Pancake Tuesday: Chocolate chip pancakes with sautéed bananas

My mom used to make pancakes often for us when we were growing up. I was always unhappy when she did because I never liked pancakes. Isn't it crazy how our taste-buds change as we grow older?

These days I find myself making pancakes often and absolutely loving it. I'm enjoying all the things that one can add to the batter from chocolate chips, to bananas, grated apples, and guava puree. Not to mention the various berries! Instead of ground cinnamon, which we traditionally put in pancakes (at least in our home), I've been making mine with ground cardamom, too, sometimes a hint of all spice, or a pinch of nutmeg.

Any citrus I have at hand, the zest gets tossed in, too – grapefruit, orange, lime, lemon or tangerine. Let yourself have fun with pancakes!

Chocolate-chip Pancakes and Sauteed Bananas

Serves 4 to 5

1 cup all purpose flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 tablespoons white sugar

A pinch salt

A pinch ground cinnamon

1 egg, room temperature, lightly beaten

3/4 cup whole milk (substitute with water)

2 heaped tablespoons chocolate chips (semi-sweet or regular)

Canola oil

1. Add flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and cinnamon to a bowl and mix together.

2. Add egg and milk to make a batter of dropping consistency (you may need more or less milk/water depending on your location). The batter should not be thin or watery.

3. Cover batter and let rest for at least 1/2 hour. The longer it rests, the higher the pancakes will rise (it's all about science, Alton Brown is better at explaining it).
Fold in chocolate chips just before cooking pancakes.

4. Add a few drops of oil to a non-stick pan and swirl. Heat on medium heat. If using a tawah or griddle, heat up pan first then brush with oil.

5. Pour or ladle 1/3 cup of batter in/on to pan and swirl with the back of a spoon. Spread batter to about 4 inches in circle. Let cook until bubbles or holes start to form. Flip pancakes (do not slam down) and let continue cooking until it comes away easily from the pan. Do not press down on pancakes while it is cooking.

6. Remove cooked pancake and place on wire rack or paper towel. Repeat until all the batter is used up. Insert a piece of wax paper between each pancake when it is done cooking to avoiding steaming and sticking.

7. Pancakes can be kept warm in a 200 degrees F. oven while you continue making the others.

Sautéed Bananas

2 ripe bananas (average 1 per person), sliced into 1/2-inch rounds

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

2 teaspoons canola or any neutral tasting oil

1. Add butter and oil to a pan and place on medium heat to melt. When the butter starts to froth, add the bananas to the pan, spread them into a single layer, you want each piece to make contact with the pan. Let cook for 1 minute or until it starts to caramelize a little. Flip, cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

2. Spoon over pancakes, drizzle with syrup or honey and serve.

Note: These sauteed bananas can be served topped on many desserts.