Homer P. Figg- Mrs. Bean's Buttermilk Pancakes

We've been reading The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick.  Homer is quite the character!  He continually gets himself into all sorts of scrapes and predicaments.  At one point in the story, he is offered accommodations by a Quaker named Jebediah Brewster.  Mr. Brewster's cook, Mrs. Bean makes Homer buttermilk pancakes after he nearly faints from starvation.  At the end of the book there is a recipe for Mrs. Beans Buttermilk Pancakes and since buttermilk pancakes are one of our favorite breakfast meals we decided to try them out.  This recipe makes fluffy, scrumptious pancakes!!  It might just become an all-time favorite!

Note: if you don't have buttermilk handy, use regular 2% milk + 1 t. lemon juice or white vinegar.  The lemon juice/vinegar will curdle the milk.  Let it set for approximately 5 minutes.

Mrs. Bean's Buttermilk Pancakes

1 3/4 cups flour
1 egg
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Maple syrup and/or butter (or my favorites, jelly/jam or butter w/sugar sprinkle)

Instructions:

Stir together the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt) in a large bowl.  Then, in separate bowl, beat together the egg, buttermilk, and oil.  Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until thoroughly combined.  The batter should be slightly lumpy.  Do not over mix.

Lightly grease a pan or griddle and warm to a medium heat.  For an average-sized pancake, pour a hefty spoonful of batter into the pan and cook it until the underside has turned golden brown, or air bubbles have risen to the top of the cooking batter.  Flip the pancake and cook it for the same amount of time on the opposite side, or until equally golden brown on the bottom.

Serve pancakes hot with butter and maple syrup.

The Kids Photographed Their Golden Pancakes

From: The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg by Rodman Philbrick Afterwords.