Food ‘n Drink

Okay I know, it’s Shrove Tuesday, but to me it’s just simply Pancake day. Gotta say I love Pancakes. The Pancake mix is so general as it allows you to make Yorkshire puddings, ‘Toad in the Hole’ (that’s Sausages cooked in the batter mix for any non UK readers!) and of course pancakes.

When I was younger, when my Dad made yorkshire puddings for sunday dinner he’s always make a bit of the extra batter mix and make us a pancake each afterwards. I was amazed at how the two tasted so different. Of course now when I make yorkshire puddings I don’t have any mix left (and if I did I’d be ordered to make more yorkshires!).

Pancakes are great as they’re made with the most basic of ingredients. Flour, Egg and Milk. Besides your toppings, there’s nothing obscure about what you need and 9/10 times you’ve got the 3 ingredients in your cupboards. There’s been plenty of times when I’ve fancied a good snack and pancakes have been made.

Of course the toppings are important. Today I didn’t have any lemon juice as I forgot to buy a lemon on the weekend (and I even stood and stared at them on Saturday!), and I really noticed it missing Syrup, icing sugar and icecream are all good toppings too, but syrup or sugar with lemon is the best in my opinion. Icecream is hard to eat with a fork and it makes the pancake go cold. However icecream and hot cherries in a pancake is definitely a nice dessert!

I’ve been to a couple of dutch pancake houses in my time (why don’t we have british pancake houses?). One out in the Netherlands and one in Manchester. These places were the first time I’d seen savoury pancakes, almost like a pizza! So anyone who says pancakes are too sweet, clearly haven’t thought about their toppings

Anyhow, the recipe? Very simple:
300ml / 0.5 pint of milk
1 egg
Plain flour (self raising can be used for pancakes but not for yorkshires)

Simply put the milk and egg in a large jug and then mix in flour until it’s the right consistency – thick but running, like a thick double cream. To make your pancakes simply heat a small pan (I go for small pancakes, easier to flip!), add enough oil to grease your pan (too much and the batter will bubble on hitting the pan). Keep the pan on a medium heat and add some batter mix, the amount depends on how thick you want your pancakes – the first usually is too thick! Cook it for about 1-2 minutes on one side, then turn or flip it over and cook it for a further 1-2 minutes on the other side. I tend to keep an oven on low (100 degrees C) to put the pancakes in to keep warm whilst I cook the rest.

The mix above will create between 6 and 8 medium pancakes.

Enjoy

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