The Best Old Fashion Pancake Recipe

By Andrew Cook

The pancakes eaten today come from an ancient pancake recipe used by the Romans. In any Roman home you could find a flat bread made of some flour, milk and eggs with some spices or honey that was called Alita Dolcia. They topped them with fruits but there were also some that were filled with meats and cheese. The pancake that is more similar to the one we have today was first made during the medieval times in Europe. The first printed recipe was found in 1430 in an early cook book in England.

A special breakfast today consists of pancakes and they are so popular they have a day dedicated to them that takes place before Lent and the Easter tide season starts. Shrove Tuesday is the traditional day to eat as many pancakes as you can since the next day starts the season of Lent and you have to give up sweet things, like pancakes as a sacrifice before Easter.

German pancakes are usually made from potatoes as are the latke from Jewish tradition. Crepes are a form of pancake made in France and they are filled with fruits and other luscious things. Dadar gutung is the name of an Indonesian pancake while the poori is one from India and bao bing is a pancake made in China. Panekoeken is a Dutch pancake made from buckwheat. Puff pancakes that are airy and light can be made and topped with fruits then sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Americans are quite fond of pancakes and they are usually found on every breakfast menu. The following is an old recipe that does not fade with age. It is light and sweet and once you pour the syrup on it can't be beat for lunch or breakfast. You can even serve this old fashion variety with sausage for dinner and make your family happy. In a large bowl sift 1 and one half cup of flour, 3 and one half teaspoons of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Mix well and pull the ingredients away from the center leaving a hole in the middle of the bottom of the bowl. Into this hole you will place 1 and one fourth cup of milk and one egg. In a pan melt 3 tablespoons butter and add it to the liquid ingredients. Take a fork and beat the eggs into the milk and butter then start to pull in a little of the flour mixture and keep going until all of it is incorporated into a batter.

Heat a griddle or frying pan and place a small amount of vegetable oil on it. Scoop out some of the pancake batter with a ladle and place it on the griddle. Brown on one side and when you see bubbles start to gather all around the edge of the pancake flip it over with a pancake turner or spatula and let it brown on the other side. When you see bubbles forming around the edges again the pancake is done and can be removed from the pan and buttered. Serve with syrup.

You can alter this recipe a bit to give it a little more flavor. To make a buttermilk pancake use the same amount of buttermilk as you did regular milk. Grate the rind of a whole orange and add it to the recipe and instead of milk use orange juice for an orange flavored pancake. Add one teaspoon almond flavoring to make an almond pancake. Take three fourths cup of washed whole blueberries and add to the batter for blueberry pancakes. If you would rather have strawberry pancakes you can slice three fourths of a cup of strawberries and add them instead. If you really want something sweet and fun add one half of a cup of chocolate chips at the end when everything is mixed up. Serve chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream instead of syrup.

If you want to try something different you can make chocolate pancakes. They are unusual and very delicious. They should probably be served as a dessert instead of at breakfast. In a bowl combine two cups of flour, three teaspoons baking powder, and one fourth teaspoon salt. Mix these items together and add three fourths cup of white sugar and mix in. Add one cup of milk and four teaspoons of butter. Mix in well and then add two eggs and mix well. Finally add six teaspoons of powdered cocoa and mix well.

Using a ladle put batter on hot skillet with a little vegetable oil. When bubbles form around the edges flip it over and remove when the bubbles start to appear again. Spread with a little butter and place several dollops of whipped cream over top to eat. You can also sprinkle some chocolate chips on top and let them melt a little.

Serve pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Your family's eyes will light up and you will not have to beg them to eat. The Old fashion pancake recipe can be altered to make different flavors or the chocolate ones can be served up for a real treat. - 30241

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