This weekend was a big wake-up call for me! My sister was here for a visit, and wanted Pancakes for breakfast, sounds great right! She had picked up a few pancake mix with various flavors while I was in Arkansas for 3 years as a manager of a "Gourmet Shop". We offered many brands of this type product, and they were all fantastic, however a bit expensive. Sunday morning she ask if I had some Apple Spice Pancake mix, it would be a great breakfast she suggested, and I always want to make her happy!
My answer was "NO" but I have been working on creating some recipes using a basic pancake mix. She was ecstatic that I had been so creative, and I thought this would be the perfect time to try out my ideas on a "Test Subject" as she will always tell me her honest opinion. It was her idea that I offer this factoidz to my readers. I would have taken for granted that anyone who was any kind of cook would have already thought of this idea. But she said people are trapped on the idea of convinces, and just pay out the nose for these products because they think it would be too hard to do it themselves. Well I am here to tell you it is as easy as 1-2-3……LOL!
I have made Blueberry, Apple & Spice, Apple & Rosemary, Maple Bacon & Sage, Pumpkin & Cinnamon, Pineapple & Mango, Cranberry & Pecan, Peach , Peach & Apricot, the list goes on and on. There are some rules for making these pancakes, as the mix needs to keep its integrity to have a good result in finished product. I always use dried fruit, fresh herbs, and chopped nuts, any ingredients added to mix should be chopped into small pieces so as the cakes stay together. The larger the added product the more likely your cakes will fall apart.
My choice for mix is the "Aunt Jemima Buttermilk Complete" www.auntjemima.com I just love the texture and rich taste of the cakes when I use this product! There are some great recipes on the Website, but here today I will give a few of my own that have proven to be great pleasers! I also have a few ideas on Syrups that are easy to make and make the flavors of the cakes Pop!
- I always mix the batter as directed on the package for the amount of cakes desired.
- Its a kind of just guess at the amounts when trying something new in these recipes, however I have found to make the recipe for 12-16 cakes the amount of herbs should be about 1tsp, and they should be chopped VERY fine.
- Dried fruits should be chopped fine as well, and I add them after the water is added to the mix. I always add about 1/2 cup of chopped fruits to the mix for 12-16 pancakes. If adding nuts as well the total of the 2 should be 1/2 cup total.
- Nuts always work better if chopped into small pieces as well, and I like them toasted first just to add punch to the flavor.
Listed below are some of my favorites:
- Apple and Rosemary Pancakes, mix the desired amount as per directions of Pancake mix for the number of desired cakes. For approximately 12 cakes I add, a total of 1tsp chopped fresh rosemary, 1tbs brown sugar, and 1/4 cup dried apples chopped very fine. I love to serve these pancakes with a brandy flavored syrup. I just use 1 cup of the "Aunt Jemima Pancake Syrup" heated to a soft boil and I add 3tbs brandy. I also whip my Butter with some Cinnamon for just a touch of flavor punch!
- Pineapple & Mango Pancakes, prepare mix as directed for 12-16 cakes. Add dried pineapple and dried mango chopped finely in the amount of 1/4 cup total, 1/2 tsp Cinnamon, 2 tbs brown sugar. I love these cakes served with a Coconut Syrup: for the syrup I use 1 can 11.8oz Roasted Coconut Juice heated to a slow boil with 1/4 cup sugar added and boil for 5 min. whisking constantly. For garnish I top with Toasted Coconut and/or Toasted Sliced Almonds.
- Maple Bacon & Sage Pancakes, prepare mix as directed for 12-16 cakes. To this I add 3 Tbs Maple Smoked Bacon cooked crisp and chopped fine, 1 tbs Bacon Drippings, 1tsp chopped fresh Sage. I love these with a Bourbon Syrup and for this I heat 1 cup "Aunt Jemima Syrup" to a soft boil adding 3tbs spoon Southern Comfort Bourbon www.southerncomfort.com . A Nutmeg whipped Butter is fantastic with these pancakes!
- Chocolate Basil Pancakes. These are simple as well, and get great response from my guest! I bring the water needed for the mix to a boil and add a few [5-7] depending on size fresh Basil leaves, and let the water cool before I add it to the mix. Remove the Basil from the water before adding to mix. I also add 2tbs sugar and 1tbs Coco Powder to the dry mix before water is added. For the Syrup I heat 1 cup "Light Karo" syrup with 2 semi sweet chocolate squares www.bakerschocolate.com mixing well to create a fantastic Chocolate Syrup. I love fresh Strawberries sliced and topped over this dish it adds color, and Strawberries with Basil & Chocolate are fantastic together! Try it served with a Dry Champagne www.mumm.com and Ham Steak as a side. It is an Elegant and Stylish Breakfast for any special morning!
I guess you can get the idea now how Tweaking a recipe or a mix can work in your favor. We just need to understand how to get the best results from products added to other products or recipes. I always try to make things work in my favor as a caterer or in my own kitchen, to do this I am often challenged to create and often fail on the first try. Even the second or third try, but I just keep at it until I get the desired results! I do hope you will try these recipes, and enjoy them as much as I have!
