I’m a stone cold maniac when it comes to making to-do lists. The only problem with my lists is that they’re usually filled with tasks that I’d much rather avoid.
This week I’m going to put together a different type of list for myself. Instead of a To-Do List, I’m going to try out a Want To-Do List.
Here’s what’s on my Want To-Do List so far:
-Sit in the sun with a book. Read the book. Take legs color from blindingly white to less blindingly white.
-Make a birthday cake. Lick the batter and frosting bowl clean.
-Drive to Sonoma to teach a baking class at Ramekins.
-Go for a hefty hike in Echo Park. Make sure your thighs know who’s boss.
-Make these pancakes for dinner. Include bacon. Invite cute boy with red hair.
All signs point to this being a great week. What’s on your Want To-Do List this week?
Let’s talk about these pancakes. They’re a sneak attack. Super simple. Unassuming. Then… delicious!
It’s the cornmeal combined with the molasses. Brilliant. The cornmeal gives the pancakes body, an irresistibly hearty flavor and just a hint of crunch. The molasses takes these puppies to the next level. Warm and rich, sweet and slightly bitter. Just lovely.
I paired these pancakes with a blackberryberry syrup. The bottled kind… like this little gem.
If you can’t get a hold of cornmeal. If you’re not all that fond of molasses… rest easy. You might like these Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes or these Vegan Jam Swirl Pancakes. Yea… I got you covered.
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Cornmeal Molasses Pancakes
adapted from recipezaar
makes 16-20 pancakes
1 large egg
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1 generous Tablespoon dark molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
In a small bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, molasses, vanilla extract and butter. Set aside.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir to combine.
Add the cornmeal and stir until just mixed. The batter may be a bit lumpy. That’s ok.
Drop 2 Tablespoonsful of batter onto a hot, greased griddle or cast iron skillet.
Flip when browned and cook through. Place on an oven proof plate in a 200 degree F oven to keep pancakes warm while you cook the rest of the batter.
Serve with maple syrup, molasses or blackberry syrup. Happy Day!
Lexi @ Cura Personalis Foodie
So I’m kinda sorta drooling. Is that awk?
Carrie T
I want to click my heels together every time you a recipe that is gluten free or a recipe that could easily be converted to be gluten free!
Carrie T
Oops. Didn’t see the all purpose flour the first time I read this recipe…But you’ve posted many recipes that are gluten friendly. Thanks!
Sarah
A great recipe! Very tasty. I had to tweak it a little to include more molasses and some blueberries, but it was delicious!
Sarah T
Found this recipe last night. Made them for lunch today. Totally satisfied my crazy “pregnant lady wants something with cornmeal in it” craving, and they were a hit with the husband, too.
Cyndi~
Tried these tonight for dinner (it’s 23 degress here in East Texas), they were awesome! Family enjoyed them very much. This will be a regular in our house! Thanks!
Maria
This was our “breakfast of champions” after surviving the Chicago blizzard earlier this week!
Thank you!!!
YUMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Zeynep
I made these for my family this morning and they were a big HIT. The cornmeal gives it a wonderful crunchy texture that is just right. They cooked beautifully and went well with topped fruits. I highly recommend them to anyone who is contemplating on making these. BTW I cut on the butter by about 15gr and they turned out fine. Thanks Joy for this keeper recipe.
Katie
Oh Joy, I have two brothers with red hair, and I’m told they’re cute – at least, they look like me. :-) Wouldn’t you like to invite one of them, and send them home with leftovers? Please?
Brian @ A Thought For Food
Not a big breakfast person, but these pancakes look freakin’ awesome!!!
Becki D
Love that idea – “want to do” list instead of “need to do.”
