Getting Ready For Pancake Day

As far as I'm concerned, Pancake day is one of the best days of the year.
When I was little my mother would read us a story about a little boy who ate 169 pancakes & I've spent every year since then trying to break his record.
I have a good feeling about this year.
But what always amazes me is how few people actually know how to make pancakes.
They are beyond easy & if you make them once, you'll be able to whip them up any time.
So, here's the only recipe you'll ever need. Practice them this weekend & prepare to shine come Tuesday!

To make about 10 pancakes, you'll need:

110g (4oz) plain flour
2 eggs
200ml (7fl oz) milk
75ml (3fl oz) water
Pinch of salt
Butter (for cooking)

Start by sifting your flour into a mixing bowl. Don't be tempted to skip this step, it's going to make sure your pancakes are light, fluffy & lump free. Add a pinch of salt.
Make a little well in the middle & crack your eggs into it.
Whisk together.
Mix your milk & water together and slowly add to your flour, while whisking.
Keep stirring until you're left with a smooth, thin batter. It should be the consistency of slightly thick milk.
When you're ready, heat a frying pan & add a blob of butter.
Swish it around your pan & when it's bubbling, add a ladle of your batter.
Cook for about a minute until you start seeing little air pockets rise & the edges start to brown a little.
Flip it over (as extravagantly as you like!) and cook for the same amount of time.
When it's done, slide it onto your plate & voila!
The perfect pancake.

Personally I like mine served the traditional way; with butter, sugar & lemon.
Of course, you could always be French about it and have chocolate & banana crepes...

Follow the same recipe, but fill your pancake with Nutella (or my homemade version) & chopped banana.
For adults, serve with a mimosa.
For kids, a tall frosty glass of milk.

Now as you know, I spend quite a lot of time in New York.
What's my favourite thing about NYC?
Breakfast!
American pancakes are just un-real. They're like a hybrid of breakfast & desert. All fluffy & thick, salty & sweet, they're just... dreamy.
I always have mine with a side of streaky bacon, but sadly that's not really an option here in London.
So, I've made my own little slice of American decadence, right here in the UK.
Bacon Cakes!

Bacon cooked right into the middle of fluffy american pancakes.
Served with maple syrup & fresh berries.
Sinful or what?!
Find the recipe here & thank me later.

If you want to make your batter in advance, try this awesome tip from Lifehacker & store your mix in an old ketchup bottle.
Use as needed.

Up cycling at its finest!
So what do you think?
Are you going to go Brit, French or American this year?


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