The “bake off” (cont.)

COMPARE & CONTRASING FUN CONTINUES…

My next cooking adventure took me down the road to a wonderful time in the winter. I must have been preteen age, no I think I was younger. I remember the fireplace in the living room and the smell of ‘boontjie sop’ and pancakes and orange syrup in the air.

It was a wonderful treat for us to have the orange syrup that my mom made for the pancakes.

I took the memory and I added my own spin to the recipe, not the orange syrup (that would just be wrong), just the pancake and the presentation of the syrup.

Instead of pancakes I took my sheet pan pancake recipe, mixed it up and just added some semi-sweet chocolate chips.

While the pancake was baking in the oven I started on the syrup. I took my time, because I have never made this on my own, and the last time I did make it, it was under the watchful eye of my mom. So I took great care infollowing the recipe. Oh the smell that filled the air was like a time travelling cloud, taking me back to the simplicity of my youth, where we had a full warm home, glowing red with the flickering light of the fire. We use to play card games too and finger board. Those warm winter evening spent as a family I must say are times that I do miss, and have come to treasure those wonderful memories, and appreciate the effort and time my parents actually spent with us as children.

The pancake came out of the oven just as the syrup was done, so I proceeded to drench the pancake with some syrup. The hot pancake quickly soaked up the syrup, and after a few minutes it was ready for the hungry drooling mouths, eyes staring at this new baked adventure that mommy had just made.

I dished a slice for each and poured some more orange syrup over, within a blink of an eye it was inhaled and more was demanded, not from my son Daniel, oh no, but from little old Olivia, she beat Daniel to not only finishing her first slice, but also at getting her second slice. Daniel too focused on enjoying his piece of pancake, did not comment but continued to finish a second piece too. It was a huge hit and I will definitely be making it again.

Now here is the recipe for those that want to give it a go:

THE SHEET PAN PANCAKE RECIPE

8 tablespoons butter (melted)
2 3/4 Cups Pancake mix (I use my home made pancake mix; recipe to follow soon)
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 teespoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)
Cover your sheet pan (about 10 x 13 inch) with foil, then butter the entire pan generously with butter (I add a little spray as well for good measure and the lay a sheet of parshment paper that the bottom as well)
Add all you wet ingredients into a bowl and mix.
Next add the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into the sheet pan then sprinkle the chocolate chips everywhere. (You can add any cherries or berries or any fruit you want, take your pick)
Bake for about 20 – 30 minutes (depending on your oven) until golden brown and cooked through.
Once baked remove from oven and immediately drench with your syrup of choice, mine is orange syrup.

THE ORANGE SYRUP

8 tablespoons butter (melted)
2 3/4 Cups Pancake mix (I use my home made pancake mix; recipe to follow soon)
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 1/2 teespoon vanilla
1 cup semi-sweet Chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C)
Cover your sheet pan (about 10 x 13 inch) with foil, then butter the entire pan generously with butter (I add a little spray as well for good measure and the lay a sheet of parshment paper that the bottom as well)
Add all you wet ingredients into a bowl and mix.
Next add the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.
Pour the batter into the sheet pan then sprinkle the chocolate chips everywhere. (You can add any cherries or berries or any fruit you want, take your pick)
Bake for about 20 – 30 minutes (depending on your oven) until golden brown and cooked through.
Once baked remove from oven and immediately drench with your syrup of choice, mine is orange syrup.

Enjoy this wonderful recipe and remember to always try and explore your own flavours too.

Keep safe and Healthy