I have very fond memories of an annual Church breakfast I prepared with the help of amazing CIA students, teens from the church who wanted to learn to cook and my own children.
We made a variety of egg dishes, homefries, bacon, homemade sausages and pancakes... all made to order for about 200 people; it was very gratifying
I remember one of the dads telling me he enjoyed preparing pancakes on Sunday mornings for his large family. He was a busy doctor, I was impressed that he made time to personally prepare this special Sunday breakfast.
Homemade pancakes are a treat, usually reserved for the weekends but this simple recipe makes it quick and easy to prepare a short stack in minutes!
Homemade Pancakes
Pancakes are among the oldest prepared foods in human history, with versions appearing wherever grains could be ground and cooked. In ancient civilizations—including Ancient Greece and Rome—simple batters of wheat flour and water were cooked on hot stones or griddles and sweetened with honey.
Similar preparations emerged independently across cultures, from popular crepe varieties in France and Belgium to buckwheat cakes in northern Europe to rice-based pancakes in Asia to corn-based 'hoe cakes' and Johnny cakes in the American south, underscoring how universal the technique became.
As milling improved and ingredients like eggs, milk, and leavening became more accessible, pancakes evolved from flat, dense cakes into lighter, fluffier versions.
Today’s pancakes—whether thin and crêpe-like or thick and airy—reflect this long evolution, balancing simplicity with technique, and tradition with personal expression.
Preparing Breakfast Pancakes
Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients
1 ea Egg whisked
1/2 C AP flour
1/2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Granulated Sugar
1 tsp Butter, lightly salted, melted
1/2 C Milk
1/4 tsp Vanilla
(optional)
1 C Chocolate chips, blueberries, walnuts, bananas, etc...
How to Prepare Breakfast Pancakes
Step 1
Crack the egg into a bowl, add the flour & whisk gently until there are no lumps. Add the remaining ingredients, lightly whisk to incorporate.
Strain to be sure there are no egg shells or lumps of flour-
Step 2
Heat a griddle or non stick pan, add a very small amount of butter or spray and ladle batter into the pan-the amount you ladle will dictate the size of the pancake.
Try to make an even, round pancake.
When there are bubbles in the pancake, carefully flip the pancake using a plastic spatula. Check to see if the pancakes are golden brown. If too dark, lower the heat and if too light, leave on a little longer (or raise the heat slightly).
Repeat, keeping the pancakes warm to enjoy.
As you practice, begin to make 2 or 3 pancakes at a time.
Best served fresh and hot with maple syrup, honey, butter, fresh fruit etc...
I recently volunteered to prepare vegetable paella for a church Bible group potluck. I was very excited to develop a delicious, new paella recipe and spent time preparing fresh vegetable stock with flavors of the Mediterranean. I always prepare vegetable and fish stocks fresh, as I intend to use them. I’m not a fan of bases or frozen stocks but I sometimes add a small amount of quality base to my stocks. A vegetable stock with mirepoix, cabbage, mushrooms makes sense in certain applications, for certain recipes—but why would we use a mushroom or cabbage-forward stock in a paella? It doesn’t make culinary sense. Paella is a Mediterranean dish originating in the Valencia region of Spain as a humble meal cooked on an open fire. I’ve enjoyed wonderful paella meals in Valencia prepared with water-not stock, prepared with rabbit, snails and local beans. While traveling through Spain this spring I researched and sampled many styles of paella… no mushrooms, no carrots, no celery and no cabbage.
I still remember cooking breakfast burritos with my son Daniel, for volunteer workers at church events—simple, hearty, and made to fuel a long day of service. The workers were always so appreciative. Years later, I served a crowd favorite, nicknamed “The Bacon-ator,” a breakfast superstar inspired by the over-the-top spirit of fast-food indulgence. We had a popular food booth at the local country fair, where we cooked hundreds of breakfast burritos each day-stuffed with Mexican cheeses, extra bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and fresh salsa—nothing pre-made, nothing rushed. Every burrito was warm, fresh, and full of flavor. When food is made with love, even the most straightforward breakfast is memorable.
Chefs often share a bond that transcends politics, religion, and borders. While working in Saudi Arabia with a diverse group of chefs, I experienced this firsthand on my final day. To mark the occasion, they prepared special dishes representing their home countries—a generous feast rooted in tradition and pride. At the center of the table was a beautiful tray of stuffed peppers, zucchini, cabbages, squash, and other vegetables, each prepared with care and respect. As we shared the meal, the chefs beamed with pride, and the room filled with a sense of genuine camaraderie. It was a powerful reminder that food remains one of the most universal languages we have.
I remember a chef teaching me to carefully slice the center seeds from a zucchini and then prepare beautiful dices for a ratatouilli. The seeds and center area get soft and mushy before the outer 'meaty' section of the squash cooks.
Lobster macaroni and cheese is my all time favorite version of Mac and Cheese... I make it by preparing a classic lobster sauce, (flambé and all) and blending it with Béchamel sauce, macaroni and sweet, tender chunks of freshly poached lobster. Macaroni and cheese with pancetta
Culinary Basics: The Art of preparing Stocks
Paella is a Mediterranean dish originating in the Valencia region of Spain. It is a humble meal, originally cooked on an open fire. I’ve enjoyed many wonderful paella meals in Spain. In Valencia I had a local paella with rabbit, snails and local beans. Short-grained rice is always used to prepare Paella, there are several great Spanish varieties like Bomba and Calasparra , prized for absorbing the delicious, flavorful stock and flavors of the ingredients without getting mushy. This is important for creating the dish's signature, crusty bottom layer called the socarrat. Paella is all about the rice!
I still remember cooking breakfast burritos with my son Daniel, for volunteer workers at church events—simple, hearty, and made to fuel a long day of service. The workers were always so appreciative. Years later, I served a crowd favorite, nicknamed “The Bacon-ator,” a breakfast superstar inspired by the over-the-top spirit of fast-food indulgence. We had a popular food booth at the local country fair, where we cooked hundreds of breakfast burritos each day-stuffed with Mexican cheeses, extra bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, and fresh salsa—nothing pre-made, nothing rushed. Every burrito was warm, fresh, and full of flavor. When food is made with love, even the most straightforward breakfast is memorable.
Beef Wellington is a restaurant classic! Chefs prepare whole tenderloins, wrapped in pastry as well as individually portioned Wellingtons. Culinary historians widely agree that Beef Wellington evolved from French preparations such as filet de bœuf en croûte, which paired beef tenderloin with mushrooms and pastry—techniques well established in French haute cuisine.
Oranges are fantastic in Baking & Pastry. I developed a delicious dessert for the CMC exam (Healthy Cooking) challenge featuring Orange Creamsicle Sorbet with Roasted, Candied Pineapple and Fruit Strudel... with plenty of guidance from the amazing CIA Pastry Instructors! Types of Oranges: There are several distinct varieties of oranges, each with unique characteristics and flavors. The most common type is the Navel orange , recognized for its seedless, sweet flesh and thick, easy-to-peel skin. Valencia oranges are another popular variety, primarily known for their juiciness and are often used for making orange juice. Other notable types include Blood oranges , which have a deep red interior and a distinct berry-like flavor, and Cara Cara oranges , characterized by their pinkish-red flesh and sweet taste. Additionally, Seville oranges , known for their bitterness, are mainly used in making marmalade and flavoring liqueurs.