Last night before going to bed, I put bananas and baking mix on the kitchen counter.  Banana pancakes were calling to me.

This morning, I answered their call.

Pancakes may be one of the easiest things in the world to make from scratch, but even I – the eschewer of pre-packaged foods – have a box of good-quality baking mix in the cupboard.

Of course, I can’t just follow the box instructions for making pancakes.  What fun would that be?  I like to lighten and sweeten them just a bit.  And that’s lighten as in leavening – not calories.

Banana Pancakes

• 2 cups baking mix
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp vanilla
• 1 – 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 large banana, sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix baking mix, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and 1 cup water in bowl.  Mix well and add additional water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency.

Stir in walnuts and banana slices.  Cook on hot griddle.

The additional egg helps to make them rise just a bit more and make them more airy.

When cooking pancakes, never-ever-ever press down on them after you have flipped them over!  The whole concept is to have the air in there to make them light!  If you press down, you press out the air and make them heavy!

I’m a purist when it comes to pancakes.  I generally only put maple syrup on top.  I don’t even butter them.  Once in a while – especially if I make a multi-grain-and-flour pancake – I’ll top them with a jam or preserve.

Sunday breakfast.

Yum.