Lemon Buttermilk Pancakes

Some days the kids aren't really interested in sitting down for a meal I just spent hours preparing. Other days they tell me I'm the best ever and should make XYZ everyday because it's the best ever. Today, the kids BOTH woke up in a good mood (whoohoo!!!!), I got to drink my mug of milk with a splash of coffee HOT, and we saw our favorite pair of downy woodpeckers (named Ginger and Sushi) in the tree outside the back window. Life is good. The kids requested a pancake party and a pancake party we had! This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you want to make some extra for the fridge or freezer. I can't really give you an accurate yield because, well, it made two bears, two Minnie Mouses, two turtles, a moon, and a handful of silver dollar-ish sized pancakes.

[Image from the top view down at a blue-rimmed white ceramic plate with a stack of hot pancakes next to freshly washed blueberries and sliced strawberries. The plate is on a wood cutting board next to cut off tops of strawberries, a small yellow juicer, a half of a lemon that is naked from the zest being zested off into the pancake batter, and a paring knife.]

Ingredients

• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• zest of a small lemon
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk*
• 2 tablespoons avocado oil

*I use a little less than 1 cup whole milk plus juice of half of a small lemon (to equal 1 cup liquid). Let it sit until it's a little lumpy.

1. Combine dry ingredients (first six ingredients) in a medium mixing bowl. Make a well in center of flour mixture.
2. Combine wet ingredients (last three ingredients) in smaller bowl. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture and stir just until moistened (should be lumpy).
3. Pour or spread batter into desired shapes on a hot non-stick pan (or two, I like to have two going simultaneously so more finish at the same time). Cook on medium-ish heat until surface bubbles and edges are slightly dry. 
4. Serve warm with desired toppings.

Recipe slightly adapted from "Buttermilk Pancakes" Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook 75th Anniversary Edition.