Frontline Flapjacks With Chocolate Gravy

Now that I have gotten my wife out of the house and back to work it is time to try this again.  This week all of the recipes are coming from my new cookbook Secrets of the M*A*S*H Mess: The Lost Recipes of Private Igor by Jeff Maxwell (who played Igor).  So here we go with Day One of the Unofficial week of recipes. and how could I not start off with a recipe that includes chocolate gravy?

Ingredients:

For the Gravy

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Pancakes

• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 egg, beaten until light
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

Directions:

For the Gravy

• In a large saucepan mix the dry ingredients together.
• Gradually add the water.
• While stirring constantly, heat the mixture slowly to a boil.
• As the gravy thickens, remove from heat and continue to stir constantly.
• Mix in the vanilla.

For the Pancakes

• In a large mixing bowl sift together all the dry ingredients.
• Add the butter milk, egg, and butter, mixing until just blended.
• Do not over mix, lumps are OK.
• Preheat a large skillet or griddle.
• Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto the hot griddle.
• In 2 or 3 minutes the cakes' surface should start to bubble, lift each cake with a spatula to check the underside.
• When they are golden brown flip the pancakes once and cook until the opposite side has browned.
• Repeat with the remaining batter.
• Serve immediately with butter and chocolate gravy.