Want to:
-Take my girls to the park
-Finish putting together thank-you basket of goodies for L&D nurses
-Find a new book to read
-Take a long, hot, uninterrupted bath.
callas
Oh my, to-do-lists are something I coulsn’t live without. My only problem is, that even if I get everything done, the lists never gets shorter…
But a Want-To-Do-list is a great idea! So here comes mine (abridged version): – lie in the sun while reading Dante’s Divina Commedia and working on the off-white colour of my legs
– go to a ball again or at least go dancing
– start playing tennis again
– find an unobtrusive way to invite a lanky and very strange and loveable boy to dinner
– be happy that spring is here and life is great
Kathy
Invite cute boy with red hair. — I laugh hard on this one. I admire you for making a to-do list, as of me, I have a lot of things going on in my mind and I have not try to organize them so I can make them all happen, one step at a time- kind of thing. Oh well, that pancake of yours for dinner- are perfect! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
olgalopez
this look so yummy in my Tummy jajaja.
olga.
Krista
I’m so excited to try these!! :-)
Katie @ Cozydelicious
These pancakes are such a blast from my past! I grew up in Rhode Island where Johnny Cakes are king. Basically, Johnny Cakes are just awesome thin pancakes made with corn meal – usually white corn meal, but yellow will do. My step dad always made them on Sunday mornings and he, too, liked to add molasses. I always ate them with blueberries on top. Yum! Ok, Johnny Cakes are now on my to-do list!
Suede
Not fond of molasses? Are there people like that out there? Truly? How sad for them. These sounds sooooo good, this is what we are having for Good Friday Breakfast for sure!!!!
I am new to your Blog Joy and I must say you are aptly named,I have had so much Joy reading your thoughts and your recipes. I can’t wait to make them allll. For his birthday my husband has requested Cherry White chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, BlackBerry Pie Bars, With love apple pie and Peanutbutter bacon cookies.(the last time I saw him look that in love was when our daughter was born) (and he wants sit and stay awhile Apple crisp for Easter dinner) Phew, he used to do most of the baking in our house, but I have taken over in the last couple years. (he still makes the pastry but I will try your no-roll version)
Thankyou, he’s a builder and they talk about bacon constantly on the construction site, when I send PB bacon cookies, I will be a hero like never before!)
Thanks!!!
Hope you have a great Easter!!!!
Katie
Just made these! Mmmm. Mine didn’t get as tall as yours though. Any idea why?
I was thinking next time I would do a mixture of maple syrup, honey, and molasses as a topping.
Lynn
I never get anything done unless my to-do list is written. I easily fall back on my want to do list. This week it includes sewing on a quilt, making some cards to send to friends, and baking brownies.
Katie
Oh my…I’ve been slightly obsessed with making all kinds of pancakes recently. I might have to make these tomorrow morning…
Jenna
So…did you invite the cute boy to dinner???? : )
Tiffany Lee
Yes, yes – did you? I want to know as well!!
Nastassia Johnson
I need to create a good Want-to-do list for this week because we are only at Tuesday and I feel like things aren’t going the way I’d like. I love the addition of cute boy with red hair. Mine would include love the cute boy you have more he deserves it! :) Happy week to you!
heidi
i think i want your list! i may have to settle for the pancakes though!
petite nyonya
Cornmeal pancake sounds good. My sis just bought me a pack of cornmeal and this recipe is timely!
Menollie
Although I’m a complete spaz, I am soooo not a list maker. But I DO put notes in the calendar of my cell phone for reminders to pop up or nothing would ever get done, LOL! My Want-to-Do? Sleep, find time to do my hair (or better yet, have someone else do it), sleep, hit the mall to buy some Easter shoes.
Thanks for the Oatmeal cookie pancake recipe! I love the look of these, but molasses and I are bitter enemies. I will be picking up that syrup, however….
spoonwithme
Your list makes me happy! Note to self: Make a “Want To-Do” list that includes ridiculously delicious pancakes!
Deanna
Those pancakes look amazing! I made breakfast for dinner last night. I wonder if I can get away with it again. Your to-do list sounds much more fun than mine!
