July 4th in Somerset County, Pennsylvania

Today is the 4th of July, and in the United States it’s a time to remember the men and women that declared we would become a country like no other at the time, and that they had the courage to risk their lives to accomplish this objective.  More than a separation from the countries our ancestors came from, it was about a new beginning for a citizenry dedicated to a form of government that was more an experiment than a proven way of life.

If you are an outsider listening to the widely varying political viewpoints of the far left or the far right in America, you might conclude the experiment was mot much of a success.  But for most Americans, the ‘great experiment’, as it’s sometimes called, was and is a tremendous success.  Yes, our country has several difficult and unsolved issues, but the foundation of our beliefs are rooted in a deep and sincere caring for human rights and dignity, generosity throughout the world, and a rock solid committment to helping others around the world do the right thing, no matter the price we must pay or the cost to defend those beliefs.

Remembering the cost of Freedom

I know there are many out there who might disagree, but the fact is we are a people who have the ability to freely express ourselves in millions of blogs, twitters, emails, TV, movies, in speeches, strikes and demonstrations without fear of retribution or persecution.  There are just not that many places around the world where that ability is a ‘right’, not just a controlled privilege available to the few who happen to promote the views of the rulers of a particular place on earth.  So, traditionally we take one day a year to be thankful for the opportunity to communicate with you with the confidence that someone cannot come into my home and take my computer away because I choose to share my All Time Favorite, All American recipe for Blueberry Lemon Pancakes.  This recipe is so darn easy and a great merging of unusual flavors, that I know it will inspire you to use the basic recipe to merge your own combinations of unusual flavors to create your own magic.  For some ideas on how to make this recipe ‘yours’, I’ve left some ideas in the Notes section of the recipe.

Just so you know, I am well-qualified to share this recipe.  For more than 25 years, Kathy and I sponsored Christmas Dinner at our home.  The main course has always been Pancakes –in some years cooking as many as 300 or 400 pancakes for 60+ extended family members and friends.  It became a tradition, and now some of our younger family members have extended the tradition to their own family and friends.  Kathy does the lion’s share of the work to prepare for the day, but me and some of the other men in the family have been in sole possession of producing the pancakes.  In the course of 25 years, we have produced some incredibly talented Pancake Flippers who know how to mix batter and perfectly cook pancakes.  We also have a couple of guys who have been banished from the kitchen forever!

Along with REAL Maple Syrup, you will be praised by your guests for the imagination you had to combine fresh blueberries and lemon into a light and fluffy breakfast treat. 

In one of my early posts, I explained you should not be afraid to take short cuts that don’t affect the end product, but make it easier to succeed in the kitchen. This pancake recipe takes one of those shortcuts by using Jiffy All Purpose Baking Mix instead of the ‘from scratch’ method.  I’m 100% certain I’ll hear from some of the purists on this one, claiming the scratch pancakes are far superior.  Maybe so.  But I’ve done it both ways and when I follow my shortcut recipe, I’ve consistently been asked for the recipe.  I’ve never been asked for the scratch recipe I also have.  My conclusion is go for what people like.

So here it is.  Try this recipe when Blueberries are in season, and don’t forget to garnish the plate with some fresh berries to feed the eye’s as well as the appetites of your guests.

Blueberry Lemon Pancakes–the Easy Way

 Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 6 mins | Servings: About 20 Pancakes | Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Jiffy All Purpose Baking Mix
  

  Blueberry Lemon Pancakes–the Easy Way

• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3/4 tsp Lemon Extract
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Lemon zest from 1 lemon (optional)
• 1-3/4 cups low-fat (or regular) milk
• 2 cups fresh Blueberries
• PAM or other brand spray cooking oil
• Real Maple Syrup, honey or Agave Syrup.

Directions:

1. Place Jiffy Mix, eggs, Lemon and Vanilla extracts, lemon zest (if using), oil and milk into a large mixing bowl.

2. With a whisk or large spoon, han mix ingredients until just blended–do not over mix! The batter will be moist and thick.

3. Let the batter rest for 5 to 10 minutes. The batter will form small bubbles on the surface and be a little thicker than just after mixing. If it’s too thick, add just a little more milk but NOT TOO MUCH.

4. Meanwhile heat up a flat surface sauté pan or stove top griddle over medium heat, or an electric griddle set to 350° .

5. When pan or griddle is hot, spray surface with cooking spray.

6. Ladle 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup batter for each pancake onto the hot surface, a few at a time. Do not crowd the pan.

7. Place about 8 to 10 blueberries on top of each pancake.

8. When the top batter begins to show small craters (like looking at the moon) in about 2 minutes, flip them over.

9. Cook flipped side for 2 to 3 minutes. Note: If the blueberries begin to sizzle, you are getting it perfectly. with  Nicely done!

10. Remove pancakes to heated plates for serving, or to oven set at 200° to keep warm while cooking the remaining batter.

11. IMPORTANT! Before pouring the next batch, wipe the blueberry juice off the hot surface with a damp cloth (don’t burn yourself) or with the front edge of the spatula, and lightly re-spray the surface.

12. Serve with Real Maple Syrup–Come on–spend the extra few dollars for the real stuff, because it makes a huge difference.  Lightly heated Honey or Agave Syrup works well too.

Real Maple Syrup is worth the Cost

Notes:

A. Eliminate the lemon extract and lemon zest and you will have the best ever blueberry pancakes.

B. Eliminate the blueberries and you have great plain pancakes with a great citrusy overtone.

C. Eliminate the lemon extract and lemon zest, and substitute strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, bananas and nuts . Use your imagination and what you like.

Source: Lou’s Recipe Collection
Sent from Paprika Recipe Manager

Categories: Great Recipes, Loving Life!

Tags: Blueberry, cooking, guys cooking, Jiffy Mix, Lemon, Maple Syrup, men cooking, Pancake, simple recipes