Wednesday, October 26, 2011

best basic pancakes & pancake faq

A recipe for the ‘best pancakes’ is not the easiest thing to find. This isn’t because there aren’t a million recipes out there claiming that coveted title – there really is that many out there. Rather, I think the problem has to do with the fact that people want different things from their favourite pancake recipe.

When I was a kid, pancakes were something between American-style hotcakes and crepes; they were tender but not fluffy, rollupable but not fragile. We had them with lemon juice and sugar. Sometimes at other kids’ houses they were rubbery and bland and spread with jam I didn’t much care for, but lord knows I ate them anyway. I still like pancakes this way – the way my Mother used to make them – sometimes. But somewhere along the line I discovered the joy of thick, fluffy American-style stacked pancakes, and it pretty much changed what I wanted in a pancake forever.


For something made with such a simple batter, you’d think the basic pancake would be easy to whip up and that everyone would have this down pat. But since converting to the pleasures of the stack, I’ve encountered dozens of incarnations – both good and bad, at people’s homes and out at cafes – that would suggest otherwise. I’ve had cake-like versions, so big and puffy you want to crawl into the middle of one and have a nap, and airy versions with a sparse, drier crumb. I’ve had pancakes with apple grated into the batter, resulting in a delicious moist, fritter-like cake and I’ve had others that took the idea of the ‘simple batter’ without a grain of salt, quite literally.

While there’s room for all kinds of pancakes in this world, what I want is a go-to recipe that produces consistently fluffy, tasty pancakes with a moist and toothsome texture. They should be porous enough to soak up whatever you pour over them, but they should also taste good unadorned. They should be made with stuff that is (usually) already in your fridge and, they should be easy enough to whip up on a Sunday morning after a few too many wines the night before.

I tried around six recipes that used different techniques to achieve the fluffy, tender texture I was after. I tried whipping and folding in egg whites, using buttermilk, leaving batters to rest for an hour and overnight – even adding soda water. Of course the America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook had the answer all along – and it was so, so simple: buttermilk + minimal mixing = tender, awesome pancakes. When I say minimal mixing, I mean there’s still lumps and bumps in that batter when you pour it into your greased pan. There’s science here: the less you mix the batter, the less chance the gluten in the flour has to develop that chewiness that is so good in bread, so bad in pancakes. So knead, knead, knead your bread, lovelies – but mix your pancake batter like a kid with no patience. And pour on syrup like there’s no tomorrow.

Best basic pancakes

Recipe from America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, pancake FAQ by me

*This version of recipe is for when you don’t have buttermilk on hand; if you do, simply replace the milk with buttermilk and disregard the lemon juice
Makes around 12 pancakes

2 cups milk
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 cups plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
2 tbsp sugar
½ tsp salt
1 egg
3 tbsp butter, melted
butter, to grease pan

1. To make buttermilk, stir lemon juice into milk and set aside to thicken.

2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.

3. In a smaller bowl, whisk egg with melted butter, then add buttermilk and whish gently until just combined.

4. Make a well in centre of dry ingredients and pour in buttermilk mixture. Whisk very gently until just combined; mixture will be lumpy and uneven.

5. Heat pan to medium hot and add a small knob of butter. Pour 1/3 cup batter into pan. When bubbles appear on the surface of the batter, flip pancake to cook other side. Repeat with remaining batter, greasing pan when necessary.

Pancake FAQ


What should I cook my pancakes in?

The best pan for cooking pancakes is something nice and heavy, like a cast iron skillet. This is because it will distribute and retain heat evenly, cooking your pancakes beautifully every time. I use an enameled cast iron skillet and find it needs very little greasing. Just make sure you heat the pan adequately and test before you start cooking, as they can take a while to get to the right temperature.

Can I add things to this recipe to make other kinds of pancakes?

Why, yes – yes you can. I’ve had great success with this recipe and the following variations: add ricotta, blueberries or both (either in the batter, or sprinkled on once poured into pan); make wholemeal/wholegrain pancakes – simply replace one cup of plain flour with wholemeal; add slices of banana to poured pancake before flipping; add grated cheese to batter for a crispy, crispy surface. This is a very adaptable recipe, so try whatever your heart desires.

What’s the best way to keep the cooked pancakes warm while I finish cooking the rest of the batch?

