American Style Pancakes

These have become our regular Sunday breakfast! The children know and race to the table…Easy and delicious and, if covered in fruit, not too unhealthy!

125g flour

2 tbsp sugar

Pinch of salt

1 tbsp baking powder

240ml milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp vegetable oil

1 egg

• In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients
• In a separate bowl, combine milk, vanilla, oil and egg and stir
• Slowly add the liquid ingredients to the dry until just combined – do not over stir
• Heat your pan and grease lightly – very little is needed as there is oil in the batter
• Once pan very hot – pour batter on in small circles. In a 26″ pan you should be able to fit three

There are many ways to serve these:

• Syrup and butter
• Syrup and pieces of fruit – strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and banana are fab
• Nutella
• Sugar and lemon
• Honey
• Jam
• Peanut Butter
• Yogurt and honey
• Plain

Sunday Morning Pastry

Perfect for a lazy Sunday breakfast, a lovely brunch or as a treat in the lunch box! Let the children crack the eggs, knead the dough, fill the pastry and mix the spread  – and whatever else you do – don’t forget to let them lick the spoons (unless you want to do that yourself!)

Dough

250g all purpose flour
Pinch of salt
2 table spoons sugar
150g butter
75 ml milk
25g fresh yeast – if not avaliable – 1 sachet dried yeast.

Mix flour, salt and sugar – crumble in the butter. Make the milk luke warm in a pot or microwave and dissolve the yeast in it, pour this mixture into the flour and knead together. You should end up with a silky smooth doughball. Cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.

Almond Horns

100g ground almonds, 80g sugar, 1 egg white

Mix the ingredients leaving a little egg white behind. Once dough (above) has risen, roll into two circles – cut each into 8 triangles. (This is great for young children and maths by the way!!) A teaspoon full mixture is placed onto each triangle – at the wide end – and the horn rolled together. Leave to rise for 30 minutes, brush with remainder of egg white and bake for 20-25 minutes at 225C.

Cinnamon Swirls

75g soft butter, 50g icing sugar, 3 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix ingredients to a smooth paste. Once risen, roll dough (above) into a thin rectangular shape – spread the paste onto the dough. Roll the dough together loosely – length wise – and cut the roll into finger thick slices. Place these on a lined baking tray and leave to rise for 10 minutes before brushing with egg or cream. Bake for 12 minutes at 225C.

Top Tip

The dough is incredibly versatile and can be used in many ways:

• Soft, sweet rolls – simply roll dough into golf ball sized balls and place on baking tray. In oven for 20 minutes at 225C.
• For a chocolately treat – put a few pieces of chocolate into the triangle shaped dough and roll together. In oven for 20 minutes at 225C.
• Substitute almond mixture with ham and cheese to make savoury horns. In oven for 20-25 minutes at 225C.

Cornwall Granola

Lovely as a mid morning snack (just grab a handful), great on natural yogurt with a dollop of homemade strawberry compote or in its own right in a bowl with some milk!

2.5 cups crushed weetabix
5 cups jumbo oats
2.5 cups chopped hazelnuts
4 teaspoons cinnamon
2.5 cups raisins (can be left out)
2.5 cups desiccated coconut
1.5 cups pumpkin seeds
1.5 cups sunflower seeds
2.5 cups halved walnuts
2.5 cups honey
125g melted butter (reduce this by half and add some water for a lower fat version)

• Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl
• Place on baking tray and bake in 150 C degree preheated oven until toasted and golden (20-30 minutes) – stir occasionally
• Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

 

TOP TIP

 

Great as a homemade gift from the children or you! Simply wrap in a cellofan bag or bottle in a jam jar and tie with a pretty ribbon.