Pancake

Thick, oversize pancakes that will satisfy even the hungriest eaters.

You can use these pancakes for the caviar pancakes and save the remaining batter for breakfast. Active time: 15 min Start to finish: 15 min

My mom ate a lot of things — frogs' legs, escargots, sweetbreads — that horrified me as a child, but I took to caviar right away. She didn't use the good stuff, but even made with supermarket roe, this dish makes an elegant impression. Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min (includes making pancakes)

We recommend serving these griddle cakes with orange slices on the side. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

If you are new to making crêpes, you may want to make an extra half batch of batter to allow for a few imperfect crêpes.

Swedish cooks use lots of buttermilk, and the lingonberry jam suggested as an accompaniment to these incredibly light pancakes is a typical Swedish condiment.

These puffed little squares of pancake, based on Austria's Kaiserschmarrn, are delicious with a quick fruit sauce: Thin your favorite jam with a little water and lemon juice, then heat until hot.

These get a lift from allspice, too.

Amyrose Gill of Berkeley, California, writes: "My husband and I learned about La Note when we first moved to Berkeley to attend graduate school. Everyone raved about their Sunday brunch, and for weeks we tried to go, but there was always a line out the door. We finally braved the long wait, and it was well worth it. Gingerbread pancakes —redolent with spice, beautifully textured, and absolutely delicious —were the reward. We'd love to get the recipe and serve them at our own Sunday brunches. " In addition to their spiced flavor, these pancakes have a distinctive cakelike texture.

Whether at home or on vacation, pancakes are a family affair at Debra's house every Saturday morning, and banana is her children's favorite kind. But don't limit yourself: blueberries, strawberries, and nectarines all taste equally delicious. Try lightly toasting the pecans for a decidedly adult flavor, or substitute chopped walnuts.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

From Figtree's Cafe in Venice, California.

"The Monaco Hotel in Denver has a restaurant, Panzano, that's so good I went back several times during my stay," says Cindy Maciag of Troy, Michigan. "The ricotta pancakes at breakfast were fantastic."

For variety, sprinkle berries, nuts or chocolate chips over the pancakes before turning them over on the griddle.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. May require additional sitting time.

These wholesome flapjacks are filled with the energy-boosting carbohydrates found in whole wheat flour and multigrain oatmeal. The fat is kept down by using low-fat cottage cheese, only two egg yolks and just two tablespoons of milk. To cook the pancakes, make sure to use a nonstick skillet brushed lightly with oil. Top them with the Peach and Berry Salad, and serve with reduced-fat sausages.

When Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield went looking for a loan to start their first ice cream store in Burlington, Vermont, the future fathers of Chunky Monkey and Cherry Garcia were told by a local banker that they'd need to serve something other than just ice cream to make it through the lean winter months. So they sold crepes stuffed with ice cream and doused with hot fudge sauce. "Talk about comfort food," says Cohen, who wasn't above snitching occasional leftovers as they came through the kitchen. "They were great—an amazing synergy of crepe, ice cream and sauce." This recipe, which features luscious cooked pears in addition to ice cream, yields a few extra crepes. Cool and stack the leftovers, separating them with sheets of plastic wrap; then place them in a resealable plastic bag and freeze for later use. Or rewarm the crepes and serve with jam or maple syrup for breakfast the next morning.

The Masa Harina adds a pleasant flavor to the light and fluffy pancakes.