Jess
Oh, pancakes. Even though I’m going to be spending a huge chunk of time out and about this weekend visiting family, I’m still going to make time to make some pancakes. Either these (if I manage to snag myself some molasses when I go shopping) or the Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes. Good golly, I’m excited.
Waverly
I too am in the list makers club. I could never remember half the things I need to do if I didn’t keep several lists going…all posted on the fridge. There is the what-I-must-do-today list, the Costco list, the Whole foods list, the farmers market list, and the long-term-goal list. And then, there is my Blackberry.
On Saturday, I have scheduled “Make Cornmeal Molasses Pancakes”
Thanks for the recipe!
Shannon @ bakeandbloom.com
To Do:
Sand & paint old pine dresser & change handles
do laundry
get a haircut (it’s seriously been about 6 months)
You’re so adventurous with your pancakes, I have been using my failsafe recipe for years
Kate R.
I too am obsessive about to do lists. This week I have public speaking on my to do list which is promptly followed by treat self to avocado coconut ice cream.
Sarah
Boysenberry is blackberry?! The world, and loads of recipes, make so much more sense now!
I think I may also give these babies a try. They speak to the part of me that loves Gone with the Wind. Scarlett so could eat these….
Katya Simkhovich
You’re not alone. I am also an obsessive list maker. Everything I have to do from writing an english essay to taking a shower to baking brownies to sleeping is on my lists. And guess what else is going on my current list? Yup, these pancakes.
Natalie
Mmmm pancakes, wow these look so so tasty!! Cravings!!
Jacqui
I love the idea of a “want to do list”, brilliant! And I love cornmeal in pancakes, but never thought to add molasses, sound pretty much perfect!
Megan
I just want to ask these pancakes to marry me.
Madeleine
Num!!! The boy with the red hair won’t know what hit him :)
Patty
Two of my favorites…together…what’s not to love?!
Sophie @ yumventures
These are on my list for a pancake day in the near future. Amazing!
Tim
I have red hair and am available if you don’t already have that part covered ;-)
Nicole
Mmm…crunchy, molasses goodness. The best days are the ones where you can knock off items on your to-do and want to-do lists :)
Maria
I posted pancakes today too:) Loving yours! I will have to make them for a weekend brunch!
Samantha
What a fun list!! I also want to read and go hiking somewhere this week!
Jean C.
Since molasses doesn’t sit well with my sweet hubby… I add just a touch of it for flavor… and the rest honey. The rest sounds good to me.
Enjoy your week… I do like the idea of a “want to do list” very good!
GrapeSugar
Definitely another must try! They’re looking similar to little Rhody’s (RI) Johnny Cakes. Ridiculously yum.
I made your Herbs de Provence fries last night! I always do the same thing with sweet potatoes…minus the Herbs (just a salt mix)…but it never occurred to me to try good ol’ white potatoes! I had a salt and herb de Provence mix from our trip to Paris this past Fall, and it was wonderful! New go to side for dinner! thanks :)
Karen Pollard
Joy,
We bought a new stove that has a regular oven and a convection oven. I’m never sure when to use the convection oven vs. the regular oven when baking. I know it’s better when preparing meat dishes, but not sure about baking. Any information would be appreciated.
teresa
JOY!
Have I told you lately…
have I ever told you…
how totalllllly in love I am with YOU!
Oh how delighted I am to have found YOU and all of your wonderful recipes!
Delighted to see that they can be printed!
I need to spend some time over here printing my little heart out!
Oh how I am laughing at the thoughts of your WHITE legs needing some color!
I laugh because I told my hub this weekend that MY LEGS have NEVER been this WHITE!!
We just moved to the Northwest from the South where I was used to keeping color pretty much all year!
I’ve been so bundled up here on Bainbridge Island…and now that the layers are unraveling..I’m like Good Lordy…look at those WHITE legs!
I will for sure be getting some color on these pale things before I fly back South in May!
xxooxx
Enjoy all of the wonderful things on your HAPPY Want to List! Yeah!
And make sure those THIGHS know who’s BOSS on that hike! ;o)
xxooxx
Oh…and the pancakes…well…they are just like everything else over here…divine!
