Bake Off.

Bake Off!

My manager asked me to, “Make pancakes for everyone at work.” I have never in my life, made pancakes, I had seen it on telly, but hadn’t paid much attention.

I found out yesterday that pancakes have eggs in! I did not know that I had thought it was just flour and water!

I learnt a lot yesterday, you can always learn something new every day.

Another co-worker, suggested I, “Look on Google”. I did and looked at a famous chef on telly, but not all of her tips helped me, so I looked at others too, and with a bit of help here and there, I learnt that, pinch of salt, a tea spoon of sugar, three eggs, plain or self-rising flour, milk, a spot of butter, all can go into making basic pancakes!

I did measure the milk into a jug 300ml but for the amount of flour, I didn’t have enough liquid in my bowl. I had thought that it was poured from a jug, but no it has to be mixed in a bowl first, with the flour and making a hole or dent in the middle and adding the three eggs, then mixing it.

Thank goodness, I had more milk in the bottle, or I would have been in ‘trouble’.

To calm myself, I thought, I can’t do it wrong, nothing can go wrong, it should be easy with just three main ingredients of flour, milk and eggs!

Another co-worker had bought a frying pan, Nutella and real lemons, I had asked for the real lemons, as nothing beats it, like the stuff that comes in that little plastic bottle.

The co-worker was lucky; she was able to get the last flour in the shop!

The famous lady chef said, “Put a tiny amount of butter into the frying pan,” After I had let the batter rest for 30 minutes, I then with a ladle, as instructed, I put it into the frying pan.

The first person was sitting there waiting patiently, she is nice, and was not intimidating at all, but as it was my very first one, I think I may have put a tad too much butter in the pan, I didn’t make the heat too hot, but kept my eye on it, I had no intention of flipping it into the air, that was never going to happen, it was, important, that I stayed in control at all times. I used an egg flip to turn it over, and kept turning it over, until I was satisfied that it was done.

I had already, sliced up the lemons on a plate ready and got the knife ready for the Nutella. The sugar was there ready too with a little spoon in the dish.

I had Googled how to make 12, so they could have two each.

I gave the first lady hers, and she chose lemon and sugar only, with gloves on I carefully rolled it, I then cut it at an angle and gave it to her, she ate it with a fork as I added her second one to the pan.

I was still a bit nervous; I was not resting on my laurels. The lady was happy and left the kitchen, then the next person came in and sat down at the table. He is my favourite person; he chose all the toppings. He ate the first one, as I cooked his second one, then when that was finished, he left the kitchen. A lady came in next; she was in good spirits; she had brought her own drink. She too ate her first one, while I cooked her second one.

It all was going well, one person had not arrived at work yet, but was on his way, I had to make sure I left enough for him to have his. He arrived 30 minutes, after I had done the ‘last’ one, and as he was the last one, he had three! He really enjoyed it and so did I, there were no mistakes, no burnt ones, no uncooked ones, no nothing. I also, made two for myself, I didn’t have Nutella, there is a time and place for Nutella, with toast or plain bread no butter. As pancakes is new to me, for in my life I think I have had them twice or thrice, at work, when another co-worker made them, I ‘like’ them only with lemon and sugar. And reading the comments on-line, so did the majority of others.

My making pancakes was a complete success! My favourite person, came back for more, but I explained, “There was only enough for each person to have two each.” I felt bad for him, for he does not ask for much.

So, yesterday was a success.

This morning my manager was at work, some real lemons were still left over from yesterday, I asked, “Can I make more pancakes today, for everyone?” My manager said, “Yes.” I went to the local, expensive rip off corner shop and got some expensive flour and Nutella, where if we use a card, we have to spend £5 or over! That grieved me as I hate going to that shop, I remember when my manager asked me to buy a stamp from there and they charged more than the stamp was worth! I said to the greedy owner, “Does the Queen know you are charging us this much for her stamp?” He said, “No,” I said, “I am going to tell her!!!”

I came back with the expensive flour and Nutella, and didn’t follow the ‘rules’ as I basically, knew with confidence what I was doing. Well, I thought I did. The small pack of flour that I had used yesterday, was a different kettle of fish today with a large bag of flour! At one point, I felt like I was about to make bread! There was no one in the kitchen with me, and for one second panic set in, but I had a large bottle of milk, and I took some of the very thick ingredients and put some into a jug and added lots of milk into the rest that was in the bowl. I was doing it by ear; there was no measuring of anything. Overnight it seemed I had become a pro!

So, mini panic over, I sorted myself out and added lots of milk, then the mixture that I had put in the jug, was too liquid, so I added that to the bowl, together the consistency was again perfect like it was yesterday.

I then got my tiny amount of butter into the new frying pan and started.

My manager doesn’t like pancakes, and the other co-worker she is gluten free, so the next person had, unlike yesterday, three! I had made enough mixture, that felt like if there would be enough for 30 people!

I really had a lovely time at work today. It was very satisfying.

Everything went very well for all who had, minus the two co-workers.

I also had three, with mine I had lovely fresh lemons and sugar. They were delicious.

At the end, I said to my manger, “I feel like I could win Bake Off, with my new experience of making pancakes for the first time yesterday at work and today! x