Happy Pancake Day

Yesterday was "Fat Tuesday", a traditional day for eating pancakes. More correctly called "Strove Tuesday", it is the day before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. On this day before a period of self examination and fasting or at least denying oneself of some favorite foods, it became a custom to eat richer foods that may not be eaten again until Easter. In earlier times it also served as a meal to use up the eggs, butter, sugar, etc that would not be a part of many meals during Lent. Pancakes were a popular food that incorporated many of these ingredients. So, now we celebrate this day also as "Pancake Day".

We were attending the county spring dinner of Cattlemen and we not going to pass up the smothered steak, party potatoes, creamy coleslaw, bacon-seasoned green beans, rolls and pie for pancakes. So our pancake night was tonight. And a good night to try out a recipe I'd found in the blog "Everything You Wanted to Know About Country", by another Kansas ranch wife. She credits the recipe to Bobby Flay and the Food Network. It is very good, fluffy and rich tasting with just the right crunch from the pecans.




Bobby's Pancakes
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped toasted pecans
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups, plus 3 tablespoons buttermilk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for griddle
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Combine all wet ingredients in a smaller bowl and whisk together.
Stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and mix only till well combined. Let the batter sit for about 15 - 30 minutes before cooking the pancakes.