Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Best breakfast pancakes

Every morning, except when we're on holiday, Bonzo has a large bowl with 4 types of cereal - weetabix on top, cornflakes and one other flaky type thing int he middle and something a bit more substantial on the bottom, full cream Guernsey milk and a very large mug of sweet black freshly brewed coffee.  The Wrigglebottom and I like to mix it up a bit more.  One of our favourites is breakfast pancakes, originally Nigella's recipe (How to be a Domestic Goddess, p77, http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/american-breakfast-pancakes-141) but now much adapted as I think are all recipes that you do often.  We like them with real maple syrup or blueberries poached in a little water and sugar.

1) Melt 30g of butter in a small pan on a low heat;
2)  Measure out 225g plain flour and add 1 dessertspoon of baking powder (Nigella's tablespoon is way too much), a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of sugar.  If you leave the pan on the scales you save washing up another bowl;
3)  In a wide necked measuring jug, break 2 large eggs & beat a little;
4)  Add 300ml of milk (any kind) to the eggs;
5)  By this time your butter should be melted so take it off the heat and let it rest for about a minute;
6)  Pour the butter into the eggs & milk and mix;
7)  Add the flour mixture and mix until most of the lumps have disappeared.  Leave it to stand for about 5 mins whilst you make the rest of the breakfast;
8)  Heat a heavy based non-stick pan over a high heat with no butter or oil.  The melted butter in the mix will provide all the lubrication that you need and means you don't end up with greasy pancakes;
9)  Using a tablespoon, spoon the mixture in dollops into the pan.  I usually do 3 at a time as this gives room for manoeuvre.
10)  When bubbles start appearing on the upper side, flip them over.  This should take about a minute but keep an eye on them and turn down the heat if they're cooking really quickly.
11) Leave for about another 30 seconds and remove to a warm plate. Cover with a clean tea towel to keep warm.
12)  Continue until you have as many as you think you'll need.  The mixture makes about 20 pancakes but if you don't need that many either halve the ingredients or leave the rest in the fridge for the following day (which is what I did yesterday).
13)  If you're using the mixture the next day you may need to add a little milk to loosen it.

A real breakfast treat and less than 15 mins between bed and breakfast!

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