Sourdough Pancakes

[Woody]

Sourdough Pancakes



This recipe has been in my family for many many years.  While it might not sound appealing, once you try them, you’ll love them!  Lumberjacks, for one used to treasure their sourdough mix.  And brought it with them from camp to camp.

What you’ll need to do first is make a “starter”.  This is to be made long ahead of time-days ahead is best.

Sourdough starter:

1 packet dry yeast
1cup warm water
Mix this until yeast dissolves
Add 1cup flour and mix (slowly by hand-so it doesn’t kill the yeast)
Then add 2 cups warm water and enough flour to make it a cake batter consistency
Put this in a 1 quart mason jar and tighten the lid.  Then place in the refrigerator.

*This starter is not to be shaken as it will explode-much like shaking a beer.  Handle this with care. 



The night before you want to make the Sourdough pancakes, take the starter out of the refrigerator.  Crack open the lid and let stand for a couple hours to get to room temperature.   

*Make sure you open the lid as it will build up pressure otherwise.

Once it’s at room temperature, put the starter in a bowl.  Set jar aside-do not wash jar!  Carefully mix it up (not stirring-as it kills the yeast) until it’s completely dissolved. Using the jar, fill it ½ way with lukewarm water.  Add this to the starter.  Now add flour and mix it until the starter mix is the consistency of a cake batter.  Let it sit over night in a warm (not hot) spot.  I cover the bowl with a plate-do not use a cover for the bowl as it will pop off overnight. 

The next morning, uncover the starter.  Using a measuring cup take out starter and put it back in the jar until it’s ½ ways filled up.  Put the lid on the jar, and place that back in the refrigerator.  Now with the remaining batter in the bowl-you’ll need:

3 Tablespoons of sugar
½ teaspoon of baking soda
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 egg-beaten

Add the ingredients to the batter in the bowl.  Slowly mixing it up so it doesn’t kill the yeast.  Let this sit while you fry up bacon and/or sausage.  You’ll see it has risen some.  Before pouring on a hot griddle to make the sourdough pancakes-be sure to stir it up once more.  Now make the pancakes up as you normally would.  This recipe makes enough for a family of 4 easily. 

For a special treat, take the leftover sourdough pancakes and set them aside to cool.  Lay them out and lightly butter each of them.  Sprinkle some cinnamon & sugar (mixed) on them.  Roll them up and pierce a toothpick to hold them in that shape.  Now the kids have a snack for the day. 
 
*You will not need to wash the jar each time you use the starter.  Maybe once a year. 
*Do not shake the starter in the jar.  This could cause it to explode.
*If the mix doesn’t quite have the same sourdough smell after many uses, you may need to add a package of dry yeast to the starter.  Do this the night before when you add the lukewarm water to the starter. 
*Starter can last for years!  It can be doubled and then divided to hand down to relatives. That’s how I got mine-thanks mom! 

[Woody]

I forgot to add, once you've had these-you'll probably never want a regular pancake again!  They are a little bit more work than reg. pancakes, but the reward is great taste! 

I can remember camping with my family as a kid up on the Gunflint Trail. East Bearskin campground to be exact.  Mom would mix up the sourdough pancake batter while dad primed the Coleman stove.  The smell would permeate through the fresh morning air.  Along with the campfire burning and coffee percolating over it.  Good times.