Kintropy In Action

This morning, Gabriel requested pancakes.  Well, to be precise, his initial request was for bacon and eggs, but we had no bacon in the house.  Pancakes were a solid Plan B on his part.

As I prepared the batter (from our favorite Snoqualmie Falls mix), the family began to assemble slowly at the table.  I added mix plus cold water.  I stired with a fork (rather than a whisk - my only nod to "style").  The powdered mix blended to a thick, but pourable batter.  The pan was hot.  I was ready to make the sacrifical pancake.

The first pancake out the shute is always the sacrifical pancake.  I poured it small and round, hoping it would cook up perfectly, but knowing that it would not.  This is the pancake that tests the pan to make sure it is the right temperature.  It is the pancake that helps me reset my internal pancake timer (usually via an undercooked, batter center or an overcooked singeing of one side).  It is the pancake that gives of itself so that others may thrive.

This morning's sacrifical pancake was small, round, and slightly undercooked.  It splashed batter when I flipped it too early - bulging in the middle when I pressed.  With a little adjustment, it proved to still be edible.  More importantly, it had performed its sacrifical duty well.  The remaining pancakes improved.

Mom, Hannah, and Gabriel enjoyed the pancakes while I churned them out at the stove.  Gabriel had three or four, so he considered it a success.  Hannah enjoyed sitting at the table, but left her pancake mostly untouched.  We mugged at each other across the kitchen countertop.  She laughed as I tipped my head one way, then the next.  Her mood and overall health has improved considerably from when she left the hosptial yesterday morning.

I quickly made some scrambled eggs, then joined the family at the table for my serving of pancakes and eggs, thanking the sacrifical pancake for its contributions to a nice Sunday morning family meal.

-- Dad