Remembering the Joy of Cooking

by Laura Donnelly — September 20, 2007

O.K., if you were to have ONLY ONE cookbook, this is it, the Joy of Cooking. Recently updated and re-issued by the Rombauer family, this cooking "bible" has 4500 recipes! It has the answer to any cooking question and is the perfect newlywed gift or present for someone who just moved into their first apartment or student off to college.

Nobody makes pancakes from scratch anymore and I admit, I think Bisquick pancake mix is pretty good. But this recipe is so light and fluffy and easy, you may want to make homemade pancakes more often!

Good Ol' Pancake Recipe
Makes 16 four-inch pancakes

1 and 1/2 cups flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 and 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 and 1/2 cups milk
3 Tablespoons melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Whisk dry ingredients together. In separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

2. Combine dry ingredients with wet ingredients and mix quickly but not too much. Cook pancakes on medium heat in greased pan or griddle.