Today was a weekend with no special plans or appointments.

From the morning, sunlight stretched across the living room floor, and a gentle breeze outside made the curtains flutter.

On days like this, the home feels cozier for some reason.

As the afternoon came, I suddenly thought of mung bean pancakes; let's make today a day for pancakes.

When I was young, pancakes were like a small feast in our house.

During holidays, my mom would soak a large bowl of mung beans and prepare plenty of kimchi, green onions, bean sprouts, and pork.

On one side of the kitchen, oil would sizzle, and the smell of frying would fill the entire house.

I would take the pancakes right off the pan, place them in my palm, and blow on them before taking a big bite.

The warmth and nuttiness were the flavors of my happy childhood.

Today, I prepared them with care, just like my mom. I soaked the mung beans the night before, ground them finely, and added a pinch of salt to the batter.

I chopped the kimchi finely and squeezed out the moisture, and I also sliced the green onions.

While adding bean sprouts or finely chopped pork would enhance the flavor, I decided to keep it simple with just kimchi and green onions.

I heated the frying pan, added oil, and ladled the batter onto it.

In an instant, the sound of sizzling filled the kitchen. The moment I heard that sound, I felt all the stress of the day melt away.

When one side turned golden brown, I carefully flipped it over.

The savory aroma of the oil and batter mingled with the gentle scent of kimchi... the kitchen warmed up nicely.

While the pancakes were frying, a song suddenly popped into my head.

"If you have no money, go home~ and make some pancakes~"

It was an old song that often played on the radio when I was a child, haha.

The lyrics were simple, but they strangely put my mind at ease.

Isn't it a reminder that there's happiness in making pancakes at home, even without fancy dining out or splendid trips?

Seeing the pancakes stack neatly on the plate fills me with pride. I pick up a freshly made pancake and tear off the crispy edge to eat.

In that moment, as the crunchiness and moistness blend in my mouth, I think, 'Ah... this is happiness.'

The autumn sunlight streaming through the window lightly shines on the pancakes, and the house is filled with the smell of oil and laughter.

In the evening, the family gathers around to eat the freshly made pancakes.

"It's definitely mom's special touch."

When I hear such words, the smell of frying that clings to my apron feels like no bother at all.

In the end, food fills not just the stomach but also the heart. The time spent making pancakes is a warm bridge connecting my past and present.

The kitchen scenes from my childhood come alive in my kitchen now, and the simple joys make today shine even brighter.

Life, like pancakes, becomes delicious when the outside is crispy and the inside is moist in harmony.

Whether I have money or not, I believe happiness can be found in a single sizzling pancake in the kitchen.