Pancakes are an old recipe that was created in Rome. A pancake recipe from Rome called for a pancake like flat bread called 1/5 RoeAlita Dolcia 1/5 R? was made of flour, eggs, and milk and had spices added. Sometimes they were topped with fruit and honey and at other times they were topped with meats and cheese for a savory dish. Pancakes like we have today were first invented in Europe during the medieval era. Recipes for pancakes where first published in an old English cookery book around 1430.
Pancakes are a popular as a breakfast food today and have a special day all to themselves before the religious season of Lent starts. It is traditional on Shrove Tuesday, also called Fat Tuesday, that one stuffs themselves with as many pancakes as they possibly can because the next day is the first day of Lent, a solemn time when sacrifices are made and gluttony is forbidden.
The German people have a pancake recipe that incorporates potatoes in as do the Jews who make latke from potatoes. Crepes are a type of pancake but are very thin and are usually topped with fruits and rolled over in half. In Indonesia they make dadar gutung, from India comes the poori, and in China families enjoy bao bing. Panekoeken, pancakes made from buckwheat, are made by the Dutch. Recipes for pancakes that puff up very high and are enhanced by fruit and sprinkled with powdered sugar, are plentiful and delicious.
Americans are quite fond of pancakes and they are usually found on every breakfast menu. The following is an old recipe that does not fade with age. It is light and sweet and once you pour the syrup on it can’t be beat for lunch or breakfast. You can even serve this old fashion variety with sausage for dinner and make your family happy. In a large bowl sift 1 and one half cup of flour, 3 and one half teaspoons of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Mix well and pull the ingredients away from the center leaving a hole in the middle of the bottom of the bowl. Into this hole you will place 1 and one fourth cup of milk and one egg. In a pan melt 3 tablespoons butter and add it to the liquid ingredients. Take a fork and beat the eggs into the milk and butter then start to pull in a little of the flour mixture and keep going until all of it is incorporated into a batter.
Place a frying pan or griddle on the stove over medium high heat and spread a little vegetable oil on top. With a ladle scoop some batter out of the bowl and place it on the griddle. When you notice little bubbles all around the edge of the pancake it is time to turn it over to cook on the other side. When the bubbles form again you can take it out and place it on a plate buttering the top. Syrup can be served over top.
You can change the recipe in order to provide your family with a little bit of variety. Buttermilk pancakes can be made by using the recipe above and instead of milk use buttermilk. Orange flavored pancakes can be made by using orange juice instead of milk and adding some orange zest to the batter. Almond flavored pancakes are luscious with a little honey on top and they are easily made by adding 1 teaspoon of almond extract to the batter. Make blueberry pancakes by added three fourths of a cup of blueberries to the batter. Strawberry pancakes are made similarly by adding three fourths a cup of sliced strawberries to the batter. If you love chocolate just add to the batter a half cup chocolate chips. These should be served with whipped cream on top.
If you want to try something different you can make chocolate pancakes. They are unusual and very delicious. They should probably be served as a dessert instead of at breakfast. In a bowl combine two cups of flour, three teaspoons baking powder, and one fourth teaspoon salt. Mix these items together and add three fourths cup of white sugar and mix in. Add one cup of milk and four teaspoons of butter. Mix in well and then add two eggs and mix well. Finally add six teaspoons of powdered cocoa and mix well.
Using a ladle put batter on hot skillet with a little vegetable oil. When bubbles form around the edges flip it over and remove when the bubbles start to appear again. Spread with a little butter and place several dollops of whipped cream over top to eat. You can also sprinkle some chocolate chips on top and let them melt a little.
Pancakes are a favorite especial for children. Your family will be excited and actually eat breakfast when you serve pancakes. Use the two recipes above and make them different every time you serve them, even at dessert.
If you want to learn how to cook pancakes check out Andrews pancake recipes website where you will recipes like blueberry pancake recipe and many others.
