Breakfast food: Pancake Mix

I don't know about you, but we love breakfast around here.

Did you know it’s really hard to find a decent whole grain pancake mix?  You probably knew this – but I have not given up the quest. Bob’s Red Mill makes a good mix – but it’s expensive.  I keep searching… and my husband keeps sneaking a box of the regular stuff in our grocery cart whenever he gets a chance.

My husband likes to make pancakes on the weekend and since he has an aversion to following recipes and measuring, he uses mixes.  If I can beat him to the kitchen and throw together some dry ingredients before he gets started we are all happy – he doesn’t have to measure stuff on a Sunday morning and I’m happy the family is eating something beside white flour with white sugar.  Well, almost all happy.  What is the point of my husband making breakfast on Sunday morning if I’m in the kitchen doing most of the work and getting flour on my hands? Besides, I like to sit and drink my coffee on Sunday morning, preferably with a cookbook or magazine and a cat on my lap. In my mind, it is the best part of the weekend.  Wouldn’t you agree?  I’m thinking about it now. I love lazy Sundays.. even better when someone makes me breakfast.

Even if it means I have to do a little ahead of time prep.… I made this up last weekend and now I'm  good for a few weeks.  He has enough to keep him busy and I can sit, drink my coffee, read, at least until  I’m needed to find a Lego piece, the black one with six bumps, no the long one;  set up the WII; open a can of cat food …

Homemade Pancake Mix

• 3 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup skim milk or soy milk flour
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup ground flax
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt

Add oatmeal to a blender or food processor and blend until finely ground.  This doesn’t have to be perfectly ground.  The last time I made this I added a bit more whole rolled oats to the mix – just to keep it interesting.  Add the remaining ingredients, stir well to combine.

Makes about 6 cups of mix, which makes about 4 batches.

I divided mix into 4 mason jars, 1-1/2 cups of mix in each. Ready to go for the ingredients listed below.  Now he just has to add eggs, milk and a bit of oil and then whatever flavours he likes – vanilla, blueberries, banana, apples, nuts…. whatever his little heart desires.

If you think your mix will be sitting around for a bit I would store it in the fridge or even the freezer.  Wheat germ and ground flax can go rancid quickly so I’m keeping mine in the fridge.

To make pancakes:

Whisk together,

• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla if desired

add,

• 1-1/2 cups of mix

Stir until just combined and let mixture sit for 10 minutes.

A batch mixed as above will make about 12 large pancakes.