Free Pancakes for IHOP's National Pancake Day

                                                                                                       (Philip Nealey/Getty Images)

If the thought of pancakes with maple syrup makes your mouth water, listen up:  IHOP has declared its own special pancake day, and customers who visit the restaurant today get a free stack of buttermilk pancakes.  In exchange, customers are asked to make a donation to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

National Pancake Day is traditionally celebrated on Shove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday.  In theory, it would give people one last indulgence before they abstain for Lent.

If you can't get to an IHOP, don't worry. You can still celebrate at home.  Here are a few of our favorite pancake recipes:

Oat and Honey Pancakes With Strawberry Syrup

Ron Douglas' Banana-Nut Pancakes

Emeril's Lemon Scented Blueberry Pancakes

Emeril's Bacon Pancakes With Walnut Butter

Ted Selker's Buttermilk Pancakes