Pancake, Filipino style

CEBU, Philippines - Pancakes are not a seasonal treat, of course. It may be enjoyed at any time of the year, all year round. There are people, though, who crave for pancakes as soon as the weather begins to get cooler - for no apparent reason.

Perhaps, childhood memories are the culprit for the craving of those people. It may have its roots back in those rainy days when the children were kept indoors, and mothers had to whip up quick snacks to appease the little tummies rumbling from all the calisthenics on the bed or the couch at the sala. And so, every time it rains or when the weather is cool, the memories come back.

Among most Filipinos, pancakes and waffles are thought to be the same stuff, only in different shapes. Pancakes are round and waffles are squares. Or, pancakes are made in skillets, while waffles are cooked in waffle irons. The tastes of the two are very similar, if not the same.

But Cynthia Myers, writing at www.leaf.tv, points out essential differences between pancakes and waffles.  Waffles are supposed to be crispy and pancakes fluffy, although both "are a form of quick bread, relying on baking powder and eggs for their lightness instead of yeast." The batters for both are easily available in packs at supermarkets or easy to make fresh at home.

Waffles, cites Myers, traditionally contain more fat than pancakes, which helps produce the crisp exterior of waffles. Waffles also contain more eggs, to help make them lighter, she says. On the other hand, pancake batter produces a denser, more cakelike product, she explains.

Ideally, pancakes and waffle batters are slightly different from each other, to give the outcome a distinct character.  But, Myers agrees, it is common practice to make waffles from pancake batter and pancakes from waffle batter, although the end results often deviate from what's traditionally known for either. The common, traditional toppings for both are maple syrup and butter.

By the way, it should be obvious that pancakes and waffles are not indigenous Filipino creations. But with the Filipinos' ingenuity in embracing foreign ideas and tweaking it to come up with their own versions, the pancake and waffle have since had their local varieties. The following recipe of Filipino-style pancake from www.food.com is one example:

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons sugar

1 ½ tablespoons baking powder

2 large eggs

2 cups milk

1teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Procedure:

1. Mix the flour, sugar and baking powder in large bowl.

2. In another bowl, beat eggs with milk and vanilla.

3. Add egg mixture to flour and mix till smooth.

4. Let stand for 5 minutes and mix again.

5. Pour mix, a little at a time, in hot skillet to make 6-inch pancakes. Flip when bubbles on edge of the pancake break.

6. For the topping, put little margarine on each pancakes, and then sprinkle with powdered sugar.  Do this while the pancake is hot, so the topping melts a little.

This recipe yields 10 pancakes. (FREEMAN)