Good Morning Pancakes

For most people, the rays of the sun peeking through their bedroom windows and the warmth of the brand new day grazing their barely awake bodies are invigorating greetings. They get up to pour cereals into the bowls, brew coffee or spread cheese on a bagel and move on to watch the  news, go for a run or drive to work.  These things qualify as nightmare for me. I like my days cold and dark with my curtains down, air conditioning on blast, curled in my bed, hiding under my duvet. It will take more than something out of a box, a pot or a bottle to get me out of my cocoon. I am not a morning person but there’s one thing that can wake me up and get me going even before the sunrises.

This recipe totally changes everything I have held against breakfasts. I am now a converted believer that breakfast is the most important meal of the day deserves. Especially if the breakfast we are talking about is something this sweet, fluffy and delightful.

Here’s what you will need:

• 1 cup self-rising flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg
•  Pinch of sea salt
• 1 pear, grated
• butter
• Dark chocolate, roughly grated
• Yoghurt, chilled
• Runny honey

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What to do:

1. Separate egg white and yolk. Place egg white in a mixing bowl and whisk until soft peaks are formed. Pour in milk, egg yolk, grated pear, salt and mix until smooth. Fold in flour.
2. Set a large pan over medium heat and put in a knob of butter. Once the butter is melted, add pancake batter spoonful at a time to the hot pan. Let one side cook until golden (when heat bubbles are starting to form on the pancake, one side is about to be done). Flip over and cook for a few minutes until both sides are golden.
3. Once pancakes are done, place a dollop of yoghurt on top of each, drizzle runny honey over and sprinkle grated chocolate.

This recipe is surprisingly easy to make but the contrasts of the temperatures, flavors and textures of the ingredients make it a complex and multi-layered dish. Pears can be substituted with peaches, berries or other fruits. Nuts and grains can also be added for an even more filling breakfast.

Whip up this dish while the kids or a loved one is still asleep. Let them wake up to the heavenly scent of your cooking and get their day started with the sweetness of these pancakes and you will never have to worry about grumpy mornings.