Three Easy Steps to Perfect Pancakes (How not to treat pancakes like grilled cheese sandwiches) | Do Try This at Home: Three Easy Steps to Perfect Pancakes (How not to treat pancakes like grilled cheese sandwiches)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Three Easy Steps to Perfect Pancakes (How not to treat pancakes like grilled cheese sandwiches)

Last time I had a guest over for brunch, I got the strangest “compliment”.

“These pancakes don’t even taste homemade!"

I could tell she didn’t mean it as an insult, and yet I had absolutely no idea what she meant.

I did my emergency-smile-and-nod, but she apparently expected a response, because she repeated the “compliment” a couple more times.

I’ve been told that I let my emotions show all over my face.

I apparently was looking confused enough by this time for her to add, “You know, usually when someone makes homemade pancakes, they don’t usually taste good.”

Do Try This at Home: Three Easy Steps to Perfect PancakesAnother blank look from me.

“You know, when someone makes pancakes homemade, there’s usually something wrong with them. Like there’s a baking soda taste or lumps or something. There’s always something wrong.”

I’ve also been told I’m a food snob.  And apparently that person (my partner in crime) was right on the money, because I tend to think there’s something wrong with pancakes that are NOT homemade. Unless you’re camping, in which case even box mix is an absolute luxury. But for normal breakfast, why eat something tough and chewy when you could dirty the same number of dishes and eat actual food?


Do Try This at Home: Pancake Ingredients

Here’s how my mom taught me to make pancakes. You’re welcome.

1)  Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately.  Butter counts as wet.  You melt it first.  Lucky us, because when my mom taught me, people didn’t have microwaves.

2) Stir the dry ingredients into the wet, but only enough to get them wet. Huge, gigantic lumps should no longer be visible, but leave SOME lumps. If there are no lumps, it's over-stirred.

Do Try This at Home: Delicious, delicate pancake batter

3) Only turn the pancake over ONCE when it is on the griddle or pan!  The more they’re handled, the tougher and chewier they get.  For a super delicate and delicious pancake, watch the bubbles that form on top. When they pop and don’t close back up, that’s when they’re ready to turn.

Do Try This at Home: Pancakes almost ready to turn!
It’s okay to pop one of the bubbles if they don’t seem to be popping on their own, and it’s okay to gently lift an edge a tiny, tiny bit to make sure it’s not burning to a crisp.
But NO turning the pancakes over and over! That’s what a grilled cheese sandwich is for!

And now, since you asked, here is my mom’s recipe for pancakes:





7 comments:

Susan said...

Mmmm I love pancakes.... If only I wasn't in the middle of a whole30!

Janet said...

Fabulously detailed recipe! I think you've hit upon some of the many issues with my pancakes! Gonna give your tips a try! :)

Arizaphale said...

Here is my recipe for pancakes.
1) Find a recipe online in a hurry
2) put everything in the Thermomix
3) heat up real butter in the fry pan
4)pretty much everything you do
after that.

:-)

Did I mention I hate cooking?

joy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Kerrie McLoughlin said...

Um, holy dang, you have a lovely blog! I love it! The photos and what you do with them. You are the master and I am learning from you!

Jill said...

Yeah Susan...the low/no carb life stinks sometimes!

Good luck Janet!

THERMOMIX?!?!? Arizaphale!!!!!! What are we going to do with you?!?!?!?

Awwww!!!! Thanks Kerrie!

Unknown said...

How cool to grow up with homemade pancakes! You are super special! lol I say that because I JUST started making my own homemade pancakes a couple of years ago and I can never go back to cakes-in-a-box! They are so wonderful aren't they? Especially when they are crispy on the outer edges. Definitely pinning :)

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