The Griddle

Tonight it was the just the girls and I again for supper. I googled pancake recipes and found an Applesauce pancake that I decided to make. Pancakes are such an easy supper and cheap. You just can't go wrong, at least I don't think you can. They are also easy for the baby to eat so that helps quite a bit. I'm always thinking ahead in my meal planning, "What can the baby eat? Is there anything soft for her?" I think I am wearing her out on bananas, peas and cheese.

Back to the pancakes...I have to say that my first impression was that they were bland but once we added the butter and syrup they were really good. I might add a bit of salt to the recipe next time. The batter is pretty thick so don't be worried about that if you make them. They cooked up really nice on my electric griddle. Have I ever shared with you the story of how I became the owner of my current griddle? No, you say, I have not. Well, let me share, because it is priceless.

It was late winter/early spring of 1998. I was engaged to Hubby. We were at Wal-Mart one night getting some things. I was in a bad mood, feeling pretty stressed out about our upcoming wedding. Hubby said, "I'm going to buy you a present to cheer you up." So off he went looking for something to cheer me up. Awhile later we met up with each other, he was beaming with pride and I was eager to be cheered up. Now it was Wal-Mart but I can think of alot of things that would have cheered me up at that moment...well let's just say his idea and mine didn't quite connect. Standing before me he revealed....A GRIDDLE. It was a griddle, people!!! I.DID.NOT.SEE.THE.CHEERING.UP.FACTOR.IN.THAT. Seeing the look on my face which was not utter joy and bliss, he said, "My mom always made pancakes for us on a griddle. Now you can make pancakes for us." THIS.DID.NOT.HELP! I think maybe in that moment of my already bad mood now enhanced by said griddle, there may have been tears shed.

He was willing to put it back and get something else, but the damage had been done! Get the griddle and let's get out of here. Oh, did you get a box of pancake mix? :) He did make pancakes for us when we got back to his house and the griddle lived with him until we got married since I was still living at home.

Now looking back, I know he was trying to be thoughtful. He knew what joy pancakes cooked on a griddle had brought to his family and he wanted to bring the same joy to his new family. It took awhile but I think I get it now, only 12 years later. I have pulled that griddle out numerous times to make pancakes for my little family. Hopefully someday our girls will have fond griddle memories just as their daddy did.

Now for the recipe...oh, the suspense! I found tonight's recipe on AllRecipes. It is called Oatmeal and Applesauce Pancakes.

Oatmeal and Applesauce Pancakes

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup quick cooking oats
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup fat free sour cream
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup milk

1. Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-low heat.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Stir applesauce mixture and milk into the flour mixture until evenly moist and thick.
3. Scoop about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto the prepared griddle, and cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.

(I did not have fat free sour cream so I just used the regular, yummier kind.)