When I moved over here to the UK in October of 2000, I carried a very heavy 2 litre can of Maple Syrup with me on the plane. Of course this was pre-9/11 so that wasn't a problem. I don't think you would get away with it now. Sad . . . but true.
I remember carrying it through Heathrow from the overseas terminal to another terminal where I was catching my flight up to Manchester and for a time regretting my impulsiveness in bringing such a heavy big tin. It had a thin metal handle which really became uncomfortable in my tiny hands after about what seemed like the first mile of carrying it. Thankfully several gentlemen headed in the same direction took pity on me and helped me out . . . I was soooo grateful!!
We sure did enjoy that Maple Syrup while it lasted. Todd had it in everything . . . in his hot drinks, on his cereal in the morning. It was a luxury that we both enjoyed to the full. I've never had so much Maple Syrup in my house since then. I do pick it up now, and pay the premium price . . . because I'm a canuck and we canucks love our Maple Syrup. Pancakes just wouldn't seem right without real Maple Syrup on them . . . sorry Mrs Butterworth! You're good, but you're not THAT good!!
Saturday mornings were always pancake mornings in my house when my chicks were growing up. When I was a child we only had pancakes once a year, on pancake day. I vowed that my own kids would get to enjoy them a bit more often than that!! And they did. What's really cool is that now my oldest son is carrying on the tradition. I just love getting a text from him on Saturday telling me he's cooking pancakes for the boys!
These were one of the favourite types of pancakes I made my kiddos. Silver Dollar pancakes . . . so called because they are about the size of a silver dollar. They loved them because they could fit a whole one in their mouths at once . . . little piggies . . . I loved them because they were soft and tender and fluffy inside, with just a tiny bit of crunch and wholesomeness from the small addition of cornmeal.
I also love the name . . . silver dollar pancakes . . . sounds rich doesn't it!! Scrummo!! I sure wish my grandsons lived closer so that I could spoil them with these on a Saturday morning . . . oh well, Todd enjoys them so it's all good.
*Silver Dollar Pancakes*
Makes about 18 3-inch pancakes
Printable Recipe
Simple and delicious. Kids love them, both the young and the "old." But then who wouldn't love a "Silver Dollar!"
200g of plain flour ( 2 cups)
2 TBS of coarse polenta, or yellow cornmeal
1 TBS baking powder
2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
1/2 tsp salt
2 large free range eggs
500ml of buttermilk (2 cups)
5 TBS of sunflower oil
more oil for greasing the pan
Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, soda and salt together in a mixing bowl. Beat the eggs until light and fluffy in another bowl. Whisk in the buttermilk and the oil. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the liquid ingredients all at once. Stir until just combined, without overmixing. The batter will have small lumps.
Heat a griddle pan or heavy skillet over medium heat until a drop of water skips across the surface. Lightly grease with some oil. Using a ladle, spoon batter onto the griddle in scant 2 TBS measures, leaving a few inches between each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface and the edges are dry, with golden brown bottoms. Flip over and cook for about 30 to 45 seconds longer until golden brown on the other side. Keep warm in a low oven until ready to serve. Repeat to use up all the batter. Serve hot with butter and plenty of real Maple Syrup!
These are so well made! Looks delicious!
ReplyDeleteThese were my go to recipe when my kids had sleepovers, I still make them when I have a crowd over, but add bacon now their grown ups.
ReplyDeletePancakes but once a year is just not fair...
I love when you talk about the food of Canada as you sound just like me. We brought home several cans of maple syrup when we were last in Canada just because it is so expensive over here. I do buy it and try not to think too much about how much it really costs..after all you can take the Canuck out of Canada but you can't take the canuck away from maple syrup!!
ReplyDeleteyou are such a good mum, you really are, what a childhood you gave your children,wonderful memories, and traditions to pass on, and they are the best part!
ReplyDeleteI lived in the New England region of the US for almost 20 years before moving to Kansas, and and since then cannot enjoy anything but real maple syrup. I miss being able to buy it straight from a local sugar shack. I'll have to try your recipe. I've never used cornmeal in pancakes before, so I'm curious about the taste and texture. They sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS bring maple syrup home from NY when I visit. I started making silver dollar pancakes when the girls were little (the size suits little children doesn't it?). Now it's a habit that I always make them this small.
ReplyDeleteThey look delicious, my kiddies love silver dollar pancakes. My favourite is the maple butter from Canada. They are so good.
ReplyDeleteI love real maple syrup, too. I grew up on it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I married my husband, he always insisted he "only" liked "Log Cabin" maple-flavored syrup. Yuck. But that's what his mother served.
One time I bought real maple syrup and put it in an empty "Log Cabin" container. He tasted it and said, "Oh, this isn't very good, did you buy some cheap brand, You know I only like the 'good stuff'"! I laughed till I cried!
Needless to say, I finished the real stuff myself - and enjoyed every drop!
Oh Priscilla, that story about your husband and Log Cabin made me laugh, as my husband said the same, thing, though his fave was Vermont Maid syrup. I didn't put the real maple syrup in an old VM bottle, just served it to him out of the glass bottle it came in. He didn't care for the fact that real maple syrup isn't as thick as the flavored syrup, nor is it so overly sweet. Myself, I actually prefer the b grade syrup, as it's even less sweet and more mapley. It's what I grew up on, when my mother and I lived on my grandparent's farm in Charlotte, Vermont. My grandpa always put taps on the maple trees, and I remember when he'd boil all that sap down to syrup and we'd have sugar on snow as a treat.
ReplyDeleteI always made silver dollar pancakes for my daughter, and in fact that was the first thing I let her help me with in the kitchen, because flipping the tiny pancakes over, was so easy for a little child. What a memory, thank you for making me remember.
Oh so yummy! My grandkids will love these…nice post!
ReplyDeleteSo anglo-saxon this kind of recipe.. and I adore this cakes so much!!
ReplyDeleteMaking a blog for Scouts. Can we use your images?
ReplyDeleteI don't mind so long as you attribute the images to myself and give a link back to this blog. Thanks for your consideration.
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