Health and Wellbeing

Pancake Perfection

Pancakes are tasty treats that can be served up as part of a lazy weekend breakfast, a speedy snack or as a delicious dessert. Of course, we most commonly consume pancakes on Pancake Tuesday – which falls on March 8th this year. This Health and Wellbeing page includes an easy-to-follow pancake batter recipe, along with tasty topping ideas, to help ensure you are ‘pancake prepared’!

You will need:

125g plain flour
300ml of milk
1 egg
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying
(Makes approx. 12 pancakes)

Method:

Sieve flour and salt into a bowl.
Make a well in the centre of the flour, add the egg and about 100ml of the milk.
As you beat the mixture, gradually add the rest of the milk until a smooth batter is formed.
Pour the batter into a jug and allow to stand for 30-40mins.
Pour a thin layer of the batter onto an oiled and heated frying pan.
Fry until golden brown and turn/flip to brown the other side.

The Department of Health and Children recommends that adults consume three servings of dairy per day; a serving of dairy is equal to 1⁄3 pint of milk, a 125ml pot of yogurt or 28g of cheddar-type cheese. Milk is one of the main ingredients in pancake batter and other dairy foods can be a welcome accompaniment for both sweet and savoury pancakes, offering a tasty way to help you achieve one of your servings of dairy- why not try some of the dairy-licious ideas below.

• Yogurt and fruit preserve
• Yogurt and stewed apple
• Seasonal fresh fruit with yogurt
• Sundried tomato and cheddar cheese
• Ham, cheddar cheese and chopped tomato
• Knob of Irish butter with a drizzle of honey

Did You Know?

Heat has little impact on the calcium content of food. So, cooked meals containing milk, cheese or yogurt retain their calcium goodness.

Nutri-Myth of the Month

Myth: Pancakes should only be eaten on ‘Pancake Tuesday’.
Fact: Pancakes were traditionally eaten on this day to use up foods such as eggs, milk and sugar before the fasting season of Lent began. However, due to their increasing popularity and the many sweet and savoury varieties, pancakes are perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks at any time of the year!

If you have any suggestions or ideas, we would be delighted to hear from you via email at feelinggood@ndc.ie or write to us at The National Dairy Council, Innovation House, 3 Arkle Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18.

 

Don't miss our March feature ‘Irish Cuisine - Keeping it Green!’ - available online from Monday 21st March, 2011

 

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