Wake up and smell the pancakes this weekend

   The 5th Dimension had one less egg to fry, and Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction rescinded his gangster ways while dining on this meal. John Hughes directed the classic coming-of-age flick The Breakfast Club. Seems that only the entertainment world thinks much of breakfast, and that's a shame. It really is the most important meal of the day, but who wants a lecture that soon after waking up? Don't worry, Mrs. Butterworth isn't going to call you on it.

   I was raised on Bisquik. But after 20-something (tee-hee) years of it, I decided to break out of the yellow box in search of something else, and I found it. LOTS of it.

   Breakfast meats aren't known for their healthy status. But there is a way to make them a bit slimmer. If you have a cookie sheet and a cooling rack you can put your bacon or patty sausage in the oven at 325F and some of that fat will drip back onto the pan. Dab the meat with a paper towel when it's done and you're all set! Wimpy bacon (my fave) and sausage patties cut according to the lines on the package take about half an hour. Check the patties with a thermometer before you chow down and see that they reach 165F. Another advantage of this method is that you don't have to keep flipping the meat or overcrowd the pan. Just check it about every 10 minutes. It works fine without the baking rack too, but you'll be holding on to a bit more of that fat. 

   Another time-saving tip is to combine your dry ingredients the night before. You can do this anytime you feel like it. There's a few minutes saved. Weekend breakfast was always the no-rush meal at my house, but that didn't mean me or Dad wanted to spend the whole morning in there. So do a bit of the legwork the night before and sleep in! You've got an awesome breakfast waiting!

Cinnamon-Apple Puff Pancake     Oven 425  *NOTE: You need an oven-safe skillet for this recipe.*

6 T margarine   2t cinnamon   2T EACH white and brown sugar (OR 4T white OR 4T brown)   2 large, tart apples (Granny Smith, Fuji or Gala all work well)   4 Eggs   1 C EACH milk, flour 

Peel & slice apples, dipping in some water with a bit of lemon juice in it to prevent browning (if you care). Melt margarine over medium heat in large (10" or better) or deep (2 2/2" or better) oven-safe frying pan. Add cinnamon and sugar, stir. Add your apples and turn to coat. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then turn off the burner and place pan in oven for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine and blend eggs, milk and flour in a blender. You could probably do this with an electric mixer on high if you're careful. Either way, blend until smooth. Remove your apple pan from the oven and spray the sides with cooking spray. Pour in the batter, but don't stir. Put it back in the oven for 15-20 minutes. It's done when you insert a knife in the center and it comes out clean. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and maple syrup if desired. Serves 4-6. 

Buttermilk & Oatmeal Pancakes   Very hearty pancakes! Great before a hike! It's worth all the dishes.

1 1/2 C buttermilk   1c raw (instant or regular) oatmeal   1/4c brown sugar   4T butter, melted   2 beaten eggs   1C flour     1t  EACH baking soda and salt   1/4t cinnamon (optional)

In a big bowl combine the buttermilk, sugar and oatmeal. Set this aside for at least 5 minutes while you combine the melted butter and eggs in one bowl and the flour, baking soda, cinnamon (optional) and salt in another. Add the egg mixture to the buttermilk mixture, stir. Add and stir in the flour mixture. Cook on a hot griddle until the top stops bubbling and the edges are set. Then flip and cook until brown. 

"Hamburgers! The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast!" Samuel L. Jackson playing Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction (HE'S LYING!)