Pancakes (Old-Fashioned)

This is the most basic recipe for a slightly thick pancake. It's just as easy to make a quick homemade batter as it is to open a box mix, which needs ingredients added to it anyway. And using organic ingredients seems to give the pancakes a cleaner and truer flavour.

1½ cups all-purpose flour, unbleached
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. coarse salt
2¾ tsp. baking powder
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1¼ cups milk
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
vegetable oil, for the griddle

For Serving:
pure maple syrup, warmed
melted butter

Place a heat-proof platter into a warm oven at 200°F (95°C).

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add in the egg, milk, and 2 Tbsp. of the butter. Whisk from the center, slowly incorporating the flour. Rest the batter for 10 minutes.

Heat a large well-seasoned cast-iron skillet or favourite griddle over medium-high heat. Swirl the remaining Tbsp. of butter in the skillet (or use oil to coat the griddle) and immediately pour in ¼ cup of batter for each pancake. When bubbles rise to the surface, flip the pancakes, slightly reduce the heat, and cook until the bottoms are golden and the centers are cooked, about 1 minute. (Rarely does the first pancake work because it takes a bit of time to get in the groove with the heat, fat, and batter.)

As the pancakes come out of the skillet, place them on the warm platter in the oven until ready to serve. Serve a stack of 3 pancakes, topped with more butter and the maple syrup.

Makes 2 cups batter; 16 (4") pancakes.