Friday, March 25, 2016

Join me on my pancake journey!

Hey ya'll! Well we set up this blog for Miss Mae quite a long time ago. My girl Lesia hooked us up with the awesome banner at the top. She's so creative!

Anyhoo, Mae and I decided that we'd both start adding our cooking adventures here. So here I am. I don't cook often anymore for a lot of reasons. But when I do, everybody gets startled. Including me lol! I can cook just fine, I just don't have a lot of gumption to do it. Especially with everyone else cooking. Bubba mentioned someone could make pancakes for dinner. We all hate doing it. Even with the pancake pan. You know those ones you see on t.v. with the four pancake slots? Yup, we have one. Great Grandma Liz bought it for Mae awhile back. It's just a pain in the ass to stand there and make enough for six people. I decided to look up a recipe on how to make them in the oven.

There are a few different ways you can do them. I saw some recipes where you use an oven safe skillet and put in the oven. however you have to flip it. Which is too much work some times! Another recipe I found used just the mix and a baking pan. The recipe I looked up was one from this site HERE and it was easy to read and figure out. I will be looking through the site for sure for more goodies. I adapted some of the techniques for my version of it. I even took pictures. OMG...I've become one of those people who take pics of their food! LOL but in this case, as a show and tell.

Ready? Here we go!

Things you'll need:

1 - Large Mixing Bowl

1 -  Large Baking Dish - (I used a glass pan 13x9)

1 - Wisk

1- Measuring Cup ( or if you're like me, you just wing it with out it!

1 - Big Ol' Bag of Pancake Mix (I used the kind that you just add water to)

1 - Stick Of  Butter

1 - Oven (Thank you captain obvious! Hey some times you have to be direct! LOL)

Now, how to make it!

Step 1:

Once you've figured out what mix you're going to use, open that sucker up! Be careful though and don't be like me. Instead of searching for scissors my dumb butt used a knife and almost took my thumb off. DOH!


Step 2:

 Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.  Take your stick of butter and drop it into your baking dish. I know, it's a lot of butter. you can put in less if you like. This is not only for flavor but to help it not stick. Put the pan in the oven AS IT PREHEATS. That way the butter melts while you do your other prep. Keep an eye on it though so it doesn't burn!

Step 3:

 You can do this the way on the package, or the way I did. It's up to you! Measure out your mix and water if you go by the directions on the bag. Or like me, just eyeball it and dump a bunch of mix into your bowl. I filled it up about half way. I then mixed in warm tap water. I used warm because I've found that it mixes better. Another tip, and this might seem odd, but put your bowl in your clean kitchen sink. not only is it a direct source for your water, but it's easy clean up. It never fails when I cook, I leave a mess! As you are adding water, make sure you whisk and mix quickly to get the lumps out. Feel free to use a mixer or blender. Whatever works for you! TIP: leave the batter kind of runny. Almost being too thin, or crepe like consistency. 

Step 4: 

Once you've got that  all mixed up, pull your baking pan out of the oven. Make sure safety first! Use something to grab it out of the oven and set on the stove. My son decided the other day to be a "man" and pull out a loaf of garlic bread out of the oven with his hands. He won't be doing that again! LOL Get a good grip on it. If you drop it, that is going to fry ya like an egg on a side walk! Explain that one to the doctor! LOL


Step 5: 

Very carefully, pour your batter into the pan. Do this slowly so there is no splattering. I had made just the right amount of batter too! Not bad eh? 


Step 6: 

Carefully return it to the oven and make sure it's centered.



Step 7:

 Set your time for 20 minutes. But don't forget it! I tend to do that a lot. So I've had to go with a timer. Once it goes off, go check it by taking a butter knife or knife and test the center. Just like you do for a cake. If it comes out clean, it's done! If not, set the timer for another five minutes. Repeat as necessary.

Step 8: 

Carefully pull it from the oven and set on the stove. You can turn the oven off now too. If you like, add butter to the top to soak up some yumminess. This is optional though.


Step 9: 

Cut it all up! NOM NOM NOM!


Step 10: 

Serve up to the masses! This is a great dish for big families. 


Now here's my assessment of the whole journey..... I did take shortcuts and they worked out pretty good. But it was a tiny bit dry. I need to add more water next time so that it comes out thinner before cooking it. I might reduce the amount I make next time. Especially if I add anything to it.

It's really a simple recipe, and pretty fun to test out. The possibilities are really endless. We were talking about adding fruit to the batter, or chocolate chips. You can even go the savory route and add thinks like bacon and sausage! It's a great base too for any time of desert you'd like too.

I put syrup on my serving. Which would be awesome if it wasn't dollar store brand syrup. GROSS! I'll never by that ca ca again! Instead I'll go back and get some more and put jam on it. NOM NOM NOM! 

It's a great beginner recipe for anyone starting out. It's fun for kids too.

As much as my family pretended it was horrible, they admitted it was pretty good. LOL....and nobody has gotten sick yet! ;) Not that I expect them to lol.

If you decide to check it out and try it, holler! I'd love to see your finished product and your assessment! Email me! superrainpolly@gmailcom

Blessings to all!

Shani 
Mo Mo's Mommy















Sunday, September 7, 2014

Welcome!

Hi! My name is Maelynne, and I love to cook! My mom helps me with recipes and how to make things. She will be helping me with posting pictures and recipes. I'll tell her what to type! I hope you all will enjoy it!