Mum's Homemade Pancake. The best!

We’ve made these rustic pancakes at home for as long as I can remember! It might be quite plain but who cares, it’s the only pancake recipe I know that doesn’t make me get bored of it and makes me go back for more over and over again! I’ve tried lots of pancake recipes as well as boxed pancake mixes but my mum’s pancakes remain, for me, the winner!

 I hadn’t made them in a while and woke up on Saturday morning craving pancakes with hot chocolate! Mum and dad came to visit and there was no better time to make them, afterall, food always tastes better to me when it’s shared with friends and family! 'Abi beko?' (Isn't it so)? If they weren’t here with me, I probably would have just reached for some bread and closed that breakfast chapter!

The Recipe.

Serves 4 (Serving Size = 3 pancakes)

250grams Flour
60grams Granulated Sugar
30grams Powdered Milk
1 Large Egg
325mls Water
Pinch of Nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Oil for frying
Knob of butter

Sift flour into a medium bowl (i use mcdougalls super sifted, all purpose flour which is available in most shops so i very happily skip the sifting and just weigh into the bowl).

Add granulated sugar and powder milk, mix.

Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture, break egg in a separate bowl (this is to avoid a few errors, like having egg shell in your mixture. It really gets to me when i'm eating something and I 'crunch' an egg shell, it makes me feel proper care wasn't taken in making the food), add egg, water, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt, mix into the flour mixture with a large spoon or handwhisk until smooth.

Meanwhile, pour oil into a frying pan, about 1/4 (one quater) full. Place frying pan on medium heat. When oil is hot, use a large spoon to scoop pancake batter into the frying pan, 3 or 4 at a time depending on the size of your pan, making sure to give it room to spread, otherwise, your pancakes might be too thick. Fry until golden brown on both sides, remove from pan onto a plate or bowl lined with paper towels (or serviette, which i use more, found its much cheaper to use serviettes as paper towels are outrageously expensive and a pack of serviette costs just about 80 - 100 naira. They both do the same job anyway, so, whatever)!

While still warm, top with a knob of butter and serve.

Sit back, relax and enjoy with a mug of hot chocolate or for a heavier meal, with oatmeal.

Bulk Shopping in Lagos?

Everytime i visit a supermarket over here in Lagos, odika anume etufu ego (makes me feel i'm throwing money away). I know my Ibo is pitiful but its really just for emphasis. This continually gives me reason to stick with the ritual of doing most of my grocery shopping at the Lagos market (Oke-Arin).

Its Ok for the SM's to demand a fair price for their goods but sometimes, it can be annoyingly 'cut throat' particularly when you know exactly what the going price is at the Lagos market. As a result, SM's still remain for me a place for emergency buys or to get a few items you may not find at the market.

Ok, ok, i know... it can be really crowded, sunny or rainy and all.... You'll rather do without the stress of a long walk and parking 'wahala' but its well worth it in the end because the amount of money you save is in the thousands particularly if you do a monthly shopping, bulk shopping or planning to spend a few thousands. Trust me, I know! (My sister still cant get over the fact that i buy almost all Kelloggs Cereals for 600 - 700naira depending on the time of the year or the importers pegged price and those aren't even my greatest savings).

I try to find time during a week day to do this because the market is really rowdy on Saturdays, its more tolerable and calmer during the week. I would take some time off work for about 2-3 hours on a day that isn't too busy, i only have to do this once or twice in a month and make up for it later. The UBA Car Park isn't the only available car park, i prefer parking under the Apongbo bridge as its only a 5minutes walk away from the market. This costs me 200 - 300naira for parking for the duration of my stay depending on the side of the bridge.

I have a trusted Alabaru (Carrier) so you can get one and if she is good, get her phone number and make her your regular and all you have to do is to call her whenever you get to the market. They would usually carry a full head for about 150 - 200 naira.

When I'm done and i add up everything, i would have saved up to 5000naira upwards, depending on what I've bought and it sure feels good!