Grandmom Kriz’s Apple Pancakes

20 Feb

I’d like to start this blog off with my Grandmom’s Apple Pancakes. Growing up, it was an absolute TREAT when Grandmom Kriz would make us her apple pancakes. She had the recipe memorized and she tweaked it along the years. It started off with sliced apples, but by the time I was little she had started to grate the apple. She used vegetable oil (and a pat of butter) so that the pancakes would puff up a little bit. They were delicious bites of apple-y heaven!

Mmmmm, Apple Pancakes

Grandmom's Recipe

My grandmom lost most of her eyesight when I was about 12 or so. She lived on her own and was able to make meals, but she wasn’t going to extra lengths anymore. I still remember the last meal my grandmom made me in her kitchen when she moved to the little house next to my dad’s office – Chicken a la King. I think the last time I had her pancakes I was probably 10 or 11. She gave the recipe (when she still had it in her head) to my mom and my older brothers. Everyone lost their recipes! No one could find them….

The ingredients

My grandmom came to live with us when she was 92 and died when she was 96. We still didn’t have her apple pancake recipe. We would allllllllllways talk about her apple pancakes through the years at family gatherings. My brothers and I all had our special memories of her making them for us, what her little kitchen looked like, and our visits at their house on G street in the Juniata section of Philly. I think a lot of my friends also often heard me talk about the pancakes wistfully….

This year, my mom was cleaning out some old recipe books that she hadn’t looked at in years, and stumbled upon my grandmom’s apple pancake recipe. She held onto the recipe in secrecy and started compiling a family cookbook for each of my brothers and myself. The Family Cookbook includes all of our favorites that my mom used to make growing up, plus some great recipes that my brothers and I have contributed and made over the years as well. She gave them to us on Christmas this year and as we opened them, on the very first page on the inside cover was Grandmom’s Apple Pancake recipe. It was one of the most touching moments I’ve had in a long long time.

My Grandmom at Christmas in 1995

Grandmom Kriz’s Apple Pancakes

1 cup flour
¾ cup milk
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sugar
2 tblsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp salt
1 small apple; peeled, cored, and grated
Dash of cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Make as you would regular pancakes – except use Vegetable Oil plus a lil butter in the frying pan. This will cause the pancakes to puff up when cooking. Top with syrup and/or butter!

The raw batter with grated applePancakes sizzlin.....Sizzlin' Pancakes

Apple Pancakes

Tags: Breakfast, Pancakes

Comments 13 Comments
Categories Breakfast

13 Responses to “Grandmom Kriz’s Apple Pancakes”

J Kevin Gann March 18, 2012 at 2:28 pm #

Just made them this morning, Laura. So so good. Will incorporate these into my weekly pancake days here at the house for my mother.

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- lmullane March 18, 2012 at 2:53 pm #
  
  Awwww that is so awesome to hear, Kevin! Thank you so much!!!!!! So glad you and mom enjoyed 🙂
  
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Linda March 14, 2012 at 7:50 pm #

These sound awesome! I love pancakes and will try these on Sunday. I love recipes from the “true” cooks in our lives. It’s funny how the smell and taste of foods can bring up such wonderful memories from our childhood.

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- lmullane March 14, 2012 at 8:44 pm #
  
  Thanks so much, Linda! She cooked from her heart and from memory – I never saw her use a recipe. Let me know what you think!
  
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Vira February 22, 2012 at 7:34 am #

These remind me of my mom’s apple pancakes. I love that your mom kept it a secret that she had found the recipe.

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- lmullane February 22, 2012 at 9:45 am #
  
  Well Lithuania and Ukraine are in the same region so I am sure they are very similar!
  
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Lisa February 21, 2012 at 3:00 pm #

Laura – good luck on your new blog – your grandmom’s recipe looks delicious – waiting for more recipes!

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- lmullane February 22, 2012 at 9:45 am #
  
  Thanks so much, Lisa! Come back often 🙂
  
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Christine H February 21, 2012 at 11:54 am #

this is WONDERFUL, Laura — another way to know you. Christine

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Heidi February 21, 2012 at 9:54 am #

These look yumalicious!!!!!

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Jeff February 21, 2012 at 8:56 am #

These look delicious Laura! Can you substitute lactose-free milk? I’m going to have John make these for me this weekend 😀

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Patrick February 20, 2012 at 8:42 pm #

My grondmother was truly old-world – she came off the boat at the turn of the 20th century as a small child, learned how to cook in the ways of 19th century eastern europe culture. Her food, all of it, was always pure “homestyle” and the best comfort food one can imagine. Her baked goods were also out of this world (probably because she never cooked american.) My grandmother continued to bake and cook until she was essentially blind, god bless her, and her food was always wonderful.

Thanks for posting this recipe and what a tribute to make it your first in your new blog.

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- lmullane February 20, 2012 at 9:12 pm #
  
  Thanks, Pat. I didnt know who else deserved a better tribute than grandmom. Remember those powder-sugar dusted almond crescent cookies she would make at christmas that literally melted in your mouth?
  
  It’s a shame we dont have more of her recipes. Then again, it would never taste as good as when grandmom made it.
  
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