Grandma’s Pancakes
In these times of economic unrest, we are all looking for answers. This made me contemplate a family tradition passed down from my maternal great grandmother. It was called Grandma’s Pancakes. Essentially, Grandma’s Pancakes are a mixture of fried flour and water that is served up with ketchup. They are eaten like a thick crepe and are definitely an acquired taste as I am reminded by anyone who has married into the family. Nutritionally speaking, Grandma’s Pancakes may not have a lot to offer, but they were always served with a great deal of wisdom which was more filling for the soul then the body. You see, Grandma’s Pancakes were poor mans food dating back to when my family went through the great depression in Ohio. This delicacy was served in the house when times were lean and the family could not afford eggs. The irony was that the kids always thought that eating Grandmas Pancakes was cause for celebration. This was in part due to the fact that the Parents made such a big deal about eating them. Often the kids would dance around the house and sing praises in great anticipation. In many ways the concept of Grandma’s Pancakes reminds me of the Academy Award winning movie It’s a Beautiful Life. The adults always went out of their way to shield us from the doom and gloom around us. They taught us that even in the worst of times there was something to celebrate. I will never know if my affection of Grandma’s Pancakes is due to the nostalgia, life lessons, or their great taste. What I can tell you is that my kids like them almost as much as I did growing up. They have continued the tradition of dancing around in eager jubilation.
Recipe:
Combine1cup of flour and 1 cup of water in equal parts in a bowl. Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Thoroughly mix ingredients until the mixture is smooth. It should have the consistency of a milk shake.
Drizzle oil in a skillet and heat the olive oil until it has a sheen. Pour the batter into the frying pan with a ¼ measuring spoon. Because the thickness of the batter, it may require a spoon to smooth the mixture into a large round circle. If the consistency is too dense to work with, simply add water and stir and retry. Fry the dough until it is golden on each side. Remove from the heat and serve with Ketchup, jam or any condiments of choice.
In these times of economic unrest, we are all looking for answers. This made me contemplate a family tradition passed down from my maternal great grandmother. It was called Grandma’s Pancakes. Essentially, Grandma’s Pancakes are a mixture of fried flour and water that is served up with ketchup. They are eaten like a thick crepe and are definitely an acquired taste as I am reminded by anyone who has married into the family. Nutritionally speaking, Grandma’s Pancakes may not have a lot to offer, but they were always served with a great deal of wisdom which was more filling for the soul then the body. You see, Grandma’s Pancakes were poor mans food dating back to when my family went through the great depression in Ohio. This delicacy was served in the house when times were lean and the family could not afford eggs. The irony was that the kids always thought that eating Grandmas Pancakes was cause for celebration. This was in part due to the fact that the Parents made such a big deal about eating them. Often the kids would dance around the house and sing praises in great anticipation. In many ways the concept of Grandma’s Pancakes reminds me of the Academy Award winning movie It’s a Beautiful Life. The adults always went out of their way to shield us from the doom and gloom around us. They taught us that even in the worst of times there was something to celebrate. I will never know if my affection of Grandma’s Pancakes is due to the nostalgia, life lessons, or their great taste. What I can tell you is that my kids like them almost as much as I did growing up. They have continued the tradition of dancing around in eager jubilation.
Recipe:
Combine1cup of flour and 1 cup of water in equal parts in a bowl. Add ½ teaspoon of salt. Thoroughly mix ingredients until the mixture is smooth. It should have the consistency of a milk shake.
Drizzle oil in a skillet and heat the olive oil until it has a sheen. Pour the batter into the frying pan with a ¼ measuring spoon. Because the thickness of the batter, it may require a spoon to smooth the mixture into a large round circle. If the consistency is too dense to work with, simply add water and stir and retry. Fry the dough until it is golden on each side. Remove from the heat and serve with Ketchup, jam or any condiments of choice.
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