"Valentine Pancakes"

You didn't think I'd pass up Valentines Day without a special recipe, did you?

Since this week is "National Pancake Week" and this is "National Cherry Month", this is their baby! (so to speak  :)

Farmer Boy Valentine Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 Cup of quick oats
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 Cup of whole milk
• 1/3 Cup of water
• 1/8 teaspoon of almond extract
• 1/2 Cup of dried Cherries, cut in half
• red food coloring

Directions: In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.  Add the rest of the ingredients, except the cherries, and mix.

Let the mixture rest for about 15 minutes.

Drop by 1/3 cup onto lightly oiled griddle, over medium heat. Quickly add about a teaspoon or so of the cherries to the first side of each pancake, as it cooks. 

Do not brown as much as you normally would, but cook slowly for about a minute to set the first side.  Then flip the pancake and do the same for the other side.

Take off of the griddle and cut heart shape - you can do it with a sharp knife, free-hand, or use a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Brush each pancake with melted butter mixed with a few drops of red food coloring.  (I tried putting the food coloring into the batter, but it doesn't come out as nice as adding it later.)

You can keep them warm in the oven, set at the lowest temperature setting, till you are ready to serve them.

Serve warm, with a pad of butter and your favorite syrup, if you wish.

"If we would not be satisfied until we had passed a share of happiness on to other people, what a world we could make!" Laura Ingalls Wilder

If you make these pancakes for your sweetie, please come back here and let us know how they came out.  Thanks.

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls