Two Recipes for Pancake Day

Throughout high school, I had a friend who wasn't particularly religious except when it came to Lent. During this period, I would hear nothing but how lucky the rest of us were to have access to any food we want to eat and how utterly deprived she would be for the next 40 days.

While I wasn't envious of her position, the idea of Shrove Tuesday was quite appealing. Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent, where those participating indulge in the food they will be sacrificing during the fast. Pancakes are traditionally eaten as a way to use up rich expensive foods such as eggs, milk and sugar that would have to be given up. 

This year, Pancake Day takes place on February 17th so I have two recipes for you to try out - one is a subtle Chai Tea Pancake and the other is a very easy and gluten free Banana Pancake.

Chai Tea Pancakes

The Chai Tea Pancake provides a subtle spice to the usual pancake recipe -it's my favourite tea in pancake form! You can use a store bought chai tea, syrup or even make your own with this recipe. 

Banana and Eggs

If you're short of time, the Two Ingredient Banana Pancake may suit you better. The only ingredients required are eggs and bananas. I like to fry these pancakes in salted butter as it contrasts with the sweetness from the banana. The eggs bind everything together so no flour is required -perfect for those who are gluten intolerant. I also find that the sweetness of the banana is enough so that sweet toppings are not required.

Two Ingredient Banana Pancake

Luckily, we are not limited to one day a year for eating pancakes. They can be had every single day -even for dinner if you are that way inclined! Pancakes are a treat in my house because it's Jason's job to fry them so I feel super spoilt!

Two Pancake Recipes

Chai Tea Pancakes (Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 cup strong chai tea, freshly brewed (use a store bought mix or make your own)
1 cup plain flour

1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla essence

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

Method:

1. Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a bowl
2. Add egg, mixing to combine
3. Add milk and gradually stir in the chai tea, mixing until you get a smooth batter. Chill for 1 hour
4. Add a enough chai tea to bring the batter up to a pour-able consistency.
5. Add a little butter to a heated pan and pour in just enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan
6. When bubbles start to form on the surface, flip the pancake and cook on the other side
7. Repeat with the rest of the batter. Stack the pancakes as you cook and enjoy with a topping of honey

Two Ingredient Banana Pancakes (Serves 2)

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana
2 eggs

salted butter for frying

Method:

1. Break up the banana and add the eggs to a bowl
2. Mash the two ingredients together with a potato masher or a fork to remove all the lumps
3. Add a little butter to a heated pan and pour in just enough batter to cover the bottom of the pan
4. When bubbles start to form on the surface, flip the pancake and cook on the other side
5. Repeat with the rest of the batter and serve when done

Breakfast at Jason's

I am not one for breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I love sitting down to a nice omelette or a yummy stack of pancakes with a massive helping of bacon. It's just that I need my sleep and often sacrifice nourishment for an extra half an hour of sleep. No, I don't want cereal. I don't like it. It's gross. Call me picky.

Buttermilk pancakes with a banana smoothie

Jason, however, is the opposite. The boy needs breakfast to function. And he likes Weetbix! For those of you who don't know, Weetbix is the name of New Zealand's number 1 breakfast cereal ("Kiwi Kids are Weetbix Kids" anyone?). 

These high-fibre breakfast biscuits were once the bane of my life. 

I have yet to find a cereal that I like.

In a time when my mother was in charge of my meals and I, the helpless primary school child, was unable to make my own food I was forced to eat one Weetbix biscuit drowned in a glass of hot milk every morning before school. Whenever "how many can you do" commercials came on, I would stare at the screen in pure hatred and answer "Just one. You can do 9? Do you hate yourself?" I am NOT a Weetbix kid. I wish I could do this to them.

Ingredients: Cultured buttermilk, salt, baking powder, eggs and flour

Cooked breakfasts is what I live for and, with our lazy Sundays, we sure have the time to make them -and clean up afterward. Pancakes are one of the easiest things to make and with my newest discovery, buttermilk, they are now the fluffiest breakfast foods to have. I cannot stress how easy they are -get your kid involved or make a younger sibling your kitchen slave!

Make sure the batter is free of flour lumps.

Another good thing about pancakes is that you can literally find all the necessary ingredients in any normal kitchen so there is no excuse not to have a great breakfast (unless you like your sleep).You can also make this batter in advance and keep it in the fridge for a quick meal -I have been meaning to do this for a while now but I keep forgetting and throwing my empty milk bottles away. Sigh.

Step 4: Wait until the top starts bubbling before you flip your pancake over

This is what it looks like on the other side

What's the perfect accompaniment to a pancake stack? Besides maple syrup or lemon and sugar I mean. Milkshakes, of course!

Milk, vanilla ice cream, bananas, glasses and a food processor

Jason's the expert when it comes to smoothies and milkshakes so I got to stand back and watched the master at work. Apparently I ruin smoothies by adding too much yoghurt. Excuse me for trying to be healthy.

Milkshake step 2: Add a few spoonfuls of your favourite vanilla ice cream and blend

I cannot fathom how easy it was to make this! They tasted exactly like cafe style milkshakes, except without the artificial syrups -I will never understand why they need fake banana flavour. No more will I order milkshakes from my local cafe -I will simply ask, very nicely, for Jason to make them =) In exchange for pancakes, of course. 

It's so fluffy I could die!

 And here is where I go on about how Buttermilk has, and will continue to, change my life for the better. Look how fluffy my pancakes are! I know that it's the baking powder but, deep down, I know that the buttermilk helped to make it extra light. Its flavor is also more complex, revealing a depth beyond just the syrup poured over the top.-I can practically taste the rainbows!

Lotti wanted a piece of the rainbow.. But it's all gone Muahahahaha!

 

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes (2 to 3 servings)

Note: Milkshake will only be part of your meal if you actually make it

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 large eggs 
Buttermilk, enough to make a pourable batter (depends on your tastes)

Method:

1. Combine dry ingredients

2. Crack in eggs and add enough milk to make batter pourable (ours is a little thick -if you like thin pancakes, aim for a runny mixture aka more milk)

3. Mix to blend. Adjust milk and flour ratio if needed

4. Melt butter in pan (be careful not to burn it) and cook until bubbly, a little dry around the edges, and lightly browned on the bottom

5. Flip over until cooked

6. Drizzle with your favourite toppings

Note: You can make normal pancakes by swapping out buttermilk for normal milk, but why would you?

Jason's Banana Milkshake (2 servings)

Delicious

Ingredients:

 2 Bananas

Milk

Vanilla Ice Cream

Method:

1. Puree bananas in a food processor or blender (you might want to chop them up first)

2. Add a few spoonfuls of your favourite vanilla ice cream and blend

3. While mixing, pour in milk until you get the desired consistency

4. Give one glass to your girlfriend

Lotti gets her cafe hit at home

Yup, it's that good