Homemade Goodness

A friend and I were talking a couple weeks ago and I mentioned we were having pancakes for dinner. She said she had been thinking the same thing, but they were out of mix. "Sooooo, just make them," I said. "You don't have to have a mix?" she said. "You're right, no one ever at pancakes or waffles until mixes were invented." To me, the real thing just tastes better. There isn't a huge difference with pancakes/waffles if you get a decent mix. But I used to buy Rhodes Rolls and defrost them for scones, until I made them for real one time, LOVED how much better they tasted, made the Rhodes kind one more time, then couldn't go back.

In honor of my wonderful friend who I won't even name or even say what her name rhymes with (like I almost was going to), here are the pancakes and waffles recipes we use, straight out of Better Homes and Gardens.


WAFFLES

1 3/4 c. flour
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. oil or melted butter
1 tsp. vanilla

I just mix it all together, but this is what their directions say:
1. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 tsp salt. (I've never added salt - why didn't they put that at the top?) Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

2. In another medium bowl (see, this is why I just mix it all together. How many dishes do they think I want to wash??) beat eggs slightly; stir in milk, oil, and vanilla. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened, batter should be slightly lumpy.

Sorry, I'm not doing to put the actual cooking instructions. (Beautiful Anonymous Friend) if you need those, let me know and I will post them too.


PANCAKES

When we make pancakes we don't usually have buttermilk but the buttermilk ones are just better, so I'll add in the substitutions so they are similar enough. Oh, and we always have to double these.

1 c. flour
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 beaten egg
1 c. milk
1 Tbsp. lemon juice or vinegar
2 Tbsp. oil

Their directions are basically the same as the waffles, mix dry, mix wet, combine. So this is how I make them. Combine milk and vinegar or lemon juice and let it sit for 5 minutes. Add in the rest of the wet ingredients (since on my bowl for most I can use the measurements and don't have to use the measuring cups). Then add the dry. Mix it together. Cook.

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A fabulous waffle twist I learned from an aunt the other day is that they like to have waffles with ice cream and strawberries on top. YUM! We're trying it out tonight. Doesn't that sound fabulous for summer?