RECIPE: Fruit Pancakes that Kids Can Help Make

I got this recipe from a favorite web site. I really think it is a fun one for kids to be part of it. Enjoy it!

Fruit Pancakes That Kids Can Help Make

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. sugar

2 eggs

2 cups milk

3 tbsp. vegetable oil

Butter

About 1 cup of fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries, Sliced strawberries, apples, peaches or bananas

Maple syrup

Step 1 Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl. Show the chef how to measure accurately, using dry measuring cups and leveling off the flour. And be sure to have him check for any remaining lumps in the bottom of the sifter.

Step 2 Whisk the eggs and milk in a separate bowl, then whisk in the oil. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and stir with a spoon, but do not beat. The batter will be a little bit lumpy, but that's okay. For fluffier pancakes, substitute buttermilk for the milk and use 2 teaspoons baking soda instead of the baking powder.

Step 3 Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a griddle or an electric skillet on medium high. Then, being careful not to splatter the hot butter, drop about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake (a job for older kids and parents only). Be sure to leave enough room between the cakes for them to grow. For fun, you can drizzle the batter into shapes. Pour it into a plastic bag, snip a small hole in one corner, and squeeze the batter into hearts, teddy bears, numbers or your child's initials on the hot griddle.

Step 4 Ask your kids what fruits they want to add to their pancakes, then gently press blueberries, raspberries, or apple or banana slices into the batter. To help the kids pick their favorite fillings, set out bowls of the prepared fruits. Six-year-old Tom picked five blueberries and one raspberry, whereas his sister, four-year-old Ruth, said "I don't want to put anything in it, just on it."

Step 5 Cook until the pancakes bubble on the top and brown on the bottom. Flip, then cook until brown on the other side. For successful cooking, use a griddle that heats evenly. Keep it on medium high--if it's too hot, the pancakes will burn on the outside and remain gooey on the inside; if it's not hot enough, the crust will turn hard and the inside will be dry. Cook a test pancake in the beginning, then adjust your heat accordingly.

Step 6 Serve the pancakes hot with butter and maple syrup, if you like. Or, stockpile them on an oven-proof dish set in a warm oven for any late sleepers. Makes 20 pancakes.

RECIPE: Tortilla Española (Spanish Potato Omelet)

I got this recipe from Tere. She has been one of my best friends in Madrid, where I live. Our daughters go to school and dance together and we spend many hours over coffee or doing Scrapbooking (a new found passion for her!)

Tortilla Española

It is a favorite dish in about every household in Spain. I have found it becomes a favorite to many Americans who visit Spain as well. It can be served as a first or second plate in a main traditional meal in Spain. It can also be served as "tapas" on a street cafe. Some will have it for a midmorning snack. Americans will even have it for breakfast! It can be served hot or at room temperature.

Ingredients:
4 big potatoes
6 eggs
Olive Oil
1/2 large onion (optional - I love it with onion!)

Steps:
Peal the potatoes and slice them in transparent pieces. Rinse it. Chop the onions as well. Put abundant olive oil in a frying pan and fry potatoes and onions together. Stir the mixture often cutting it the potatoes in even smaller pieces as it gets cooked. They will be done when they are tender and golden. Remove it from pan and set is aside. Put the eggs in a bowl and beat them with a fork until well mixed. Add the potato mixture to it. Add salt to taste. Greese another smaller frying pan with olive oil and put it on low burner. Add the mixture to it and let it cook slowly. When sides are done, make sure the "tortilla" is loose from the pan. Turn the "tortilla" into a plate and slide it back to cook the other side, without loosing the shape. Allow time to cook inside. Turn it in to a plate again and it is ready to serve.
You can add many things to enhance%2