Waffles and Pancakes! Oh, My!

Please, Please, Please, Never Buy Premade Pancake or Waffle Mix Again…

And no they really can’t be the same thing. Time after time I have seen pancake and waffle mix for sale at various places and the only conclusion that I can come as to why anyone buys them is, that people really don’t realize that the ingredients for both are probably things that they have in their own pantries, and how very simple it is to make and store them. Needless to stay I was blissfully unaware of the prepackaged notion of pancake and waffle mixes until middle school, since I had never seen one at home, now I’m in my twenties. If you grew up in a house hold with premade mixes then now is your chance to branch out and experiment with a twist on some old favorites! My favorite pancake mix came from my mom who found it in one of her cook books (long before me!) when she once took the time to inspect the ingredients on the box of mix that she had grown up with, and discovered not only the money she could save since she already had all of the ingredients, but behold the fresh and amazing taste of “from scratch” baked goods that are the essence of homemade pancakes and waffles………and NO, I reiterate they can not be from the same batter.

Compare the following:

My Favorite Pancakes,

1 ¼ cup sifted all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

1 Tbsp sugar

½ tsp salt

1 egg (beaten)

1 cup milk

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Sift together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt) in a mixing bowl. In another bowl combine the wet ingredients (egg, milk, and oil); then add them to the dry ingredients, stirring until the batter is combined (the batter will be lumpy). Bake on a hot griddle or in a hot fry pan. Recipe makes about 8 4-inch pancakes. Try with blueberries and other fresh fruits!

My Favorite Waffles,

1 ¾ cups sifted all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2 beaten egg yolks

1 ¼ cups milk

½ cup vegetable oil

2 stiff-beaten egg whites

Sift together the dry ingredients. Combine the wet ingredients (egg, yolks, and milk) and stir into the dry ingredients. Stir in the oil. Fold in the egg whites, being careful not to over mix, by leaving a few fluffs. Throw desired amount into a preheated waffle maker. Makes approximately 8 waffles.

No cheating you precooked frozen waffle buyers!!!! These waffles once cooled can be placed in a freezer approved bag thrown in the icebox. Once you are ready to serve pop in the toaster and enjoy something more amazing than a preprocessed block.

That’s all there is to it!

Some tips to make your pancakes and waffles a decadent experience:

1. Splurge on real maple syrup (a little goes a long way), and you will never go back to corn syrup imitation and not to mention now it is widely available, most grocery stores carry it.
2. Add some fresh fruit. Depending on the season when strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and bananas are in season throw them in the batter or on top of your baked goods with syrup or powdered sugar.
3. Need a break from maple syrup, add a really good homemade or farmer’s market preserve, you will be glad you tried it!

F. Beastie