PERFECT PANCAKES
For all us singletons out there, there is one important day in February… Pancake Day! Yes, it’s been a year already and households up and down the country will be raiding the larder next Tuesday for those 3 magical ingredients.
My childhood is littered with instances of horrific pancake mixes (Thanks Mum), and to help 21/02/12 go down without a hitch, we have created the perfect pancake recipe:
Ingredients
200g Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
2 eggs
200ml Milk
Butter
Method
- Sift the flour into a large mixing bowl and add the pinch of salt
- Add the 2 eggs to the mixture and begin to whisk slowly
- Gradually add milk and begin to whisk increasingly rapidly
- Whisk until batter has a smooth consistency, similar to evaporated milk
- Add 2 tablespoons of melted butter to mixture and leave mixture to stand for at least 20 minutes
- Heat a frying pan and add a spoon of butter to grease the pan
- When the pan is extremely hot, add batter and attempt to coat the entire surface of the pan with a thin layer of batter mix
- After 45-60 seconds, the pancake should be ready to flip to cook the other side. Use a spatula to gently lift the edges or if you are feeling brave, begin to shake the pan until the pancake becomes loose, and flip over
- After a further 30-45 seconds of cooking, the pancake will be ready to serve
To Serve
The beauty of pancakes is that they can be served with most sweet sides, including honey, fruits, sugar, and chocolate. My personal favourite is strawberries and cream, dusted in chocolate (pictured).
Best for European style Crepe Pancakes
Although you can make pancakes with any non stick frying pan, I find that using a crepe pan adds a certain finesse to the task. Tefal’s Crepe Pan is a great, lightweight pan, with the added bonus of Thermo Spot technology, so you know exactly when the pan is hot enough. Crepe cuisine made simple!
RRP £29.90, available from www.tefal.co.uk
Best for American Fluffy Pancakes
Not your traditional Shrove Tuesday snack, but fluffy pancakes are fast becoming a favourite on this side of the pond. I found that a ceramic coated aluminium pan works a treat, and there are few better than the offering from AGA Cookshop. It looks fabulous, easy to clean, and most importantly, I found that I didn’t need to use as much butter as other pans- would be a great addition to any kitchen.
RRP £69.99, available from www.agacookshop.co.uk
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