The best French Toast i’ve ever had was in Brooklyn’s Diner, NY. The “TONY BENNETT’S” CINNAMON RAISIN & PECAN FRENCH TOAST was to die for, lashings of maple syrup and strawberry’s to join. But i’m challenging this now, with what … Continue reading
There’s no better way to end the week than with a fantastic film, and on the agenda this week was Pirates of the Caribbean, it was excellent, or maybe that was the beer talking?! I also used it as the … Continue reading
I started off the day with chocolate chip pancakes, made using my Original Pancake Recipe with chunks thrown in the cooking batter for good measure, and finished off with my standard thick chocolate sauce! At lunch time, I enjoyed pancakes and … Continue reading
HOVER OVER IMAGES FOR CAPTIONS The quality of the images gets worse as the days goes on, exhaustion took over. Well worth it though, same again next year? x
Pancakes are one of my favourite breakfast recipes, probably because I normally skip it as a meal time so my food knowledge is less than extensive for any time before say 11 o’clock. When I do indulge though, I have to do it properley. Start with the standard mix, 135g of plain flour, 1tsp of baking powder, a healthy pinch of salt, 2 tbsp of caster sugar, 130ml of milk (I use full fat for pancakes, if you’ve got it), and the largest egg you can find. 
Nice high oven temperature and about 12 rashes of bacon coated on top with lashings of Maple syrup (golden is more than sufficient), when they’re cooked on top (don’t worry if they start turning a little black it’s just the sugar) flip them over and coat the other side as well. Bellisimo! It also leaves the kitchen smelling more like you’ve been baking cakes, rather than a greasy fry up. Whilst i’m waiting for it to finish cooking, I whip my ingredients together get the frying pan on a mid-high temp and make sure I coat the bottom of the pan with lots of butter. **After each pancake it is essential to add more butter!** The actual process of cooking pancakes I find a little stressy, because like in true American diners I want them piled high on my plate, but this has it’s obvious flaws in an average sized kitchen where I can only cook one at a time. A great tip is to turn the oven off but leave the bacon in the bottom of it, and put your already cooked pancakes on your plate on one of the shelves inside, ensuring all your food will be ready at the same time.
The recipe is supposed to serve 4-6 people, which is ridiculous because it serves about 2-3 in my family, the 12 rashes of bacon is split between our individual mountains of pancakes and then a hearty glug of syrup finishes it off nicely.
Any left over pancakes? Time to bring in the chocolate sauce!
After a very crappy day, and a very crappy cup of coffee from the greasy spoon down the road I knew I had to take action on the afternoon. Fish and chips are fantastic, but a fish and chip sandwich is better, lashings of tomato ketchup and an ice cold glass of milk, however instantly satisfying this was to me it just was not enough to lift my spirits. So I did what all Brit’s do I put the kettle, made a builders brew and rummaged around for some chocolate. Expect my chocolate had a twist, I was no longer feeling like such a nationalist and instead caved to my biggest fall down in life, American candy. I’m unstoppable, raiding the cupboards like a madman tossing the galaxy’s, crunchie’s and mars bar’s out of the way until I reach them, the 1 and Only. No literally, that’s what it’s called, the 1 and only. The best that America has to offer, although the Take 5 bar comes pretty close, i’m suprised it lasted long enough for me to take a photo..
I’m a culture vulture, i’ll admit it and I’ll warn others about joining me. It’s an expensive habit, I think my last order was about £60′s worth, unashamedly so. But if you do, please god please, will someone order the mystery flavour of Laffy Taffy and tell me what it is. Last I heard it was bacon..
LT departing. x
