My mom died last Wednesday.  She suffered from dementia for years, so my family has done its grieving along the way.  We’re glad the daily indignities of dementia are behind her, but there’s something unsettling about losing a mother — a feeling of being unmoored — not quite alone but certainly lonesome for her. 

So what do pancakes have to do with death?  I wanted to post a tribute to Mom without being overly sentimental.  What better way to recognize her than to post one of her recipes?  She was most happy when she was feeding us, and many visitors to her house (always including kids and grandkids) left with goodies.  I can see her now standing over the stove flipping pancake after pancake on a Saturday morning, never slowing down until our tummies finally cried uncle.  My sister Laurie says the recipe above left out one essential ingredient — one my mom used every time she cooked — a big cupful of love.

So, Mom, I love and miss you.  I’ll just end with one of your favorite parting phrases — Kiss, kiss, hug, hug.

MARTHA’S FAMOUS PANCAKE MIX

5 cups flour

3 Tbsp. baking powder

scant Tbsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup sugar

That’s all she left, but I’m sure you mix the dry ingredients and then mix in wet (water, milk, buttermilk) until you get the consistency you want.