Banana Chocolate Pancakes

I went searching for my posting on pancakes, as I was positive that I had posted one, but I couldn't find one. So either the search tool really sucks (which it does) or I never posted a pancake recipe. The one I use is from the Joy of Cooking (circa 1975). They call it a French Pancake, better known as crepes - I think, but I call it a thin pancake. Crepes are a whole different thing in my mind. I hate those thick buttermilk pancakes that you get from a box or in certain chain restaurants. My father always called them blow out patches. I think he was onto something there because that is exactly what they taste like. I much prefer a thinner pancake.

Banana Chocolate Pancakes (Hardly recognizable from the Joy of Cooking)

1 banana
2 eggs
2 T brown sugar
1t vanilla
1 c buttermilk (or milk)
1t cinnamon
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3/4 c flour
small amount of butter for griddle
about 1/3 c chocolate chips

In a bowl mash banana with a fork. Whisk in eggs. Add brown sugar and whisk until combined. Add vanilla and buttermilk (or milk). Whisk in cinnamon. Add salt, flour and baking powder and whisk until combined. Heat griddle and melt a small amount of butter on hot griddle (you might need more later but don't be alarmed if you don't). Pour a small amount of batter onto the hot griddle (about a 1/4 cup). Sprinkle about 4-5 chocolate chips on top of batter. When tiny bubbles appear on the surface, take a peak at the bottom. If lightly browned, flip and cook until lightly browned on other side. Repeat, repeat, repeat, (you get the idea).

This is quite a versatile recipe. Feel free to leave out the bananas and sub in white sugar and blueberries instead of the brown sugar and chocolate chips. I don't need an excuse to have chocolate for breakfast - believe me! The original recipe uses water and milk but I find I like using all milk or buttermilk. They also used confectioners' sugar instead of regular sugar. If you do make them as just plain pancakes, a little lemon zest is nice.

This is one of the recipes I would make when we had breakfast for dinner on Sundays when the girls were little. Mornings were always a rush and we would have cold cereal or oatmeal. So breakfast for dinner was a great time to enjoy those more involved breakfast foods.

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