the best potato pancakes

I recently had yet another birthday.  Not complaining at all - I love birthdays.  Having a birthday validates my belief that yes, I am still here.

This birthday was special for many reasons.  My first in Chicago, my first as a granma, another half-decade milestone.  The most special was my big birthday gift.

My gift from Lacy and Jeff was that Lacy came to Chicago alone, and we had our first real time together since my move.  Even on my trips to Alabama, we've not had much time together to just hang out.  Our usual hours-long trips to Costco and Target and Marshalls and Hobby Lobby or other fun money-grabbing places have been missing, and we've both missed them big much.  We had a fabulous time doing nothing but wandering around and shopping.    In the afternoon, we visited our favorite neighborhood bar and proceeded to allow the bartenders (who were made privy to my age by Lacy singing Sammy Hagar) to treat us with more than is advisable to drink when you're not done shopping for the day.  Let's just say it led to a return trip to Sports Authority the following morning to return a bunch o' stuff.  We went to dinner at Cafe Lago, which is a tiny family-owned Italian restaurant just a few blocks away that was suggested by my aunt and uncle (them what know the city well).  I got kisses from the owner-in-charge, and it snowed on us during the walk home.

All of that aside, it was a special day in and of itself just by being a Saturday in the city with my baby girl.

One wish I had for my birthday was to have the best potato pancakes ever for breakfast.  On my first adult visit-for-fun trip to Chicago, a friend and I decided to find a "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" place to eat.  We came upon Glenn's Diner, known for it's seafood, but also for it's breakfast and cereal selection.  (Yes, cereal - you just have to see it).  I fell in love with the rich, creamy, yummy potato pancakes they serve with everything.  They are almost too rich to eat.  I don't think Lacy was as impressed as I with the creamy conglomeration of potatoes, scallions, and who-knows-what-else.  They are certainly nothing like the potato patties I grew up on, made from leftover mashed potatoes, egg, and milk.  I think it's well worth the trip up to Glenn's just to taste this humble side dish.

Since the birthday breakfast, I've been pondering on just what they do put in those pancakes.  I decided I would try and come close to their recipe, which I'm sure I won't do, but I think I've come up with a pretty good idea for some fairly bitchin' pancakes of my own.  I'm going to shred some Idaho potatoes, mix with some egg, chopped scallions (or green onions, since that's all they had at the Jewel-Osco), salt, pepper, and some evaporated milk, which won't be as rich as real cream.  Drop a big spoonful into some oil and butter, and see what comes out.  I can't see any way to go wrong with fried potatoes, especially mixed with something to stick them together.  I love hashbrowns, and this is just a way to add a little flavor and filling.

Right or wrong, I'll follow up with what the result was.  It's sure to be far from Glenn's, but it will be right down the alley of "Lynn's".  hahahahaha!