I have always been a lover of all things pancake!  I like banana pancakes (and Jack Johnson music too)!!  Because I am a huge fan of chocolate, it is safe to say that chocolate chip pancakes are in my top three:).  I didn’t really want a savory pancake when I made these zucchini pancakes, and I succeeded.  Not saying a savory pancake wouldn’t be delicious because I’m sure it would, but I was in the mood for sweet and these hit the spot!  The buttermilk mixing with the baking powder made these oh so fluffy.  I’m kinda drooling right now just thinking about it! Yum, Yum! Topped with butter and maple syrup, these puffy bits of deliciousness practically melt in your mouth.  These are definitely a treat, so don’t skimp on the toppings.  Everything in moderation (wink, wink).  Please enjoy these pancakes and also, the fun pancake facts I found while searching the origin of pancakes.

Fun Pancake Facts:

• Pancake Day is real! Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) is the holiday of feasting before Lent.
• During Lent, people were once not allowed to eat animal products like milk, butter, and eggs. To prevent them from going to waste these ingredients were cooked into tall stacks of pancakes. They were consumed in such large amounts that this day earned the rightful name of Pancake Day.
• Pancakes have been around for centuries as a favorite staple in many cultures’ diets. They began over 30,000 years ago during the Stone Age. Researchers have found pancakes in the stomach of Otzi the Iceman, human remains dating back 5,300 years.

• Pancakes are found almost in every culture. It is a thin flat cake made from batter and fried in a pan or on a griddle. Batter is usually made from eggs, flour, milk or water, oil or melted butter. Sometimes batter can be made from buttermilk.
• January 28th is National Blueberry Pancake Day.
• September 26th is National Pancake Day.
• Maple syrup which is often used as a topping was originally a sweet drink which was discovered by the Algonquin Indians.
• The first ready-mix food which was sold commercially was Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It was invented in 1889 in St. Joseph, Missouri.
• It is common in France to touch the handle of the frying pan and to make a wish while the pancake is turned, holding a coin in one hand.
• The first pancake recipe appeared in an English cookbook in the fifteenth century.
• World’s biggest pancake was cooked in Rochdale (Greater Manchester) in 1994, which was 15 meters in diameter, weighted three tons, and had an estimated two million calories.
• In 2005, Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli set the world record for the highest pancake toss of 329 cm.
• The French crêpe is thin and crispy. It is folded or rolled and heated in a sauce of sugar, butter, citrus juice and liqueur.
• One pancake fan ran a marathon while continually tossing a pancake for three hours, two minutes and twenty-seven seconds.
• The first ready-mix food to be sold commercially was Aunt Jemima pancake flour. It was invented in St. Joseph, Missouri, in the year 1889.

Reference: Wikipedia: Fun Facts about Pancakes.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ cups buttermilk
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean extract
• 1 ½ cups grated zucchini
• Maple syrup and butter for serving

Directions:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla bean extract. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Fold in the zucchini.
• Heat a griddle or pan to medium heat. Add butter (or you can us cooking spray). Pour about a 1/2 cup of batter onto heated skillet. Cook until the surface of the pancake has some bubbles, and a few have burst (see photos) about 2 minutes. Flip carefully with a spatula and cook until browned on the other side. Continue making pancakes until the batter is gone. Serve pancakes with butter and maple syrup…Yum!!

If you have any left pancakes left over, these freeze really well.  Wrap in plastic wrap after they are cooled.  Place in a plastic zip bag and place in the freezer.  To reheat the pancakes, microwave for approximately 20 seconds or heat in a toaster.  Enjoy!! xoxo