Chocolate chips.

    Not that I am surprised that the kiddos like chocolate chips.  I'm just impressed with the difference they can make in a recipe's success or failure (although I am quite certain they play a pivotal role in, say, chocolate chip cookies).
    My example for the day is pancakes.  Plain old just-add-water box mix pancakes.  Well, I take that back.  I got a bit jazzy last time I was at the store and bypassed the Bisquik in favor of Krusteaz (because even though the name is bad enough to avoid on principle, their frozen pancakes taste like less pan, more cake).  Specifically, the Wheat and Honey variety.  Being pancake connoisseurs, my girls gave their opinion-- and it was a great big thumbs down.  This morning I was a bit low on breakfast options, so I decided to try and salvage the remainder of the box of mix into something the kids would eat.  Thus, in went the chocolate chips.  The result:  empty plates in a heartbeat.  Baby Duck even told me they were the best pancakes ever.  I opted not to inform her of the base of her new favorite treat.  She may have changed her mind if she knew, and I have about a dozen pancakes left in the freezer.
    
CL