Gramma Alpha's (and "Grammy" Marilyn's) Famous Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes

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1 cup whole oats (not quick oats)
1 cup buttermilk (We prefer Knudsen's)
2 eggs
1/4teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Real butter
Real maple syrup

Mix together the buttermilk and oats and allow to soak 20 minutes (or even overnight). Mix in the other ingredients. Fry up in safflower oil in your old well-seasoned cast iron skillet (or a non-stick skillet) on medium heat.

Tip: Use a large spoon to spoon the batter onto the pan and create the pancakes. (This batter is not like traditional smooth pancake batter. It's kind of thick and lumpy and you need to make smallish pancakes, no bigger than 3 1/2 or 4 inches in diameter. If the oats were soaked a long time, you sometimes need to add a little splash of extra buttermilk to thin the batter.) When you spoon the batter onto the pan, use the edge of the spoon to thin the pancakes a bit and nudge the high blobs out to the sides a bit.

Serve immediately with real butter and real maple syrup.