A couple years ago, my kids and I took a trip with my mom to visit my aunt and uncle. We had a great time seeing relatives and exploring near their home in the mountains of Montana. And my uncle took my kids for rides on the 4 wheeler- an experience they still gush over today. We had a wonderful time, and during the course of our stay I learned something: my aunt is a fantastic cook! She made us incredible oatmeal pancakes which have become a favorite at my house.

Oatmeal Pancakes

2 cups oatmeal
2 cups buttermilk
2 whole eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• In a large mixing bowl, combine oatmeal and buttermilk. Let soak 1/2 hour.
• Add the rest of the ingredients to the oat mixture.
• Spray a skillet with cooking spray and use an ice cream scoop to drop batter onto medium hot skillet. Cook until golden brown, flipping once. (I use an electric skillet, which is a lot easier.) Serve with a fruit saute such as apples or peaches, syrup and nuts.

I have made them with regular milk, and they turn out fine (but are missing the little tang of buttermilk.) I’ve also substituted unsweetened applesauce for the butter- the pancakes are a little flatter and stick a bit more, but are otherwise great! These pancakes are great with blueberries mixed in to the batter. Give them a try this weekend, and I bet you’ll agree there never was a tastier way to eat oatmeal! And many thanks to my aunt and uncle for such a memorable visit- we’ll have to do it again soon!