Introduction: Tin Can Pancakes

By

I learnt how to cook these pancakes many years back and kids that visit us always enjoy the experience.

It teaches some cooking basics as well as how, with a few simple tools and 3 basic ingredients you can make something that tastes great and is actually pretty healthy & nutritional (albeit you'd need to cook a lot of them to get a lot of nutrition from them ! )

Supplies

Ingredients:

This will make a couple of dozen tiny pancakes:

  • 1/3 US Cup of flour (50 grams)
  • 2/3 US Cup of milk (150ml)
  • 1 egg
  • Pinch of salt to taste (optional)
  • Cooking/Olive oil (just a couple of drops per pancake)
  • Jam/Chocolate/Peanut spread for the filling (or you could use sugar and lemon juice if you are English !)

Tools:

  • Empty tin cans (cleaned inside and out before using) - Note it’s important to use cans with no coated lining either inside or out since it could be toxic when burnt.
  • Tealight candles
  • Lighter/matches
  • Tin can opener (one that allows slots to be made in the tin)
  • Whisk (or a fork will work fine)
  • Knife



Step 1: Prepare the Batter...

Put the milk, flour and egg in a bowl (and the optional salt to your taste).

Whisk for a couple of minutes by hand until you have a smooth batter.

Leave to one side (30 minutes is ideal).

Step 2: Make the Stove...

Take the tin cans, larger tins will make larger pancakes :-) and empty the contents if you have not already done so - helps if you eaten the baked beans already for breakfast (use some forward planning) and wash out the inside with water, also remove the label. Now check carefully that the inside of the tin is actually shiny tin and not coated with some type of plastic, burning a tin that has a coating could be toxic so don’t do that !

With a tin can opener make slots all the way around the top and bottom (as shown on the large tin picture), this is needed to allow air in for the candles. Take care as the inside of the tin will be quite sharp now.

You could also drill small holes around near the top and bottom but you are unlikely to have a drill at summer camp (as shown on the small tin picture).

Next, arrange the tealight candles on a fireproof surface, stack them 3 high so that the flame is about half way up the tin (otherwise there will not be enough heat reaching the top of the tin).

Light the tealights and place the tin can on top. Look through the slots to make sure the candle is still lit.

Step 3: Cooking Time...

After a minute when the stove is hot put a couple of drops of oil on the top, after a few seconds its warm and you can pour a small amount of the batter mix into the middle.

Start with a small amount of batter and see how long it takes to cook. After a minute or so turn it over to cook the other side.

Once both sides are done, remove with a knife , fill with your favourite filling, fold into quarters and enjoy !