Dress up your pancakes like french fries, complete with proper-looking condiments.

My family is involved in the fast food business in America. I still associate Christmas time with Ronald McDonald cake. There has been the hot dog joint, the burger place, the sandwich shop…and so we grew up eating many of the raw ingredients that make up these foods, but transformed into other meals.  After talking with loved ones about this memory, and hearing an offhand comment about how some kids would love to eat fast food for every meal, here is a healthy and fast breakfast concession. Dress up your pancakes like french fries, complete with proper-looking condiments.

I used a basic pancake mix. You’re welcome to use your own favorite smooth pancake blend, but try to use buttermilk or clabbered milk for the liquid, so that the pancakes are thick and fluffy.

The fries match my morning view.

****

Foreman grills make great pancakes. Who knew?

Pancake “Fries”
Serves 2-3

You will need:

A Foreman grill
1 cup pancake mix, prepared
“Fry Condiments” like red jams, lemon curd or marmalade, honey or syrup, vanilla yogurt, or fruit purees.

Instructions:

1. Place pancake mix into a measuring cup and heat up your Foreman grill.

2. Pour about 1/4 cup of pancake batter into your Foreman grill. Allow the batter to flow down the grooves 3/4 of the way down, then shut the lid. Allow the pancakes to be grilled, and remove when wonderfully fragrant and golden brown on the top.

3. Remove the pancake from the grill immediately. Repeat, taking care not to allow the batter to dribble out the bottom of the grill.

Buttermilk makes the pancake fries light and fluffy.

4. Cut along the top of the ridges to create long pancake fingers.  Trim excess pancake away.

The hallabong curd really looks like mustard.

6. Serve warm with small finger bowls of fun complementary “fry condiments” in red, yellow, white, or green colors.  Suggestions include raspberry or strawberry jam, lemon or orange curd, syrup or honey, vanilla yogurt, or a kiwi relish.  Dip your pancake “fries” and enjoy!