Tracy Hall
Hi Joy,
Baking question for you:
My husband is a cheesecake and brownie lover. We have been on the hunt for a recipe that combines these two things. So far, every one we have had is too dry. I guess this is because the cheesecake part needs to bake more then the brownie, so the brownie ends up being over done.
Do you have, or know of, a super-duper awesome cheesecake brownie recipe you could share with all of us?
kickpleat
Dude, a want to do list is waaaaayy better than a regular ol’ to-do list. But any list should always include pancakes and these look great.
Allison
Joy – I just want you to know that your blog is AMAZING! And these pancakes are making me hungry… and not for the orange I brought for lunch! Thanks for the great posts!
Jenn
I love new pancake recipes!
Mackenzie@TheCaramelCookie
I love making lists too. Want-to-do lists are definately more fun than to-do lists! And those pancakes look awesome, I love cornmeal in baked goods.
Sarah
I second you on reading a book in the sun & baking a birthday cake. (the birthday cake would appear on both the want to and need to do lists) Now what kind of birthday cake to make…?
colleen @ sweetswallows
I’m a fiend for lists too, but my ‘have to-do’ list is always longer than my ‘want to-do’ list. Sometimes, I’ll sneak an item from one to the other, and then I can justify taking a nap or coloring a picture.
On my want to do list this week:
-snuggle in bed later than I should
-dance for no less than 20 minutes to old soul records
-have a prickly pear margarita at happy hour today
Good luck with the boy, though be careful. Red-headed boys are almost always more charming than you expect them to be. :)
Sheila
We had these for breakfast today and they were oh-so-good! I used whole wheat flour instead of white. We topped ours off with some strawberry freezer jam, which was very tasty with the crunch of the pancakes, and served the pancakes with bacon. I was popular this morning. Thank you!
Erin
Hey Joy,
Do you plan on doing more classes at Ramekins in the future? I would love to come next week but I just got back from a week long trip and can’t take more time off so soon.
Julie
I would not have thought of the pairing of cornmeal and molasses, but now that I think about it – it sounds really delicious :)
Pamela
Joy~ these really do look tasty!
My to-do list week includes: stocking the pantry, (that means a trip to Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s), finishing the toe on my husband’s sock (and starting the second one!), nursing my sprained ankle back to pre-sprain shape, and catching up on my Easter devotions.
vanillasugar
joy i love this idea!
Bonnie
These look great! Yum! I hope you get everything on your want to do list done. :)
I found you through 6 degrees of blogging and have featured you on my blog today. I love your blog!
Matthew
Your Want-To-Do List idea has brightened my day considerably. Thank you.
Laken
Oh, I’ve been wanting a recipe that uses cornmeal! Can’t wait to try them!
Lizzie
your todo list sounds like perfection! i miss hiking in echo park. there’s not so much of that type of activity here in NYC, so I’ll just have to wait until I get back to California. As for the pancakes, I think those will jump to the top of my todo list!
Heather @ chiknpastry
another good lookin’ pancake recipe! love the molasses :)
Phoo-D
The texture of these sound lovely and perfect for a dinner with bacon! I love the idea of a want-to-do list. This week I want the weather to cooperate so I can prepare a patch of ground for our vegetable garden!
Kristan Roland
Sounds good!! Especially the cute boy part!! :)
peachkins
These pancakes look oh so yummy!
MizDid
They look really yummy! But, they should be called Anadama Pancakes.
Anadama Bread is a very old New England thing. The store goes: Back in the 18th century, there was a man with a very lazy wife. He came home after a hard days work too many times with no food prepared for him. So one day he said ANNNA! DAMN HER! and added yeast and flour to some leftover cornmeal mush (cornmeal, water, molasses) and made his own darn dinner.
jaclyn@todayslady
Love the want to do list!! Its definitely better than a to do list!!
