• Wear old clothes when frying because you will smell like fried oil when you are finished.

• Use canola oil.

• Use nonstick skillets.

• Cook the pancakes on medium-high heat.

• Have a flat wire strainer nearby to collect any particles that stay in the oil; if the oil becomes too dirty, discard and begin again.

• Don't crowd the pan or the oil temperature will drop and the pancakes will be oily.

• Use a wide spatula to turn them.

• Make sure to place the pancakes on paper towels to remove excess oil before serving.

• To make pancakes ahead and freeze: Lay them on a double sheet of aluminum foil and enclose the pancakes tightly in the foil. Make sure the pancakes are cool and then place on a flat surface in the freezer. When ready to serve, preheat oven to 425 degrees and place the foil packets on a baking sheet. Remove the top sheet of foil so that the pancakes will bake evenly. Bake the frozen pancakes for about 7 minutes or until they are brown and crispy.