by Rex Trulove

Created on: August 29, 2009

Picture the setting: You are sitting in camp overlooking a beautiful little lake as birds and other wildlife awaken from their slumber. Nearby, the campfire is crackling. In your hands, you hold a steaming cup of hot coffee, and in your lap is a plate with delicately cooked pancakes, dripping in syrup. All the elements are there for a splendid camping breakfast experience.

Making good pancakes in camp is much like making them at home, though cooking over a camp stove or campfire can be a challenge if you aren't used to cooking over flames. The pancakes are mixed in the same way, either from scratch or by using pancake mix. You can even make your own pancake mix before leaving home, by combining the dry ingredients and putting these in a container that can be sealed.

The first tip is to not over mix the pancake batter once the ingredients are combined. This is true at home as well as in camp. Over mixing can cause the pancakes to be rubbery once they are cooked. This mistake is commonly made. Also, opt for slightly thicker batter rather than thin batter. Thin batter cooks to fast.

Another commonly made mistake is cooking the pancake in a pan or griddle that is too hot, or conversely, too cold. Again, this is true at home and in camp, but many people find it a little more difficult in camp because the campfire and camp stove tend to heat things so quickly. It takes some practice to learn to make sure the cooking surface isn't too hot or cold. Oil or grease should not be so hot that they smoke, however. It does take a bit more time to cook the pancake in a cooler pan, but it is worth it.

Don't overcook the pancakes. If you do, they will be more suited for playing Frisbee than for eating. When you ladle the batter into the pan or griddle, you should see small bubbles forming as the pancake begins to cook. When the bubbles have popped to about 1/2 inch from the edge, turn the pancake with a spatula and cook the other side slightly less time. This should give you pancakes that are light golden brown.

Use only enough oil or grease to lubricate the pan or skillet. Remember that you aren't trying to deep fat fry the pancakes, you just want to prevent them from sticking.

The part that makes pancakes in camp superior to those made at home is that you can add wild berries you might find while camping, to the pancake batter, prior to cooking. Wild blueberries, huckleberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, and thimbleberries are all appropriate, and they all give extra flavor to the pancakes. They can also be mixed together.

Another great touch is to substitute an equal amount of beer for half the water in the batter. It makes no difference if the beer is flat. This will give the pancakes a yeasty flavor not unlike sourdough pancakes. Take care, however, because the yeast in the beer will also cause the pancakes to rise.

For a special treat, make your own syrup. It isn't hard to do, and it enhances the flavor while naturally going with the setting of camp.

You may want to make extra pancakes in camp. They are great for snacks later on, for instance spread with peanut butter or jam.

A little practice is usually necessary, however it isn't tremendously difficult to make good pancakes in camp. Give it a try, and you may find that you will find yourself plugged in to the opening scene.

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