Gluten Free Eggnog Pancakes

Welcome to the "Christmas Traditions Series" day one.

This is going to be an exciting month full of fun and yummy new holiday recipes.
I have lots of guest bloggers sharing some of their Christmas memories and fun traditions.  And of course, everyone is sharing their favorite holiday recipe.
Isn't this just going to put you in the Christmas spirit?
I hope so!

I would like to start the series out by sharing one of my favorite Christmas memories.

{Visiting Santa with my brothers and sisters.  Yep, that's me, the oldest on the left.  The one with the awesome nerd glasses...}

It all started when my mom's vacuum stopped working the beginning of December.  My poor mom, having 5 young kids running around knew that she was going to be needing a vacuum sooner than later.  So my dad took her out vacuum shopping (totally romantic, really) and as they were browsing the latest models, deciding which to get, my dad, my dear Father gets this wonderful idea.  

Why is he getting my mom the vacuum?

Shouldn't he get it for the the kids, the ones using it?

This was a sure-fire way that we kids could never use the line, "we can't vacuum, it's mom's."  

Smart guy.

{Being goofy, I just turned 11}

Now, keeping all this background information in mind, back to me and my siblings side of the story.

Our BIG family Christmas present showed up, wrapped beautifully carefully placed under the tree.

And it was a big one!  

My brother, who is also very smart figured it all out.  Mom and Dad got a us....

A BRAND NEW COMPUTER!!

The Christmas present had to be a new computer.  What else could come in such a big box, and my dad worked at HP, it just had to be.  

Seems rational enough right.

So, my brother (#3 out of 5) convinced us all that it was a brand new computer. 

Then, the arguing started about who got to use it first. 

To solve the problem it was simple solution.

My brother made a sign-up sheet, and hung it on the fridge.

Everyone was to sign up in 30-minute increments and he and my sister (#2 out of 5) promptly filled their names into the first two slots.

Now, me being the oldest knew that I didn't need to sign up.
I was the oldest, therefore by birthright I got to use the brand new computer first.

I didn't need a dumb sign-up sheet.

Yes, I kept this assumption to myself, which was a good thing.

The weeks dragged on and on.

The anticipation of the brand new computer was just eating away at us.

We couldn't wait to tear off the paper and get the computer all set up and start our 30 minutes of free, glorious play.

My parents at this time are not giving any hints at all what it might be.

(But inside, my mom was dying with her dirty floor!)

Christmas morning came.

My brother had the sign-up sheet ready to go.

Everything was in place for our brand new computer.

Like savages, we tore off the wrapping, prepared to let out our squeals of delight and excitement we noticed that we were not getting a brand new computer.  

What did the box say?

Yep, you're right.

A BRAND NEW VACUUM CLEANER!

(So glad I didn't sign up or admit that I knew I would be the first user of our new gift) 

I think my sister (the second one signed up) recovered from the shock first.

"I knew it was a vacuum cleaner, I knew it all along".

As we looked at each other in disbelief, my parents were busting a gut laughing.

It was a Christmas to remember.

And my brother did take his first turn with our brand new vacuum cleaner.

 {My family with my grandparents in front of our Christmas tree}

Now, on to the recipe.
One family tradition at our house is drinking Eggnog.  

I know some people don't like eggnog because of it's rich, creamy texture, but we would always, always dilute it.  Half eggnog/half milk, or half eggnog/half sprite.

Try it, it's really delicious.

The recipe that I would like to share with you are for Gluten Free Eggnog Pancakes.  

It's about as close as you can get to eggnog without saying, "Drink some nog".

Even if you don't like eggnog, I think you'll really like these fluffy pancakes.

They taste more eggnog-y the next day, so if you have a busy morning, cook them at night and reheat in the morning.

I hope you like them.

Gluten Free Eggnog Pancakes

1 cup eggnog

1 T. apple cider vinegar

3 eggs 

3 T. melted butter

1 1/2 cups GF mix

2 t. xanthan gum

3 T. white sugar

1 1/2 t. baking powder

3/4 t. baking soda

3/4 t. salt

Measure out eggnog and add vinegar.  Lightly stir to combine.  Let sit while you mix the rest of the ingredients.

Whisk together the eggs and melted butter.

Add the rest of the ingredients.

Stir in the eggnog, until all the lumps are gone.

Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter onto a preheated skillet or frying pan.  Cook until bubbles appear on the surface.  Flip with a spatula and cook until golden brown on the other side.

Serve with syrup and enjoy!

Merry Christmas!