On Saturdays, like today, when there’s extra time to enjoy an un-rushed cup of Joe, the guys and I consider our breakfast options. French toast? Breakfast burritos? Biscuits and sausage gravy? Buttermilk pancakes and bacon? Ding, ding! We have a weekend winner!
If you’ve read several of my previous posts, it’s not a surprise my mind works in wacky ways. So it shouldn’t be a shocker I instantly pair pancakes and raccoons. This is abby-normal, right? As I was flipping some golden goodness this morning, it was ironic that GEICO’s raccoon food truck commercial came on TV. I love these goofy sequel commercials!
When my Mom was a kid living on the banks of the Green River in Wyoming, one of her pets was a ring-tailed raccoon named Kristy. No pictures exist of Kristy, but I have plenty of Mom. (Hi Mom!)
Kristy was a part-time house pet, who loved pancakes (and destroying the house). My Grand-Dad was known for his sourdough pancakes piled high, loaded with real butter, and doused in Aunt Jemima brand syrup. Kristy, like the rest of her bandit looking buddies, washed everything before she ate it. This included pancakes. As Grandpa’s pancakes came off the griddle, one would be handed to Kristy, who’d scurry over to the dog’s water bowl. Plop! Instant pancake slurry! Thinking something was wrong, Kristy’s velvety paws worked through the watery mess in search of her breakfast. Poor Kristy!
This cute little pancake and raccoon story also leads my mind to another raccoon story. It’s not as cute, but the kid featured in it was! (Disclaimer #1: I’m his mom. It’s written into my contract under Section A, sub-section 3B, I state he’s cute.)
When Son A and Son B were much younger, we’d spend summers with Mom and Dad in Wyoming. The boys spent their days playing fort in a worn-out chicken coop (cleaned of course!), fighting with the neighbor kids, and crashing homemade go-carts on the front-yard dirt track. In between one of these adventures, we took the boys to Bridger, Montana, named for legendary trapper and scout Jim Bridger.
The Not-So-Infamous Chicken Coop Fort 
On Beartooth Highway, near Red Lodge, Montana
Like most small towns across the nation, Bridger hosts its version of the annual “Insert Your Town’s Name” Days parade celebrating town heritage. Folks from the surrounding community come out in herds to admire the old-time cars and farm equipment, enjoy local gossip over BBQ, and wonder what in the world is going on with this or that float? Kids, on the other hand, are there for candy! Lots of candy! Almost every float entry throws, flings or flips out a wrapped treat. Forget Halloween, and head to the parade!
On Bridger’s Main Street, a curious little shop named Bridger Fur Company exists. It’s an odd assortment of hanging animal pelts, woven blankets and carports for sale. And it was here Son A and B each bought a rabbit-skin, raccoon tail hat. After all, we were in the Old West! Worthy of Daniel Boone, both boys proudly worn their coon-tail hats up and down Main Street amid smiles from older folks passing by. (Disclaimer #2: In addition to carports, Bridger Fur also is a road-kill retrieval and removal business. In a country where the critters out number the cars, this is a welcomed service! They buy furs from present-day trappers too.)
The fuzzy hats didn’t come off just yet though! Mom wanted the boys to see the Beartooth Nature Center (now Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary) in nearby Red Lodge, Montana. As we paid our admission fee, the gray-haired woman at the desk sneeringly commented, “nice hats boys.” Oops!
In addition to wildlife rehabilitation, the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary serves as a permanent respite for animals who are deemed non-releasable to the wild. One of their main goals is educating the public about the diverse wildlife of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. You’ll see a wide variety of animals ranging from Sandhill Cranes to peacocks to red fox and black bears.
It was somewhere between this menagerie of wildlife, Son B came across the resident raccoons. They were busily washing something in their water dish and paid no mind to Son B. Out of the blue, Son B grabbed the tail on his hat and waved it wildly at the unsuspecting nocturnal noshers. To our astonishment and surprise, we hear, “hey you raccoon! Your friend was killed and now he’s on my hat!” GULP! Did he just say what we think he said?! Fortunately for us, the raccoons didn’t speak English and no other visitors or employees were around! (Disclaimer #3: I have no doubt we would’ve been escorted out!) But every time we see a raccoon now, we think back to “hey you raccoon!”
Circling back to the start of this post, breakfast and pancakes, my Best Buttermilk Pancakes, pay homage to Kristy, the GEICO food truck raccoons, and the other ring-tailed bandits washing their way through the world. These pancakes are fluffy, egg-y, slightly sweet and oh-so vanilla-y! If I have fresh buttermilk in the chill-chest, these pancakes are on a weekend playlist.
Buttermilk is a must to achieve a slightly tangy taste, but I realize having it on hand and wanting pancakes can be two completely different demands. Over the years, I’ve bought and used Saco’s Buttermilk powder found in the grocery store baking aisle. It mixes with water (1 cup water + 4 tbsp. powder) and works swell in baked goods. The powder stores in your chill chest until you need it. In a pinch, you can also use regular milk (whole or 2%) soured and curdled with lemon juice or white distilled vinegar. (See Notes in the recipe below.)
Go for it! Enjoy these golden lovelies with your favorite toppings: fresh fruit and whipped cream, jam and peanut butter, hazelnut spread, or wrapped around sausage links! We think syrup and butter is still the best! (LAST Disclaimer: Our new favorite maple syrup is Runamok Maple!)
Best Buttermilk Pancakes
Fluffy and full flavored with eggs, buttermilk and vanilla, these buttermilk pancakes will be bacon’s best friend!
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: About 5 Minutes Per Batch
- Total Time: 25 minute
- Yield: About 15 5-inch Pancakes 1x
Ingredients
2–1/2 cups all-purpose flour
6 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt (kosher or table)
1–1/2 cups buttermilk*
3/4 cup milk (whole or 2%)
3 large eggs
2–1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 tbsp. unsalted melted butter, plus additional to coat griddle and serve with pancakes
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients (all purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt). In a medium-sized bowl, completely combine the buttermilk, milk, eggs and vanilla. Add the buttermilk mixture to the dry ingredients. Whisk until completely combined and free of lumps. Pour melted butter into batter. Stir until fully combined.
Using a preheated griddle or pan (375 degrees F or medium-high heat), lightly coat the cooking surface with the additional butter. Leftover grease from cooked bacon would be quite tasty too! Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup amounts of batter onto griddle. Cook until batter forms bubbles throughout the pancake’s surface and edges are set, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip pancakes with a spatula and cook for an additional minute. Pancakes should be golden brown.
Serve immediately with butter and your favorite syrup. Topping hot pancakes with sliced fresh fruit and whipped cream would be delightful too!
Notes
*Using fresh buttermilk is obviously best, but you can substitute with a buttermilk powder like Saco. You can also make a buttermilk substitute by combining 1-1/2 cups milk (whole or 2%) or heavy cream + 1 tbsp. and 2 tsp. lemon juice OR white distilled vinegar. Let sit for 5-10 minutes or until slightly thickened and curdled. Use in recipe.
Pancakes can be transformed by using add-ins such as sliced fresh fruit, nuts, or chocolate chips. Prepare batter and pour onto griddle according to the recipe above. Top uncooked side with sliced fruit like strawberries or bananas; or sprinkle chopped nuts, blueberries or chocolate chips. Flip pancakes and cook until second side is golden brown.
These pancakes freeze well for future enjoyment. Simply let cool on a wire-rack, then stack and seal in a freezer safe container. When needed, reheat in the oven. Microwaving tends to make reheated pancakes rubbery.
IMNPB
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