Dutch style Pancakes by Maressa Mortimer

Dutch-Style Pancakes

Submitted by Maressa Mortimer

England will be celebrating Pancake Day on the 16th of February this year. Growing up in the Netherlands, I had never heard of Pancake Day. We had pancakes whenever my mum was prepared to face baking pancakes for four growing children.

I’m the same with my kids. We eat pancakes whenever I’m prepared to face a messy, greasy kitchen and oily pans. Occasionally, I buy ready-made pancakes. They’re not the same though.

So, this is how I make Dutch-style pancakes: The pancakes are served with a black syrup that we buy in the Netherlands whenever we are there. It doesn’t taste like golden syrup or maple syrup. My kids are happy to eat their pancake with anything sweet though.

First (remember I have four very hungry children!), I break eight eggs in a bowl. I add a little milk and mix. Then I add flour. Lots and lots of flour, sometimes an entire pack. Then stir in more milk. I stir until the batter looks a little thicker than milk. I add a tiny sprinkle of salt. I pour some of the mixture in a tall jug, as it’s less messy than trying to spoon the dripping batter into the pan. I use large frying pans. I get the sunflower oil really hot, just a small spoon full per pan. I pour in enough batter to cover the pan, but only just, otherwise there is a chance that the middle of the pancake won’t be cooked.

I flip the pancake over when the batter is dry at the top. When both sides are golden brown, I slide the pancake onto a large baking tray that is kept in the oven on a very low setting. This is just to keep the pancakes warm for when I’m done.

Dutch pancakes often have very thin slices of streaky bacon in them. You pour the batter in the pan as normal, then place a couple of bacon strips into the batter. It’s still delicious with syrup, trust me… In fact, when we are in the Netherlands, we usually eat at a pancake restaurant once or twice. I normally order a pancake with tomatoes, cheese, salami, bacon...plus syrup! My family thinks it’s gross, but then, they’re English!

A Snowman or a Snowball

Submitted by Poppy Flynn

Written by J. Jones Age 10

The dark and silence surrounds me, As I drift in my cloud. I can taste the excitement As I wait with the crowd.

Floating up here So very high. Waiting to explode Out into the sky,

Then it happens And out of the clouds I burst. There’s a flurry of other snowflakes, But I want to be first. Down I go Swirling and whirling. Graceful and elegant, Like a ballet dancer, twirling.

Unique and delicate We flutter on the breeze, Using our icy fingers To make everything freeze.

The fresh smell of winter Is in the air, The ponds are frozen And the trees are bare.

On the ground Children laugh and play. I wonder what I’ll be Made into today.