PROJECT 5

APPLE PANCAKES

One of the first things I learned to cook was a simple pancake. It was also the first thing I cooked with my son. I have great memories of a sticky-fingered, syrup-covered two-year-old learning to flip pancakes hand over hand with me.

Our first cooking project is a little more complex than simple pancakes, but I think it is easier. I also feel that the results are more dramatic to create something a little more dramatic and “cooler” than simple pancakes.

As an added benefit, this recipe is easily used with children of different skill levels. Young children can dump in premeasured ingredients and stir them in the bowl, while older children can easily make these delicious apple pancakes themselves.

The Ingredients

Ingredients:

•   2 tablespoons butter

•   3 apples (peeled, cored and sliced into wedges)

•   ¼ cup brown sugar

•   ½ teaspoon cinnamon

•   3 large eggs

•   ½ cup whole milk (reduced fat or almond milk may be substituted)

•   2 tablespoons flour

•   ¼ teaspoon baking powder

•   powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

Tools:

•   Measuring cups

•   2 mixing bowls

•   Knife/apple corer

•   Spoon

•   12- or 13-inch cast iron skillet or other oven safe pan

Procedure:

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix the dry ingredients first

2.     In a medium mixing bowl, mix the flour and baking powder.

3.     In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 eggs and ½ cup milk.

4.     Add egg/milk mixture into bowl with dry ingredients and stir until you get a batter (a few lumps is fine).

5.     Combine brown sugar and cinnamon but do not add to batter.

6.     In a skillet, melt the butter on medium heat.

Cook the apples with sugar until soft

7.     Add the apple slices and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar mixture to the hot skillet and cook until soft, stirring as necessary. This should take about 5 minutes.

Carefully pour in batter without moving apples

8.     Turn off the stove top, and gently and slowly pour the batter over the apples so as to keep the apples evenly distributed in the pan.

9.     Sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top of the batter.

10.   Bake at 375 until the pancake mix puffs up, which should take 18–20 minutes.

11.   If desired, dust the finished pancake with a little powdered sugar.

Yield:

Serves 2–3

Lessons Learned:

Cooking teaches cause and effect, following directions, the use of measurement, and delayed gratification. Easy projects like this introduce the concepts, while building self-confidence and pride of accomplishment.