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2.04.2012

Surprise Pancakes


  There are five things that help after a bad or stressful dream:

1. Wake up, and get up.  Do not lie still and think about it.

2. Take a looong and warm shower, pretend your scrubbing all the icky dream residue off of you.

3. Whip up a batch of bake-able breakfast food, like these pancakes.


4. Wash your sheets while the said food bakes.  There's nothing so comforting as the prospect of sleeping in clean sheets, you'll have better, nice-smelling dreams.

5. Grab a book and eat.  The food, not the book.  That's a different sort of devouring.


   I love mornings alone.  If it's at all possible for light to be quiet, then morning light is.  Trying to pick out the tune birds are singing on the piano, walking around whistling and singing as loud as you darned well want, crying unashamed over books, laughing out loud on the computer, dancing around if you please, I love it.  It's fresh, it's new, and it's all yours for a few blissful hours.


  This recipe was perfect for the said lonely morning, it comes from my grandmother I believe.  They're called Surprise Pancakes, but we dubbed them Puffy Pancakes at our house.  A bit more literal, and it kind of takes the surprise out of it, but it works.   I love them because the recipe uses only four basic ingredients, and from there you can throw in whatever spices/flavorings you want.  And did I mention only one bowl and a whisk?  Prep time is so minimal that your batter is whipped up before your oven has preheated, so definitely get that going right away.


  It will look crazy poofy, insane, and slightly underbaked when you first pull it out of the oven; but that's totally normal.  It will deflate a bit as it rests, and look more baked.  They're wonderfully warm and comforting, good for all seasons, and ridiculously easy.  A recipe to keep in your back pocket for sure.

  Happy Superbowl to all (Go Giants, I want to see Tom Brady's Ken doll face in a pucker)!  Don't forget that it's World Nutella Day as well tomorrow, I'm sorry I don't have anything prepared for you in that area, lame!  I'll catch it next year.  Meanwhile...make some nutella rice krispie treats, and definitely slather these in nutella.  Amen.



Surprise Pancakes
Yield: one 9x13 pan, about 8 single servings

Ingredients:
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup milk 
  • 4 large eggs 
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • pinch of nutmeg and/or any other spices

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425° F.  Melt the butter and pour it into a 9x13 pan, tilt the pan so it runs all around the bottom and use your hands to grease the sides.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, nutmeg, and any other spices.  Pour the batter into the pan.  Bake for 22 minutes, the batter will poof up considerably in various places and have browned edges, a toothpick inserted should come out clean.  Serve with powdered sugar, syrup, or fresh fruit.  



Sources: adapted from my mother's recipe box