Passport & Plate - Grandma's Pancakes
Australia | Wednesday, March 4, 2015 | 5 photos
Ingredients
Ingredients:
2 cups Self-raising flour - sifted
4 eggs,
1 and ½ cups of milk,
¼ teaspoon salt,
1 tbsp. melted butter,
2 tbsp. of sugar,
¼ tsp vanilla essence,
tsp of lemon
½ tsp of bi-carb
How to prepare this recipeGrandma’s Pancakes
In the original recipe the ingredients had no measurements and if you happened to leave one out (apart from the flour, eggs & milk) the pancakes would still turn out fine. Use 2 eggs or four. The flour and milk can also vary. It is more important to get the consistency right. The batter is ready to pour into a hot buttery pan when it is covered with bubbles. After making this a few times you will come to "know" the taste of when it is right. Bubbles will also pop up when the pancake is ready to flip.
Method:
Beat eggs until pale yellow, thick and frothy. Add sugar and beat until mixed. Alternately mix in dry ingredients and milk. Add lemon, vanilla and butter. Beat until bubbles form on surface of mixture, this indicates that the batter is ready.
Heat butter on a medium heat, in a heavy bottomed pan, until it starts to brown. Pour in batter to desired size. Cook pancake until it bubbles on the surface (these bubbles tell you that the pancake is ready to flip). Cook other side of pancake.
Top with lemon and sugar; maple or golden syrup; fresh fruit and cream, or any other pancake topping that appeals to you.
The story behind this recipeThe story
Like the old woman who lived in the shoe, I too have been surrounded by hungry children. In the nursery rhyme she didn’t know what to do, so she whipped them (soundly) and put them to bed after giving them broth (with no bread!)
Well at least she gave them some broth. Although I don't live in a shoe, I practically live in a shoebox. I don't have loads of kids, I have one (Rex), but I often do have a horde of hungry children to feed and when I do, I know exactly what to do. I take inspiration from the grandmas.
Some of my fondest childhood memories are of trips to stay with my grandparents in the sea-side town of Victor Harbour. My brave grandparents would have all six grandchildren to stay for the holidays; picking us up in their lemon coloured campervan for a jolly road-trip to Victor.
I remember crowding around my grandmother's kitchen counter, waiting my turn for a pancake. My grandmother (who is now 97 and an inspiration) seemed to make an endless supply of pancakes for my three cousins, my two sisters and I. Benny and Mandy, the two eldest, could eat about ten each and Nana would say they had "hollow legs". Once they had a pancake eating competition; Benny threw up afterwards.
I got this recipe for pancakes from my friend Philippa's grandmother, Madge Jolliffe at another seaside home in Grange. About 27 years ago, she made these amazing pancakes and I insisted on learning the recipe. She was happy to teach me (a child) and I have been making them ever since. Every pancake I make brings fond memories, taking me back to those care-free childhood days.
These are the best pancakes I have ever had and I find they are perfect for filling up hungry children. It's probably better to whip the pancakes than the children but once full of pancake they can go off to bed satisfied.
