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Celebrate the Season with Pancakes and Waffles
NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 2005 - A stack of pancakes with melted butter and maple syrup is the ultimate comfort food on cool mornings, but you don't have to save this treat for the winter months. Pancakes and waffles can be a wonderful choice for spring and summer, too. Just change the toppings to seasonal fruits and fresh, flavored sauces, and these perennial favorites turn the meal into a fun occasion.
"Everyone should have good recipes for pancakes and waffles on hand. All the ingredients are usually right in your kitchen for making a quick family pancake supper or brunch for unexpected guests," advises Linda Carman, Martha White® Southern baking expert.
Self-rising flour is great for making pancakes and waffles because it has just the right amount of leavening and salt blended in. And the only other ingredients you will need are eggs, oil or butter, milk and possibly a little sugar and flavoring.
Seasonal Fruits Add Year-Round Variety
The key to making pancakes and waffles fit easily into year-round menus is using seasonal fruits. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches and cherries are ideal choices during the spring and summer; pears, apples and cranberries are equally delicious additions during the fall and winter. Just remember, the tastiest fruit is probably what is in season and will also be the least expensive. Of course, bananas are a good choice year-round.
Simple fruit and citrus sauces make a nice complement to pancakes and waffles. The recipe for Wonderful Waffles with Fresh Fruit and Luscious Lemon Sauce is a delicious example. There are lots of easy sauces that can be made with fruit juices. Use your imagination to create your own fruit sauces the same way you would for desserts, ice cream or pound cake.
Time-saving Recipes Begin With Mixes
Martha's Perfect Pancakes and Wonderful Waffles are good basic recipes that can be used year round with your choice of toppings. But if a scratch recipe seems daunting - or you're just short on time - try Very Berry Pancakes. Made with a fruit muffin mix, these little thin pancakes are similar to crepes and are pliable enough to be filled with fruit and whipped cream, and rolled or folded.
Tips for Perfect Pancakes and Waffles
As you start creating delicious pancakes and waffles for your family and friends, here are a few cooking tips to help insure your success:
- Stir pancake and waffle batters just until you see no dry flour - the batter will still be lumpy. Overmixing will make them tough.
- Cook pancakes on medium-high heat. If you don't have an electric griddle or skillet, test by dropping a few drops of water on the hot surface. When water sizzles and disappears almost immediately, you're ready to cook.
- Turn pancakes only once. Pour batter onto griddle and cook until pancakes begin to dry around the edge - you can peek to see if the first side is brown. Turn and cook on other side.
For more delicious pancakes and waffles recipes, go to www.marthawhite.com and click on the recipe section.