pancakes

ML was out of town this evening, so I scored major points with the boys by serving flapjacks for supper. ("Breakfast foods" in the evening are a hard sell with her, although we now agree that omlettes are good anytime.) Pancake mix is evil; commit this recipe to memory:

• 1 cup flour
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla if you've got it
• 1 tbsp melted butter

(Note the 1 cup—1 cup—1 egg symmetry.) Mix the dry. Add the wet and mix just until combined (the batter will be lumpy). Heat a pan* over medium heat until a drop of water beads and skates around a bit (maybe wipe the pan with some oil or bacon fat first). Spoon batter into pan and cook until bubbles form on top. Flip and finishing cooking: it springs back when poked and feels like an earlobe. This makes just enough for our two adults and two young kids. If you're having trouble memorizing the recipe, try making pancakes every week, sometimes more than once in a given week, for several years. Leaves a lasting impression.

From time to time, I embellish on this recipe. Tonight I added a couple tablespoons of wheat germ—good for the body—and a quarter cup of chocolate chips—good for the soul. Chopped dried fruit, frozen wild blueberries, chunks of apple and cinnamon, ground hazelnuts, you name it. Be a hero.

I once had sourdough pancakes and I like the idea of perpetuating that starter, but for now I just love the chemical levener. I also love buckwheat pancakes with molasses, but it would be a complete waste of time making them for this gang without a backup meal at the ready. The best thing would be to attend the "Festival de la Galette de Sarrasin" (Buckwheat pancake festival) held in Louiseville (a short drive from TR) every October and hope the group will suddenly discover the charms of buckwheat. Did you know that buckwheat was a grass, not a grain. Oh tay!

*I use a 12" (30cm) Farberware Millenium nonstick. Great heavy pan with a riveted, metal handle that cools quickly. If you're ordering one, also pick up a lid that fits (I've been using an inverted metal prep bowl).