Love Is A Tasty, Tasty Pancake

I may have mentioned my youngest daughter's finicky palate. I have joked that she could survive on breadcrumbs, ketchup, and air. And actually, that's not too far from the truth. While there are few items on her list of foods she'll eat, when she finds something she loves, she is rabid in her love for it. Grilled cheese? She'd eat it every day if I let her. Macaroni and cheese--but only the neon kind in the blue box--oh, yes. She loves it. Yogurt. Yep. But one of her all time favorites is pancakes.

Actually, my whole family loves them and sometimes I fix them for dinner because they are quick, easy, relatively inexpensive. It's a bonus that I never hear "Ewww. Blechh! Pancakes!" Never.

Now if the truth be told, I am probably the one member of my family who isn't head over spatula about pancakes. Don't get me wrong, they're good. I just can't really eat more than one without feeling sick. They're too sweet or something. (I know! How can that be? Every tooth in my mouth is a sweet tooth!!) But I soldier on and make them anyway, because that's just me. I am a giver. Shut up.

Whenever I make pancakes, Mary just about swoons. She tells me fervently and frequently that she loves me when she is eating them. Apparently pancakes are my daughter's love language...

With school starting, mornings are becoming hectic again and making sure that the offspring eats a decent breakfast is in my Mothering Contract. So this weekend, I will be mixing up an enormous batch of pancake mix. I got this recipe years ago and cannot remember from where, so I can't give proper credit. I can tell you that they are light, fluffy, and yummy. And coming from someone who isn't overly fond of pancakes, that's a good review.

If Mary were giving the review, it would sound like this: "I LOVE THESE!!! Can I have another one? I LOVE YOU MOMMY!! Thanks for making these delicious, delicious pancakes. They are simply wonderful. YOU ARE THE BEST MOMMY EVER!!"

I am not even kidding. Those words have come forth from her mouth before upon consumption of these things. So here. Mix some up and show some love to your family. Just don't give 'em the Aunt Jemima Treatment...

Pancake Mix

8 c. flour (if you'd like an all whole wheat mix, use whole wheat pastry flour from health food stores)
2 c. whole wheat flour
**1 1/2 c. buckwheat flour (found at health food stores)
1/2 c cornmeal (stone ground)
1 1/2 c. oatmeal (blend in your blender until powdered)
2 c. buttermilk powder (found in the baking section of your market)
5 T baking powder
2 T baking soda
1 c. sugar
2 T salt

This will make 4 quarts. Mix all together in a very large bowl and divvy up into gallon sized freezer storage bags. I mark the date with a Sharpie and keep it in my freezer, although you can keep it in your pantry.

To make pancakes mix together:
1 c. pancake mix
1 egg
1/2 to 2/3 c. water (start with the lesser amount first and add if you need to)
2 T vegetable oil