African Vanielje on Feb 05 2008 at 10:37 pm | Filed under: Uncategorized
Strawberry Cream Pancakes with Vanielje Cream and Eau de Vie Syrup
My mom is the master pancake maker. I guess she had a lot of practice with all of us. In fact, I seem to remember my dad buying her a French copper crepe pan one February. It could have been for Valentine’s day, or it could have been for her birthday, but I have a sneaking suspicion it was for Shrove Tuesday, and the gift was heavy with expectation.
Kassie never disappointed, and I know that she will have made pancakes in Africa today, complete with at least one nonchalant one handed flip at some stage, egged on by my dad and my nephew. My pan was a Christmas gift from a friend a few years ago, and is much too heavy for one-handed flips. (That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.) But I do like to think that my pancakes are just as wafer thin, crispy and delicious as Kassie’s, or perhaps it’s just been too long since I had one of the originals.
The secret lies in Kassie’s recipe, dead simple as it is – written down. But it’s everything that is not written down that makes the difference. It’s a hundred pancakes made, burnt, flipped and dropped, under the benevolent and patient eye of my mother. It’s a hundred more perfect, delicate little batter kerchiefs, sprinkled with cinnamon sugar and a squeeze of fresh lemon, before being rolled or folded into handle-able portions, made by my benevolent and patient mother. It’s her spirit bringing patience into my kitchen tonight that enables me to turn out delicate, crisp and delicious pancakes for my daughter to sprinkle with vanielje sugar, fresh cream and strawberries, ready to roll! I add a little simple eau de Vie syrup and what we have is definitely perfection. Thanks Kassie, and happy Pancake Day.
P.S. Kody won her pancake race at school today. I suppose it had to happen eventually!
Don’t forget to check the Vanielje Kitchen Cook Book (vkcb) for Kassie’s Pancake Recipe
I’ve fallen in love your mum, she just sounds like an exceptional human being.
You’re so posh! ‘I added a touch of eau de Vie syrup’…
Those look fantastic! My daughter has been bugging me about making them…hmmmm…
Amanda, not posh at all : read – ‘ i dug out a jar that used to have some poached fruit in it and swilled out the last of drops of vanielje syrup with a slug of Eau de Vie. One for the jar and one for me!’ But of course were I to make it again I would make the eau de Vie from scratch as it went quite well with the strawbs.
Marye, My daughter reminded me at 7am, twice, so that I would be sure to have them ready for her tea last night.
You won making such beautiful paper-thin pancakes and Kody won her race. Lovely. These pancakes look like crepes to me. Our pancakes in the US are heavy, thick skillet cakes. These look melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
Jeni, the French call them crepes and we call your pancakes dropscones. It is a thicker batter with raising agents. See my post Kids can cook too, or my September Birthday Cake of pancakes for my nephew. You Americans are a funny lot!
Such beautiful pancakes, and a fabulous story! I’m so glad I discovered your blog!
Dear Vanilje,
your pancakes are just amazing!! Seriously, I’m clapping my hands in excitement now to be able to be looking at your photos of edible masterpices!! G R E A T!!!
I myself made an attempt to make pancakes first time in my life the last weekend (I recorded the experience in my blog, so if interested, please take a look!
Being a russian (as I am) requires a knack to make russian blini (something like crepes but made of buckwheat rye), and I’m so glad to discover your site that gives THAT MUCH inspiration!
Thank you so much for your comment on my blog, and for the visit!
(I’m still in awe of how perfectly paper-thin your pancakes are, by the way… Amazing!)
We love this! The Nutella, banana, whipped cream one is delicious as well
Astra Libris, I was pretty pleased with this batch of pancakes too.
Anya, I love blini. I will check your blog to see if I can get an authentic recipe
Maryann, thank you. Another great idea for Nutella.
You *so* have me wanting fresh strawberries…only a few more months
Pancakes? Strawberries? Eau de vie syrup?? You’re killing me here! These sound absolutely glorious.