A Traditional Farm Life – Buggy HOP Pancakes

A Traditional Farm Life – Buggy HOP Pancakes

By Shasta Hamilton

Greetings from Enterprise, dear friends!  Nothing says “summer” like fresh cucumbers on the table.  Our garden has blessed us with “Sweet Slice” cukes for the last week or so.  Now if we could just get some ripe tomatoes to go with them . . .

In other news fresh from the garden, our twelve-year-old son has been digging potatoes this week when he can squeeze in a little time in the evenings after other chores.  So far, it looks like the best potato crop we’ve ever had.  The Red Pontiacs are humongous—some of them are as large as Russet baking potatoes!  The Red LaSodas are the usual smaller red potato size.

We’ll definitely be planting Red Pontiacs again next year.  Our son notes the potatoes are the largest in the areas where we mulched the plants the deepest.  In these parts, the potatoes are right on the surface, rather than down in the dirt as well.  A win-win situation!

Between our recent purchases of tack and draft equipment and the lack of outbuildings on our place, we are painfully aware it looks like a used tack dealer collided with implement salvage yard.  But friends, sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better.

In order to care properly for all the miscellaneous gear we’re collecting for our horses, a tack room is in the beginning stages in the one outbuilding we currently have on the place.

We’re working on clearing the concrete pad north of the house for implement storage.  When the overgrowth, scrub trees, and years of dirt are cleared away, the boys will be able to pull through and drop off equipment circle-drive style.  Our treasure trove of used farm implements will then have a home of their own away from their current abode on the front yard.

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, we were delighted by a surprise visit from Marci Penner and WenDee LaPlant of the Kansas Sampler Foundation Wednesday noon.  Marci and WenDee are preparing a second edition of the Kansas Guidebook for Explorers to be available in 2016.  They are again touring every one of the 626 incorporated cities in Kansas to glean information for the new Guidebook.

I was privileged to hear Marci speak this past May 9^th at the Eisenhower Presidential Library regarding tourism in Kansas, and it was an honor to speak with her again and introduce them to The Buggy Stop.

The May 9^th presentation included multiple pictures of pancakes the pair has eaten at restaurants all across Kansas.  Not being an establishment that serves breakfast, we weren’t able to throw our hat in the ring Wednesday. 

Their loss is your gain, however, because I’ll share with you our family’s favorite pancake recipe.  (By the way, if you’re not serving a crowd at your own House of Pancakes, simply cut the recipe in half or freeze the leftovers for a handy snack another day.)

Buggy HOP Pancakes

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

2-1/4 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1.  In a large bowl, whisk first five ingredients until fully incorporated. 

2.  In a small bowl, whisk together the milk, vegetable oil, and eggs.

3.  Add wet ingredients to dry and whisk until smooth.  Let stand 5 to 10 minutes while griddle heats (325 to 350 degrees.). 

4.  Lightly grease griddle and pour on 1/3 cup batter for each pancake.  When bubbles form and break, turn pancake and cook until bottom browns. Serve warm with plenty of butter and maple syrup. Yield:  About 24 (4-inch) pancakes.

Copyright © 2015 by Shasta Hamilton

Shasta is a fifth generation rural Kansan now residing in Enterprise, Kansas.  She and her husband own and operate The Buggy Stop Home-Style Kitchen with their six home-schooled children.  You can reach The Buggy Stop by calling (785) 200-6385 or visit them on the web at www.thebuggystoprestaurant.com.

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