Gift Guide: Batter Up

I make a lot of pancakes.  So this batter bowl is extremely useful; I can mix the batter right in the bowl, and simply pour out the pancakes, one by one. I've got a lot Amarita's beautiful blue bowls, and everyone always gasps when they come out.  But this particular one is a favorite. After all, who doesn't love a bowl with a spout? And here, should you want it, some advice on the art of the pancake.

1. The first rule of pancakes: Don’t use a mix. Let me repeat that: Don’t use a mix. It saves no time, it tastes no good - and it costs more money.

2. Don’t even think about using inferior maple syrup. A good pancake deserves the very best.

3. Don’t skimp. I know my recipe has a lot of butter, but where pancakes are concerned, more is always more.

4. You can always put anything you want into your pancakes. Blueberries, chocolate chips, pumpkin puree... use your imagination. But when pancakes are this good, you probably won’t want to.

Here’s my basic recipe.  I’ve made this so often that I can pull it together in under a minute. After you’ve done it a few times you’ll be able to do that too. This is not diet food, but I promise that these pancakes will make your family very, very happy. 

Recipe

1 stick butter

1 cup milk

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup flour

4 teaspoons baking powder

4 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1.Melt a stick of butter in a heavy skillet.  Whisk together a cup of milk, 2 large eggs and a tablespoon of vegetable oil, then add the butter. Put the buttery skillet back on the burner, ready for the pancakes.

2. Whisk the flour with the baking powder, sugar and salt.  Whisk the mix mixture in until its combined.  Add a bit more milk if you think it’s too thick.

3. Pour some batter into the skillet. The size is up to you; sometimes I make them tiny for children, sometimes I make them ludicrously large. Watch as the bubbles appear in the batter, grow larger, and then pop and vanish.  When they’ve all popped, carefully flip the pancake and cook the other side. 

4. Rush the pancakes to the table as each one is finished. You want them hot, sweet, salty and a little bit crisp. You want the memory to linger with your family as they move through their day.

(The batter will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days; you will probably have to thin it out with a bit more milk before using.)