It is a rare event in this household that we don't have pancakes on a Sunday morning. My kids like to remind me of that fact bright and early every Sunday morning. It's not like it was a planned habit, but it has evolved into a little tradition of sorts over the past few years.
A fresh tablecloth makes an appearance. As does the colourful old mismatched china, the silverware and the linen napkins. The much needed coffee is put on the stove to be ready at just about the same time as the pancakes.
We've enjoyed pancakes with fried banana. Pancakes with strawberries. Pancakes with jam. But always, always with maple syrup and whipped cream.
The mix itself might change from week to week. I've varied between Nigella's American pancakes, to Jamie's version featuring egg whites, to Sophie Dahl's ricotta version and our current favourite (shown above), a fluffy yoghurt version. The one on the back of the buttermilk carton is also a goodie. I often like to mix up the flours. White, wholemeal or spelt, and often a combination.
But it's not all about the pancake itself, but what it has some to represent. It's like a little constant marker in our weekend life. Often followed by a day of pottering around and getting done what needs to get done (or some of it at least). Not overly rushing ourselves, as might be the case on other days of the week, but now taking our time about doing things. For there really is no point in rushing on a Sunday is there?
In the end it is the comfort of familiarity. The joy that is a shared meal. The pleasure that is preparing a meal to put a smile on the faces of loved ones. Knowing that everyone leaves the table nourished not only from food but from the act of all being together. It has a different feel to the nightly dinners that we all share. This is slower somehow, and usually without the stresses of the day brought to the table.
Perhaps you have your own version of pancake Sunday? Bacon and eggs? A weekend brunch? Maybe a Sunday roast? Whichever, they all really boil down to the same thing, don't they?
So here I sit on this rainy Monday morning, raising my (coffee) cup to pancake Sundays. Or the like.
We enjoy the exact same tradition. I have no idea how it started but once my girls enjoyed pancakes, strawberries, maple syrup and whipped cream one sunday it just had to continue. We enjoy, like you all, the slow pace of breakfast as every other day is rushed and we rarely get to eat the breakfast together. What I hope is that my children grow up with fond memories of sunday breakfasts together :)
ReplyDeleteWe also have a pancake breakfast almost every Sunday, cooked by dad, and usually coloured a hideous shade and arranged in various shapes. It is a lovely slow morning and we all look forward to it.
ReplyDeleteBacon always features in our weekends. Cereal and toast just does'nt make the grade on weekends. I love the table setting - gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSame here! We have done the fried banana, mixed berries, strawberries...and yes, all with maple syrup and yoghurt (whipped cream sounds soooo much better!). It really is a special time together and so very important in the hurry, hurry that is day to day life. Hope you're having a peaceful day :) x
ReplyDeleteBeautifully said.
ReplyDeleteI really hold dear those long weekend brunches/lunches, and really look forward to them. I don't mind what we eat, as long as it's not the same stuff as during the week. Vegemite sangas don't have a place on my table on the weekend :-)
Whenever family is together on a Saturday..it's our "pancake Sunday"! Sunday is church day..so Saturdays are the slow morning brekky days in our home. We are pancake lovers too..but also do the bacon and egg brekky, but always with fresh espressos in hand and plenty of time to talk and muck around.
ReplyDeleteSitting on the front verandah in the sunshine with eggs and avo on toast is something I very much look forward to on days off.
ReplyDeleteYour pancakes Sunday sounds lovely- special time as a family enjoying home-baked, slow food.
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We have pancakes on Sundays too! Not every week, but if we are home and not rushing to be anywhere, we try to make an event of it :)
ReplyDeletei make them randomly but did happen to have them on friday for lunch (no bread !!) nutella and strawberries for the kids, lemon and sugar for me, can't ever go past the lemon and sugar :)
ReplyDeleteI love pancake Sundays. Our lazier breakfasts aren't quite as lazy as I'd like them to be but then we have a wild toddler in our midst. Poached eggs are a favourite too with homemade bread - and if I haven't made bread the night before, it's a quick trip out to buy a loaf of sourdough - which I sometimes prefer!
ReplyDeleteI love pancake sunday, although we do crepes in our house. We had a little sunday brekkie tradition going alternating crepes one week and eggs the next. We fell off the bandwagon, must get back on it I think. It's so good to have a cruisy morning on a sunday.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a maple syrup fan, I like lemon and sugar or the swedish way of sourcream and jam. Yum.
Have a gorgeous week.
We dont do it every weekend. But is loved by all of us when we do. Lemon Butter is a favorite of mine :)
ReplyDeletePancakes were a weekend tradition for me growing up that I have carried into our own children's childhood..a weekend doesn't quite feel the same without the token pancake brekky. With our current way of eating we have been exploring the wonderful world of gluten free and have come up with some amazing combo's though always with maple syrup too :
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I raise my cup (of tea) to that! We have pancakes every weekend we are at home. It is a wonderful tradition and is indeed about more than just food.
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