To the Brotherhood

Joe and I raised our family in Leave it to Beaver's hometown.  We lived in Abilene where our neighbors were our best friends, Little League was our social life from April through July (if we were very lucky,) the teachers loved our kids like their own and we never locked our doors.  If there was anything from the picture lacking, we didn't miss it. Truly paradise.  

One of the sparkles  in my memory was the time spent loving and worshipping in our church. The exquisite sanctuary and grounds, kept immaculate and traditional, were cared for by parishioners and a small staff who were honored to serve.  There were various guilds and groups, mostly dedicated to one particular function of the church. One of the most interesting groups was the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, a group of men who gathered for fellowship, community, service and food.

On Mardi Gras, when most people think of the revelry and devilry going on in fabulous places like Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans and even Galveston, I inevitably think of pancakes. Shrove Tuesday was the annual Brotherhood Pancake Supper, when lots of good folks of all ages would come out to eat and make merry before the austerity of Lent meant no more celebrations.  I can still close my eyes and picture our littles marching through the parish hall banging pots and pans and stomping, singing at the top of their lungs, "Oh when the saints....oh when the saints....oh when the saints come marching in...."

Yummmm!  Pancakes!  Who doesn't love them?  (What's not to love?)  I give you then Courtney's Pancakes, to enjoy tomorrow night on Shrove Tuesday.  With a couple pieces of turkey sausage and some low sugar syrup (or better yet, some *homemade fruit syrup) and a big glass of milk?  Have mercy! *Homemade fruit syrup is nothing more than berries, gently boiled with a little squeeze of lemon and a drop of vanilla until thickened.  Try it with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, you name it!

Courtney's Pancakes

1/3 to 1/2 cup dry oatmeal
1 1/4 cup egg whites
1/2 to 1 smashed banana
1 tbsp crushed walnuts
Cinnamon 
Vanilla
Nutmeg

Heat skillet over med heat spray with nonstick cooking spray
Whisk all ingedients together
Pour into heated skillet
Flip
Top with 1tbsp raw agave or maple syrup