Starting the Day My Way

Breakfasts are my favourite meal of the day. There’s something about it that makes you feel like you could eat anything you want and get away with it- possibly because it is the start of the day and we all know anything you eat before that first cup of coffee counts for naught- all in all knowing you should make the right, healthier choice to kick start the day right.

But sometimes, i guess we all have to have a little leeway for indulgence, a little something to give us a spring in our steps, something to look forward to with glee not unlike a child looking forward to Christmas morning.

Pancakes for breakfast were my choice of a little something. Not just any pancakes, i might add. Pancakes with caramelized bananas and cinnamon-infused honey syrup. Mmm, just typing that has me wishing i had another plate of them in front of me, despite just polishing one off a couple hours ago.

I can’t even begin to tell you how good this was. The pancakes, a Nigella Lawson recipe, were fluffy and perfect for soaking up all that amazing perfect marriage of honey and cinnamon syrup. Coupled with slices of golden brown caramelized bananas, this was one breakfast that could get even the most extremes of night owls out of bed.

With such glorious, luxurious breakfasts like this, who really need lunch or dinner?

American Breakfast Pancakes with Caramelized Bananas and Cinnamon-infused Honey Syrup [Recipe for pancakes from Nigella Lawson's How to Be a Domestic Goddess]

Ingredients
225g plain flour
1 tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 tsp sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature and beaten lightly
300ml milk
30g butter, melted and cooled, plus extra for frying

Caramelized Bananas
30g butter
2 large bananas, halved lengthwise
1 tbsp brown sugar

Cinnamon Honey Syrup
1/2 cup + 1 tbsp honey
1/2 cup water
1 cinnamon stick

1. Combine flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Whisk milk in slowly, followed by butter and eggs, mixing well. Let batter stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, start on the bananas and syrup
2. To make cinnamon honey syrup Combine honey and water in a medium saucepan. Crumble cinnamon stick into the pan and bring mixture to a boil, stirring well. Let syrup simmer for a couple of minute before turning heat off and set aside to cool.- syrup will thicken significantly as it cools. Strain into a small pitcher and set aside.
3. To make caramelized bananas Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and stir so that it mixes with melted butter. Gently add the bananas in, cut side down and turn heat down to low. Let bananas sit in the pan for 3 minutes before flipping over and then cooking for another 3 minutes. Bananas should be a gorgeous shade of golden brown and smell like heaven. Turn heat off and set aside.
4. Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Turning heat down to low, pour into enough batter to get a medium sized pancake. Flip pancake over when bubbles start to form on the pancake and the batter looks set. Fry for another minute before removing to serving plate. Repeat with the rest of the batter. Serve pancakes with caramelized bananas and generous lashings of syrup. Serves 2 very greedy persons