A Soul-Stirring Stack
Whip up a memory with homemade pancakes, blueberries not required
A mealtime ritual doesn’t have to be expensive to become a treasured memory.
When you were a child your parents probably made one dish that signaled a special occasion. Maybe you shared a homemade pizza while watching television one night a week, or maybe it was Dad’s Friday night chili that brought your family together.
You can bring the same comfort and pleasure to your family with just one meal a week.
Plan your culinary tradition for a day when your life is a little less crazed. You can’t enjoy each others' company when you’re stressed by your schedule.
Sunday breakfast or brunch is an occasion when your family is more likely to linger at the table.
Don’t be concerned with fancy smoked salmon and bagels or a pricey brand of coffee. Your family will remember the fact that you made the day special, not that you spent a lot of money.
In fact, an economical pancake breakfast may be just what the family craves.
Tender, warm pancakes are the antithesis of cold cereal eaten on the run.
You have to slow down, anticipate and savor the nutty-sweet aroma of butter melting the skillet long before you take the first bite. That gives you plenty of time to enjoy the moment.
And then the pancakes are done. Will you pass the maple syrup? Offer more butter, more coffee?
Oh, that every breakfast could be Sunday pancake breakfast.
To speed up the feast, make a large-batch pancake mix. Combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, sugar, leavening and seasonings. Spoon the mix into an airtight container and store it in a cool, dry place for up to one month.
When Sunday rolls around, take out the mix, add eggs, butter, milk and the surprise fruit that makes your pancakes especially memorable. During the summer, add plump, sweet blackberries or peeled peach slices. For other times of the year, switch to sliced bananas or pears.
Blackberry Pancakes
1 cup plus 2 1/2 tablespoons homemade pancake mix
2 tablespoons melted butter plus extra for cooking pancakes
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups blackberries
Maple syrup
Spoon pancake mix into large bowl. Add melted butter, egg and milk. Stir just to form batter; do not beat. Gently stir in blackberries.
Lightly butter a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Pour in pancake batter by 1/4-cup measures. Cook on first side about 4 minutes or until tops of pancakes form air bubbles and bottoms are golden brown. Flip to second side and cook 3 to 5 minutes longer. Add more butter to skillet as necessary.
Serve pancakes with maple syrup.
Makes 8 pancakes; 4 servings.
Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"
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