Grandma’s Homemade Buttermilk Pancakes from Scratch

Nothing says Sunday like Buttermilk Pancakes from Scratch

You are slow to wake up. You blink several times, but your eyes quickly retreat from the early morning light pouring in through the windows, searching out and revealing spaces that were hidden in darkness only moments before. Outside one of these windows a robin sounds his morning song, signaling the start of another glorious spring day.  The world is waking up. But not you. Not yet. The world of dreams behind your eyelids is still too inviting. Better to linger there a while longer then to let in the painful light of morning. It seems strange to you that you are still in bed. Shouldn’t a buzzing alarm clock or a child calling out “Daddy” have beckoned you forth by now? In the still confused half sleep of morning you haven’t yet realized, it’s Sunday, your one sleep in day for the week. But you’ll put it all together soon because already it’s coming.

Soundlessly the smell of homemade pancakes wafts through the downstairs, riding the air currents in search of noses. Turning the corner, it climbs the stairs, and heads down the long hallway towards the room in which you sleep. Across the room on her adopted chaise lounge the dog is already stirring.  Her sense of smell is keener than yours, eyes wide, nose turned skyward she interviews the air. The questions are brief.  She knows. She’s up and off in a flash. By the time it reaches you she’s already on the stairs. Slowly it wafts in through your nostrils. It takes only a few moments to work it’s magic. There is a firing of synapses, a stirring of memories, and then, BAM! In an instant the confusion falls away and everything becomes clear. Your eyes are open now, dream world is left behind. As you head for stairs there is a bounce in your step and a joy in your heart. You hear the sounds of your kids and your wife playing below and you smile inwardly thinking of how lucky you are.  You pause one final time at the top of the stairs and inhale deeply. The smell of bacon permeates your soul and as you bound down the stairs with excitement, “IT’S PANCAKE DAY!”.

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Is there anything better than a fun family breakfast tradition?

I still remember waffle mornings at my grandparents house when I was younger. Lots of fun. But buttermilk pancakes from scratch, my family just never could seem to do pancakes justice. And the pancakes you get out at a restaurant were never my thing, but then I got married and Melissa introduced me to Grandma Leone’s famous pancakes. Woah, baby! I never new. Now I understand why anyone making a visit home never considers the visit complete until they stop in for some of Grandma Leone’s pancakes. Melissa claims that her pancake eating record is 23. Of course, she says they were the size of a silver dollar. That’s cheating I think. I bet I could eat 40 of those.

Grandma Leone’s Famous Buttermilk Pancakes have become a favorite Sunday morning breakfast for our entire family.  My son Sam has become a good pourer/stirrer and likes to help his Mom with pancake prep. Sure, you could use a box mix and make inferior pancakes, but beyond the taste,  there’s nothing like making pancakes from scratch with some young helpers. Although, is a good sous chef supposed to dunk his hands in the batter so that he can then lick his fingers?

And, of course,  these pancakes go amazingly well with homemade applesauce–luckily Melissa gets together with her family once a year to make homemade applesauce and our freezer stays pretty well stocked for most of the year. I love the applesauce on my pancakes! Sam prefers his on the side.  Melissa likes to go with applesauce on the first pancake and then switch over to maple syrup and butter. It’s hard to go wrong really!

We hope your family enjoys these pancakes as much as ours! 

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