Oona has always been our pancake fiend. Since she was old enough to take her first bite, she’s been completely obsessed. Every morning she’d have pancakes (or “panic-cakes”, as she called them) if she could. The problem is, I don’t necessarily want to make them every day.

Neve is pretty proficient with them, but Oona has also had trouble convincing her to get up early to whip out a batch for her. So recently, Oona decided to take matters into her own hands. She searched around Pinterest until she found a good, easy recipe she could put together on her own. Then she went to work.

Over the past few months she’s gotten good enough that she can make a batch of perfect – if plain – pancakes on her own. I decided yesterday it was time she upgraded to a better recipe.

Now, there are lots and lots of pancake recipes I like, but I decided Oona would love the recipe from New England Farmgirl, by my friend Jessica.  Using maple sugar in the batter charmed Oona right away, and I knew we had a winner.

She’ll need to practice folding in the beaten egg whites before she gets it just right, but she’s ready to jump in and try.

We decided to use blueberries this time, and the results were just what we wanted: light, fluffy, perfect pancakes.

I had to restrain myself so as not to eat the entire plate. Before I know it, I’ll be waking up to these beauties more often than not. And how can you start a day better than that?