So excited to update this post, which was originally written 10 years ago. I've updated the recipe and I hope you enjoy it!
Food is the focus of many books. This weekend we decided to explore Eric Carle's classic book, Pancakes, Pancakes! So, it was easy to decide what to have for breakfast on Sunday...pancakes. It is always fun to make food that is inspired by the books we are reading...I call them literacy recipes. The basic pancake recipe in this book is easy and delicious and everyone loves pancakes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
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Unfortunately, by the time I got to the kitchen, camera in hand, the pancake batter was done, the pancake flipping was done and the pancake eating was almost done. Thus, no pics of the batter...only one lonely pancake on my plate. The silver lining, my husband made the pancakes, and then the kids took part in a fun literacy and pancake activity.
Literacy and Pancakes Activity for Kids
Discovering where food comes from is amazing for children. Whether it is going to the orchard to pick apples or heading to the farm to pick a pumpkin. Why not explore where the ingredients come from in pancakes, just like Eric Carle does in Pancakes, Pancakes! I created a simple Where Does Your Food Come From chart...feel free to print off a copy to use at home.
Print our Where Does Your Food Come From table.
Pick a recipe...we chose our basic pancake recipe.
Have the kids draw or write the ingredients and where the ingredient comes from. Some ingredients like eggs are easier than others. They had to do some serious research to discover where baking powder comes from.
The best part of this activity was that my daughters did this with my husband. Not only did Dad make the pancakes, but he participated in the activity too, quality father-daugher time! This exercise can be applied to any recipe and is a simple way to incorporate reading and food education. When we were done, we sat down and read Pancakes, Pancakes! together. A fun, and delicious, spend a Sunday morning.
Super Easy Basic Pancake Recipe
1-½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled
1-⅓ cups milk
maple syrup
Start by whisking together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
Beat the eggs, and add the milk, and melted butter together in a small bowl. Now, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until pancake batter forms. The batter shouldn't be too thick.
Now it's time to cook the pancakes! This is the hardest part for me and the time when I get my husband to take over. I can never cook a good pancake, but he makes them perfectly...we are a good team. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Drop 1 tablespoon of butter into the hot pan. Use a ladle to drop the batter into the pan. The rest is up to you. How big you make the pancakes will determine how long they take to cook. Flip the pancakes over once you see slowly popping bubbles in the middle of the pancake. Once cooked through top with real maple syrup and enjoy.
Super Easy Basic Pancake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 tablespoon butter melted and cooled
- 1-⅓ cups milk
Instructions
- Start by whisking together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl.
- Beat the eggs, and add the milk, and melted butter together in a small bowl. Now, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir until pancake batter forms. The batter shouldn't be too thick.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Drop 1 tablespoon of butter into the hot pan. Use a ladle to drop the batter into the pan. The rest is up to you. How big you make the pancakes will determine how long they take to cook.
- Flip the pancakes over once you see slowly popping bubbles in the middle of the pancake.
- Once cooked through top with real maple syrup and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
It's so much fun to read a book and then cook the food from the pages of the book. Have you made a literacy recipe before?
Make sure you are following along...
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Veronica D. Slater says
Oh just love that book!! what a great post! Thanks Jen!
Having Fun says
Mmmm those look very yummy.
KitchenCounterChronicles says
They were good!
maryanne @ mama smiles says
I love the table - what a great learning opportunity!
My husband makes pancakes sometimes, too - LOVE it!!!
Thanks for sharing with Learning Laboratory at Mama Smiles =)
KitchenCounterChronicles says
Yes, things usually taste better when someone else makes them!
Ticia says
What a great way to follow on by discovering where the food came from. Have you ever read "How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World?"
Hopping over from Learning Laboratory
KitchenCounterChronicles says
I haven't read that book...but I will look it up right now. Thanks Ticia!
Laura@art4littlehands says
great book and activities. Love it. I am checking that book out this week as for some reason I have never heard of it. Thanks for linking it to Monday Madness.
Marie says
Thank you for your link up to Party In The Kids' Kitchen!