Pancakes!

Do you make american style pancakes here?  No I dont mean with the Krustyz that your family sent you in a care package!  I mean with flour, sugar, eggs and butter?  I tried to make them this weekend, they were lumpy and came out like crapes.  Any advice or something else I can try?  I used the recipe from Joy of Cooking, my bible cookbook.

I miss pancakes.....fluffy ones!

Did you forget the baking powder?
Without that, i think they will be flat, like English pancakes or crepes.

(i always use Bisquick, so im useless!) 

no, I put the baking powder in...flour, sugar, b/p, salt, milk, butter, eggs and vanilla.  I think Ill just buy Bisquick!

An english friend of mine was obsessing about making american pancakes and she kept going on about the buttermilk.  Asking me where I bought buttermilk to make my pancakes.   I had to tell her that I use a mix.....

She eventually found buttermilk and made them for me, they were really good and light and fluffy.  Although, that said, I can't remember where she eventually found buttermilk.

yup, we looked online at Sainsburys and they said they sold buttermilk.  Went to the store and couldnt find it anywhere!  I really wanted buttermilk pancakes!

You can do your own buttermilk substitute, just add 2 or 3 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar to one cup milk.

Also, isn't the baking powder different here, single acting instead of double like in America. I usually use extra in my recipes. My problem is getting biscuits to rise.

thanks!  im gonna try again this weekend....I still miss Krusteaz!!

You can get a pretty good pancake mix at Costco.  I can't think of the brand name, but my BF's mother uses it for her Waffles and Pancakes and it's really good.

Almost double the baking powder...

Use plain flour...

you will be in business then! 

sorry to jump in the thread. BUt could someone post a recipe. I so love American style pancakes ( my down fall last time i visited my husband lol)

please please please ( ok i know its not good to beg )

Almost double the baking powder...

Use plain flour...

you will be in business then! 

ahhhh....didnt double, so thats where I went wrong!  I did use plain flour, so Im gonna do this again!!  Thanks!!

The recipe I used was from Joy of Cooking, although Im sure you can find them all over the web.

Basic Pancakes...

whisk together in a large bowl:

1 1/2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder (double this for UK)
1/2 teaspoon salt

in another bowl:

1 1/2 cups milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

pour the wet ingredients over the dry and gently whisk them together, mixing just until combined.

I use this one

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/231584

nearly the same. I loooove pancakes!

mmm thanks ladies, the kids are at their grandparents this weekend so i think i am goin gto indulge myself, and then when  i go to visit chris i will surprise him with pancakes for breakfast.

My tried and true recipe.. 

1 Cup flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

whisk dry ingredients together.

Beat 1 egg and add 1 cups buttermilk or enough to make a nice consistency  (here I use one container of Sainsbury's buttermilk and add equal amounts of regular milk when I double the recipe)

add wet to dry and mix just enough to moisten the batter.  If you mix too much you'll bring out the gluten in the flour and the pancakes will turn out rubbery. 

You can also separate the eggs and beat the whites and fold in after.  That will really make your pancakes fluffy.  And you can add a tablespoon of melted butter to the batter, but I don't.  The buttermilk gives it really nice flavour without the butter.   

This makes about six or so pancakes.  I double it for my family of four.

I make pancakes every sunday.  And I buy real maple syrup!

Also, check out Alton Brown's technique on pancake making.  My pancakes improved considerably after using them. 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_13660,00.html