Pancakes are an old recipe that was created in Rome. A pancake recipe from Rome called for a pancake like flat bread called 1/5 RoeAlita Dolcia 1/5 R? was made of flour, eggs, and milk and had spices added. Sometimes they were topped with fruit and honey and at other times they were topped with meats and cheese for a savory dish. Pancakes like we have today were first invented in Europe during the medieval era. Recipes for pancakes where first published in an old English cookery book around 1430.
A special breakfast today consists of pancakes and they are so popular they have a day dedicated to them that takes place before Lent and the Easter tide season starts. Shrove Tuesday is the traditional day to eat as many pancakes as you can since the next day starts the season of Lent and you have to give up sweet things, like pancakes as a sacrifice before Easter.
There are pancake recipes from Germany where they use potatoes and the Jews have the potato latke, a form of potato pancake. In France a pancake might be thin and filled with fruits and called crepes. Indonesia has a version called dadar gutung, the poori comes from India and the bao bing comes from China. The Dutch make panekoeken or buckwheat pancakes to serve their families. There are also puff pancakes that rise high and are served with fruits and covered with confectioner’s sugar.
Americans are quite fond of pancakes and they are usually found on every breakfast menu. The following is an old recipe that does not fade with age. It is light and sweet and once you pour the syrup on it can’t be beat for lunch or breakfast. You can even serve this old fashion variety with sausage for dinner and make your family happy. In a large bowl sift 1 and one half cup of flour, 3 and one half teaspoons of baking powder, half a teaspoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar. Mix well and pull the ingredients away from the center leaving a hole in the middle of the bottom of the bowl. Into this hole you will place 1 and one fourth cup of milk and one egg. In a pan melt 3 tablespoons butter and add it to the liquid ingredients. Take a fork and beat the eggs into the milk and butter then start to pull in a little of the flour mixture and keep going until all of it is incorporated into a batter.
Place a frying pan or griddle on the stove over medium high heat and spread a little vegetable oil on top. With a ladle scoop some batter out of the bowl and place it on the griddle. When you notice little bubbles all around the edge of the pancake it is time to turn it over to cook on the other side. When the bubbles form again you can take it out and place it on a plate buttering the top. Syrup can be served over top.
You can alter this recipe a bit to give it a little more flavor. To make a buttermilk pancake use the same amount of buttermilk as you did regular milk. Grate the rind of a whole orange and add it to the recipe and instead of milk use orange juice for an orange flavored pancake. Add one teaspoon almond flavoring to make an almond pancake. Take three fourths cup of washed whole blueberries and add to the batter for blueberry pancakes. If you would rather have strawberry pancakes you can slice three fourths of a cup of strawberries and add them instead. If you really want something sweet and fun add one half of a cup of chocolate chips at the end when everything is mixed up. Serve chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream instead of syrup.
It is possible to make chocolate pancakes and they may not go over well for breakfast. They will, however be a hit for dessert. To make them you will need two cups flour, three teaspoons of baking powder, and one fourth of a teaspoon of salt in a bowl. Mix them well and then add three fourths of a cup of granulated sugar. Continue by adding a cup of milk and four teaspoons butter. Mix this up very well then add two large eggs and beat well. Now is where the chocolate comes in. Mix in 6 teaspoons powdered cocoa.
Put a skillet on the stove and get it hot then add the oil. Ladle some of the batter onto the oiled skillet and once bubbles start to gather around the edges of the pancake turn it over. Once the bubbles start to appear again you can place the pancake on a plate and put a little butter on the top. When you are ready to serve just put a few spoonfuls of whipped cream on top and for extra punch sprinkle semi sweet chocolate chips over the whole thing and allow them melt.
Serve pancakes for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Your family’s eyes will light up and you will not have to beg them to eat. The Old fashion pancake recipe can be altered to make different flavors or the chocolate ones can be served up for a real treat.
If you want to learn how to cook pancakes check out Andrews pancake recipe website where you will recipes like whole wheat flour pancake recipe and many others.

