It’s one of the most exciting days in the culinary calendar and a chance for you to show off your skills to the rest of the family on this year’s Shrove Tuesday.
So, if you plan to turn the kitchen into a pancake pantry, not only do we have a sweet recipe, but some top tips and excercise to provide a healthy twist.
There are plenty of things you can do to make pancakes a much more healthy treat for the whole family; and enjoy them just as much – or maybe even more!
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A batter way to stay healthy
Rather than using full fat milk and plain flour, swap these for semi-skimmed or skimmed milk and whole meal flour. This will help increase your fibre intake and cut down on your fat intake. -
Don’t turn it into an oil slick
Avoid frying your pancake in too much butter or oil. One teaspoon of oil in a non stick pan is more than enough. Opt for olive or rapeseed oil as these are higher in healthy mono unsaturated fats. -
Keep it small
Don’t use too much batter mix and remember to keep the portions small. Find a small cup that you can use to measure out the correct amount of mixture for one pancake. -
Try some creamy alternatives
Try low fat yoghurt or fromage frais rather than cream – a lot healthier and just as creamy. -
Bung in the berries
Children love experimenting with different fruits like strawberries, blue berries and bananas – Alternatively try a twist of lemon or orange juice to create a tasty pancake. -
A taste sensation
Rather than filling your pancake with sugar or syrup try adding something different, like cinnamon. -
Savour the pancake
Savoury pancakes can sometimes be healthier for you than sweet ones. A good tip is to use anything you would normally put in a wrap or on a baked potato. Try grilled mushrooms, spinach and ricotta or even tuna. -
All together now
Pancake Day is a great way to encourage the whole family to get cooking and have fun! Everyone can get involved whether it’s measuring out the ingredients or stirring it all together.
But before we start who can’t flip a pancake?
In a bid to help families across the UK have as much fun as possible this Pancake Day, Betty Crocker the brand behind ‘Shake to Make’ Pancake mix, has been working with super ‘stunt mum’ Kati to create the ultimate guide to the perfect pancake flip.
Ultimate Pancake Flipping Tips:
The Pour
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So, it’s Pancake Day and you’re ready to become a flipping pro! Let’s get started. Pour your pancake mix into a lightly greased, non-stick frying pan, and move onto a medium heat. Slowly twist the pan from side to side, ensuring that the mix evenly fills the flat bottom – without running up the sides…
The Grip
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Now, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and grip the handle firmly with one hand. Make sure you have lots of room in all directions! When you can see the pancake is starting to cook around the edges, remove the pan and step back from the hob…
The Slide
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It’s nearly flippin’ time! Gently slide your now-cooked pancake back and forth in the pan to make sure it’s not sticking. Brace yourself…Here we go!
The Flip
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As the pancake touches the far side of the frying pan, use your wrist only to quickly flick the pancake directly upwards – see how it soars majestically through the air! The trick is to keep your eye on the pancake at all times.
The Catch
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Stand firm and remain calm! Your pancake should now easily slap back into the frying pan, and you can breathe a sigh of relief as your family bursts into applause. Feeling confident and ready to turn it up a notch? Steady yourself and repeat The Flip step with more gusto, flipping higher and higher and catching the pancake as gracefully as possible. Hear those impressed oohs and ahhs? Well done.
To download Betty Crocker’s Ultimate Pancake Flipping Tips, visit the website http://bettycrocker.co.uk/pancake/. You can also check out Kati’s Ultimate Flipping video; it’s sure to amaze the family!
So now you’ve perfected the flip, don’t forget to substitute fruit and berries and creamy yoghurt for a sweet treat.
This is perfect recipe for children to follow and very tasty with oodles of fruity goodness and suitable for vegetarians too!
Ingredients:
• Self-raising flour, 110g (4oz)
• Salt, pinch
• Golden caster sugar, 15g (½oz)
• Egg, 1 large
• Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon
• Creamy yoghurt, 150g (5oz)
• Milk, 2 tablespoons
• Vegetable oil, 2-3 teaspoons
• Fruit and berries or golden syrup, to serve
Method:
1. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl and stir in the sugar. Crack the egg into the middle, and then add the vanilla extract, Creamy Plain yoghurt and milk.
2. Beat together with a wire whisk to make a smooth, thick batter. Next, heat a pancake pan – ideally, it should be very heavy with shallow sides.
3. Add a few drops of vegetable oil. Turn the heat to low, then drop tablespoons of the batter into the hot pan, allowing room for them to spread.
4. Cook over a medium heat until bubbles appear and the surface of the batter just begins to set – this will take about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes over with a palette knife to cook on the other side.
5. Cook the pancakes until golden brown, and then lift out onto sheets of kitchen paper. Keep them in a warm place whilst you cook the remaining batter, adding a few drops of vegetable oil into the pan when needed.
6. Serve the pancakes when they are warm, overloaded with fruit and berries or drizzled with golden syrup, or even a tablespoon of yoghurt.
Thanks to Loseley Foods for the yummy recipe and photo Visit www.loseley.com for more information.
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