A friend of mine and her family has a special weekly tradition. Every Monday night, everyone (friends and family) go to the Grandparents house for crapes and stories. Set up a pancake, waffle or crepe bar with your family’s favorite fruits and nuts. You could give each member a small bowl with pancake batter and let them choose what to mix in the batter. Or, after you have poured the batter on the skillet, let them sprinkle their favorite toppings. Banana and nuts, blueberries, strawberries, chocolate chips or try a sprinkle of cheese and bacon.

PANCAKES:
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 egg
1 cup milk

Melt the butter in a small pan on low heat. In a bowl, using a wire whisk or sifter, sift in the flour, powder, salt and sugar. Add the eggs and half of the milk. Mix until it gets pasty. Add the rest of the milk and the butter. Beating until creamy. Pour onto heated griddle. Cook until tops are bubbly about 1-2 minutes. Flip and cook the other side about 1 minute.

Variations:
-Serve with syrup, yogurt and fruit, pumpkin butter and cream cheese, jam, fruit or nuts. Substitute all or part of the flour with white wheat flour. For a real treat add a teaspoon of juice from an orange.
-Replace part of the all purpose flour with whole wheat, oat flour or coconut flour.
-Add 1-2 tablespoons protein powder.
-Add 1-2 tablespoons ground flaxseed meal.

WAFFLES:
2 cup flour
1 1/2 c buttermilk
2 eggs, separated
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter, melted

Sift flour, sugar, salt and powder. In another bowl beat egg yolks and milk. Slowly add flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in melted butter. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold into batter. Cook.

Variations:
-Serve with syrup, yogurt and fruit, cream cheese, jam and fruit.
-Make an egg sandwich.
-Substitute all or part of the flour with white wheat flour.