Yummy, those pancakes look so good!! I’ve never had cornmeal pancakes but they’re definitely on my want to do list!!
Noreen
Well, it’s my birthday next week so my weekend “want to do” list includes a massage & pedicure, going out for breakfast with a friend, watching the NCAA tournament (and my team trouncing the blue devils!!), cooking yummy Easter food and hopefully taking a few bags of junk to goodwill =)
Jen-
Awesome…as usual. :) I like making TaDa Lists! And always always always add a couple things at the top that you’ve already done. That way you can immediately cross off two things and say, “TADA!”
It justifies the glass of wine or margarita. ;)
Tay
I hope the “cute boy with red hair” says yes to the invite. Have fun.
I tend to get around to the things I want to do without a list, but if I had to make one I would add practice violin to the list. I get cello practice in everyday, but I’m slacking when it comes to violin.
shush-mi
Aww those pancakes look so delicious! I want I want!
Heres my list for today:
WANT TO DO LIST:
Sit in the sunshine somewhere far away and go brown (my friend jst came back from Miami and I am very envious of her bronzed glow).
Consume a massive tin of Peppermint Bark – I found this in Texas before Christmas and had never come across it before. Definitely dont get it in the UK :(
Read the latest Vikram Seth book but I hear its not out til abt 2013…its ok, I can wait.
Cate
They look good! I have the same kind of molasses as you do even though I am in England and it was imported! Have been obsessing about molasses and spicy things. Don’t think we can get boysenberry syrup here. Will have to try maple or maybe just some fruity jam. Love pancakes with bacon.
Have you seen the recipes out there for gingerbread pancakes?
Homesick Texan has one on her website.
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul
I just got off of a 5 day juice fast! Instead of writing “to-do lists” I’m expanding my writing of “to-eat” lists. These very pancakes are now high on the list!
hannah from thepastrykook
my to-do list: lose more weight!!
and i love your pancakes! (:
Beth @ 990 Square
On my want to do list–nothing. As in doing nothing, for a whole day. But that seems highly unlikely, so I’ll go with wanting to learn how to shoot in aperture priority on my camera. It’s gray and gloomy out, so why not study up?
And I want those pancakes with that syrup. No other will do!
thedelishdish
nice! ive got a whole bottle of molasses ive been trying to put to good use. i love the fun to-do list. ive been trying to become a list person & i think your want to-do list will be the perfect way to get me going!
Katrina
I love the idea of using cornmeal! So smart. These look fabulous. Good luck with red-haired boy!
Stephanie
Oooh, yummy! I already did the first thing on your list and I’d love to do the last one. (Well, without the bacon. And some other invitation.) How do you always get your inspiration? Mine is gone somewhere missing…
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
These sound so unique! I have never had anything quite like this. I love corn bread, so I am sure I would love cornmeal pancakes.
Shauna
Can I just say something, Ms. Joy? Drool-worthy pictures like the one up there – you know the one, all coy and tempting with its crispy-edged pancakes and check-me-OUT! puddles of syrupy goodness – are the reason I love checking my Blogger feed first thing in the morning while the kids are still asleep and the house is quiet. Because that’s the best time of day for me to plot when I’m going to make whatever recipe goodness you’ve posted that day. So thanks, Joy, for starting my day (and want-to-do list) off right!! :)
As for that want-to-do list, it will definitely include these pancakes. And maybe some bright red freshly polished toenails. But not at the same time, because that could get messy.
Silvia
Well, it’s almoste Easter so I have lots to do: bake some muffins for my friends at yoga, and maybe a focaccia too, then I’m sure my father will complain that he has nothing to eat for breakfast, so I’ll have to bake something else, and then there’s Easter lunch with the whole family, and my goddaughter needs a special cake without butter, otherwise how can she have some dessert?
So That’s my to do list: bake, bake and bake.
Any ideas about the special cake?
Joe @ Eden Kitchen
Joy, these look so good! They’re now on my want-to-do list along with ‘skiing in the south island’ and ‘get a real job’…