Things to Know

Pancakes are one of the most satisfying meals for kids. They seem to eat pancakes at any time of the day. Pancakes always seems like a treat. We serve pancakes once a week for breakfast. I use the same recipe for waffles.

Here's the recipe for a family of four: 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp. baking powder, salt, 1/4 cup oil, 1 egg, and milk to desired thickness - more than a cup. Double, triple or quadruple this. Batter stays fresh for a week. Batter also doubles as a veggie coat for deep frying. Add beer to make it lighter.

Either make pancakes on a griddle or one to a frying pan. It's just easier that way. Spray coat the frying pan once. Pancakes don't need fat to cook. Pancakes won't flip until the bubbles rise and burst.

Here's the recipe for syrup. How many times have we not had pancakes because there is no syrup?

2 cups of sugar to one cup of water. Boil 3 minutes in a deep pot. Simple? Of course - do you think I do anything hard? This supply rarely runs out. Add your favorite flavoring. Maple can be purchased in the spice isle. Vanilla is a nice change. Add butter here if you like, or to the actual cake. Tastes the same.

Variations on pancakes just for fun: mixed nuts, cranberries, coconut, cold cereal, chocolate chips, or put peanut butter in the batter or jams or jellies to change the taste.

For other meals, thin batter and add hash brown potatoes or grate your own - add onion and sour cream to this and cook in olive oil. Add cornmeal that has been soaked in milk for a few minutes.

Healthier pancakes? Try the new whole wheat pastry flour. It's wonderful and doesn't taste like dirt. Also always use canola oil.

Making a meal that kids and men will eat? Try making huge pancakes - don't let the batter get too thick - add a little beer. Fold pancake before taking off griddle. Place on plate and put sausage or seasoned beef and cheese and onions in the center and roll. Use sour cream instead of syrup for guys, and for kids:

Roll their favorite jelly in the center or fresh fruit. Use plain or vanilla syrup.

The pancake is a great veggie fold as well. Try cubed summer squash, zucchini, steamed pumpkin or beets, tomatoes and cucumbers, roll and use a dressing of may0-sour cream and pepper.

And last but not least, try ice cream in the center. You might want to add some sugar to the pancake batter and cook a little crisper.

Use batter for waffles - try adding grated or crushed fruit, nuts or even making cheese and spice waffles as a soup dipper. The world is such a wide open place!

Chocolate waffles: make regular pancake batter, but add 1/2 cup cocoa. Make waffles. Add butter pecan ice cream and chocolate sauce.