10 Pancake Recipes to Try - Delicious!

Pancakes for Dinner!
by Michelle Jones, Founder of BetterBudgeting.com

Homemade pancakes are very frugal and so easy to make, and the kids love them. They can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and can be made with many different ingredients (even gluten-free). Pancakes can also be served as a special treat anytime of the year; January-December.

The best part is, we usually have all the ingredients on hand. If you prefer to substitute a pancake mix for any of these recipes that's okay.  You can also make extra and freeze them for up to 6 weeks. Freeze toppings separately.

Pancakes also make great fundraisers for churches and community groups. As I shared with you last week, IHOP is giving away free pancakes today (Sunday, February 26, 2012), while supplies last at participating restaurants. This is their annual fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network and other local charities.

Here's a collection of great pancake recipes I thought you might enjoy, starting with mine which is easy and quick. I sure hope you'll pick at least one and give it a try! :o)

Michelle

Easy Homemade Pancakes - Light, Fluffy, Perfect!

From FrugalFamilyRecipes.com

Chocolate Chip and Candied Bacon Pancakes with Nutella Maple Syrup

From evilshenanigans.com

Chunky Monkey Pancakes:

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup 

From ourbestbites.com

Nutella Strawberry Pancakes

From cakebatterandbowl.com

Gluten-Free Pancakes

From dailygloss.com

Buckwheat Pancakes with Blueberries

From 5minutesforspecialneeds.com

Strawberry Banana Pancakes

From dashofeast.com

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Lemon Curd and Fresh Raspberries

From foodnetwork.com (Bobby Flay)

Apple Pancakes

From penzeys.com

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with Cream Cheese

From recipegirl.com

Visit Us at...
BetterBudgeting.com
BlessingsforLife.com
FrugalFamilyRecipes.com
GrocerySavingTips.com

Easy Homemade Pancakes - Light, Fluffy, Perfect!

Featured Recipe...

Easy Homemade Pancakes - Light, Fluffy, Perfect!
by Michelle Jones, Founder of BetterBudgeting.com

You know what makes an easy and fun frugal dinner? Pancakes! If you regularly use a store bought pancake mix I invite you to try our family's easy homemade recipe. It never fails. No buttermilk on hand, no problem. Our recipe uses regular milk and tastes just as good as 'buttermilk' pancakes. Add cinnamon, vanilla, or fresh fruit for variations.

I've been making these pancakes for about 30 years. We like to add fresh blueberries (not frozen or they'll turn the pancake batter blue), or our favorite... chocolate chips.

Our pancakes are so light and fluffy, they're even good without butter or syrup. You can also dust finished pancakes with powdered sugar instead of butter and syrup, or add 1 T. cocoa powder to the batter for chocolate pancakes--with or without chocolate chips. OH MY LORD!!!

Our recipe makes about 6 large (5-inch) pancakes. For our family of six I usually double the recipe for 12 pancakes.

Mix together:

1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. sugar
2 T. baking powder

In another bowl, whisk together:

1 egg
3/4 c. milk
2 T. vegetable oil

Heat non-stick griddle to 350. Stir together wet and dry ingredients, just until combined. Batter will be a bit lumpy. Pour batter onto griddle (or lightly greased skillet) in the size desired. We usually make large pancakes but sometimes we make small dollar size pancakes, about 3".

Here are some photos I took to help you every step of the way...

Enjoy! :o)

Fruit Salad with Fruit Dip

Featured Recipe...

Fruit Salad with French Cream Dip

If you love fruit you're going to LOVE THIS!

I adapted this recipe to make it a bit quicker and much more affordable. The original called for expensive fruits but we selected whatever fruits were on sale. Apples, grapes, peaches, nectarines strawberries and a fresh pineapple.

The biggest expense was the pineapple but I wouldn't skimp on that. It makes a beautiful container for the fruit dip and adds a nice citrus element to the fruit salad.

After selecting the fruits of your choice, wash and cut into bite-size pieces. If you're not using pineapple or other citrus, add a little lemon juice to keep fruit fresh.

Cut top off pineapple, then cut pineapple in half lengthwise. Scoop out fruit and cut into chunks. Add pineapple chunks to salad, and any extra juice. Stir salad gently and reserve pineapple halves for dip.

Fruit Dip

Ingredients:

1 8-ounce pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 c. confectioner's sugar
1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 T. granulated sugar
1 squeezed lemon and zest, or 1 T. lemon juice

Directions:

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar together until combined. In another bowl, whip cream and T. of sugar until soft peaks form. Combine cream cheese mixture, lemon and zest into whipped cream. Mix well and scoop finished dip into halved pineapple. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Serve salad with dip on the side, or let everyone get their own from the pineapple. YUM!

Variation: Use Greek Yogurt in place of the fruit dip, with a little lemon and lemon zest. :o)

Submitted by Michelle Jones, Editor
BetterBudgeting.com
BlessingsforLife.com
FrugalFamilyRecipes.com
GrocerySavingTips.com

Balsamic, Bacon & Tomato Bruschetta

Featured Recipe...

Balsamic, Bacon & Tomato Bruschetta 

Here's another yummy dish we made for our Super Bowl party.  French bread was on sale and so was the bacon.  The rest of ingredients we had on hand.

Hubby and the kids helped out in the kitchen so that brought everything together pretty quick.  These make great party appetizers.  One of my personal favorites.


(Just one note of caution, ours were gone in less than five minutes!)

If you don't have all of these ingredients just substitute anything you'd like. I'm sure it will be delicious. :o)

Ingredients:

1 French baguette, cut diagonally into slices 1/2" thick
1 clove garlic, peeled and cut in half
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened
6 slices bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled
10-12 cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in 3 slices each
2 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
1 and 1/2 tsp. brown sugar
Good pinch of Kosher salt and black pepper
Couple of fresh basil leaves, chopped (or 1 T. dried)

Directions:

Place baguettes on baking sheet and toast for a few minutes on each side, at 400 degrees.

While bread is toasting, mix dressing ingredients together in a separate bowl and set aside.  (Vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper.)

Remove bread from oven and rub cut side of garlic clove on top of each slice. Spread with softened cream cheese, then sprinkle with crumbled bacon and top with tomatoes.

Place on platter, drizzle with dressing, then top with chopped basil.

Submitted by Michelle Jones, Editor

What's for Dinner Tonight?
FrugalFamilyRecipes.com