h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's Pancake Tuesday today! Will you all be having pancakes for tea tonight?

Nope.
I'm having Chilli. Atomic Shark style chilli.

I wish I was but i highly doubt it as am in catered accom. in college and pancakes are far to tricky for them

Oh Yes

Better half is at home today, with orders to measure out ingredients - but I don't trust him to go any further.

It's a hassle, but Ok once a year.

Pancakes should be eaten hot HoT HOT! If not straight fromt eh pan, then standing up in the kitchen at least.

MMMmmm

Definitely having pancakes - not making them myself though! Going round to a friend's house for a big pancake party!

That involves some form of cooking I think?
In that case, no.

for sure

hmm simul-posts pancakes should been eaten as soon as cooked preferably with sugar and lemon but possible sometimes with savoury fillings used to be are really nice crepery in york but it closed

I fear we may indeed be having pancakes for tea tonight . - They'll be insipid, flavourless and barely above cool in temperature. Yup this is pancakes a lá University Catering..

I wouldn't mind some pancakes tonight, but have no idea how to make batter.
Can anyone enlighten me on this most basic of culinary delights?
*astonishes himself on articulate nature of previous sentence*

egg, flour, milk, whisk,

not to sute about the quantities, but you only need one whisk


you can make it as thick as you like, but dont try to turn the pancake over until the goo on the top is cooked cos it will go everywhere

FABT

The first pancake is usually a disaster, as the pan has not been coated properly so the batter will not flow. After that you should be ok. Don't try and toss them unless you've made pancakes before. Use a plastic implement to turn them.

Sprinkle with lemon juice and about one tablespoon of sugar per pancake. Roll up and consume.

ooooooor....
a bit of ice cream and a lump of chocolate is great

i like golden syrup and lemon

or duck and plum sauce

my mum likes maple syrup

my dad likes hot dherry piefilling and vanilla icecream.

my friend becca likes bovril on hers but we dont talk about that


FABT

Sweet or savory fillings are fine.

Anyone who can't cook pancakes hasn't tried. You must get the fat really hot though.

Although if the fat is smoking, then it probably too hot

If anyone wants pancakes I'll be doing some tonight ... loadsa lemon juice, loadsa sugar ... yummy ...

Forget the lemon & sugar, use the juice of a fresh orange instead.
Delicious!

Marmite?

If you really don't want to take a chance with the ingredients, you can buy batter mix in packets from the supermarket.
I think you just add egg & water like the lemon meringue packs, but I wouldn't know as I've never bought batter mix.

Hmm

*s off to buy a fresh orange or 2 to see what Granny's on about ... and perhaps some chocolate spread ... and some eggs, and milk*

Home made's always nicer although you can go a little OTT ... could still be eating pancakes this time next week!

whats the point of batter mix if yout still have to add things to it?

hold on, i'll see if i can find you a real recipe

FABT

ok


an egg

or two if you are greedy, or three if there is more of you, you get the idea

egg in bowl, shell in bin

add flour. plain is fine. some people put in a little baking powder. self raising is fine. some people also put in a little caster sugar at this stage too. the amount of flour varies dependg on what youwant at the end and how big your egg is. try 4oz flour to one egg. we use some massive spoons in our house, so it's two spoons per egg.

add a little bit of milk

whisk.

then add more milk depending on how runny you want it.

really runny batter might be a disaster to start with. really thick better gives you something like a scotch pancake.
too much egg gives you and odd sort of omlet.

i find it best to put a little bit of oil in the pan bettween each pancake rather that lots in at the beginning.

it there is lots of oils in the pan and thick batter you end up deep frying the edges and they go all bubbly, this might be your desired result.


dont put cold water anywhere near a hot pan. it's not pretty
FABT