18 January 2010

Today it was snowing like crazy when we woke up.  Although it was already a "no school" day it was just as exciting.  SNOW.  It brings out the best in hibernation from all of us.  Ryan and I had had plans to travel south for the day and visit with some college friends, our annual Martin Luther King day get together.  But today we wouldn't be going there was too much snow and ice to travel on the roads safely.

So Ryan and I took our time waking up slowly, just lounging around.  He was playing with his Leapster and I with my iPhone.  I was catching up on my Twitter reading and a tweet from @TylerFlorence caught my eye.  Or should I say it caught the attention of my appetite.  He had retweeted a link to an article that referenced his signature pancake recipe.  

I think Tyler does a great job creating simple recipes that are hard to mess up.  And are YUMMY!  I must say I dont make pancakes often. I have tried every kind of mix.  And none of them ever meet our taste expectations.  So today I went for it and made them from sctratch using Tyler's recipe.  It made a ton of pancakes so if like me, you dont need pancakes for 6 people then you can cut the recipe in half.  I actually made the entire batch and will save and use the leftovers for Quick breakfasts this week for Ryan.  Second Yummy! He won't mind at all.  I'm thinking maybe I should always make the entire batch and use leftovers instead of expensive frozen waffles.

So while my husband was out laboring with the snow shoveling and clearing the driveway with the snow blower, I hit the kitchen.  Ryan was hungry and I knew I'd have a hungry husband soon as well.  I was wondering if I had all the ingredients..... and I did almost... buttermilk!  Who the heck has buttermilk.  Not me.  But alas, you can make it.  Just place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.  Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.  Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

These were very easy to assemble and they cooked up so moist and tasty.  This will be a new standby for me.  Thanks Tyler, I'm just going to have to tweet you about my love of your recipe.

Ingredients

2 cups buttermilk* (I know who has buttermilk on hand! See note below)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch salt
4 tablespoons sugar
½ stick unsalted butter, melted
3 bananas, peeled, and sliced in ¼-inch circles

*Note:  Don't have buttermilk in your refrigerator, neither did I, but you can easily make some.  Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.  Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.   Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla together well. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry and stir with a spoon to get rid of the lumps. Pour in the melted butter and whisk until smooth. Heat a griddle or skillet over medium-low heat and swirl around a little melted butter to keep the pancakes from sticking. Use a ladle to pour the batter into the pan.

Cook the pancakes on one side until they are set and then lightly press the bananas into the batter. When small bubbles appear on the uncooked surface, flip the pancakes and cook until golden on both sides (about eight minutes). Transfer pancakes to a warming plate in the oven while you make the rest until the batter is gone.

Happy Cooking!