What's for breakfast mom? Cereal! As a busy mom my week day morning menu consists of cold cereal and milk. Trying to fix a warm breakfast before sending the kids off to school just doesn't happen in my house. But I do try to makeup for it on the weekends when I have just a little bit more time on my hands.

I love waking up early on a Saturday morning to make pancakes with sausage or bacon. It has become somewhat of a tradition in our house. But the same old package of pancake mix got boring so I had to get creative and find a pancake recipe.

To my surprise there are some many different variations for pancakes. You can make the traditional pancake with fruit mix in, such as blueberries, banana's, strawberries and so on. Then you have the different international options like German pancakes, French pancakes, American pancakes just to name a few. There are pancake you bake in the oven instead of frying on the griddle. And to my delight there was also the famous copycat pancake recipe from I-hop.

The other benefit to using a pancake recipe is the cost. It's cheaper to make than purchasing a box or bag and tastes a heck of a lot better. If your the frugal cook watching your pennies then here are some of the best pancakes recipes I have found and personally recommend.

Buttermilk Pancakes

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5-6 min
Makes: 14 (3-inch) pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
• Vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°F.
2. Mix flour, baking soda, salt, egg, and buttermilk until smooth.
3. Heat griddle or heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot enough to make drops of water scatter over its surface, then brush with oil. 
4. Working in batches and using a 1/4-cup measure filled halfway, pour batter onto griddle and cook, turning over once, until golden, about 2 minutes per batch.
   

Recipe for German Pancakes

Prep time: 10 min
Bake time: 20 min
Makes: 4 -6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup flour
• 5 tbsp butter
• 6 eggs

Directions:

1. Use oblong cake pan. Place 5 tablespoons of butter in pan.
2. Place in 425 degree oven. Leave pan in oven to stay hot.
3. Blender 6 eggs approximately 5 minutes then add milk, salt and flour and blend another 3 minutes or so. (The longer you blend the fluffier it will turn out)
4. Place the mixture in the heated cake pan that's been in the oven.
5. Bake 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cut like pieces of cake.
6. Serve with butter and syrup, this tastes a lot like french toast.

I-HOP Pancake Recipe

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5-6 min
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

1. Preheat a skillet over medium heat.

2. Put all ingredients in a blender and combine until smooth.

3. Pour the batter by spoonfuls into the hot pan, forming 5-inch circles.

4. When the edges appear to harden, flip the pancakes (they should be light brown.)

American Pancake Recipe

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5-6 min
Makes: 14 (3-inch) pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup plain flour
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup milk
• pinch salt
• maple syrup to serve with
• oil for frying

Directions:

1. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl.

2. Add the egg and beat well.

3. Then add the milk gradually and beat to make a smooth batter.

4. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan until hot and cook until nicely browned each side.

5. Serve with maple syrup.

Pancake Recipe For The Oven

Prep time: 5 min
bake  time: 20 min
Makes: 4 - 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 stick melted butter

Directions:

1. Melt butter and pour into the bottom of 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. Blend eggs in blender then add milk and flour alternating each.

3. Pour into baking dish and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

4. Top with whipped cream and fruit or powdered sugar.

Blueberry Pancake Recipe

Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5-6 min
Makes: 12  pancakes

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, separated
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 cup fresh or frozen thawed blueberries, rinsed

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, beat egg whites until stiff; set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt.

3. Beat egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl; add milk and melted butter.

4. Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients; mix until batter is smooth and stir in blueberries.

5. Fold in beaten egg whites.

6. Cook on hot greased griddle.

Makes 12 pancakes.