For the Love of Peanut Butter

Many, many moons ago Hubby and I hung out with a couple who were much younger than us, but that didn’t seem to matter. Most of our friends back then (and now) are much younger than us. The wife was from Oklahoma, the husband a wild bush pilot from upstate New York.

One morning while out for breakfast the pilot warned Hubby that his wife had some very strange eating habits. She claimed it was from her Okie upbringing. Do tell, Hubby inquired. She puts peanut butter on her pancakes. The pilot stated plainly, as though that were a strange thing to do.

When our pancakes were delivered to the table, the waitress asked if that would be all. Our Okie friend and I both said in unison “Could you bring the peanut butter?” Hum, maybe it is an Okie thing. My Dad is from Oklahoma, and he taught me to put peanut butter on my pancakes. There is something magical about the way peanut butter melts over a stack of fresh off the griddle pancakes.

Turned out Em and I had a lot of the same “strange” quirks. Years later I had a conversation with my Cardiologist about my eating habits. He was a transplant from Oklahoma. I said I will not give up peanut butter on pancakes, bread and butter pickle sandwiches or salt on watermelons. He said I ate like an Okie. That’s okay by me.

Today in National Minnesota Day and Peanut Butter Lover’s Day. I wonder, do the folks in Minnesota like peanut butter on their pancakes, or is that just a hillbilly thing?

Bisquick Pancakes with Peanut Butter Syrup
Peanut Butter Syrup
1 cup Milk
1 cup Sugar
2/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Stir milk, sugar peanut butter and vanilla extract together in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil while whisking constantly. Let syrup cook at a boil for 3 minutes.

Keep syrup warm until ready to pour.

Bisquick Pancakes
2 cups Bisquick Mix
1 cup Milk
1 Egg
1 tablespoons Lemon Juice
1 tablespoon Sugar
Butter as needed

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat pancake mix, milk, egg, lemon juice and sugar until just blended. Let rest for 15 minutes.

Heat griddle to medium eat. Lightly brush griddle with a little butter.

Ladle pancakes on to th griddle; cook about 2 minutes or until bubbles begin to form and the edge is set. Flip, continue to cook another minute or so.

Spread butter over the warm pancakes with still on the griddle to help the butter melt into the pancake.

Place and serve with warm Peanut Butter Syrup.

---

Man’s days are like those of grass;
like a flower of the field he blooms;
The wind sweeps over him and he is gone,
and his place knows him no more.