Pfannkuchen and an Oven Trick

One obvious little trick. Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, known to many as Pancake Tuesday. Now, “Shrove” is not a word I grew up with. But pancakes? Oh yes. Hearing the word pancakes stirs up old memories, because pancakes have this one funny habit: they disappear faster than I can make them. When our three boys hit those hungry growing years, pancakes were a guaranteed win. They could eat like a small army, and my hubby was right there with them. Four hungry guys at the table, forks ready. Give them sugar or jam and they were perfectly happy. If there was cinnamon or applesauce too, even better. I usually had two pans going at once. One pan sizzling with pfannkuchen, the other frying up my easy kartoffelpuffer, because everyone had favorites and I loved both. I still remember that rhythm, flipping and serving while the kitchen buzzed, and nibbling on one while the next batch browned. Sure, I could have made a big pile and served them all at once with everyone sitting down properly. But pancakes, especially the potato ones, are at their best right from the pan. Standing at the stove meant we all got them fresh, including me. Years later, long before Google and YouTube, I finally figured out something that now feels like common sense. The oven could keep the finished pancakes warm while I cooked the rest. I just set them on a wire rack over a cookie sheet, so the bottoms would stay dry and didn't turn soggy. Yes, I can feel you reading that with one eyebrow raised. But back then, I learned it the way most of us learn in the kitchen: by doing it the hard way for far too long, until the obvious finally shows itself and says, “Hallo. I’ve been here the whole time.” I first used that trick for kartoffelpuffer, because those really must be hot and crisp. Then it hit me. If the oven can help with those, why not pfannkuchen too? If pancakes show up at your house tomorrow, I hope they’re more than just breakfast. I hope they bring back a lovely memory for you too.Tschüss!Oma Gerhild P.S. Today's recipes: German Pancakes and Easy German Potato Pancakes

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Pfannkuchen and an Oven Trick

One obvious little trick.

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