Whole wheat pancake art

By: Evelyn Raab

Try your hand at creating some unique artwork using nothing but pancake batter and a dash of inspiration. Pancakes: they're not just breakfast anymore. They're art.

Ingredients

1-1/4 cups	(300 mL)	whole wheat flour
1 tbsp.	(15 mL)	sugar
1 tsp.	(5 mL)	baking powder
1/2 tsp.	(2 mL)	baking soda
1-1/4 cups	(300 mL)	buttermilk (or 1 cup yogurt mixed with 1/4 cup milk)
2 tbsp.	(30 mL)	vegetable oil
1		egg
		additional oil for the pan

1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. In another bowl, stir together the buttermilk (or alternative), oil and egg. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and stir just until combined. Be careful not to over-beat the batter — it will deflate. Fill a squeeze bottle (like an empty ketchup bottle or similar) with batter.
2. Brush a griddle or large skillet with vegetable oil and place over medium heat. When a drop of water sizzles and evaporates instantly, you are ready to begin creating your pancake masterpieces. See below for ideas.
3. When one side of the pancake is golden brown and bubbles appear on the top side of the pancake, flip over carefully and bake the other side until browned. Serve with plenty of maple syrup or fresh fruit.

Makes about 4 servings.

Creating your pancake masterpieces:
Using the squeeze bottle, squirt out circles and squiggles and shapes onto the griddle — work quickly because they will cook and solidify in seconds. Also, you can create designs by adding batter at different times. For instance, squeeze out your initials onto the pan (backwards, of course!) then cover completely with batter (use a spoon for large amounts). The initials will show up darker than the background pancake!

Here are some more ideas for designs:

• Happy face: squeeze out two little eyes and a smiling mouth. Let bake for just a few seconds, then cover completely with batter.
• Teddy bear: one round spot for a nose, two spots for eyes, and a smiling mouth. Let bake for just a moment, then cover completely with batter to make the face and add two round ears at the top.
• Mouse: similar to the teddy bear (above), only add whiskers when you do the nose.
• Flower: squeeze out round middle, let bake for a moment then surround with round petals. Add a stem if you're brave.
• Secret message: write something (backwards!) on the griddle. Cover with batter. Give it to your brother. Be nice.
• Jackson Pollock pancake: make random squiggles and splotches with batter. Let bake, then spoon batter over it to cover. Fabulous! You're a genius.