Chocolate Chip Pancakes

    This morning my daughter woke me up asking for breakfast.  I turned and looked at the clock.  The time is 4:32 AM.  Can you picture the expression on my face?  My daughter's do not have school today and I did not plan to wake up so early.  When they do have school I have such a hard time waking them up.  Still sleepy and I do not feel like moving I told my daughter it is too early for breakfast do you want some hot chocolate?  Her response "Mommy but I am hungry! OK, so at this time I got to shake off my sleep.  I get up and replied to my daughter "Mommy will make you some waffles and boiled eggs"! One of her favorite breakfast dishes.   But at after 4 AM in the morning I was not making no waffles from scratch.  Oh yeah, Mr. Eggo was coming out the freezer.  Well, so I thought.

   My four year old said "No  Mommy can I have shrimp, grits, three eggs, broccoli and pazagna (meaning lasagna) please"?  In my mind I was like is this child of mines in her right mind.  But I could not do anything but laugh.  I replied back and said what about we wash up and come up with something else.  Of course we went back and forth about what to give her to eat.  Until I got to the point, OK it is either this or this.  We finally agreed to pancakes, egg, sausage, and bacon. Mommy wins! Yeah right.

     I agreed thinking I have some Aunt Jemima mix in my pantry.  Scoring my pantry, not one Aunt Jemima in sight.  I could not break my daughter heart and say there is no pancake mix.  I had no choice but do what I do best, make from scratch pancakes.

    By this time my oldest daughter is up and comes in the kitchen.  "I heard you making pancakes, can we get chocolate chip pancakes. Sigh!

    You now know what I was doing at 5:00 AM.  Making some wonderful chocolate chip pancakes.  My babies are happy and stuffed.  And I am off to take a nap before someone gets hungry again.


Chocolate Chip Pancakes with Cinnamon Cream

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups all- purpose flour
3 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
2 large eggs, separated
3 tbsp. butter melted, plus 4 tbsp, divided
1/4 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Syrup for serving
Cinnamon Cream, recipe follows

Cinnamon Cream

Ingredients

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

Directions

1.  Preheat griddle to 350 degrees F.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.  Melt 3 tablespoons butter.  Set aside.

2.  Using an electric mixer beat egg whites at medium-high speed until stiff.  Set aside.

3.  In a small bowl, beat egg yolks.  Add milk to the egg yolk and combine mixture.

4.  Add egg mixture to flour mixture.  Pour in melted butter.  Whisk until smooth.

5.  Gently fold egg whites into batter until completely combined.  Add chocolate morsels gently folding in the mixture.

6.  Melt 2 tablespoons on hot griddle.  Spoon about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto griddle.  Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until bubbles are foaming at the sides and the edges looked cooked.  Turn and cook the other side.

7.  Repeat procedure with remaining butter and remaining batter.

For the Cinnamon Cream:

Using an electric mixer, beat cream at medium-high speed until thickened.  Gradually beat in confectioners sugar and cinnamon, beating until stiff peaks form.  Cover and chill.

Serve hot pancakes with syrup and top with Cinnamon Cream.

Recipe adapted from Paula's Home Cooking