Buttermilk Banana Pancakes!

Hi all,

Obviously I'm well aware it's been over 3 months since my last post, and to be honest, at least 6 months since my last post of any interest. Not that my life has gotten any less riveting, I assure you, but responsibility and friends tend to eat up your life. The village hasn't gotten any smaller, and ripples of excitement still flood our pond of existence, but I find myself a little removed and part of the bigger picture now.

So, where exactly am I at?

In a week Schmee will be leaving to go home (fortunately only 1.5 hours away) for the next few months to be on jury duty and then move to New Hampshire for grad school. Baker will remain in the house until the middle-end of September. I really have no idea what I'm doing yet - I've asked to stay another year, but only in a position of really supporting the co-op. There's not really a precedent for this: I'd be attached to a house and still be a volunteer, but have evenings for studying for the GRE and looking for grad schools. So there have been many meetings and I'm hoping to hear soon. I'll be out of my house by August 1st, when one of the new house team members moves in. Not sure where I'd be going yet. We'll see.

I went on vacation at the beginning of June. It was very low-key, family-oriented and busy. Saw my one of my cousins, volunteered/rode at the barn, made a German feast, shopped, went to my brother's college graduation - and had him move only 40 minutes away for the summer!, played cards and saw lots of other family. It was a good trip, if a little short.

I have still been working in the glass shop once a week and loving jumping into new projects. New co-workers have been arriving - but none for the co-op yet. This also means others are leaving...a bittersweet experience. Calvin leaves next week, which just seems surreal to me. We have acquired two young staff kids (10ish?) at the co-op. One is doing a lot of errands and the other comes in 2 afternoons a week to clean. The one in the morning is full of the dickens, and must be kept occupied every second or mild chaos can ensue. Good kids though.

We're also starting our switch to the electronic point of sales system (ie, barcode scanning into computer instead of writing items in a book). Not sure if this will complicate or simplify things, but the answer for the short-run is obvious.

Anyhow, about that Buttermilk Banana Pancake recipe: it started with a base recipe from Deborah Madison's cookbook, but I then modified it.

Steph's Buttermilk Banana Pancakes                                           Serves 6

Combine and set aside for at least 10 minutes:
(Buttermilk Mixture)
2 c. milk
1 c. yogurt (or milk, if none available)
3 TBSP apple cider vinegar

In a separate bowl combine:
1 1/2 c. white flour
1 c. wheat flour
1/2 c. oat (or any other) flour
4 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Nutmeg (opt)
4 TBSP sugar (opt)

Combine in a second bowl:
5 eggs, beaten
1 mashed banana (option, but very recommended!!!)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
6 TBSP oil or melted butter
Add "Buttermilk Mixture"

Optional: Berries or chocolate chips

Add the wet to the dry ingredients and beat sparingly, until just mixed with no large lumps.
Cook over medium-low heat (gas stove, cast iron pans...otherwise, your best guess, but lower is better) in oiled pans. Pour batter onto pan and sprinkle with optional item (berries or choc. chips), when small bubbles begin to form around edges, or steaming occurs, flip pancake. May lift edge to "peek" to see if done - a light golden brown is desirable. Cook until batter is cooked through - will be moist due to bananas.

Enjoy!

Hope all is well,
Steph