Make: Pancakes (with your kids)

Well dear friends the irony of writing a blog promoting life balance is that at times one needs to practice what they preach. But, it is with joy that I return after a longer than anticipated hiatus from GT&T and I’m going to stay really calm about the fact that it was actually Pancake Day yesterday….

Investing time hauling out ingredients, measuring cups and spoons before breakfast has generally seemed like too much work in the morning and definitely not to be contemplated on a school day.

However my lovely sister-in-law-once-removed passed on a game changer pancake recipe a few years ago and since then I’ve never looked back.

The recipe in question came from the delightful Nigella Lawson and simply shifts the bulk of the effort to another time with the preparation of the dry mix in advance. So, come the chosen morning all that’s needed is pancake mix, milk, an egg, and a little butter if we can be bothered melting it, and voila – pancakes ready to go.

Miss 11 has become an expert flipper and has more recently taken over the whole task of pancake preparation. Somewhat of a milestone for our family as it’s quite a task to elbow me out from in front of the cooker. And Master 8, ever the mathematician does a dam good job in preparing the bulk mix whenever we run out. He is also the scribe for the much used recipe post-it-note that lives in our jar.

I’m all for recipes that foster kitchen independence in kids. My own first independent ‘dish’ was spaghetti bolognaise (made with beef mince and tomato soup – seventies style). What was your signature starter dish, or that of your kids? And if they’re not there yet perhaps this recipe might help mark a milestone for your family too…

Cooking up a pancake storm

Instant pancake mix

Recipe from Nigella Lawson

600g (4 cups) plain flour
3tbsp baking powder
2tsp bicarb of soda
1 tsp salt
40g castor sugar

Measure all ingredients into a large bowl and using a whisk combine the ingredients together.
Transfer to an air-tight jar or container.

Bespoke recipe card by Master 8

Pancake batter

Makes 6 pancakes 15cm in diameter

1 cup dry pancake mix (see above)
1 egg
250ml (1 cup) milk
1 tbsp butter melted
1 grated apple, skin on (optional)*

Preheat a low oven (100C)
Whisk all ingredients in a large jug or bowl with spout
Pour desired amount of mix into a hot greased pan and when bubbles appear on the surface of the pancake, flip it over. Cook till golden.
Keep warm on a plate in the oven.

*grated apple in pancakes is something my mum always did. A whole apple, skin and all disappears into a cooked pancake never to be seen again but can only ever add to the goodness value of a pancake.