MomGriddles

I have told you that I am a frugal zealot, that almost nothing is more exciting than calling my husband at work to report that I just fed the kids lunch for under 10 cents each.

Well, I have a confession to make. My children have had McDonalds McGriddle breakfast sandwiches... and they love them! I know, I know! What would Amy Dacyzn say?! It must have been a moment of weakness (and hunger) that I caved in and went through the drive through to pick up some breakfast, and they have never forgotten it.

So, just this week as I was picking the oldest 3 up from going to work with Dad, they began chanting, "McDonalds!, McDonalds!" I immediately repented of my spend thrift ways and told them, "Why, I can make them thar McGriddles mah-self!"

If you aren't familiar with the McGriddle, it is a breakfast sausage sandwich using 2 little pancakes for the bread part. The pancakes have syrup inside. So, you get a little sweet and a little savory in each bite.

I remembered that I had a recipe that I use often for "Pancakes on the Go" that already have the syrup included. We call them "handcakes" because you don't need a plate. I figured I could make those in silver dollar size and put sausage in between two for my very own "MomGriddle."
Everyone wanted to help out, so I gave each child a task and we all worked together. My son cooked the sausages while the 7 yr. old cracked the eggs into a bowl. The other girls worked on the dry ingredients and then the wet. The pancakes were ready to pour onto the griddle about the time the sausages were finished, so I drained the grease and started pouring the batter.

Sure enough, everyone loved them and gobbled them up! I doubled the recipe for the pancakes and put the leftovers in the freezer. If you like McGriddles, try these. Yum!

Pancakes on the Go
(From Quick Cooking March/April 1998)
1/2 Cup all purpose flour
1/2 Cup whole wheat flour
1/2 Cup plus 2 Tblsp. quick cooking oats
1/3 Cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 1/3 Cups buttermilk (This ended up being way too much. I had to add dry ingredients. Next time, I'll only add enough to get a good batter.)
2 Tblsp. vegetable oil

In a mixing bowl, combine the first six ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg, buttermilk and oil; stir into dry ingredients and mix well. Pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto a lightly greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top of pancakes. Cook until second side is golden brown. Yields about 9 pancakes.