Tried-and-true: the PERFECT pancake recipe

American measurements:

For the dry mix:

1.5 cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

For the wet mix:

1.25 cups milk

1 egg

4 tablespoons butter (melted)

1 teaspoon vanilla

European measurements:

For the dry mix:

4 dl flour

30 ml sugar

15 ml baking powder

4 ml salt

For the wet mix:

3.25 dl milk

1 egg

60 ml butter (melted)

5 ml vanilla

I have made American pancakes on three separate occasions now for groups of my international friends, and this recipe I have been using always produces the most perfect, fluffy, golden pancakes.  Just thought I would share it - I have it in American and European measurements.  Side note: my favorite topping for these is Nutella, bananas, and brown sugar - yum!!

Instructions:

1. Mix the dry and wet ingredients separately.
2. Make a well in the center of the dry mix and gradually add the wet mix.  
3. Only mix until there are no dry lumps - the less you mix, the fluffier the pancakes will be!
4. Rub a thin film of butter over a frying pan and give it some time to heat up.  
5. Spoon batter on the skillet and flip when you see bubbles appearing all over the pancake.  
6. Flip again, and once golden on both sides - EAT!

recipe: homemade lavender soda!

A couple of months ago at my favourite grocery store, I spotted a new product on the shelves: lavender soda. Despite the fact that it cost more than $5 for a pack of four sodas, I tried it out... and was wowed. Lavender soda is lightly sweet, very unique tasting, and absolutely perfect for summer. But the cost of this luxe soda kept me from drinking it regularly.

I bartend at a small, locally-owned restaurant in Virginia, and one my managers featured a Lavender Collins as a cocktail special this summer, with lavender syrup, gin, lime, and soda water. I was making some of the lavender syrup for this drink, and eureka! I subtracted the gin, and concocted my own homemade lavender soda. It was better than the one in the store. This has quickly become my (and my friends and family's) favourite summertime drink. It is crisp, very lightly sweet, and perfectly refreshing.

Here's my recipe for delicious homemade lavender soda!

Ingredients:

• 20-30 stalks of fresh lavender (if you don't grow your own, grocery stores sell it in their produce section in small containers)
• 1 cup of sugar (don't worry, it doesn't all go into one drink!!!)
• 1 cup of water
• Soda water (club soda)
• Fresh lime

Method:
Rinse the fresh lavender and pat dry on a paper towel.

To make a lavender simple syrup, combine the sugar and water into a small pot and heat over the stove on high until the sugar dissolves. Stir, then remove from heat and allow to cool. While the simple syrup is cooling, add the stalks of lavender (the whole stalks are fine!) and put in the fridge to cool for at least several hours. The longer you leave the lavender in, the stronger its flavour will become.

When the lavender has steeped into the syrup and cooled, pour a tablespoon or two (depending on how sweet you want your soda) over ice in a glass. Squeeze a lime wedge into the glass, and fill the rest with soda water. Mix gently, and garnish with a lime.

Super easy! Keep the rest of the lavender syrup in the fridge and just keep mixing small amounts with soda water and lime whenever you want a fresh drink - or make a whole pitcher! It will last for a week or more if refrigerated. I promise, you'll quickly become addicted. Enjoy!!