I know that I am preaching to the choir when I say this, but it has come again to my attention that some parents of teenagers think that my food’s class is frivolous! Ha! I have witnessed first hand during our second lab that basic cooking skills are needed. These include knowing the difference between a tablespoon and a teaspoon, measuring dry ingredients correctly in a dry measuring cup, and that a skillet must be preheated before pouring pancake batter in the pan. Nothing ceases to amaze me in the food’s lab after so many years of teaching. What does amaze me that some parents don’t think that being able to prepare nutritious meals at home is a necessary skill. Well, I am not going there today! But, I was pleased to see this article in Cooking Light last month Bring Back Home Economics to Schools! If I get on my soap box today I will take up way too much space here and too much of your valuable time. Let’s get to the light version of the pancakes we made last week. They were delightful!
When I was giving my demonstration I tried a new recipe using sour cream and melted butter. While I loved the taste I was not pleased with the texture. I am a lover of light and fluffy pancakes, not the thin crepe type. So after giving the students the basic instructions of putting pancakes together I changed the ingredients to make a lighter and fluffier version. The one that I used came from Cooking Light. The recipe calls for much less fat than most recipes.
The results in most groups were fantastic, but we were not without a few mishaps from using the wrong measurements, preheating to the wrong temperature , or in some cases not preheating the skillet at all. Some students did admit that they should pay closer attention when I am cooking for them. Well, yes that is the whole idea behind demonstrating. Here is the recipe for you to try on a beautiful fall Saturday morning.
Buttermilk Pancakes from Cooking Light
Yield 18 medium pancakes
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups low-fat buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Directions:
- Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife.
- Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through salt) in a large bowl, and make a well in center of mixture.
- Combine buttermilk, oil, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth.
- Spoon about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot nonstick griddle or nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray.
- Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
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The Teacher Cooks 
Wanda… I think you are absolutely right… Life skills like teaching someone to cook are SO ignored these days! I remember our home-ec class at TCHS. It was such an eye-opener for me!
I loved that class with Mrs. Haley!!!
Me and my mom make a different kind of pancake easily.
It amazed me that you could make healthy pancakes and them still taste almost identical.
It’s cool how you can add vinegar to regular milk to make buttermilk.
I learned that you need to pre-heat a skillet before making the pancakes and the recipe used for the class had less fat than the previous recipe used for the demo.
I learned how to measure the ingredients correctly.
i learned that if you subsitute a few things it makes it healthier for you
I learned that you have to preheat the skillet to the correct temperature; otherwise the pancakes will not cook as fast as you want them to. And also, you need to flip the pancake when the first side starts forming bubbles.
I learned that you need to spoon in the flour so that is makes the right amount.
i learned that you can not use old flour to cook pancakes with because it will not be fluffy..
I learned making pancakes is a fun and easy meal to make. It takes few ingredients and little time.
i really enjoyed doing this lad! th pancakes were delicious!
The powered sugar that was added on top added to its great taste already.
The powdered sugar that was added on top added to its great taste alreaady.
The pancakes were great. now i can go home and make homemade pancakes enstead of making the pancakes that come out the box already premade.
I really enjoyed making thses pancakes! I plan on making these at home some day!
I learned how to make fluffy pancakes and how important it is to know different, little things like the difference and consequence of teaspoon and tablespoon
These buttermilk pancakes were absolutely the best. I learned that not only are they easy to make but even more delicious than the ones out of a box mix. They are not hard to make either and its a fun experience.
I really enjoyed these pancakes! My group had lots of fun while creating these phenominal wonders. I hope one day i am able to make such magnificent pancakes such as these at home.
it was greeat i cant wait to make them again
i had no idea that is was so easy to make this !
I learned that milk makes it taste differently and that you are supposed to use buttermilk.
Turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles
I learned that you can use different kinds of milk to make the pancakes, it will just change the recipe a little bit.
I learned that you have to turn the pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles
i learn that if you put pancakes in the oven that they will stay hot and fluffy
I learned that you need to coat the pan with Crisco or spray the pan with oil.
If you don’t put buttermilk in the recipe it can have a different taste to it and will not be as good. so it’s important to follow the recipe.
I learned to only put a 1/4 cup of sugar.
I didnt know that pancakes were actually very easy and fast to make
You have to add buttermilk or the pancakes will taste different.
I learned that it taste better if you use buttermilk instead of regular milk.
I learned that you have to watch your pancakes carefully or that will get burnt.
i learned that you have to keep a close watch on the pancakes while flipping then so they dont burn.
They were light and fluffy and just simply scrumptious
I loved making pancakes. They got done really fast!
i learned that you need to set your skillet to the right temp. because it is easy to burn pancakes.
I learned by doing this lab that it is very important that you know how to flip pancakes so they do not go everywhere.
I learned that using a skillet is very convinient and a lot easier to use than a pan on the stove.
i learned you can put sour cream in pancakes
its really easy to make.
I didn’t know you put sour cream in pancakes!
I learned to make a well when you pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
I learned that you ned to preheat your skillet before you make the batter.
maddie l .3rd pd
I learned that to adding too much buttermilk makes your pancakes flat instead of fluffy.
very easy to make and very good
i learned that if you flip your panckakes too early that the batter will definitely stick to the skilet
I learned that when the batter starts to bubble, they’re ready to flip.
Don’t forget to preheat your oven and your skillet.
I learned how to tell when to flip the pancakes. You flip the pancakes when they become bubbly on the top and the edges look cooked.
I learned than you can make pancackes from scratch that actually taste better than the one that are already pre mixed.
If you mix up the batter to much then you get to much protien in it and thats not very good.
i learned that you can freeze pancakes and they will last longer
I learned that you don’t have to drench your pancakes in syrup for them to taste well. You can easily sprinkle a little powdered sugar on them and they’ll be just as good with less calories.
learning that kneading the dough too much will put gluten into the dough mixture
Kneading the dough to much will mess up your pancakes.
I Learned That You Have To Combine buttermilk, oil, and egg; add to flour mixture, stirring until smooth.
i learned that you have to turn pancakes when tops are covered with bubbles and edges look cooked.
I learned that I need to turn the pancakes over when the tops are covered with bubbles and the edges look cooked.
Pancakes were hard at first but after the first couple, i did well.
I learned that you can cook your pancakes closely together and it won’t harm them
i learned it was easy to make homemade pancakes
-victoria falkner
I learned that you can use sour cream and butter to make pancakes.
I learned that making food is a very basic skill that you need throughout your life. I also learned that to make light and fluffy pancakes, you must add less fat to the batter.
i learned that salt is put in buttermilk pancakes
I learned that you can use regular milk or buttermilk with this recipe.
I learned that some pancakes have been made with sourcream. I always figured that sourcream would leave the food with, like it says, more of a sour taste rather than a sort of sweet one.
I learned that sour cream gives the pancakes a better taste
I learned before you flip the pancakes make sure the bubbles come out.
When the tops bubble it is time to flip
I learned that you need to preheat your skillet before you make the batter.