The America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook has this covered, too. I use their suggestion here, which is to preheat your oven on a low setting and put a wire cooling rack over a baking tray/sheet in it. When each pancake is done, place it on the rack in the oven, trying your best not to overlap with other pancakes. This keeps the little babies warm and stops them from loosing their fluffiness and being flattened under the weight of one another.

How long will the batter keep?

The batter will keep a couple of days in the fridge, should you wish to use any remaining the following morning or for dessert. Pour into a jug and cover before placing in the fridge.

Can I freeze cooked pancakes?

Surprisingly, yes! Ok, so maybe it’s only a surprise for freezer-dummies like me. To do this, let the cooked pancakes cool to room temperature before wrapping well (double-wrap will help prevent freezer burn) in plastic wrap and popping in the freezer. ATK says they’ll keep well for a week here and I can’t say any different, cause all mine got eaten within the week. To reheat, defrost in the fridge overnight then warm in a moderate oven for around 5 minutes.

Where can I read more on pancakes?

Have you gone mental? Ok. Deb at Smitten Kitchen has a great guide to pancakes. I’d go there first.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

a toast to tueday evenings: the cointreau teese


I can’t believe I haven’t blogged more recipes for drinks here. You see, I love a drink. Like, really love. In fact, more than one drink. Multiples, many, lots. Liquor is my drug of choice – and I’m not afraid to admit it. Recently, Santa Claus (knowing this about me) came round with a sack full o’ gifts, including most of a bottle of Cointreau that he said wasn’t to his tastes. Just quietly, I think Old Saint Nick is more of a beer man. So I politely obliged and promised I’d put the triple sec to good use. And boy, did I ever.

Here’s a tip: if you’re looking for interesting but relatively simple recipes for mixed drinks and cocktails that will put a bottle from your cabinet to good use, look up the relevant spirit’s website. There are treasures, my friends… treasures! To wit: see the homepage of the world's most delicious gin.  Or, this gorgeous violet-infused tipple that comes courtesy of Dita Von Teese via the Cointreau website. Is it not the prettiest thing you’ve seen on a Tuesday evening in forever?




Usually I steer clear of drinks in strange colours. The times I haven’t have usually ended in bruised knees and/or a dirty big headache. But French violet syrup and orange liqueur? I had to have this in my mouth asap. Earlier today I happened to be in Carlton to meet a friend for coffee and walked past La Parisienne. Intrigued by the escargot plates in the window, I thought: better take a look, non? But I forgot about those darling plates in the window as soon as I saw the Monin display.

Sure, this syrup looks like it’s had some of those moody mauve blooms dipping their toes playfully in it, but amazingly – gorgeously – it also tastes as if a whole posy has been hanging out in the bottle. It tastes the way violets smell, and that is a beautiful, beautiful thing. Don’t believe me? Come over. Or get a bottle yourself.

The floral promise of this prettiest drink might make you feel unsure. It did me. But imagine that heady bouquet grounded in the strong, warm base of the orange liqueur and juiced up a little with some apple. Then, the whole lot is brought to life with a good squeeze of fresh lemon juice before being all shook up with ice to hold the perfume perfectly still. Put on some Barry Adamson (or whatever sexy, sleazy records your friends have been pumping through your stereo) and take a sip. It’s pretty magic – which is important in a cocktail, I think.

So, what do you think? Flowers in drinks? And, flowers (specifically violets) in what else?

Lexi.x

Cointreau Teese
Recipe from cointreau.com
Makes 1

40ml Cointreau
20ml Apple juice
15ml Monin violet syrup
15ml Fresh lemon juice  

Purple bloom, for garnish


1. Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker over ice. Shake until chilled and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a purple-kinda flower. Drink. 

Saturday, October 1, 2011

out to eat!

We're a third of the way through Spring and it's cold, grey and rainy. I'm reading lots, writing heaps and daydreaming about entertaining outdoors when the weather becomes fine. Too busy for recipe today, but here's some cute and relevant bits from my collection, for your daydreaming pleasure.

Got your outdoor eating kit ready? Betty Crocker's Outdoor Cook Book (1961) will help you out!

Betty does it again. Make-your-own sandwich buffet, summer dresses, hollowed-out watermelon fruit salad bowl, soda pop, G&Ts. Yes, please.

Golden Circle Tropical Recipe Book offers hints for eating outdoors and appropriate barbecuing outfits.


New on the wish list: cotton summer dresses with halter-necks and full skirts, matching espadrilles, pineapple, more vintage picnicware, new picnic rug.



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