snuggled next to the love of my life, listening to the wee babe make some sound between that of a croaking frog and a chirping bird, the big girls playing whatever made up mess that was keeping them entertained in their room, my head full of memories in tropical paradise... 

I realized just how amazing life is.

And how many different paths we travel upon.

Oh yeah, and here's the recipe that we consider make the perfect pancake::

2 cups flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 cups milk (or buttermilk)
2 tsp vinegar (if making buttermilk)
2 eggs
2 tbsp melted butter

Sort of sift the dry ingredients.  Beat eggs until light and fluffy, then stir in dry ingredients, along with buttermilk and butter. Blend with spoon.  Use 2 tbsp for little 'silver dollar' pancakes.  Pour and cook until bubbly, then flip.