Sunday, February 10, 2013

Valentine's Day Pancakes

Perfectly fluffy heart shaped pancakes, just in time for Valentine's day! @joyfulfoodie



These are a great treat for any weekend morning, but are especially perfect for that annual heart-fest; Valentine's Day. I stumbled on this recipe on pinterest a few weeks ago and knew right away I had to try it. Who can resist a fluffy pancake recipe that claims to be the best? Certainly not I. This was the second time I made these, and they were superb both times. Make sure your baking soda is fresh, and your griddle not over hot, and these are foolproof.

Breaking news: I was just reminded that this Tuesday is Fat/Shrove Tuesday. For those of you not in the Mardi Gras/Lenten loop, that means pancake dinners, everywhere. Plan accordingly! Pancake supper time!

Ahem. Back to your regularly scheduled post. :)

The best pancakes ever - sublime topped with strawberries and powdered sugar and served with a side of bacon. YUM. @joyfulfoodie

Best Pancakes Ever
(Seriously, the hunt is over)
from Coleen

Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla


Directions:
1) Combine the milk and vinegar in a small bowl. Set aside and let it sour for 10 minutes while you prep dry ingredients. (You could substitute buttermilk here, but I promise the milk and vinegar way tastes AMAZING. Try it at least once.)
2) Combine dry ingredients (flour though salt) in a large bowl. (I use my standmixer, with the whisk attachment.)
3) Melt butter in microwave. Add vanilla and egg to butter if you are still waiting for milk to sour. (OR add directly to milk if you used the extra time on sauce *see tip below*)
4) Whisk together all wet ingredients and add slowly to dry ingredients. Whisk (again, I'm in the standmixer at this step) just until combined. Batter will be thick and slightly lumpy. Do not add extra liquid.
5) Let the batter rest for 10 minutes. Bubbles will start to form; do not stir.
6) Melt butter onto the hot griddle. Place adorable heart shaped molds on the griddle and spoon about 1/4 cup batter into the center and spread to the corners as needed. (Don't try a frying pan with the mold, unless it has a great flat bottom. Ours is old and warped and batter would leak right out.)
Aren't these heart shaped molds just perfect?! They stand up so nice on their own.
7) When the batter starts to bubble, and the mold can easily leave the edges of the pancake when wiggled, remove the mold and flip pancake.
8) Serve with warm maple syrup, or powdered sugar and fresh strawberry sauce (recipe here).
Can't forget the coffee! All great pancake breakfasts need coffee. @joyfulfoodie



Let's all take a quick moment to admire how ADORABLE the hearts are. Ready? AWWWWW!
For me, they are doubly adorable because one of my soon to be brothers in law (the youngest) gave me the molds for Christmas. <3
 

Tips:
If it doesn't take you ten minutes to measure the dry ingredients (it takes me 5 at the most, if I'm distracted) use that time to prepare whatever sauce you are using. Hull strawberries for the strawberry sauce I've included here, or warm up maple syrup.
While you wait for the bubbles to appear in the batter, you can finish the sauce, cook bacon or sausage, and set the table.


Lucky for us, this recipe works in a small kitchen. We moved a couple months ago... into our first house! Well, condo, but we own it so it counts. I'll post before and after pictures once we pick paint colors for sure. <3
Anyways, I don't cook bacon. Well, not unless I have to. But I do eat it and Brian is great about taking care of that job for me. It works out well in our small kitchen since he can do that while the batter rests. Win win, I say. :)

Reader participation time!
What is your favorite thing about your kitchen? Did it come with the house/apartment, or was it something you added or bought?

1 comment:

  1. Yummmm, I'm hungry now! Gee, thanks!
    But seriously, these sound and look fabulous!! Thanks Honey!

    ReplyDelete

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