Banana, Pineapple, Chocolate Chip Pancakes & Pepperoni Pizza Pancakes

Most families have recipes that are traditionally served at certain events. There are traditional foods for various holidays, as well as foods that are "expected" at events like tailgate parties and other family gatherings.



Our family has a number of recipes that have evolved into "family traditions." One is my Banana, Pineapple, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, which I created about twenty years ago, to try to replicate the taste of my family's favorite muffins. I have served these pancakes to my family, my kids’ friends, and for breakfast and brunch gatherings. These pancakes are good with or without syrup. They freeze well, if there are any left! I often get requests to make them.

Plain, buttermilk, chocolate, chocolate chip, pecan, and banana pancakes are all “tried and true” pancake varieties that could become your family's "pancake tradition." Or, savory pancakes, featuring ingredients such as bacon, ham, and pepperoni, have their own aficionados.

I found the pepperoni pancakes below to be pretty good, and thought they’d be popular with teens who often eat pizza for breakfast. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case when I tried them out on a group of teen boys, including my son! All but one kid thought they were "weird, because they didn’t taste like breakfast pancakes!" Over ten years later, kids occasionally still laughingly ask, “Remember those terrible pizza pancakes you made?” I always reply, "I thought they were good! Want to give them another try?" No takers, so far!

Making memories—even when they aren’t “perfect,” is what binds us together as family and friends. Let’s face it. Grouchy relatives, funny clothes, bad hair, burned or bad holiday dishes, and all manner of other imperfect things, color our memories and weave the tapestry of our history! Families that pray and play and laugh together are building memories and traditions that will help sustain them during difficult times.

Please share your own family traditions and recipes on my new "JOY on the Journey" facebook page, for possible inclusion in an upcoming book about family traditions.

BANANA PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES

2 cups Baking mix (I use Bisquick)
1 cup milk
2 eggs
1-8 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice
2 very ripe bananas mashed
1/2 cup (or more!) chocolate chips

Stir ingredients will blended. Pour 1/8 to scant 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot greased griddle. Cook until edges are dry. Turn over and cook till golden brown.

PEPPERONI PIZZA PANCAKES

2 cups baking mix (I use Bisquick)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup chopped pepperoni
(optional:1/2 cup chopped plum tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped green pepper--I omit.)
1 can (8 ounces) pizza sauce, warmed

Combine first four ingredients, just until moistened. Fold in rest of the ingredients.

Pour 1/8 to scant 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot greased griddle. Cook until bubbles form. Turn over and cook till golden brown. Serve with pizza sauce, and extra cheese if desired.

Jamie is a writer, speaker, retreat planner, editor, Bible teacher, and ballroom dancer. She loves to speak to church and secular groups encouraging “Joy on the Journey.” Check out her blog dancingonthejourney.blogspot.com